Jessica Brenner, a senior at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, delivered a petition to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy that calls on him to support efforts to provide personal hygiene products for women and girls in low income schools in New Jersey. Over 100 students and teachers in the Teaneck area signed the petition.

Brenner’s petition noted that the high cost of these products often deter parents with limited income from buying them for their daughters. Without these products, girls will often stay home and miss time in the classrooms.

“As Orthodox Jews who care about our fellow citizens, we find this inequity to be an affront to ‘kavod habriyot,’ our shared humanity and human dignity,” she said. “We are calling on the governor to lend his support to legislation pending that would require that feminine hygiene products be provided for free to students in school restrooms throughout the state, particularly in school districts with populations near or below the federal poverty level,” added Brenner.

The petition noted that this should be of concern to everyone, regardless of gender. “No student should find themselves missing classes or experiencing challenging hygiene because they can’t afford these products. I am eagerly awaiting hearing from the governor regarding this important societal issue,” she concluded.