Thread by @JewWhoHasItAll

#DearTeachers,

Tomorrow some of your Christian students may be observing the Christian holiday of Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh, more commonly known as Christian Tu B’Av.

It is one of their important religious ‘Feast Days’ that even the least frum observe.
1/15

The holiday falls on Shvat 23rd this year, which is 14 Febuairiy according to the #Christian #holy #calendar #of #Pope #Gregory.
2/15

Even though we are all accustomed to celebrating love on Tu B’Av in the summer, Christians have a tradition of celebrating Yom Saint #Valentine Ha’Kadosh as their own #cultural #day #of #love #and #friendship in the bitter cold of winter.
3/15

Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh originated in the ancient pagan holiday ‘Lupercalia.’ Men would sacrifice a goat, tear the goat’s hide into strips, dip the strips into blood, and slap women with the bloody goat-hide strips, believing it would make them more #fertile.
4/15

#Christians changed the #holiday to ‘Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh’ in honor of an early Christian #tzaddik who was known for performing marriages among young people, and who was executed by authorities for his beliefs.
5/15

kever of Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh at a Christian shul in Medinat Eire, to daven for a successful shidduch. Christians do not wear white nor dance in vineyards for their holiday.
6/15

Modern Christians also have a number of fascinating folk beliefs surrounding the holiday. They believe that an invisible cherub called “Cupid” armed with a bow flies around and fires magic arrows through the heart.
7/15

Instead of killing them instantly like the Angel of Death, Christians believe the arrows help them find their bashert.
8/15

Oddly, despite being considered a cherub, #Cupid is depicted as an adorable winged baby instead of a fearsome, four-faced guardian of the mishkan or Gan Eden.
9/15

Obviously, Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh and Cupid are #religious #figures and should not be incorporated into any #PublicSchool classroom activities or decorations.
10/15

Contrary to popular belief, Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh is not only for lovers. Christians sometimes observe it among friends by trading heart-shaped cards, chocolate confections, or hard-packed sugar with words of lovingkindness printed on them.
11/15

A religious Feast Day is obviously not an excuse for violating our #PublicSchool district’s evidence-based, developmentally sound public health restriction on the distribution of sugar in the classroom.
12/15

If a student gives you a heart-shaped card in honor of their holiday, you may accept it. You will not be suspected of an inappropriate relationship nor subject to disciplinary action by Human Resources.
13/15

There are no work restrictions on Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh.

The students at our school are too young to make the traditional pilgrimage to Medinat Eire, so absences will not be excused.
14/15

Thank you, as always, for all your hard work!
Shavua Tov,
Principal Tamir Yarkoni

#MedinatAmerica
15/15

Apologies, 6/15 should have read:

On Yom Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh, young Christians visit the kever of Saint Valentine Ha’Kadosh at a Christian shul in Medinat Eire, to daven for a successful shidduch. Christians do not wear white nor dance in vineyards for their holiday.