STOP-BS: Second Day Yom Kippur Press Release

Synagogue/Temple Offices Preventing Burnout and Stress (STOP-BS) Advocates for a Much-Needed "ShulStaffers Day of Rest" the day after Yom Kippur.

​

Because The High Holy Days Are Exhausting (And a Shout Out From The Bima Isn’t Enough)

 

September 2024 – The Synagogue/Temple Offices Preventing Burnout and Stress (STOP-BS) is making a bold and essential request: please, for the love of the Jewish people, give your synagogue staff a day off after Yom Kippur. That’s right—one day of rest, because after preparing the community to welcome a new year and atone for their sins for an entire day (and night), we’re not asking for much. Just one day of lounging on the couch in PJs before the onslaught of “now that the holidays are over” begins. 

​

If you think fasting is tough, try managing endless phone calls, setting up 800 folding chairs, and keeping track of prayer books while also explaining (for the 87th time) what time Kol Nidre starts. Synagogue staff deserve a break—a real break, not just a nap in their office between services.

STOP-BS knows the real truth: The holiday season is exhausting. Rabbis, cantors, and synagogue staff pour their hearts, souls, and every last drop of patience they have into ensuring  meaningful holidays for everyone. The least we can do is let them take a well-deserved breather for one day.

 

Why the Second Day Off is Non-Negotiable
We’ve crunched the numbers (okay, we made them up), and 100% of synagogue staff who’ve been through the High Holy Days deserve a day off to recover from:

• Running on nothing but a half-eaten apple from pre-fast dinner

• Fielding last-minute “Is there room for me to bring my cousin’s neighbor?” calls

• Answering “Can you change the temperature in the sanctuary?” questions at least 432 times

• Avoiding tripping over tallit strings and dodging stray prayer books.​

​

STOP-BS Official Position: You can’t pour from an empty cup—especially when you’ve been fasting. Let synagogue staffers refill their metaphorical and literal cups (with coffee, water, maybe something stronger) on the day after Yom Kippur.

​

“Look, we love our congregations,” said [STOP-BS Spokesperson], “but after Yom Kippur, we just need to not answer any questions. Like, for an entire day. You want energized staff the next day? Give us that time to do whatever we want and not answer our phones.”

About STOP-BS
Synagogue/Temple Offices Preventing Burnout and Stress (STOP-BS) is a passionate organization of people who advocate for the rights of Shul Staffers. Our mission is to advocate for synagogue staffers to rest, recover, and come back stronger for the next Jewish holiday…which is coming up next week.

For interviews, inquiries, or questions, please contact: NO ONE. Seriously, we’ll be sleeping. Just call us next week. 

​

*STOP-BS Note: If the day off requires a task force meeting we have to calendar or committee vote we have to document,it’s not worth it. We’ll just come in.