CHURCH-STATE page 4
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THE JEWI S H NEWS
So Easy
To Critique
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time settlement. Once we signal
that we are willing to make ex-
ceptions for our own benefit, it
will be interpreted that we are
willing to make exceptions to the
detriment of others, and thus,
should expect nothing different
for ourselves.
The stories heard lately from
schools in the suburbs about
Christmas icons in the classroom,
religious type songs included in
classroom holiday parties and at-
tempt after attempt to find the
equal-time balance between hol-
idays, as well as the hands-off at-
titude of school administrators in
maintaining policies that are now
in place in most districts to pre-
vent violation of the separation
directive, signals that the climate
is right for school prayer to creep
back into our children's daily cur-
riculum.
Although teachers are well-in-
tentioned in highlighting differ-
ences among "cultures," there is
a danger when religion is treat-
ed as a culture and, as a result,
students are categorized by the
beliefs they hold. Further, any ef-
fort to determine if the benefits
of practices such as prayer in
public schools outweigh the neg-
atives is not an appropriate ap-
proach. As with any civil liberty,
a negative impact on one is a neg-
ative impact on all and thus can-
not be "outweighed" by a
counter-balancing positive.
We as parents of public-school
children must confront these en-
croachments on the separation
doctrine at the earliest hint of
such an event and in a direct and
non-offensive manner. The Jew-
ish Community Council and the
Anti-Defamation League stand
ready to assist in more difficult
circumstances. But it is the par-
ents who can have the greatest
opportunity and responsibility
for impact by being involved with
teachers, administrators, and the
curriculum and by staying the
course in keeping all religion out
of the public schools, even our
own.
Mark Davidoff
West Bloomfield
AD 194
After reading J.S. Kaufman's let-
ter to the editor (Dec. 23), I re-
alize he is making a point that no
Jew in the galut (Diaspora) can
in good conscience make. It is so
easy for us as Jews living in the
galut to sit back and critique the
policies of the Israeli government.
We don't suffer in any tangible
way from 7,000 miles away. We
don't pay exorbitant taxes, we
don't lose our sons and fathers to
war, nor do we live in fear of ter-
rorist attacks.
Israel is a democracy and as
such has a democratically elect-
edgovernment. The Rabin gov-
ernment has withstood
numerous votes of confidence in
the past two years which should,
in and of itself, serve to validate
the Labor Party's right to power.
To use the Gallup Poll to suggest
that Prime Minister Rabin no
longer enjoys the support of the
nation is absurd. Israel is a coun-
try where daily events, such as a
terrorist attack, can sway public
opinion on a moment's notice.
If J.S. Kaufman is so quick to
condemn the policies of the Is-
raeli government, maybe he
should make the ultimate sacri-
fice and make aliyah. Then, and
only then, can he make his ob-
jections legitimate. It is in our
best interest to have policy mak-
ers here in the United States sup-
port the Israeli government, no
matter who is in control.
One final note: I have yet to
hear those people complaining
about the inadequacies of the
peace process provide any real al-
ternatives.
It is a painful realization that
we Jews who have chosen to be
comfortable in the United States
have no right or authority to den-
igrate the policies of the Israeli
government. The best we can do
is support Prime Minister Rabin
in his efforts to achieve peace,
just as we should support every
other Israeli government in its
efforts to achieve its policies.
Elisa R Lupovitch
Chicago
No Guarantee
For Good Conduct
By now you've probably been told
over and over that the Lord's
Prayer is not Psalm 23. It's part
of the Sermon on the Mount,
from Matthew, Chapter 6. Inter-
estingly, Jesus' sermon would
keep prayer out of schools, for he
advised people to pray privately.
"When you pray, go into a
room by yourself, shut the door,
and pray to your Father who is
there in the secret place" (New
English Bible translation). That's
good advice for proponents of
school prayer, for school prayer
does nothing to promote good
conduct.
I grew up in England, a land
with an official religion and a dai-
ly diet of school prayer. During
the prayer portion of morning as-
sembly, Jews, Muslims and
Catholics — about 4 percent of
the school body — lined up out-
side the school hall and entered
for the daily announcements; in
a Christian country, in those days
it was not possible for Catholics
to pray with Anglicans.
We learned without fear of
guns and knives. Rebellious na-
tures descended to smoking —
drugs were almost unheard of —
but rarely lower.
What kept us in line?
Had school prayer served in
any way to promote good con-
duct, surely the non-Anglican mi-
NO GUARANTEE page 10