I grew up on Hope Street in Bristol, and while I now live outside of town, I proudly consider myself a “Bristolian.” In 43 years, I missed our parade only once.

In the 1960s, my late grandfather, Jim Macdonald (known as “Mac”), filed a lawsuit against his country club for refusing to admit Jewish members. The case went to the Ohio Supreme Court, where it was lost. Grampa Mac and his family were ejected from the club. They left Ohio and moved to Bristol, where they set down new roots and raised their family, including my mom, Georgina. In a roundabout way, I am a Bristolian because of antisemitism in Ohio.

Grampa Mac would have opposed the Bristol Warren School Committee rescheduling school to start on Rosh Hashanah. Thankfully, the superintendent did as well and overrode that decision.

As a Christian, I learned that for transgressions against God, the gates of repentance are always open, but when harming other people, one must seek forgiveness from that person. Jews learn this too, with Rosh Hoshanah being about starting each new year with a clean slate.

I hope the School Committee will seek forgiveness from those hurt by their handling of this matter, and together cast off this turn of events to start the new year with a clean slate. That’s not just the spirit of Rosh Hashanah, it’s what Bristolians do.

Angus Macdonald Davis
Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico