High Holy Days -- Take Three

During our morning editorial board meeting, cartoonist Jim Borgman made an interesting point, as he always seems to do.

We had determined what the weekend's editorials would be when Jim told us about how some members of the Jewish community, including his wife, Suzanne, were less than happy with the fact that important business was being conducted on Monday, which was Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. No work is to be done by Jews on that day, yet in many places in Cincinnati, it was business as usual.

For Muslims, the month of daily fasting, Ramadan began Sept. 24, but those who don't have routine interaction with Muslims may not have noticed.

It wasn't until I became an adult, and left the isolation of my conservative Baptist upbringing, that I even considered the practices and rituals associated with other religions. I was challenged this morning at the thought of discussing this on the blog. But I'm glad we are talking about it.

No matter what we believe, it's important for all of us to be tolerant of another's faith and to acknowledge their needs -- both in the workplace and outside it. If that means designating a room in the office for prayer or meditation, it should be done. If it means time off for religious holidays that are not Easter, Christmas or Good Friday, it must be done.

Our preprinted calendars traditionally have included Christian holidays and traditional American holidays such as Thanksgiving. We often plan our year around them, but as our society and workplaces become more diverse, I think HR departments can consider a trade off. If someone doesn't want Christmas off, for example, give them another day of their choice.

Meanwhile, to paraphrase Krista Ramsey, it's good that we are even having this discussion because it shows how important consideration of diversity is in today's society.