Bill Text: NJ AR124 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges school districts to observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as school holidays.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [AR124 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR124-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman AMY H. HANDLIN
District 13 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Urges school districts to observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as school holidays.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging school districts to observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as school holidays.
Whereas, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the widely observed high holy days of the Jewish faith, marked by solemnity and deep moral and spiritual introspection; and
Whereas, Rosh Hashanah literally means "head of the year" or "first of the year" in Hebrew, and marks the start of the Jewish New Year, which varies each year because the Jewish calendar is based on the lunar cycle; and
Whereas, Rosh Hashanah is a two-day celebration that begins at sundown on the eve of the new year, and ends at sundown on the second day of the new year; and
Whereas, Rosh Hashanah also marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, or the Days of Repentance, a 10-day period of introspection leading to Yom Kippur on the tenth day; and
Whereas, Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement" in Hebrew and is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur; and
Whereas, Observers of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are not permitted to work during those days; and
Whereas, While many school districts across New Jersey already observe Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, or both, by closing schools, a number of districts, including some with a significant number of students who observe the Jewish faith, do not close their schools; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges school districts which enroll students who observe the Jewish faith to close their schools in observance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the State Board of Education, which is urged to distribute to each school district a copy of the resolution and information concerning the celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution urges school districts which enroll students who observe the Jewish faith to close their schools in observance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah marks the first day of the Jewish New Year, as well as the beginning of the Days of Awe. This period of introspection culminates with Yom Kippur on the tenth day.
Current State law at N.J.S.A.18A:36-14 and N.J.S.A.18A:36-15 protects a student's right to observe religious holidays. These laws ensure that a student's absence on a religious holiday will be recorded as an excused absence and that the student cannot be deprived of any opportunity for any award or of the right to take an alternate test or examination. Under N.J.S.A.18A:36-16, the Commissioner of Education is directed to develop a list of holidays on which it is mandatory to excuse a pupil. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are included on the current year's list of religious holidays permitting student absence from school. Under the resolution, a school district which enrolls students who observe the Jewish faith is urged to go beyond these requirements by closing schools on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
