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Jewish Congress Opposes Religious Symbols on Public School Property

January 15, 1958
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An American Jewish Congress regional meeting here went on record opposing the placing of religious symbols such as creches, menorahs, crosses or stars of David on public school property.

“Our opposition to this practice in no way derives from hostility to religious belief; rather on the contrary it flows from the same consistent lessons of history that motivated the founding fathers to have staked the very existence of our country on the faith that complete separation between state and religion is best for state and best for religion, “the AJC resolution stated.

The resolution pointed out that the injury the community sustains from state display of religious symbols is greater than any benefit it is likely to receive. “Such displays can only induce dissension, devaluate the significance of religious symbols and impair the neutrality of state institutions,” it asserted.

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