Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer today lauded the efforts of state legislators and Jewish community leaders for their strong effort to confront the potentially disenfranchising actions that have resulted from the decision of the Edison School board to hold this year’s September school bond referendums on September 30, a date which conflicts with Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar.

 “Knowingly scheduling a school board election on one of the most holy days in all of Judaism is an insult to New Jerseyans everywhere who value the diversity of our state,” said Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen/Essex), the Legislature’s only orthodox Jewish member. “I am proud to stand with a coalition of legislators and religious and civic leaders in seeking a new date for this election. Hopefully, through our collective efforts, this will be the first and last time such a conflict will ever arise.”

Schaer said he remains hopeful that a solution can be reached in time to protect Jewish voters from potentially being disenfranchised next month. The Assemblyman said he intends to work with his legislative colleagues to craft a measure that would enact a permanent statutory fix to protect the religious beliefs of residents when major observances fall on election days.

Schaer singled out for praise Assemblymen Patrick Diegnan and Peter Barnes, who have been working for several weeks towards a solution to the unique scheduling conflict. He also thanked Senator Barbara Buono as well as the Anti-Defamation League, Agudath Israel of New Jersey, the N.J. State Association of Jewish Federations, American Jewish Committee, Orthodox Union, and Edison Township school officials for their efforts to bring the problem to the fore.

(YWN Desk – NYC)