Jewish organizations or leaders should not request that public schools be closed on the Jewish High Holy Days, but Jewish organizations and community leaders should not interpose objections to such closings provided the “record is made clear that the decision was made purely for administrative reasons and that the Jewish community has requested no such action, “the Synagogue Council of America–representing the Orthodox. Conservative and Reform movements–and the National Community Relations Advisory Council declared today in a joint statement.
The statement, released by the Joint Advisory Committee on Religion and the Public School of the two organizations, stressed that “it should be the concern of the Jewish community that no Jewish child or teacher shall be penalized for remaining away from school on a Jewish religious holiday.” The statement was issued in response to request for counsel from rabbis and Jewish groups in various parts of the country, according to representatives of the joint advisory group.
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