The Night the Jewish Lights Went Out in Georgia!

ל׳ לחודש השבעי תשע״ז

JTA: University of Georgia Jewish students riled by homecoming concert set for Yom Kippur
September 21, 2016

(JTA) — Jewish students at the University of Georgia have objected to a homecoming concert because it was scheduled for Yom Kippur eve and the band is known for its Christian rock music.

The concert featuring Needtobreathe was set for Oct. 11, the university announced Monday.

Two years ago, hundreds of students petitioned the university to change the annual homecoming football game from Yom Kippur.

Stan Jackson, director of student affairs communications and marketing initiatives, said in a statement emailed Tuesday to the student newspaper, The Red and Black, that the date chosen for the concert was the only day that the Stegeman Coliseum, the event venue, was available.

“Some students who observe Yom Kippur may be disappointed with the date chosen,” Jackson said in the statement. “Representatives from University Union and UGA Homecoming are in correspondence with Jewish student organizations such as Hillel at UGA and Chabad at UGA to explain the logistics that required that date to be selected.”

Delaney Fox, a junior who is Jewish, told WSB-TV Atlanta, “It’s upsetting that they don’t take into account that there’s going to be a large number of students that can’t attend.”

Needtobreathe was selected for its popularity, not its religious affiliation, according to Jackson.

“The student groups compare several performers each year in terms of popularity, not content, and strive to select an artist that will appeal to as many students and community members as possible,” the statement said.

Homecoming activities will take place during the entire week.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
This report on the University of Georgia's Homecoming Week is old, but I still cannot let it go. It is an example of just how hopelessly stuck Jews are in their exile.

I cannot decide which part of the report is sadder, that Jews are so concerned about missing one day in a full week of Homecoming celebrations, or believing that a Southern university was going to consider cancelling a performance, because it was by Christian group,...and because the Jewish students didn't like it. Some reports seemed to suggest that Jewish students were upset that they would be excluded from attending the concert,...the concert with a Christian Rock band. That would be very sad, indeed.

When I was in college, I too wanted to be attend university events. I cannot fault them for that. But, I suppose I had it easier, having gone to UCLA. There was no way that the Homecoming, nor the UCLA vs. USC game was ever going to conflict with a Jewish holiday,...not in Los Angeles.

Weeding through the various, sloppy reports, floating around the internet in one form or another, finally revealed that the Homecoming game was not actually held on Yom Kippur.

No one raises an eyebrow about University of Georgia games being held on Shabboth, and with the well-known, Jewish player's participation, no less. Nor would I expect them, too. They're just not there, yet.

I suppose we should be grateful that at least these Jewish students still care enough to know they need to stay away from Christian events, and that Yom Kippur is important. Unfortunately, some, if not more than some, believe that starving for a full day, accompanied by utter boredom, not knowing what is going on in a place they frequent a handful of times a year, is what this day called Yom Kippur is all about. And, of course, this is not what Yom Kippur is about at all.


Two years ago, right after Yom Kippur, Jewish students felt the brunt of southern hospitality at Emory University, just around the corner from the University of Georgia. I can only imagine the incidents which have unreported. Yet, these Jews insist on calling Georgia,...and the U. S. in general their home.

The night the lights went out in Georgia was long ago. But, Jewish lights there are still out.

I pray that they will be turned back on soon.

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Note: I am aware that Atlanta has a strong and growing Jewish community. I am happy to write that I have met quite a few Jews, students, families, and lone IDF soldiers, here in Israel, whose lights turned on long ago.