Orthodox Jews will be shut out from watching two of the three presidential debates on television, in addition to the lone vice presidential debate, because the dates fall on Jewish holidays.

Assemblyman Dov Hikind from Brooklyn and others are calling for one of the two presidential debates to be rescheduled.

“We are requesting that you change at least one of these two dates so that thousands of American Jews would be enabled to watch two of the three forthcoming debates in this critical election,” Mr. Hikind wrote in a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, which overseas the events. The letter, sent on Monday, was co-signed by 17 fellow New York politicians, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

The first presidential debate on September 30 coincides with Sukkot, a week-long holiday. The second debate, on October 8, falls on the eve of the Sabbath. Orthodox Jews will also be unable to view the vice presidential debate on TV, which occurs on October 5 during the week of the Sukkot.

The scheduled dates “absolutely preclude observant Jewish voters across the country – who are fully eager to become fully informed about the candidates – from turning on the TV or radio,” the letter read.

“Reading about a debate in the newspapers is no substitute for watching the real thing,” the letter added.

“This should be a no-brainer,” Mr. Hikind, an observant Jew, told The New York Sun. “Anyone who is sensitive to cultural differences would agree that rescheduling one of the debates is the right thing to do.”

“We intend to pursue this battle with both parties,” he added. “You’re basically excluding an entire group from the political process.”

The commission would not comment on the religious conflict with the dates. Both the Bush and Kerry campaigns referred all questions about the debates to the commission.

In 2000, Gore garnered 80% of the Jewish vote.