Taking vacation holidays between Dec 25 and Jan 1

Since when is it OK to work for a public school?

Since you entered into a conversation with Joseph…

I take my kids out of school during that time. That is when we have time with our family, and it is more important than them being in school and making a couple more menorahs that will probably catch fire.

The school is probably mad, but I give them enough money that they are wise enough to shut up about it.

As a kid, I was always off school then, and so were my parents (teachers in said school). We didn’t usually do anything during this time (although one year we went to Israel for a bris). I have a family member going to Israel during that time because that’s when they’re off work.

If the fact of the matter is that the parents are on vacation, and the kids are too (sometimes the school gives off then because there is a fair number of non-Jewish teachers) and it just works to do something then. I don’t think people are davka thinking in their heads that they’re doing something BECAUSE of those specific dates-that’s what works for them to spend time with their families, so they take advantage.

1. Frum schools usually hold classes in this period.

2. In the USA, Jan. 1 is not a problem since its closing is purely secular (in some countries, it was a religious holiday, being the anniversary of the alleged “you know who” have a bris on that day – but not in the USA.

3. I try to never wear a suit and tie on Sunday or Dec. 25, so people will realize I’m not honoring their yuntuf.

Funny how some people like nothing more than to stir up the pot. I’m not a moderator, but if I was, I would give shmendrick the subtitle, The Ladle.

As for his synopsis of the igros moshe as follows:

“On this issue, see Igros Moshe Y.D. vol 3, simon 85 that one should not vacation during this time EVEN if he has no intention to celebrate in their holidays, but vacations merely because the parents are off work and want to take a family trip, since the innocent intentions do not vitiate the issur.”

It should be pointed out that this teshuva addresses giving off children from school during this time of the year not taking vacations. Shemendrick, if you want to make a point make up a sefer, dont reference a sefer anyone can access and see for themselves how you misquote it.

Many people, especially those working for the U.S. government, have a limit on how much leave time they can carry over to the next year. Many of these people take off significant time during December because they will lose the leave. (It’s called use or lose.) That’s why so many government agencies are dead much of December, especially at the end of the month. My father, before he retired, used to do this as well.

DY: That is the rationale for possibly closing school. Not the question presented.

To shmendrick, the vacation that the I’M and the N’G are discussing is not taking a day (week) off from work, which you imply with your comment about taking off on sundays.

As a teacher in a school, we were off for the week of Dec 25th and then again for Pesach. The only time we could really go on vacation was that week, because we only received 5 sick/vacation days and most people need to save those for when their kids are sick.

zahavasdad

Will you be fasting on Dec 25 and Jan 1st?

Sure! Absolutely! I am planning on fasting on Dec 25, 2020, and on Jan 1, 2015

APY, what type of vacation are they talking about?

Shmendrick, do you know what the word “chossid” really means?

@DY. I will assume the “they” in your question refers to those who asked the question of R’ Moshe. “They” wanted to give vacation from yeshiva during this week (I dont remember if it was instead of some other week, or not) because the parents were already off from work. In his answer he replies they should not, and as an aside, he says taking vacations during this time (which I understand to mean, a trip to disney or wherever is not appropriate either) even though the parents are off from work is “mechuar” (which I will translate as not appropriate).

The OP seems to be using the word vacation as in taking a vacation day from work, by the juxtaposition to his Sunday comment. then again, trying to make sense of a trollish comment is useless.

Both the I’M and the N’G are not discussing taking off from work as is implied by the OP.

The OP of this thread wants a certain degree of separateness from the non Jewish American culture.

This is a valid desire.

Most effective way to achieve this is to move to Israel.

“That is sad commentary on a frum olem.”

If his desire is put down the majority of the Torah community for not being “holy” enough, that is another story.

APY,

I meant the IG’M and N’G when I wrote “they”.

Shmendrick’s comment was most definitely trollish, but the way to respond is not to misread the IG’M. “La’asos y’mei chofesh” hardly means going to Disneyland.

I don’t know if situations such as described by TCG, takahmamash and MorahRach are included in the inyan of “m’chuar” (which I would translate as “vile”), or if other poskim disagree, but let’s not distort the IG’M.

Shmendrick “You are disturbed when discovering that your kiyum hamitzvos is less than stellar; that there are halochas that you never heard of; that others have a frummer lifestyle…that bothers you, you become disturbed, and that is a good thing.

No need to start howling with name calling simply because you have became a disturbed individual. Use the opportunity for growth and simchas hachayim!”

Wow! How do you know me so well? You must be one of my neighbors.