Last week, the AEO REAL Jewish Associate Connection came together to observe Rosh Hashanah, a celebration of the start of the Jewish New Year.
On Thursday, associates met outside the Pittsburgh Headquarters on the banks of the Monongahela River to lead Tashlich – a tradition where bread is cast into flowing water in hopes of starting the New Year with a clean slate. The ceremony included the sounding of the shofar, a cleaned out ram’s horn and symbol of Rosh Hashanah, to raise noise in celebration!
On Friday, associates joined together via WebEx to participate in another Rosh Hashanah tradition- dipping apples in honey. This tradition signifies the hope for a sweet and fruitful year ahead.
A few associates shared their thoughts on the establishment of this new AEO Connection and what it was like to celebrate this holiday for the first time with other AEO associates:
“To me, being Jewish is something that makes me feel special. The fact that I can be special and different at AEO while still being a part of the greater AEO Inc. family is just amazing. What makes me feel even more inclusive is that we are gaining traction with both Jewish associates and NON-Jewish associates joining in on the events. Celebrating the differences is what will bring us all together in the end!”
– Michael, Planning Manager – Merchandise Planning
“I love to hear that people want to learn about the religions/traditions they are not familiar with. I think intolerance is rooted in the fear of the unknown. I hope that the more we understand each other, the more accepting and open minded we will become. This is a step in the right direction of a very long road.”
-Frederique, Channel Manager – Central Pricing
