Penn State U Makes Special Plans So That Jewish Students Can Avoid Yom Kippur Schedule

The Pennsylvania State University and its Commonwealth campuses, which had scheduled academic activities for Yom Kippur, have agreed to make alternate plans for Jewish students who wish to celebrate the holy day.

Norman M. Wall, chairman of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation League Regional Advisory Board and David S. Zelitch, Chairman of the Pennsylvania ADL Board’s Discrimination Committee announced that “the University has made provision for Jewish students not wishing to report on Sept. 17 because of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which begins at sundown and continues through Monday, Sept. 18 at sundown, to delay their arrival until Tuesday morning, Sept. 19. Approximately 7500 Jewish students attend the Pennsylvania State University system, according to Samuel L. Gaber, regional director of the ADL.

Earlier this year, the University invited the ADL to assist school officials in developing appropriate alternative arrangements for Jewish students, Wall said. The University had scheduled new students to report for orientation week activities on the holy day. Students will now be allowed to make-up any testing sessions and other activities they miss, Gaber said.

In a statement concerning the decision, the University said, “The Pennsylvania State University makes every reasonable effort to avoid conflicts with religious holidays. Therefore, it is sensitive to the concerns of the Jewish community for the appropriate observance of holidays such as the Day of Atonement. Where conflicts resulting from these observances occur, the University has made alternative arrangements for the students affected.”

Gaber called the decision a “bell lever for other public institutions” in regards to all religious observances. “this kind of accommodation can be made by other public and private groups,” he said.