by Young Jewish Milwaukee teen editor, Talia Lakritz

Dudu Fisher, an Israeli singer best known for his role as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway, was once offered the leading role in Fiddler on the Roof. It seemed to be the perfect part for him, the perfect opportunity to pay homage to his Jewish roots.

Why, then, did he turn it down?

Fisher, a religious Jew, requested exemption from Friday night and Saturday performances because he is Shabbat-observant. Ironically, the producers refused to accommodate his religious obligations.

Keeping Shabbat has become a challenge for today’s youth, as well. The SATs are usually offered on Saturdays; as a Shabbat-observant Jew myself, I registered for an alternate testing date at the JCC. My vice principal sent a note with my registration form explaining my situation as a religious Jew. I arrived at the JCC on that rainy Sunday morning in January to find that I was the only student there. This was beneficial in some ways; I didn’t have to worry about anyone distracting or disturbing me as I took the SAT. But it would have been nice to have someone else there to talk with (and to share in my pre-test freak out.) Read More.