We can't Have God Now in Private Jewish Schools?

[Lulav]

Check this out.

Your NJ tax dollars bring God into Lakewood schools

In private Jewish schools they are complaining about Hebrew books.

"LAKEWOOD - State tax dollars bought creationist textbooks for private religious school students here. "​

"Books for religious teaching are not supposed to be purchased with state grant money, but one of the private school texts, titled "Fundamentals of Life Science," promotes a "greater appreciation of the greatness of Hashem and His magnificent creations," ​

"The vast majority of the schools are affiliated with the Orthodox Jewish faith."​

"Dozens of copies of a history textbook that teaches "through the lens of God's redemptive plan" have also been purchased in the last five years, the Press found."​

Sure, there's supposed to be a separation between church and state but does that include Synagogue and state too?

 

[Ken Rank]

Sure, there's supposed to be a separation between church and state but does that include Synagogue and state too?

If the entity is a 501C3, then no is the answer to your question. A 501C3, which every church is quick to become, makes them a partner with the state and they don't even realize it. And the worst part is any church is already tax exempt by existing laws... it takes a little more work but there was never a need to become tax exempt by state standards in the first place. Doing so only gave them authority over us.

 

[Dave-W]

Sure, there's supposed to be a separation between church and state but does that include Synagogue and state too?

Apparently.

But just wait until they try to enforce a separation of Mosque and state....

 

[Aryeh Jay]

My kid’s Private Jewish school covered their operating costs from Tuition, the Jewish Federation, and the Synagogues that had kids attending. No state or federal money was ever received or used. Our problem with the books was that each family or Synagogue wanted their preferred books used.

 

[Dave-W]

Our problem with the books was that each family or Synagogue wanted their preferred books used.

Of course. Its the Golden Rule:

He who forks over the gold gets to make the rules.

 

[keith99]

They need a better accountant. It looks like they used state grant money to buy the books in question. I would assume the state grant was not the school's only source of funds. All they had to do was charge the books to a different account.

 

[JohnC2]

It’s not a 501C3 matter but rather a matter of federal/state funds being used to “sponsor” a religion. The basis is Supreme Court rulings - not legislation per-se. Refer to McCollum vs Board or Education (1948) and Engel v. Vitale (1962) for the relevant precedent.

The problem has nothing to do with a Jewish school. The problem has nothing to do with their curriculum talking about God.... The problem is that taking government money ALWAYS has strings attached...

They could legally use the money to buy math books so long as the grant provides for that.