A Diversity Message From Neil Meltzer - September 2017
The anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks falls on a Monday this year. Please join us at Sinai, Northwest and Carroll hospitals and at Levindale on that day for a short prayer service and moment of silence. (More details to follow in the AllUsers). 
National Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15 and ends Oct. 15. Over these 30 days, we celebrate the histories, cultures and accomplishments of people whose families come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Hispanic Americans have made significant contributions to our country in industry, the arts, technology and medicine, among other areas. Sept. 15 is an especially significant date for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, as it marks the anniversaries of their independence.
As the first days of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah celebrates the new hopes and opportunities that come whenever a calendar page is turned. It's a chance for introspection, to take stock of the past year's successes and tribulations in equal measure, and in doing so, build upon them. Rosh Hashanah kicks off the Jewish High Holy Days, and begins this year on the evening of Sept. 20. One popular tradition is tashlik (or "casting off"), which entails tossing a piece of bread or emptying your pockets into a body of flowing water, to symbolically cast off your troubles and transgressions. Another tradition is to eat apples dipped in honey to symbolize wishes for a sweet new year.
The Islamic New Year falls this year on Sept. 22, the first day of Muharram, which is the first month in the lunar Islamic calendar. The month of Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic liturgical year and different Islamic denominations - Shi'a and Sunni - and cultures do different things to celebrate this day, including praying, fasting, making pilgrimages or taking part in parades.
Peace isn't just the absence of strife; it's about opening - and nurturing - connections and communications between people from all backgrounds and beliefs. It's about celebrating and transcending our differences. On Sept. 21, we mark the International Day of Peace. This day was established by the United Nations as "a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples." Compassion, respect and teamwork are part of LifeBridge Health's core values, and we can further our purpose of "Caring for Our Communities, Together" by rallying around our differences through initiatives such as the LifeBridge Health Diversity Council.
Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for Jewish people. It is a day set aside to "afflict the soul," to atone for the sins of the past year. Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath; therefore no work can be performed on this day. It is a day to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) from before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur until after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. Most of the holiday is spent in synagogue in prayer. This year, Yom Kippur begins on the evening of Sept. 29 and ends the evening of Sept. 30.
At LifeBridge Health we celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same - our shared purpose of caring for the community together.