William Penn envisioned Pennsylvania as a colony of religious freedom and tolerance. Our commonwealth has a history of respecting the rich diversity of various religious traditions. Pennsylvania currently recognizes several holidays honoring important historical, cultural, and religious events. In 2024, the PA House and Senate passed a bill recognizing Diwali as an official state holiday in Pennsylvania, which joins other religious holidays recognized by the commonwealth.
 
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-Adha and Eid al-Fitr are two of the holiest dates in the Islamic calendar. 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.” 
 
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. 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.
 
Please join us in cosponsor this bill to officially recognize these special times of community, prayer, family and fellowship for members of these faiths.