West Orange, NJ, August 19, 2008…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed the decision by the Edison Township School Board to propose a new school bond election date that had been scheduled on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The new date moves the vote from September 30 to December 9.

“We are heartened that the Edison Public School District recognized that scheduling the vote on Rosh Hashanah effectively created a separate and more burdensome voting procedure for Jewish residents of Edison,” said Etzion Neuer, Regional Director of ADL’s New Jersey Office. “The rescheduling of the vote is a welcome development and establishes an equal voting process for all residents.”

On August 14, ADL sent a letter co-signed by other New Jersey Jewish organizations to John DiMuzio, acting superintendent of schools for Edison Township, urging him to change the date of the $57.8 million school construction bond vote.

In the letter, the organizations pointed out that “Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, a Jewish high holiday, and among the most solemn days of the Jewish calendar. Observance of this holiday entails considerable time spent in prayer in synagogue while strict adherence to the religious restrictions of Rosh Hashanah renders it impermissible to cast a vote on the day.”