Which Greek system would you want to join?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by honeychile

The Muslim equivalent (from what I understand, I'm not fully versed in their culture) would be Ramadan.

I'm not sure that Ramadan would be equivalent. Muslims fast during daylight hours in Ramadan, but otherwise pretty much go through their regular day -- work, school, etc. So Ramadan per se would not prevent someone from participating in rush/recruitment. It might prevent them from eating or drinking at rush/recruitment events. Eid al-Fitr (the last day of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (during the Hajj) are perhaps the closest equivalents.

It's the all-day-and-nothing-but aspect of the Jewish High Holy Days that distinguishes it from the other observances that have been mentioned. A Jew observing Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur simply cannot attend any rush/recruitment event on those days. Period. If attendance at rush/recruitment events on those days is required, then that requirement effectively excludes Jews from being able to participate.

Originally Posted by Titchou

There are other religions which have all day strict observances besides the Jews who observe High Holy Days. I'm just curious about how to deal with those as well.

It's not that complicated, really. The reality is that, historically at least, it's Christian and Jewish observances that were most frequently encountered in American culture. Also historically, it's the High Holy Days that are most likely to conflict with a Fall recruitment.

So it's been a pretty simple matter: Don't schedule required events on Christmas, Good Friday or Easter, or on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. Additional "no-schedule" days might be locally appropriate depending on local demographics.

As other religions like Islam or Hinduism grow in the U.S., note can be taken of what days (if any) would present attendance problems for the faithful of those religions and plans made accordingly. In the meantime, policies are structured so that missing an otherwise required event because of religious obligations doesn't have a negative impact on someone. Schools and workplaces do it all the time.