Father of Jewish player doesn't agree with Rosh Hashana rule
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

For the past two years, the Simi Valley school board has enforced a rule that no studentathlete in the district can practice or play any sporting event on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, an edict that applies to every player and coach on every team, including non-Jewish students.

Ironically, Marshall Scherr, the father of the only practicing Jew on the Simi Valley High School football team, doesn't agree.

"In my mind, if there's only one practicing Jew on the team, to not allow the other 56 odd players to practice because of a holiday that affects one child . . . is wrong," Scherr said during Tuesday night's board meeting at city hall. "I don't see any harm in it. I'm in favor of practice going on."

When the issue of practicing on holidays- specifically Rosh Hashana- was introduced several years ago, parents and students addressed their concerns to the school board, said Janice DiFatta, current board president.

"Parents felt their students suffered because the students were put in a position of having to make a choice between observing holidays and family traditions or going to practice and being there for their team," said DiFatta, who has served on the school board for 11 years.

The matter will be brought up at the next board meeting on Oct. 9 for short discussion. At that time, board members will vote on whether the issue should be put on the agenda for the following meeting on Nov. 13.

In the meantime, the Simi football team- and all other teams at the school and in the district- were not allowed to hold practice Sept. 13 in observance of Rosh Hashana.

As a result, the Pioneers could not practice on Thursday in preparation for tonight's road game against Pacifica of Oxnard at 7 p.m.

"It's a delicate subject," said Todd Borowski, the head football coach at Simi Valley High. "We respect the board's opinion, and we always abide by their rules. We have to respect their opinion. But would I prefer to practice? Yes."

Board member Rob Collins, who was not a part of the original vote of this particular ruling, anticipates that the school board will not change the rule.

"I get the sense from our board that we'll keep the policy," Collins said. "It's always important to practice. Coaches every year complain about it."

In a strange turn of events on Wednesday, Simi Valley athletic director Matt La Belle thought the Pioneers football and cross country teams could practice at sunset- at precisely 7:08 p.m.- when Rosh Hashana officially ended Thursday. He eagerly called several coaches with the news.

Less than an hour after this information was confirmed by the Simi Valley Acorn, La Belle was informed that the team could not practice.

The athletic director and baseball head coach had to call everyone back.

The school has also accommodated its Jewish students for Yom Kippur, which falls on Sept. 21, a Friday night. Simi Valley will instead play Burbank the Thursday of that week at Bob Jacob Stadium.

The Royal High School football team will compete in Ventura that same night.

The Rosh Hashana rule also affected Scherr's older son, Sammy.

For three years, Sammy Scherr, a freshman at UNLV, didn't practice on the Jewish New Year while his team remained on the field.

Only last year, when Sammy Scherr was a senior, did the rule affect everybody.

"I didn't say anything last year. Okay, so we're closed," said Marshall Scherr, who spoke at Tuesday's meeting along with Simi Valley High School Gridiron Club president Mike McCondille. "This year, coach (Borowski) asked me if I'd say something. He didn't say, 'Do you mind?' or, 'You need to speak.' It was totally up to me, if I was comfortable . . . The fact is, I'm practicing my religion, it's my choice, it's what I do. I don't criticize anyone who doesn't. I don't feel we should force this down everyone's throat.

"The bottom line is, it's about the kids and letting them play," Scherr continued. "It's not about adults picking sides or anything else. It's about the kids. We need to remember those types of things."

Simi High Principal Steve Pietrolungo could not be reached for comment.