Asking for time off for the Jewish holidays shouldn’t feel like climbing a mountain—but let’s be real, it often does. Whether it’s Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or any other Jewish holiday, the thought of explaining your absence to a boss or professor can be stressful—especially if they’ve never heard of these holidays before.
The good news? You don’t have to over-explain, justify your observance, or feel guilty for taking Jewish time seriously. In this post (and video), I’ll walk you through a respectful, simple script you can use to request time off. It works whether you’re Jewish, still in the process of converting, or just beginning to bring Jewish rhythms into your life.
Because celebrating the holidays fully is your right—not a favor you’re asking for.
And if you’re worried about what happens after you ask—like awkward comments, microaggressions, or even outright antisemitism at work or school—you don’t have to handle that alone either. I put together a free guide to addressing microaggressions and antisemitism that gives you language, strategies, and confidence for those tough moments. You’ll find it inside my free Resource Library, which you get access to when you sign up for my mailing list in the sidebar to the right!
Sample Script:
Hi, manager or professor.
I observe the Jewish holidays and need to be absent on the following dates: (Then list the date. And list the name of the holiday and include a short description like “Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year,” or “Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.)
I’ll prepare in advance so my responsibilities are covered and I’ll make up any missed work. (Or whatever it is that you can show them you’re not gonna leave them hanging.)
Please let me know if there’s anything you need me to arrange in advance or any paperwork you need me to fill out.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely, your name.
Transcript below.
Transcript:
Worried about how to ask for time off for the Jewish holidays? You’re not alone.
Asking for time off for the Chagim, the Jewish holidays, is stressful,
especially if your boss or professor
isn’t familiar with them. Here’s a respectful, simple way to do it.
Here’s a sample script you can use. ” Hi, manager or professor.
I observe the Jewish holidays
and need to be absent on the following dates.” Then list the date. And list the name of the holiday and include a short description like “Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year,” or “Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.”
” I’ll prepare in advance so my responsibilities are covered
and I’ll make up any missed work.”
Or whatever it is that you can show them you’re not gonna leave them hanging.
” Please let me know if there’s anything you need me to arrange in advance or any paperwork you need to fill out.
Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely, your name.”
Hi, I’m Kochava. I’m a Jewish convert and I’ve been helping people convert to Judaism since 2010.
Laws differ a lot depending on where you live. So for reference, I’m in the United States.
And while I am a lawyer, I am not an employment lawyer. I do not know anything about employment law,
so don’t take this as legal advice.
Check your “religious accommodations” laws in the state or country where you live.
You don’t have to justify your Judaism or apologize for observing.
You don’t have to share your conversion story or how observant you are.
How religious of a Jew you are is irrelevant.
What if you’re converting and you’re not actually Jewish yet? You still get it you still have the same rights to celebrate the religious holidays that you observe.
And yes, whether you’re converting or not, some places may require you to get a letter or some other note from your rabbi. It’s not fun. It’s annoying,
but people have to fill out their paperwork.
Just state it simply. These are religious holidays and you need that time off. You’re not asking for a favor. This is a standard religious accommodation.
Be polite, be clear,
and give as much notice as you can.
And remember: in most places asking for religious time off is your right.
You’re not being difficult, you’re just living your Jewish life.
Some workplaces or schools may not understand right away.
That doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.
Make sure to follow up if you need to, and most importantly, as I have said over so many videos, get it in writing. Give your notice in writing, and if they follow up with you verbally, send another email afterward that describes what you talked about and what you agreed to.
You can phrase it as, “just wanna make sure we’re on the same page.”
So take a breath. You deserve to celebrate the holidays fully. They’re yours.
You want more tools for building your Jewish life?
Check out my free Resource Library at Building a Jewish Life.com . You might be especially interested in the guide to addressing microaggressions and antisemitism in case your employer or coworker or professor says stupid or mean things about your request.
And if you’re ready for a deeper community and step-by-step guidance, that’s what Bayit Builders is for. It’s my membership that helps you build a real grounded Jewish life with gentle accountability and support at every stage.
You can find out more about the Resource Library or Bayit Builders at Building a Jewish Life.com or at my link below. Chag sameach!
