Hewlett-Woodmere residents address adding Eid holidays 

Nearly 20 Muslim community members and supporters spoke at the Dec. 15 Hewlett-Woodmere Board of Education meeting on adding Eid to the school calendar. The last meeting before the Jan. 12 meeting, when the board will decide to add the Eid holidays to the school calendar. Eid al Fitr is on a weekday in May in 2022 and in April in 2023, while Eid al Adha falls on weekends in July 2022 and June 2023.

Hewlett High School junior Ibrahim Rasheed, who spoke four years ago on the same topic, requested the addition so that he does not have to choose between school and family. “This year, I’m enrolled in various AP [Advanced Placement] courses, as well as honors classes,” Rasheed said, “therefore, even missing a day of school would cause me to fall behind very quickly.” He said his older sister also addressed the board in the past and he hopes that his younger sister will not have to do the same in the future.

Zahra Hussain, a Woodmere Middle School seventh-grader, kept her head down while she spoke to the board. “I heard this quote the other day while watching ‘Spiderman’ and it reminded me of the board,” Hussain said. “The quote was, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’, and it made me think: you have the power to make a very impactful change — but are you responsible enough to do it?”

Hussain added how she loves to share her culture with her friends. “Why does Hewlett-Woodmere not celebrate its diversity and raise awareness to all kinds of people and traditions?” Hussain asked. “Why are some more important than others? Why do I feel excluded?”

Hussain’s sisters who attend Ogden Elementary, Mishal Hussain, a fourth-grader, and fifth-grader Erina Hussain, both spoke about their experiences missing school to celebrate Eid, which they both described as difficult and confusing.

Erina described the celebrations that happen on Eid. “It feels a lot like Christmas and Hanukkah and other major holidays,” she said, “the most important thing is being together with those we love on this important day. If you add Eid to the school calendar, then our celebration would be that much better.” Erina added: “Please give us Eid, its free. You don’t have to pay a nickel if you use the superintendents conference days!”

Sahar Hussain, mother of Mishal, Erina, and Zahra noted the  two petitions that have circulated circulating, one of which has nearly 900 signatures and the other has at least 200 signatures from just District 14 residents in support of adding the Eid holidays.

Sahar added that the Eid Collective gained recognition from many people outside the school district and organizations in the form of letters and signatures, including letters from Asqua Altaf, a Disney filmmaker, and Dr. Benjamin Rifkin, a professor of comparative literature, languages and linguistics at Hofstra University, who noted his experience with Jewish anti-Semitism and inclusion.

Woodmere Middle School eighth-grader Intisa Ahmed said that Eid celebrants feel invisible and less important, and that the district is not honoring diversity, equity and inclusion. “It’s the holiday season, the most wonderful time of the year,” Ahmed said. “But when it’s my turn to carry out on our own festivities, why do I get different treatment?”

Though new to the district, student Anoosha Virani was no less honest. “I feel hurt. I feel like the people out here today don’t feel hear,” she said. “We have this microphone that projects all around the room, but can you hear us? Can you really hear what we’re saying?”

None of the six board members  at the Dec. 15 meeting commented, and  when board President Debra Sheinin, who did not attend, was called, she had no comment.