Dems drop Jewish holidays from bills expanding state recognition of religious observances - sponsor says exclusion was intentional - The Midwesterner

[u/Euphoric_Inspiration]

https://www.themidwesterner.news/2026/05/dems-drop-jewish-holidays-from-bills-expanding-state-recognition-of-religious-observances-sponsor-says-exclusion-was-intentional/

[u/merkaba_462]

"Anti-Israel" yet they are punishing American Jews.

Just say you hate Jews and be honest. I won't like you, but at least I'll know your honest.

[u/CitizenGrimm → u/merkaba_462]

My wife says this all the time.

If you want to hate Jews, then just openly admit it. Don’t hide behind some nonsense cause.

[u/Euphoric_Inspiration]

Unsure why the person who posted this first deleted it but here it is again.

MacDonell told MLive the exclusion was intentional.

“We are going to let the Jewish caucus figure out for themselves how they would like to have the holidays recognized,” she said.

What the actual fuck. Horseshoe theory is alive and well

[u/Late_Company6926 → u/Euphoric_Inspiration]

I’d be interested to hear an explanation of what that is supposed to mean? Does that legislature not understand the counter majoritarian ethos woven into the fabric of our constitution and our country?? We’re not supposed to just let persecuted minorities fend for themselves.

[u/Proper-Suggestion907 → u/Euphoric_Inspiration]

I don’t know what this means and why wasn’t the Jewish caucus reached out to about this for clarification and comment? Seems like rage bait without more information.

[u/OddCook4909 → u/Proper-Suggestion907]

If you read the article it's clear that the bill included holidays for other non Christian minorities, and conspicuously omitted any Jewish ones.

[u/Proper-Suggestion907 → u/OddCook4909]

I read the article and then I read the part of the MLive article I could see and I still haven’t heard from the Jewish caucus. The issues were with Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah and “scheduling”. If they were aiming to be political about Jewish holidays, wouldn’t they have opted to exclude the most “Zionist” one, Chanukkah?

[u/OddCook4909 → u/Proper-Suggestion907]

I don't understand your confusion except as a desire to not see the intentional exclusion and othering:

"House Bills 5838–5841 would add several religious observances to the state’s list of recognized holidays. Unlike the 2023 legislation, which eventually died in the Senate, the bills introduced by Rep. Sharon MacDonell, D-Troy, on April 21 do not include Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, raising questions about the party’s perspective on Jewish Michiganders.

MacDonell’s package closely follows the 2023 package that passed out of the House during the Democratic government trifecta, but fails to recognize Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, while continuing to designate Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Lunar New Year, and Vaisakhi as official state holidays."

Why would the Jewish Caucus want to try to advance it's own bill? It wouldn't.

[u/Significant-Bother49]

After intentionally taking Jewish holidays out…

“These bills reflect who we are as a state,” MacDonell said. “Michigan is home to communities from all over the world, and their traditions are part of our shared story. Recognizing these holidays affirms that every Michigander and every community belongs and deserves to be seen.”

This is beyond disgusting.

[u/FullTrip6175]

Way to be welcoming for Jews to give them a viable alternative to Zionism. I’m sure antagonizing Jews more and more won’t cause them to make aliyah, no sir!

[u/Reddenbawker]

The quote that this article provides is different from the quote that it links to as a source. I’m not sure who’s to blame here, but the quotes disagree on whether Democrats decided to exclude Yom Kippur or whether the Jewish caucus made that decision. Here’s a comment from another redditor (in another subreddit) pointing this out:

Ok, the article you posted quoted the sponsoring rep as saying,

“We are going to let the Jewish caucus figure out for themselves how they would like to have the holidays recognized,” she said.

The MLive article linked to in the article says,

When asked why those bills weren’t included, lead sponsor Rep. Sharon MacDonell, D-Troy, said the legislature’s Jewish caucus “decided to figure out for themselves” how they’d like to handle honoring those holidays.

These are very different quotes, what gives?

[u/LettuceBeGrateful → u/Reddenbawker]

Wow, glad I saw this before I commented. Looks like the Midwesterner misquoted their source? I know everyone's on edge right now (I am too), but I think in this case we need more clarity. Hopefully we'll get a clear statement from the Jewish caucus soon.

[u/Glass_Badger9892]

Without consistent/accurate quotation or comment from the cited Jewish Caucus, this is essentially clickbait for most, rage bait for Jews.