Petition updateDeep Disappointment Regarding ECTRIMS 2025 Scheduling Conflict with Rosh HashanahECTRIMS Executive Committee
Sharon StollMerion Station, PA, United States
Sep 9, 2025
Dear Colleagues, Petition Signatories, and Jewish members of the ECTRIMS community,
We appreciate your message and understand your disappointment about the overlap between Rosh Hashanah, taking place on 22-24 September this year, and the 2025 ECTRIMS Congress, taking place on 24-26 September.
Firstly, we want to extend our sincere apology that this unfortunate oversight occurred. When it became apparent last year that the congress dates coincided with Rosh Hashanah, we explored every feasible solution to amend the situation. Despite our best efforts, given the scale of this meeting that brings together close to 9,000 delegates from across the world, changing the dates was not possible. We could not find another suitable venue for other dates in September 2025 and could not change the date of the current venue, which did not have any other availability.
Over the last year, we have been in dialogue with colleagues who have voiced their concerns about the overlap to ECTRIMS directly and privately. In all instances, we have apologised and reaffirmed our commitment to continuing to avoid such scheduling conflicts in the future. The scientific programme team has also gladly accommodated faculty members who requested adjustments so they could present later in the congress in order to observe the holiday.
According to our records, this is the first time in ECTRIMS’ 40-year history that the congress has conflicted with Rosh Hashanah. While this does not lessen the disappointment in its crossover this year, it does highlight how rare such overlaps are despite the inherent complexities. Looking forward, we want to reassure you that the dates discussed and confirmed up to 2030 do avoid conflict with major holidays during this period, and that ECTRIMS will continue its vigilance with regard to this aspect of its event planning.
Once again, we regret the disappointment this has caused and sincerely apologise for the oversight. We hope this message reaches all those who may be affected.
With best regards,
Bruno Stankoff
ECTRIMS President
On behalf of the ECTRIMS Executive Committee and the ECTRIMS 2025 Scientific Programme Committee
We appreciate your message and understand your disappointment about the overlap between Rosh Hashanah, taking place on 22-24 September this year, and the 2025 ECTRIMS Congress, taking place on 24-26 September.
Firstly, we want to extend our sincere apology that this unfortunate oversight occurred. When it became apparent last year that the congress dates coincided with Rosh Hashanah, we explored every feasible solution to amend the situation. Despite our best efforts, given the scale of this meeting that brings together close to 9,000 delegates from across the world, changing the dates was not possible. We could not find another suitable venue for other dates in September 2025 and could not change the date of the current venue, which did not have any other availability.
Over the last year, we have been in dialogue with colleagues who have voiced their concerns about the overlap to ECTRIMS directly and privately. In all instances, we have apologised and reaffirmed our commitment to continuing to avoid such scheduling conflicts in the future. The scientific programme team has also gladly accommodated faculty members who requested adjustments so they could present later in the congress in order to observe the holiday.
According to our records, this is the first time in ECTRIMS’ 40-year history that the congress has conflicted with Rosh Hashanah. While this does not lessen the disappointment in its crossover this year, it does highlight how rare such overlaps are despite the inherent complexities. Looking forward, we want to reassure you that the dates discussed and confirmed up to 2030 do avoid conflict with major holidays during this period, and that ECTRIMS will continue its vigilance with regard to this aspect of its event planning.
Once again, we regret the disappointment this has caused and sincerely apologise for the oversight. We hope this message reaches all those who may be affected.
With best regards,
Bruno Stankoff
ECTRIMS President
On behalf of the ECTRIMS Executive Committee and the ECTRIMS 2025 Scientific Programme Committee
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