Levine Commends Speaker, Perata for Honoring Request to Move Last Days of Session to Prevent Overlap with Jewish New Year

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) today applauded the collective decision of the California State Assembly and the California State Senate to adjourn the last days of session early to avoid a conflict with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.

Soon after seeing the proposed schedule for the last week of session, Assemblymember Levine circulated a letter requesting that dates be shifted to allow those of Jewish faith in the Capitol community to not be forced to choose between honoring their religious beliefs and fulfilling their work commitments.

The letter, which was sent to Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), was signed by nine other members of the Legislature – Assemblymembers Mike Feuer, Ira Ruskin, Mark Leno, Anthony Portantino, Lois Wolk, and Julia Brownley, as well as Senators Alan Lowenthal, Carole Migden, and Darrell Steinberg.

It is the intent of the Legislature to complete its business today and then adjourn session.

The following is the text of the letter that was sent by Assemblymember Levine on April 9, 2007:

Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. President Pro-Tempore:

I am writing to respectfully request a change of dates for the end of this year’s legislative session. It has recently come to my attention that the legislative calendar for the current year anticipates the Assembly adjourning on Friday, September 14, 2007. The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, commences on Wednesday evening, September 12, at sundown, and concludes at sundown on September 14. Rosh Hashanah, which is one of the two holiest days for Jews, will mark the beginning of the year 5768 on the Jewish calendar.

One of the common misperceptions about Rosh Hashanah, among non-Jews, is that the commemoration of the Jewish New Year bares some similarity to the New Years celebrations practiced on January 1. This is simply not the case. While New Years is marked by celebrations and revelry, Rosh Hashanah is a time for quiet contemplation in temple with other members of the Jewish community. If an adjustment to the calendar could be made, the Jewish community would be profoundly grateful.

Some are under the mistake belief that Hanukkah is the most important holiday in the Jewish religion. This is a common mistaken belief based largely on the fact that Hanukkah occurs at the same time as Christmas. In fact, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two most important Holy Days on the Jewish calendar. There is a long history of Jews forsaking work on these High Holy Days. For instance, Sandy Koufax refused to pitch in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series in observance of Yom Kippur. Jewish members of the Legislature, and other Jews in the Capitol community would be put in this same position.

As the dates currently stand, the situation, in essence, will require members, their staffs, and lobbyists, to choose between their religious beliefs and their obligations to their constituents, employers, and clients, respectively. Most unfortunate, though, is the fact that the current dates will require Jewish citizens of California to choose between forgoing their religious requirements and forfeiting their right to participate in the Legislative process.

For these reasons, I would respectfully request that you consider adjusting the legislative calendar in order to accommodate many observant Jews who would find it impossible to participate in the closing days of session if those days were to coincide with Rosh Hashanah.

Sincerely,

Assemblymember Lloyd E. Levine