Supporting Jewish Colleagues with Inclusion and Care
Passover, or Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is observed for seven or eight days (depending on tradition) and includes family gatherings, storytelling, and avoiding leavened foods—symbolizing the haste of escape and the pursuit of freedom.
Looking for a quick, actionable way to acknowledge Passover? This post gives you a fast, DIY DEI tip you can apply right now.
Why This Holiday Matters
Passover is more than a religious observance—it’s a deeply personal and cultural reminder of liberation, resilience, and identity. Here’s why it matters in the workplace:
✅ It acknowledges that religious and cultural observances may impact employees’ schedules, focus, and food choices.
✅ It creates space for Jewish colleagues to honor family, history, and faith without pressure to explain or justify.
✅ It offers teams an opportunity to reflect on freedom, equity, and inclusion in the workplace today.
✅ It challenges assumptions about dominant cultural norms and encourages thoughtful scheduling and dietary awareness.
Centering inclusion during Passover helps shift your workplace from passive tolerance to active respect.
One Inclusive Celebration Idea
Try this practical, inclusive activity to support Passover in your workplace:
Offer a “Passover-Aware” Meeting & Meals Toolkit.
Here’s how:
- Adjust Meetings: Avoid scheduling major meetings or events on the first two and last two days of Passover, when many observant Jews may take time off or refrain from work.
- Honor Food Needs: If meals or snacks are served, offer kosher-for-Passover options—or at minimum, avoid leavened foods like bread, pasta, and crackers.
- Share Context: Add a short note in team channels or calendars about what Passover is and why some colleagues may observe it differently.
- Respect Boundaries: Don’t expect Jewish employees to be the educators. Offer support, not spotlight.
This small shift in awareness can make a big difference in creating a more inclusive environment during religious holidays.
👉 Ready to explore more workplace-ready tips? Keep reading.
Ready for More?
Would you like a more detailed celebration guide for this holiday? 👉 Join our Free Community Here In our community, you’ll find deeper DIY DEI guides, a full diversity calendar, and workplace-ready tools to help you sustain inclusive, impactful celebrations year‑round.
Pause & Reflect
How can your team better accommodate religious observances with empathy and awareness?
