The University of Redlands has made an egregious error by planning to start the 2021 academic year on the first day of Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year. This holiday is observed by attending religious services at synagogues, and spending time with their families. Rosh Hashanah is one of the two most holy holidays for Jews. By making the first day of fall semester September 7, the University is forcing its Jewish student population to choose between not attending classes and getting an excused absence or missing out on a holy observance for the sake of their grades. We call the University of Redlands administration to respect and better serve one of its student populations by pushing back the first day of the 2021 fall semester to after Rosh Hashanah (September 9th). 

Click here to learn more about the holiday: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/rosh-hashanah-101/

You can also email Steve Wuhs the Dean in charge of the academic calendar: Steve_wuhs@redlands.edu