Brooklyn Yeshivas File Complaint Over Education Practices

Four prominent yeshivas in Brooklyn—Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion, Oholei Torah, United Talmudical Academy, and Yeshiva Mesivta Arugas Habosem—have filed a federal civil rights complaint against New York State and City education departments, alleging discriminatory practices that threaten their religious identity. The complaint claims that officials refuse to recognize Jewish studies as part of the curriculum, interfere with hiring processes, and do not accommodate gender-segregated classrooms, which are essential to their educational model. Avi Schick, the attorney representing the yeshivas, emphasized that these actions would strip the schools of their Jewish character, arguing that the reviews impose a secular perspective on their education. Critics, including advocates for yeshiva reform, counter that the requirement to teach basic secular subjects is not an infringement on religious values but rather a necessary accountability measure. The complaint follows a 2022 investigation that highlighted deficiencies in some ultra-religious schools, leading to tougher state regulations aimed at ensuring educational adequacy. The New York State Education Department has stated that the yeshivas' claims are a challenge to state law, asserting their commitment to educational standards.