The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven municipal health employees against the City of New York, its Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the agency's equal employment opportunity (EEO) director last Tuesday, alleging that the agency twice refused to recognize a Jewish employee group and subsequently subjected its leaders to a retaliatory investigation.According to the lawsuit, the health department operates an Employee Resource Group (ERG) program that provides approved groups with official recognition, an agency email account, a SharePoint page, calendar access, and an annual budget of $5,000.However, the agency twice refused to recognize a Jewish employee group named Hinenu in July 2025 and July 2026, claiming that Jewish identity is religious and that employee resource groups cannot be based on religious groups. The plaintiffs state that Hinenu's charter explicitly defined the group around Jewish peoplehood, ancestry, and culture, noting it would not engage in religious worship, instruction, or political advocacy.The complaint highlights that this rejection contrasts with the agency's recognition of six other groups, including one defined by the shared ancestry of the indigenous peoples of Southwest Asia and North Africa.'Unable to make findings'Following the murder of Jewish people gathered for a Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, in December 2025, Hinenu emailed approximately eighty-five employees to mourn the…
Jewish advocacy group sues NYC on behalf of Jewish health workers
The New York agency twice refused to recognize a Jewish employee group, stating that Jewish identity is religious and that resource groups can't be based on religious groups.
In brief
The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven municipal health employees against the City of New York, its Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the agency's equal employment opportunity (EEO) director last Tuesday, alleging that the agency twice refused to recognize a Jewish employee group and subsequently subjected its leaders to a retaliatory investigation.According to the lawsuit, the health department operates an Employee Resource Group (ERG) program that provides approved groups with official recognition, an agency email account, a SharePoint page, calendar access, and an annual budget of $5,000.However, the agency twice refused to reco…
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