Making Eid a school holiday will benefit all New Yorkers

As a child of immigrants, brought up in New York since the early 1970s, I am grateful that we may finally see the day when Eid holidays are given as a day off in schools across New York.

To make this dream a reality, state legislators must pass the Eid Holiday Bill (A3068/S6179) to recognize these two Muslim holidays throughout the state.

For 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and 1.5 million Muslim New Yorkers, Eid al-adha and Eid al-fitr are the two holiest days of the year. Eid al-fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. It’s a time when Muslims rejoice with their families, friends and neighbors. We attend prayers at our local mosques and spend the day celebrating. Eid aladha marks the pilgrimage to Mecca, celebrated by Muslims throughout the world.

Prior to 2016, when the Eid holidays were adopted in my school district in Suffolk County, both celebrations were marred each year for my children and many others in my community by a decision: Should the children celebrate at home with family, or attend school? While missing two days of school may not seem like a lot, missing just two days of exams and assessments can set a student behind.

In 2016, my school district was one of the first districts on Long Island to adopt Eid Holidays. It was the first year that my own children and I did not need to debate whether or not school was more important than celebrating our holiday.

The Eid Holiday Coalition has continued to bring awareness, petitioning individual school districts to add the Muslim holidays to the school calendar. Over 50 school districts statewide have adopted the Eid holidays.

Nearly a decade later, we are fighting to make Eid al-fitr and Eid al-adha holidays for all school districts statewide. This addition would not only have a profound effect on Muslimamerican students but would help all students be aware of different cultural and religious holidays celebrated by their peers.

Recognizing these holidays will create an opportunity for education and dialogue about the importance of the days in

schools and beyond. What better way to bring cultural and religious awareness to our students?

Including these holidays on our school calendar is a way to ensure that all students feel included and seen, and to celebrate our diverse state.

I am a proud New Yorker, having all of my education in the state, from public school to the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at CUNY Medical School — the first university in New York to add Eid al-fitr, Eid al-adha, Diwali and Lunar New Year to the calendar for all students. It gives me so much pride to live and work in New York. I am hopeful for a future in which all students throughout our state will be celebrating Eid aladha and Eid al-fitr together.