New York City denied Jewish educators a religious observance day this week to prepare for Passover, The Post has learned.
The eight-day Jewish holiday began on Saturday April 12 this year, coinciding with the Jewish Sabbath, a day of rest. Those traveling, preparing for the Seder feast or performing pre-Passover traditions like the ridding of leavened foods had to do so in the days before the holiday.
But school staffers hoping to take Friday off as a religious holiday were out of luck.
A memo sent to school leaders early in the week said those who wanted to take the day off Friday to prep for Passover would have to “consider/discuss an alternate schedule,” request a personal or vacation day or work from home.
“There may be employees who require additional time off on April 11 to prepare, or travel, for religious observance,” the notice, which was shared with The Post, stated.
In considering an “alternate schedule,” it suggested moving one’s lunch to the end of the day.
Advocates pressed City Hall and schools chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos this week to allow the religious observance day but officials decided against it Thursday, determining that Friday was not a religious day, sources said.
A spokeswoman for the DOE said it “supports our teachers and staff of all faiths” but stood by the memo sent earlier this week.
“While Passover starts on Saturday this year, any staff member who needed time off on the day before could request that their schedule be rearranged to leave early Friday without loss of pay, or to take a paid personal business day or annual leave day,” she said.
A City Hall spokesperson also reiterated the option to take a paid personal day, adding, “Mayor Adams has always been dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace environment for people of all faiths, including those in the Jewish community.”
Jewish educators and activists railed against the decision.
“We’re obviously disappointed with their decision and the Jewish staff impacted don’t agree that the accommodations were enough to fulfill their religious obligations of the day,” Moshe Spern, president of the United Jewish Teachers group, told The Post.
Tova Plaut, a teacher and co-founder of the New York City Public Schools Alliance, said the decision “erases core Jewish values and disregards the voices of those who live by them.”
“The DOE has taken it upon itself to override centuries of Jewish law — deciding it knows better than rabbis when and how Jews should observe Passover,” she said.
Disputes have emerged over the decades when Passover and the Christian holy day of Good Friday don’t fall during the public school system’s spring break, which begins Monday.
In 2024, the DOE granted the last two days of Passover off, following blowback from parents and teachers, according to reports.
