JewishERGs, the global network for Jewish employee resource groups, is closely watching Cohen v. City of New York, a case brought by the National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of seven New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene employees.
According to the complaint, the department twice declined to recognize HINENU: The Jewish ERG, reasoning that Jewish identity is religious and that ERGs cannot be based on religious groups. HINENU’s charter, the complaint says, describes a group built around Jewish peoplehood, ancestry and culture, not religious practice.
“Sadly, this story is a familiar one,” said Steven Phillips, Executive Director of JewishERGs. “Time and again, we hear from Jewish employees who have been told they cannot form a group because of an assumption that being Jewish is only about religion. For most of us, it is also about peoplehood, heritage, culture and community. That is why we will be watching this case closely.”
Given the current climate for Jewish employees, JewishERGs will be monitoring the case with keen interest as it moves through the court.
Anyone running a Jewish employee group who is facing similar barriers, or who would like to be part of a global community of Jewish ERG leaders, is warmly invited to get in touch at hello@jewishergs.org.
About JewishERGs JewishERGs is the world’s largest network of Jewish ERG leaders, supporting communities across more than 250 workplaces globally. It supports Jewish professionals in being their authentic selves at work by building a global and local community of Jewish employee groups.
Media contact: press@jewishergs.org