AF Space and Missile Systems Center Industry Days 1, Jewish High Holy Days 0

***UPDATE*** Air Force Times has learned that the Space and Missile Systems Center is planning to reschedule its industry days out of respect to the Jewish celebration of Yom Kippur. Stay tuned!

Whomever  scheduled this year’s  Space and Missile Systems  Center industry days for Sept. 25 through Sept. 27, might need to repent  if they don’t move the event to another set of days.

It just so happens that this year’s event has been scheduled at exactly the same time that Jewish people  observe what is considered the holiest day of their calendar, Yom Kippur,  or the Day of Atonement.

Yom Kippur starts at sundown on Sept.  25 and concludes at the same time on Sept. 26. During that 25-hour time period Jews repent, pray and fast. And this is more than fasting from food and drink, but also abstaining from bathing, applying lotions and perfumes, wearing leather shoes and having sex. Jews also are not allowed to perform any work on that day.

That means attendance could be down, at least among Jewish aerospace professionals,  for the event that typically attracts more than 400 aerospace professionals each year, according to the Website.

The scheduling conflict has come to the attention of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a watchdog group, who’s founder Mikey Weinstein also happens to be Jewish. Weinstein said the foundation is prepared to seek a federal injunction to stop the event if the center doesn’t move it.

During Space and Missile Systems Center Industry Days industry members are invited to learn about what’s new and what’s next at the Space and Missile Systems Center, which is located at the Los Angeles Air Force Base, according to the website.

Air Force Times requested more information about whether the center has attempted to resolve the conflict, but was told by a center spokeswoman in an email that a minimum six-day approval process was need to answer media queries.

Industry Days is sponsored by the center with co-sponsors: The Air Force Association Schriever Air Force Base Chapter, The AFCEA-LA Chapter, NDIA-LA Chapter and the Southern California Aerospace Professional Representatives organization (SCAPR).