The New York Board of Rabbis, representing Orthodox, Conservative and Reform rabbis throughout the State of New York, today issued a statement opposing the recommendation of the Board of Regents that every school day be opened with prayer in the public schools.
“The New York Board of Rabbis,” the statement says, “regards our cherished tradition of separation of church and state as the foundation stone of American democracy and religious liberty. We have, therefore, held steadfast to the conviction that religious education, which in our tradition is the bulwark of our faith, must remain the responsibility of the home, the synagogue and the church, and not of the public school. We would consider the adoption of the Regents’ proposal a serious infringement of that principle.”
Legislation to put into effect the suggestion of the Board of Regents will be introduced at the coming session of the legislature by Assemblyman Frank J. Pino and Senator Louis L. Friedman. Identical bills to be presented by the two legislators will require classroom teachers to lead the children, following the pledge of allegiance, in the prayer proposed by the regents.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
