Push Coming To Add More Official PA Holidays

HARRISBURG, PA — A group of Pennsylvania lawmakers are preparing to introduce legislation that would add four new official state holidays to the calendar.

The legislation would formally recognize the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and the Islamic holidays of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

"Currently, none of these four holidays are recognized as state holidays in Pennsylvania, despite their importance in the lives of the more than half a million Muslim and Jewish people living here," the nine state representatives wrote in a memo to colleagues seeking support for the measure.

"Like the Diwali bill in the last session that was passed and adopted with strong bipartisan support, our bill would recognize these major holidays of Judaism and Islam but would
not require schools or workplaces to provide a day off."

In September, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed legislation making Diwali an official holiday in the state. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some
Buddhists.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered the High Holy Days in Judaism. Rosh Hashanah marks the faith’s New Year and Yom Kippur, which comes ten days later, is the holiest day of the year, dedicated to atonement for one's sins. Yom Kippur concludes a period of introspection
and repentance known as the "Ten Days of Awe."

Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the pilgrimage of Muslims, and Eid al-Fitr is the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. Similar to Yom Kippur, which incorporates fasting, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of a month of fasting during daylight hours, and is also known as the “festival of breaking the fast.”

Representatives preparing to introduce the legislation are Dan Frankel and Abigail Salisbury, both of Allegheny County; Keith Harris of Philadelphia County; Carol Kazeem of Delaware County and Michael Schlossberg of Lehigh County. Representatives-elect are Tarik Kahn, Jared Solomon and Ben Waxman, all of Philadelphia County and Robert Freeman of Northampton County.