Cultural insensitivity by the AFL

[the_boy_jake]

Last year's AFL grand final was held on the 25th of September, which for those unaware is also Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. This is one of the most important days in the Jewish calendar, and as a result, if we had of made the grand final, many of our fans (I would estimate 1,000 - 1,500 of our members) would have been unable to make it.

Other sporting organisations such as Tottenham Hotspur, the football side followed by many of London's Jewish community, have agreements with the administrative organisation responsible such that Yom Kippur does not coincide with a Spurs fixture. As Melbourne's Jewish team, I think our club should have lobbied to make sure that this does not happen again. I think we have let down the many Jewish players and officials that have served this club so well over the years.

[JohnF]

Would be good if we could work around it but by the way things are going you can see that our society doesn't even respect Christian holidays anymore. Only a matter of time before Good Friday is just another day on the calendar.

By the way, is Dale Weightman Jewish?

 

[Tiger Spirit]

I don’t envy your situation one bit Jake.  And I don’t want to put a further dampener on things, but… Australia being such a multi-cultural society, it’s a bit difficult for the AFL, or any organisation within Australia, to work the Draw so that it respects every faith, as well as takes note of requests by every Club each season.

Don’t know if there’s a simple solution.  And if they respect the wishes of one group then they have to do it for everyone or risk the backlash.  And as JohnF says, it seems that pretty soon they won’t take much notice of any holidays.

Bottom line is the AFL would probably only act if attendance figures were significantly affected because of such occasions.

It’s also an AFL tradition that the Grand Final is played on the last Saturday in September.

I could be wrong JohnF, but I doubt Flea would be Jewish.  I remember hearing one of his family members telling us about when Richmond won the 1980 premiership and the premiership cup finding its way to their family church, in Mildura, on the Sunday.  If that’s anything to go by.

[JohnF]

  TS

Luckily for our Jewish faithful, they haven't had to encounter such a cultural predicament for over 20 years. lol, come to think of it they probably follow the Tigers becuase it sits so well with their religious calendar.

[the_boy_jake]

I'm not Jewish TS, but there is at least one among us here. I'm merely sympathetic to guys like Greenberg, Scwhab, Daphne who have given so much to our club and a bloke like Danny Meyer, who might have the agonising decision to make one grand final morn - do I play or not?

[cub]

LMAO - Get real dudes

[Ox]

Interesting post Jacob Solomon.

It is indeed a sad day when the AFL (anti-semite Football league) denounce sacred traditions in the
name of beer and pies.

Andrew Demitriou = Adolf Hitler.

Prehaps this is what truly fed Pahoffs festering messianic complex.


Famous Richmond Jews.

Mick Malthouse
Ezra Poyas
Jeff Geischen
Tony Jewell
Dale Weightman
Robert Shaffer
Richard Tambling
Matty Kneights
Andy Kreiker.

[JohnF]

ROFLMAOOOMOFO

Don't forget:

Steven Sziller
Justin Blumfeld
Darren Crocker
Terry Wallacinsky and
Richard Lounder

[the_boy_jake]

Jack Deier would be rolling in his grave.

[Tiger Spirit]

Sorry jake.   Don't know how I go that impression.

[Harry]

Never knew we were Melbournes Jewish team.  When did this happen?

[Ox]

It's in the bible Harry 

[JohnF]

lol, in Revelations?

[julzqld]

We are probably the church of Laodecia described in the book of Revelations as the church that was neither hot nor cold and the Lord spewed it out of His mouth.

[JohnF]

lmfaooo Jewlz.

lmfaooooo@Jake's concern for Schwab, Daphne and Greenburg. Still ROFOMOFO