At the New Year, American Jews grapple with balancing faith, work and school
Posted By richards on September 8, 2012
By Charlotte Anthony September 8, 2012
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HIGH HOLIDAYS FEATURE
NEW YORK (JTA) -- Last Yom Kippur, a fasting Brenda Rienhardt sat in the hallway outside her classroom studying for a test while watching online Yom Kippur services on her laptop.
I wanted to keep up with what was going on religiously and not fail my test, said Rienhardt, 26, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., resident who was then a senior at Florida Atlantic University. It was just a challenge because I was balancing what I should do with what I needed to do.
For many American Jews like Rienhardt, the High Holidays mean balancing the demands of the American workplace and school with their Jewish observance.
Lisa Vaughn, who has worked as an urgent care and emergency physician for 17 years, said that being on call doesnt give a lot of opportunities to take days off.
When you have that job, you work every shift, holiday or not, said Vaughn, 51, of Massillon, Ohio. You hope God understands because you know your employer doesn't.
Jonathan Sarna, professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University, says the High Holidays are a time when Jews are conflicted with their identity.
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At the New Year, American Jews grapple with balancing faith, work and school
