SEMINIOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Jewish parents and students in Seminole County are grappling with a challenging decision this year.
Lyman High School and Lake Mary High School have scheduled their prom nights on April 12, coinciding with the first night of Passover.
A local Rabbi told News 6, Passover is a significant holiday for Jewish families, marking the start of Jewish nationhood and reflecting on the meaning of being Jewish.
“Honestly, the most observed day is Passover,” said Noelle Rivers, whose daughter is a junior at LMHS. “It is the big day for American Jews or the big night because why is tonight not like all other nights? Why is it different? It is different.”
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Rivers said her daughter, Jaynie, was excited to attend prom as an upperclassman. She said even though it’s her junior prom, it may be her only prom.
“People keep asking us what’s the big deal, it’s her junior prom, it’s not even her senior prom,” Rivers said. “Well, she might be studying abroad next year like this really could be her only chance to go to prom.”
Rivers said Jaynie was devastated when she found out about the prom date debacle.
“She’s embarrassed that I say she cried, but she was crying—very hard for her—so disappointing,” Rivers said.
As far as celebrating Passover at a different time, Rivers said it’s not that simple.
“It is at the exact same time,” Rivers said. “We cannot move it. There is no Passover earlier in the day, and prom later in the night because we will be going past 11 unlike prom, prom ends at 11—we go past 11.”
Seminole County Schools responded to the scheduling conflict with a statement:
“Every effort is made to be mindful of any religious or significant days when scheduling events, however, it is not always possible to avoid an event falling on one of these days.”
Rivers hopes the schools will consider rescheduling the prom.
“They shouldn’t have to pick between this one night at school with all of their friends, and their one night a year with their family no matter what their faith is,” Rivers said.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: