Local Yeshivas File Civil Rights Complaint Against NYS And NYSED

By Idy Perl

The latest civil rights complaint filed recently by four chassidish yeshivos against New York State and the NYS Department of Education has already sparked widespread media coverage and outrage. 

The 20-page complaint, filed by Bobov Yeshiva Bnei Zion, Oholei Torah, United Talmudical Academy, and Yeshivah Mesivta Arugas Habosem, details five claims accusing the state and city of discrimination against Jewish institutions. 

Firstly, the schools claim discrimination as the department refuses to give credit to any kodesh courses offered by the schools. Furthermore, the education department demands that the instructions for kodesh courses should be in English, despite many public schools being allowed to teach in Spanish. 

The filing fights back at demands that schools teach material that it deems inappropriate and not in line with Jewish values, since private schools have a choice regarding the material they choose to share with their students. 

The last two claims are from specific schools, one which met all educational requirements but the city then tried to interfere with their hiring practices, which is against the law. Another school is accusing the city of discrimination as they specifically asked that the inspectors that come to the upper grades in the yeshivah should be male, but the city refused to accommodate their request and sent a female inspector, which infringes upon the school’s religious rights. 

Some have also pointed out the hypocrisy of the State Education Department, as while they accuse Jewish schools of giving their students a substandard education, have been lowering the standards in public schools and awarding diplomas to many students who fail to reach the state’s standards. Those students are no more prepared for life beyond school than any yeshivah student, yet the state has been bending over backwards to ensure they get their diplomas. It’s clear that the SED has a vendetta against Jewish schools, rather than concern for the education that their students receive. 

The US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights has acknowledged the complaints and has confirmed that they are under review.