Pennsylvania State Rep. Jared Solomon doesn’t want to have “to choose between celebrating Passover and going to the polls.”
“Passover is a Jewish holiday commemorating the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt and the “passing over” of the forces of destruction, or the sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites, when the Lord “smote the land of Egypt” on the eve of the Exodus,” said Britannica.
The day is often celebrated with great pomp and ceremony, especially on the first night, when a special family meal called the seder is held, Britannica continues to say.
The Jewish Democrat, who represents Philadelphia in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly, is one of many prominent voices in the state pushing to change the date of next year’s presidential primary vote from April 23, the second day of the Jewish holiday.
The state’s governor, Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs, is also supporting a different date. Wikipedia indicates that Solomon was born on November 18, 1978, and served as the representative for the 202nd District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
“He is a member of the Democratic Party. A former Army Reserve JAG officer, Solomon was chair of the PA House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee,” said Wikipedia.
Shapiro “The governor supports moving the 2024 primary to ensure that observers of Passover have every opportunity to exercise their right to vote and looks forward to working with the General Assembly to change the date,” said Shapiro’s press secretary, Manuel Bonder.
Solomon sponsored legislation to change the primary date, stating that he hoped voting earlier in the year would increase Pennsylvania’s level of influence in the national primaries.
“I just have always wanted to bump it up so that we’re in the mix with other states,” said Solomon.
Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate
Edited by Priscilla Jepchumba and Judy J. Rotich
