The ruling this weekend by the New York Court of Appeals, upholding the right of the state to provide textbooks for children attending religious schools evoked sharply opposing reactions today from Jewish spokesmen. The four to three Court of Appeals decision held that the law did not violate a section of the state constitution which bars public aid “directly or indirectly” to denominational schools.
The American Jewish Congress, a consistent foe of the law, under which school districts may provide textbooks for non-public schools with state funds, said it expected the issue would be carried to the United States Supreme Court for a final ruling.
Reuben E, Gross, chairman of the law commission of Agudath Israel of America, hailed the decision as a “historic victory in the development of the constitutional rights of children attending non-public schools.” Each Jewish organization had submitted “friends of the court” briefs for their position in the hearings on the law.
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