What if I have tests, assignments due or class on Jewish Holidays? How can I avoid being penalized for this?

This is a common issue many Jewish students deal with. One option is to attend a school like YU, Touro, Brandeis, or IDC Herzliya, that operate around a Jewish calendar and do not have classes on Jewish holidays (Brandeis does have class on Chol Hamoed Sukkot and Simchat Torah). In addition, if there are OU-JLIC Torah Educators on campus, they can often help you work things out with the administration. Many of the most popular colleges for Orthodox yeshiva high school graduates have an OU-JLIC. And you can check here if the school(s) you are considering do. For any other colleges’ you are considering, ask the administration/recruiter how they handle this. If you choose another college and do have tests, assignments or class on chagim, first try to explain your situation and religious convictions to the professor, and if that doesn’t work, then approach the administration. Be sure to check your class schedules and syllabi as soon as you receive them and let your professors/administration know of conflicts as soon as possible. Even if your school does accommodate you, you will still miss class and need to make up the materials. Schools with more Orthodox students tend to be more familiar with the Jewish holidays, which can make getting accommodations easier. If you are penalized for missing a test, assignment or class due to the holidays, you might have legal recourse under the “Free Exercise Clause” of the First Amendment (only applies to public colleges) and/or state law, but it’s better to avoid these issues in the first place.