SPECIAL COMMENTARY
BIG KIDS
STILL LOVE
THEIR
Protecting Citizens
is been a long, hot, ugly sum-
activities in the public schools. In courts
mer. Synagogues torched. Chil-
across the land, Christian holiday activi-
dren shot. Orthodox men
ties and prayers frequently were
attacked. Jewish landmarks
observed and led by publicly paid chap-
defaced with swastikas. Hatred has
lains. During the 1950s, at a time of
marred the weeks leading up to our
growing civil rights awareness and
holiest Days of Awe.
renewed emphasis on democracy, the
Now as we prepare for this
Supreme Court began to
period of introspection,
more strictly enforce the
reflecting upon our personal
"religion clauses" of the First
and communal responsibili-
Amendment.
ties, it is a good time to ask
As a minority group in
ourselves how we can make a
America, Jews have always
difference this year in the bat-
paid special attention to the
tle against hate.
First Amendment. Professor
One of the most impor-
Stephen Feldman, an expert
tant steps is urging the pas-
on the history of church and
sage of more comprehensive
state separation at the Uni-
BONNIE
federal gun control and hate
versity of Tulsa, explains that
LIPTON
crimes laws. These would
during the post-war era Jews
Special to
leave the haters with less
and Jewish organizations
the Jewish News
opportunity to express them-
stepped forward to press the
selves with violence.
courts to uphold the separa-
Yet today, as hate crimes
tion of church and state.
shatter public trust and people look to
Their advocacy efforts, he says, were one
Congress for solutions, there are those
of the factors that contributed to the
who ignore the need for this essential
Supreme Court's increasing considera-
legislation in favor of off-target bills that
tion of church-state issues.
attempt to instill religion-based morality
Jewish community members raised
instead.
their voices because they understood
The House version of the Juvenile
that the Constitution and the Bill of
Justice Bill is a perfect example of this
Rights were drafted to guide citizens,
trend. Passed this summer, the bill has
not in their religious beliefs, but in
three amendments that flagrantly vio-
their actions and interactions as mem-
late the separation of church and state,
bers of a civil society. They under-
including one that encourages states to
stood that such protections serve all
display the Ten Commandments in
the diverse groups who make up the
government buildings and schools.
fabric of American life.
Nine senators signed a letter to the
Advocating for government teaching
Senate Judiciary Committee in August
of religious values blurs the distinction
imploring that the Senate version
between church and state and draws
include the same amendment.
attention away from the real issues
Rabbi David Sapersrein, director of
Congress faces when it returns to ses-
the Religious Action Center of Reform
sion the week of Monday, Sept. 6.
Judaism, quips that posting the Ten
Congress must be urged to pass the
Commandments in public schools is
Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which
likely to be as effective in preventing
would expand the circumstances
teen violence as the Gideon Bibles in
under which hate crimes can be prose-
hotel rooms have been in preventing
cuted, and to support tougher and
adultery. His point underscores the
more comprehensive federal gun laws.
need for more than just symbolic ges-
The Jewish community also must
tures to provide today's youth with the
step forward now and call on Con-
ethical guidance they may be lacking.
gress to oppose the Juvenile Justice Bill
The kind of guidance that religious
amendments and any future legisla-
teachings can offer is best left to our
tion that interferes with religious liber-
families, communities and religious
ty and church and state separation.
institutions — not public schools and
Government's job is to create and
government.
enforce laws that protect all citizens. If
For many decades, the separation
we continue to employ our rights as
between church and state was fuzzy.
citizens to lobby the government, and
Bible readings, prayers and Christmas
our responsibilities as Jews to pursue
and Easter celebrations were normal
justice at home and in our communi-
ties, then the Jewish New Year 5760
Bonnie Lipton is national president of may just herald a safer and more just
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organi-
place for children, for Jews
and for
zation of America.
all Americansf]
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