Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns and Congressman Anthony D. Weiner announced today an effort by the entire New York congressional delegation to ensure that observant Jews are able to take the New York bar exam under equitable conditions. The New York bar exam is scheduled for July 25, 2007, the same date as Tisha B’Av, one of the most solemn days on the Jewish calendar.
Although the New York State Board of Law Examiners is offering the exam on July 26, 2007 for examinees observing Tisha B’Av, examinees on that date are not allowed to take the exam on their laptop computers. Congressman Towns and Congressman Weiner have jointly written a letter to the Board of Law Examiners requesting the board to allow observant examinees to write the exam on their laptop computers. This letter has been signed by the entire New York congressional delegation.
“We commend [the] efforts [of the Board of Law Examiners] to ensure that Jewish examinees are able to take the bar exam on an alternate date. We are concerned, however, that the facility arranged for the alternate date by the New York State Board of Law Examiners is inadequate in so far as it will preclude the use of laptop computers, placing the examinees, who must hand write their exams, at a significant competitive disadvantage. We urge you to reconsider these arrangements. Observant Jewish examinees should not be penalized or placed at a disadvantage for adhering to their religious beliefs,” the letter stated.
“I also recognize the continued leadership of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on this issue. Speaker Silver has fought hard in the past to ensure that all people have equal access to standardized tests and is currently working with the Board of Law Examiners on this issue. His successful efforts to rectify this inequality has allowed Jewish examinees to take the bar without sacrificing their faith, as this is not the first time the bar exam conflicts with Tisha B’Av. Most recently, Speaker Silver translated is advocacy into legislation by amending New York State’s current religious protection “Equal Access” law to include professional exams, including bar examinees,” said Congressman Towns.
“The bar exam is the most important test in the life of future lawyers. I am optimistic that the Board of Law Examiners will remove this obstacle in the path of all of New York’s observant examinees,” concluded Congressman Towns.
“Making our future lawyers choose between their religion and the bar exam is wrong,” said Rep. Weiner. “These students will also be at serious disadvantage without their laptops, and I hope the Board does the right thing and gives them the same playing field as their colleagues.”
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19 Responses
(Tisha B’Av will occur on Tuesday, July 24, this year.
May HaShem please turn it into a day of celebration
with the rebuilding of Our Holy Bais HaMikdosh.
WEINER IS A DEMOCRAT AND A LEFTIST, JUST PANDERING TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR VOTES.
Somehow this appears to be a covert way of limiting the amount of Jewish lawyers. This may sound off the mark but it is too suspicious to me.
Weiner may be a liberal Democrat,but that doesn’t forbid him from doing what’s right. There is no reason why a frum Jew who wants to become a lawyer should have to take an important exam when he’s fasting and on a day when there is no brocho.We should be thankful that we live in a country and with people who respect our needs. If Moshiach comes before this coming 9th of Av,then Tish’a b’Av will be I Y H ,a Yom Tov’ We wouldn’t want anyone to be mechallel Yom Tov>
Good luck to all those people taking the exam.May H K B H help get K’lal Yisroyel more honest and up standing lawyers for our next generation!
Jews should not be liars… eh lawyers.
Q: How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?
A: His lips are moving.
Q: Why won’t sharks attack lawyers?
A: Professional courtesy.
Q: What do you have when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in sand?
A: Not enough sand.
Q: Where can you find a good lawyer?
A: In the cemetery.
Q: What’s the problem with lawyer jokes?
A: Lawyer’s don’t think they’re funny, and no one else thinks they’re jokes.
As someone who is taking the NY bar this summer, and who filed out the forms for the Tisha B’Av accomodation, i have mixed feelings about this.
Part of me is happy, because I definitely wanted to be able to take the laptop option. However, part of me feels that it is a big enough deal that we are allowed to have a seperate day at all (considering that melacha is not assur on Tisha b’As). Why be a “pig” and try for everything and risk messing up the entire accomodation. We are in Galus and we have to adapt to the world we live in.
Let me also point out that the laptop option is not standard, and is not the norm. People can select it but nor everyone who wants it will get it. The laptop program is a new thing they are trying out.
well said kaj!!
dk:
I am also taking the NY Bar this summer and I had the exact feelings as you. Still, I certainly would prefer the laptop option, so I’m curious to see how this will turn out.
Qudosh:
If lawyers are so bad, then mosdos should not take their money. I hope that yeshivas dont take tuition for my kids, or at least not “full” (aka subsidizing the kollel children) tuition. Also, please dont ask me for any money for your shul or yeshiva.
Its funny how everyone bashes lawyers but then has no problem asking them for help when they get into trouble or taking their money.
Grow up. The worst problem that the jewish community has with people not telling the truth is from business people who have their own business (just read the paper). Attorneys are not usually the ones who are featured in the scandal of the week.
dk, grow up and get a sense of humor. Perhaps the grocer, the butcher, and the candlestick maker should not take their money too.
dk, I hope you pass the bar whenever it is and quickly hire a secretary to type your blogs!!! “filed out the forms” and “but nor everyone…” Hatzlochoh!
My time already is, and will continue to be, too valuable to waste on grammer and spelling correction for the comment section of a blog.
eliezer:
Are you looking for a job? you seem pretty adept at all things typing related, so why not take your skills and use them to earn a living?
1) dk – Great attitude!!! and when you apply for your first job and your application is filled with grammatical errors, just explain to the hiring manager that your time is too valuable to be spent on such trivial details. I am sure you will make a lasting impression.
2) YW – one of the jokes listed does not belong on YW. If you can not figure out which one, email me and I will tell you.
MDlevine:
It appears that your time is too valuable to waste with logical thinking. I stated that my time was too valuable to waste on grammar and spelling in the comments on a blog. The logical inference to be drawn is that I would not feel the same about grammar ans spelling on a job application.
hey dk – I read an understood your comment and I understand just how valuable your time is. guess what, all of our time is valuable and we all choose to spend some time here. we all make mistakes in either facts or grammer. I was pointing out to you just how pompous you came across and if you present yourself in others situations the same way as you do here — hatzlacha rabba!
b/t/w “The worst problem that the jewish community has with people not telling the truth is from business people who have their own business (just read the paper). Attorneys are not usually the ones who are featured in the scandal of the week” — FALSE! — 1) you maligned all Jewish businessmen/women and 2) go read the news one local NY paper has been writing column after column of these crooked lawyers. big trial in Brooklyn within the past few weeks regarding bribery divorces.
finally dk – remember as you earn your money – it is all just a gift from HaShem
“Grammar ans spelling”??? LOL!!
thanks YW Editor!!!