The Orleans Parish school board here twice rejected requests by the New Orleans Rabbinical Council that the opening of the current school term be set back by two days to avoid a conflict with the Rosh Hashanah holiday. The rabbis were told, however, by Dr. James F. Redmond, superintendent of schools, that Jewish pupils would be excused and their absence would not be recorded.
Initial request for a change in the schools’ opening day was made last April in a letter to the board from Rabbi Emil W. Leipziger, president of the Council. In reply he received a letter from Dr. Redmond rejecting the request but assuring him that Jewish pupils would be excused from attendance. Last week, Rabbis Leo A. Bergman and Israel H. Weisefeld appeared at a meeting of the board to renew the request. Rabbi Bergman told “The Jewish Ledger” here that, while he and his colleagues were cordially received, board members remained indifferent to their arguments.
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