JERUSALEM (JTA) — Haifa University will become the first Israeli university to give days off to the student body for Christian and Arab holidays.
The university senate voted Sunday to give off for Christmas; Eid al Fitr, the end of Ramadan; and Eid al Adha, the Druze Feast of the Sacrifice, Haaretz reported. A special committee with student representation had recommended the action.
Arab-Israelis make up about 20 percent of the student body at Haifa University, according to its Jewish-Arab Center.
The new vacation days, which will not come at the expense of any Jewish holidays, will go into effect in the coming school year.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
