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.)
But keeping Shabbat is not always as easy as a rain check. Observant students at public schools have passed up parts in Friday night productions, as well as positions in extra-curricular clubs that meet on Saturdays.
Madeleine Tick, a Shabbat-observant senior at Homestead High School, was unable to join track and forensics clubs because both activities had meets or events on Saturdays. Her junior prom also began before Shabbat ended on Saturday night. This resulted in her father driving her to prom in the family’s trusty minivan later that night, which she describes as "the single most embarrassing experience ever, but everyone was already dancing inside so it wasn’t too bad."
Though she has had to miss out on some events and opportunities at her school, Madeleine is grateful to have Judaism in her life.
"High school experiences are unique, but they come and go," she says. "Being religious, you have family, friends, and a community to help you get through those crazy years. The sense of religious belonging helps in the long run."
However, sometimes school rules mandate attendance at certain events, minimizing a student’s ability to make a choice at all. Ben Gaudynski learned this the hard way. A freshman at Nicolet who describes himself as "Conservadox," Ben asked a teacher to excuse him from attending a science fair on Saturday for religious reasons, but the teacher told him that he had no choice but to attend.
"He said that there was nothing we could do," he said. "[I felt] angry because they were forcing me to do something against my beliefs."
Shabbat isn’t the only instance in which Jews have found it difficult to uphold their religious beliefs. Just this year, the girls’ basketball team at Northwest Yeshiva High School of Mercer Island forfeited the state tournament because their game was scheduled for The Fast of Esther.
"Although it's hard because it would be great to get the chance to continue," said sophomore and team member Julia Owen, "we're not wishing we could ignore the fast and play, because observing the fast is important."
The fast day, commemorating Queen Esther’s preparation before appealing on the Jews’ behalf to the Persian king, made it impossible for the team to play, as hydration is vital in any sport. So instead of participating, the girls met the opposing team, shook their hands, and congratulated them on advancing to the next level of the competition.
Though the team didn’t get to play, their decision to forfeit, in my opinion, made a bigger statement than if they had won the whole tournament. The fact that these girls had the guts to stand by their beliefs and the grace to congratulate the opposing team made a tremendous Kiddush Hashem, sanctification of G-d’s Name. This team’s actions reflected the respect, integrity, and dedication that are fundamental values among the Jewish nation.
Sometimes, decisions like these turn out to be life-saving. For example, a group of Jewish men in New York City needed an additional member to complete the traditional quorum of ten men for their morning prayers. An elderly man was passing by, and they hurriedly enlisted him to lead the services so as not to be late for work. But the man they chose seemed to take an extraordinarily long time to pray, deliberately savoring each word. As the other men hastily glanced at their watches, inwardly groaning at the lateness of the hour, they heard an explosion. Stunned, they looked up to see their workplace, The World Trade Center, shrouded in smoke and flame. They realized that if not for their morning prayers and the slowness of the elderly man who led the services, they would have been in those buildings and among the victims of September 11, 2001. They turned to thank the man who had saved their lives, but he had vanished.
Was this man an angel sent by G-d, or perhaps Elijah the Prophet? We may never know. But what we know for sure is that Jews have made many sacrifices for their religion throughout history, whether it was with their lives in the Holocaust or a basketball game in the 21st century. Though everyone must determine the best choices for themselves in their situations, we all can gain inspiration from the dedication exhibited by those in our midst.
Do you think that Jews have a responsibility to maintain their religious observance in secular environments, or should they sacrifice some aspects of Judaism to make for a smooth transition? Comment and tell us what you think.
Talia Lakritz, 17, lives in Mequon and is in twelfth grade at Torah Academy of Milwaukee.
The Coalition for Jewish Learning is the education program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
