Professor Aaron Twerski challenges NY State’s alleged inequitable education policies toward yeshivas

Professor Aaron Twerski, a renowned figure from Brooklyn Law School, has been leading a critical challenge against the NYS Education Department (SED) over what is perceived as double standards in educational regulations. 

The issue at hand revolves around the substantial equivalence regulations established last year, compelling private schools to demonstrate that their secular education matches the quality offered in public schools. 

Professor Twerski, a notable scholar who was recently celebrated for his vast contributions to tort law during the Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law Annual Symposium, argues that these regulations disproportionately affect yeshivas. 

He asserts that unlike public schools, which can run bilingual programs, yeshivas are being forced to teach core subjects solely in English, a demand that undermines their cultural and linguistic heritage.

The allegations of a double standard were bolstered by leaked audio from David Frank, an SED official. In this recording, Frank acknowledges the disparity in the application of these rules between public and private schools. 

This sentiment is shared by Professor Twerski, who articulated his concerns in an op-ed, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural identity through education, especially in languages central to the Jewish community like Yiddish and Aramaic.

While Education Commissioner Betty Rosa has defended the regulations, stating their intention to foster English proficiency alongside cultural understanding, the yeshiva advocates contend that this approach does not align with the educational aspirations of their community. 

They emphasize the significance of religious texts like the Talmud being taught in traditional languages, integral to their cultural identity.

The dispute has escalated into a legal battle, with…