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] TRANE® It's Hand 7b Stop AT-ruie® A.1.1 MAILER HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING CO. RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL SERVICE • SALES • INSTALLATIONS BERKLEY W. BLOOMFIELD N. 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