The Senate, and I'm assuming the House, are off until Monday...

[babylonsister]

for the Jewish New Year?! I do wonder how many Jewish members there are, and why, if they're orthodox, they can't just take some personal time. This seems a bit farfetched to me, especially considering they've only been back from their summer 'recess' of a month for less than 2 weeks. :eyes:

[rateyes]

1. I never have figured out why

Congress would take off over ANY religious holiday.

[rodeodance]

2. seems the senate is in session now but i do not see senate or house on the

cspan schedule for rest of day.

[babylonsister]

7. That's where I heard about this; CSPAN had a banner saying they're off

until Monday after they cast a final vote.

[snappyturtle]

3. I asked this yesterday as part of a reply.....

I actually searched for what the schedule looks like until the end of the calendar year. Hard to find definitive information. I take it they are off and also some reference that Reid is going to "ask" for a week wrapped around October 8th, Columbus Day. No wonder Congressional answers to questions about, impeachment e.g., includes there's not enough time! I think this recess so soon after the summer recess a bit too much with all that needs tending.

[babylonsister]

8. It does seem as if they are off a lot, especially considering

all the pay increases they grant themselves.

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Here's your list of Jewish Reps and Senators:

FYI, ALL Jews celebrate the 2 most important Jewish Holidays. It's not just the Orthodox Jews.



Senators

Carl Levin Democrat Michigan 1978
Arlen Specter Republican Pennsylvania 1980
Frank Lautenberg Democrat New Jersey 2002 Previously served 1982–2001
Herb Kohl Democrat Wisconsin 1988
Joseph Lieberman Independent Democrat Connecticut 1988 Formerly a Democrat, but lost 2006 party primary; currently serves as an Independent Democrat caucusing with Democrats.
Dianne Feinstein<1> Democrat California 1992
Barbara Boxer Democrat California 1992
Russ Feingold Democrat Wisconsin 1992
Ron Wyden Democrat Oregon 1996
Charles Schumer Democrat New York 1998
Norm Coleman Republican Minnesota 2002
Ben Cardin Democrat Maryland 2006
Bernie Sanders Independent (Democratic Socialist) Verm


Congress-critters

Henry Waxman<3> Democrat CA-30 1974
Barney Frank<4> Democrat MA-04 1980
Tom Lantos<5> Democrat CA-12 1980 Only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress
Gary Ackerman<6> Democrat NY-05 1982 Currently heads the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP)
Howard Berman<7> Democrat CA-28 1982
Sander M. Levin<8> Democrat MI-12 1982
Eliot L. Engel<9> Democrat NY-17 1988
Nita Lowey<10> Democrat NY-18 1988 First female chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which she chaired from 1991 to 1992
Bob Filner<11> Democrat CA-51 1992
Jane Harman<12> Democrat CA-36 1992 Served 1993–1999 and 2001–Present
Jerrold Nadler<13> Democrat NY-08 1992
Steve Rothman<14> Democrat NJ-09 1996
Robert Wexler<15> Democrat FL-19 1996
Shelley Berkley<16> Democrat NV-01 1998 First Jewish congresswoman from Nevada
Jan Schakowsky<17> Democrat IL-09 1998
Brad Sherman<18> Democrat CA-27 1998
Anthony D. Weiner<19> Democrat NY-09 1998
Eric Cantor<20> Republican VA-07 2000
Susan Davis<21> Democrat CA-53 2000
Steve Israel<22> Democrat NY-02 2000
Adam Schiff<22> Democrat CA-29 2000
Rahm Emanuel<23> Democrat IL-05 2002 Former chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
Allyson Schwartz<24> Democrat PA-13 2004 Pennsylvania's first Jewish congresswoman
Debbie Wasserman Schultz<25> Democrat FL-20 2004 First Jewish congresswoman from Florida
Steve Cohen<26> Democrat TN-09 2006 Tennessee's first Jewish congressman<26>
Gabrielle Giffords<27> Democrat AZ-08 2006 Arizona's first Jewish congresswoman
Paul Hodes<28> Democrat NH-02 2006 New Hampshire's first Jewish Congressman
Steve Kagen<29> Democrat WI-08 2006
Ron Klein<30> Democrat FL-22 2006
John Yarmuth<31> Democrat KY-03 2006 Kentucky's first Jewish congressman

[babylonsister]

6. Thank you for that list. And as another poster noted, there are Jewish

people on staff as well. Still, I don't recall schools getting off for the Jewish holidays, though Easter and Christmas are acknowledged.

[cali]

10. I think it depends, to some extent, where

the schools are. I know i've read that some schools do get off for Jewish holidays.

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. Nope. Schools don't close for the Jewish Holidays. In fact, here in my son's District

they use to mark him ABSENT for the Holiday, until we went to the Superintendent and explained to him he was breaking the law.:) I think the only schools that close are ones with a large Jewish population. My son is the only Jewish student in his school and there's 1 Jewish teacher this year. I wouldn't expect the school to close for just him. We just call him off for the Holidays and he has to make up his work. It depends on the school District and how large the Jewish population is, I think.

[LibDemAlways]

12. I live in a Southern California suburb where half of the

residents are Jewish. In my school district, and in the nearby districts, the schools do, indeed, close for the Jewish holidays.

[onenote]

5. Fact check

First, since you asked, there are around 30 members of the House who are Jewish -- around 7 percent. In addition, there are a substantial number of Jewish staffers and other employees. Second, you don't have to be "orthodox" to observe the Jewish high holidays.

Also, the House is not in session today or tomorrow, but is scheduled to reconvene at 10 am Friday (admittedly, they probably won't do much business on Friday, which is typical). While the House is not in session today, at least one Committee (Education and Labor) is holding a hearing today. In addition, quite a few Senate Committees are holding hearings today.

[babylonsister]

9. Thanks for the info. nt