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New York Rabbis Oppose Teaching of Religion in Public Schools

February 1, 1957
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A resolution declaring that sectarian religious instruction in the public schools is an “invasion” of the principle of the separation of church and state was adopted here yesterday at the 76th annual meeting of the New York Board of Rabbis. The Board, which represents the spiritual leaders of some 700 Orthodox, Conservative and Reform synagogues in this city, elected Rabbi Joseph Miller of Congregation Shaare Torah president for 1957.

The rabbis urged the city council to ask the state legislature for legislation permitting Saturday Sabbath observers to keep their stores open on Sundays. On the national scene the Board deplored efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling outlawing segregation in the public schools.

The Board pressed President Eisenhower to call a meeting between Israel and Arab leaders to settle their differences and endorsed the United Nations decision to send a police force to Egypt and recommended it remain there until a permanent peace is established between Israel and Egypt. Another resolution expressed “dismay” at King Saud’s visit to the White House, while still another resolution hailed the U. S. Government’s admission of Hungarian refugees under the “parole” system and urged that this facilitation of the admission of refugees be extended to all refugees, including Egyptian Jewish victims of the Nasser regime.

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