“If you truly care about simchas Yom Tov, prove it. Make your parties alcohol-free”
In the article titled “Calendar Conundrum,” the author correctly identifies the issues surrounding the school and camp summer calendars. He advocates the schools and camps ignore Labor Day and adopt a schedule solely based on the Hebrew calendar. If fully implemented, this would indeed resolve all the challenges posed by this year’s early Elul. The key words, of course, being “fully implemented.”
If somehow the Regents could be given in early June, secular studies and busing would start in August, and both boys’ and girls’ schools would start and end at the same time, all parents would be thrilled at this solution. Sadly, however, idealism must give way to reality. The Regents will be given in late June, secular studies will not start before Labor Day, schools who rely on government-provided busing will not have busing until after Labor Day, and the girls’ schools will not move their calendars.
The ultimate result of this Elul-focused push will result in an already difficult and complicated situation being made more difficult and complicated. Boys will end school early, with high schoolers not in yeshivah camp having to somehow manage Regents and camp. They will then begin yeshivah early, but for the first weeks will have half days with no secular studies and often no busing (Labor Day this year is September 7, which means secular studies will begin September 8). Our girls, meanwhile, will be on a completely different schedule. How working parents will juggle all this is an issue nobody seems to address. Ironically, this change intended to prepare our children adequately for the Yamim Noraim will result in hours and hours of no learning or structure during Elul.
The alternative option is to do what has always been done: Allow camp to go a little into Elul and get creative in their hiring. Let’s not forget that camps will have to hire counselors for first half regardless. I’m not sure which yeshivos end June 15, but insist on starting Rosh Chodesh Elul. As the author suggests, let’s ask ourselves, but honestly, “What is the best thing for our talmidim?” and not what is best for our camps.
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