Yom Kippur. The Super Bowl of Fast Days. The day where Jewish guilt is not only encouraged, but demanded.
Feeling guilty about stealing your uncle’s girlfriend? Then Yom Kippur is the day for you. Nothing else should stand in it’s way. No one would ever dream of skipping Kol Nidre.
That is, unless football is involved.
The NFL this week, changed the start time of the New York Jets-Tennessee Titans game from 4:15 to 1:00 because it falls on Erev Yom Kippur. Worried that fans would choose synagogue over the game, the Jets requested the time change. They especially made the request because their home opener, the week prior, falls on Rosh Hashanah.
First off, I’m pissed too. High Holidays fall on the weekends this year? Damn! I’m working at a Jewish organization for nothing!
Second, think about what this means. Each year, there are eight home games per team. With two falling on the High Holidays, that would mean that I wouldn’t be able to go to 25% of the games. Factor in that the other six games go for $89 per seat, I’m going to go to zero percent of all Jets games next year. Too bad. I’m a big Joe Namath fan.
Yom Kippur
Pronounced: yohm KIPP-er, also yohm kee-PORE, Origin: Hebrew, The Day of Atonement, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and, with Rosh Hashanah, one of the High Holidays.
