PFA 2026 Convention & Rosh Hashanah

Dear PFA Members, 

We are writing to you directly, as the board & staff of PFA, to take responsibility for a mistake: our 2026 Annual Meeting in Buffalo was scheduled for September 10–13, dates that fall during Rosh Hashanah, one of the most significant holidays on the Jewish calendar. 

This should not have happened. Reviewing a major religious calendar before locking in conference dates is a basic step, and it is one we missed. That is on us for not catching it before the dates were finalized. 

We know what that oversight means in practice. For members who observe Rosh Hashanah, this conflict isn't an inconvenience to work around; it can mean choosing between an important professional gathering and a core religious and family obligation. No one should have to make that choice because we didn't do our homework.  

To our Jewish members in particular: we are sorry. You should have been able to take it for granted that PFA would plan around a holiday like this, and we let you down. 

We also want to be honest about why this matters beyond one calendar conflict. PFA has spent time and resources over the past several years building out our DEI commitments, and we've asked this community to trust that those commitments are genuine. A mistake like this puts that trust to the test. Saying inclusion matters and then scheduling our flagship event over a major religious holiday is a contradiction, and we're not going to explain it away. We got it wrong. 

We are grateful to the members who brought this forward directly and pushed us to address it head-on, rather than letting it pass quietly. That kind of accountability is exactly what makes this community stronger, and we don't take it for granted. 

Because the 2026 contract is already in place, we are not able to move the meeting dates this year. We recognize that does not undo the harm, and we're not offering it as a resolution — only as context for the two steps we are taking to reduce the impact this year: 

Looking beyond this year, we are committing to a concrete change in how we plan: every future PFA meeting date will be checked against an interfaith and cultural calendar before it is finalized, as part of our standard site-selection process. 

We know a statement doesn't undo a scheduling decision already made, and we're not asking anyone to see it that way. What we can do is own the mistake plainly, apologize to the members it affects, and change our process so it doesn't happen again. 

If you have questions, concerns, or would like to talk with us directly about this, please reach out. We mean that sincerely, and we will listen. 

With respect and accountability, 

PFA Board & Staff