The Anti-Defamation League is asking the Colorado High School Activities Association for a statewide rule prohibiting schools from scheduling athletic meets and other extracurricular events on important Jewish holidays.
“It’s not fair to make a student choose between their faith and extracurricular activities,” ADL Mountain States regional director Bruce DeBoskey said. “It’s not a choice Christian kids have to make.”
The mother of a gymnast competing for Overland High School complained Tuesday to CHSAA that her daughter would have to miss a meet scheduled Wednesday night because the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur, began that sundown.
CHSAA responded that school districts, not the association, schedule regular-season meets.
Cherry Creek School District and the athletic director learned of the conflict Tuesday, although the coach knew beforehand, district spokeswoman Tustin Amole said. School officials scrambled to move the meet up one hour to 5 p.m. and let the girl perform first.
The mother who spoke up, Lisa Buechler, said the extra hour helped her daughter make the meet and services. It did not help the other Jewish girl on the 21-girl team compete and make earlier services at her synagogue.
“It was a nice gesture on Cherry Creek’s part,” Buechler said. “But it didn’t solve the issue. We still couldn’t have a nice family dinner before going to services. It was hectic. It was stressful.”
CHSAA already bans activities — including practices and communications from coaches — on Sundays and during Christmas week, DeBoskey said. Because the issue is perennial, he said the association should amend its rules to extend the ban to the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
CHSAA commissioner Bill Reader said the association has no authority to schedule regular-season events. The individual schools, he said, should handle any scheduling conflicts affecting participants.
“We have about 120,000 participants on an annual basis. Probably less than 1 percent are students of the Jewish faith,” Reader said. “We respect their right to their religion and . . . work 10 years out not to schedule postseason activities during Jewish holidays.”
CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann said any change in statewide rules must be initiated by an association member and brought to the CHSAA Board of Control by Dec. 12 for consideration at the Jan. 22 meeting.
“Schools are in session today,” Reader said on Yom Kippur, Thursday. “State offices are open. Extracurricular activities (planners) are the only ones being asked to extend this level of respect to the Jewish holidays.”
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
