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church and state

Peter Deutsch, founder of the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation, addresses the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board on January 12, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (Screenshot via JTA)
January 15, 2026, 6:47 am
Oklahoma board to vote on religious Jewish charter school, teeing up potential battle
The bid revives an unresolved Supreme Court dispute over church-state separation in public education, as some in the relatively small community question who the program would even serve
By Asaf Elia-Shalev
Joel Pollak speaks onstage during Politicon 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 21, 2018. (Photo by Phillip Faraone / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
September 6, 2024, 2:41 am
Meet the Jewish author who has written a pithier, punchier Project 2025
Breaking away from mainstream US Jewry, Joel Pollak opposes the separation of church and state while dismissing concerns that his recommendations would spur ‘Christian nationalism’
By Ron Kampeas
Erez Malul, a lawmaker for Shas, attends the coronation ceremony of Rabbi Yehuda Cohen at a synagogue in Jerusalem, July 13, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 2, 2023, 6:59 pm
New bill could create jobs for 1,070 rabbis, cost taxpayers tens of millions a year
Religious hardliners are among critics of the bill, which many see as part of a pact benefiting Shas and the Chief Rabbinate
By Canaan Lidor
Illustrative: Texas state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, center, is joined by his sons, David and Whitby, during the Pledge of Allegiance in the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol on the last day of the legislative session in Austin, Texas, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
June 10, 2023, 3:32 am
Jewish activists lead charge against inserting religion back into US public schools
With over 1,600 bills nationwide seeking to instill religious values in state educational institutions, advocacy groups protest the ‘crumbling wall’ between church and state
By Cathryn J. Prince
An American flag waves in front of the US Supreme Court building, Monday, June 27, 2022, in Washington. (AP/Patrick Semansky)
June 28, 2022, 3:10 am
US Supreme Court decision on prayer throws doubt on 1992 victory for Jewish family
Jewish groups say 6-3 ruling in Kennedy v. Bremerton could roll back church-state separations that have protected schoolchildren from religious coercion for decades
By Ron Kampeas
Artem Dolgopyat of Israel, left, celebrates after winning the gold medal on the floor exercise during the artistic gymnastics men's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, August 1, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
August 2, 2021, 2:08 pm
Daily Briefing Aug 2 – Why Israel’s Olympic gold medalist can’t marry at home
We hear about last night’s budget nail-biter from Haviv Rettig Gur and all about Team Israel’s guts and glory from Amy Spiro
By ToI Staff
President Joe Biden pauses to speak with reporters as he walks to Marine One for departure from the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Washington. Biden is en route to Camp David. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
February 15, 2021, 5:45 am
Biden relaunches faith-focused White House office
Initiative started by George W. Bush aims to work with faith-based and secular community organizations, promises continued separation of church and state
By Alexandra Jaffe
Lawmaker Michael Freilich lights Hanukkah candles in the Belgian Federal Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, December 19, 2019. (Michael Freilich)
January 1, 2020, 8:53 am
Belgian lawmaker takes heat for lighting menorah in Parliament
Despite presence of Christmas trees and a nativity scene, critics accuse Michael Freilich of violating separation of church and state
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accompanied by Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo, speaks to reporters after a bilateral meeting at the Department of State in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
October 12, 2019, 11:42 am
‘My walk with Christ’: Pompeo gives contentious speech on being Christian leader
Jewish Democratic activist calls secretary’s address at State Department event ‘an affront to our separation of church and state’
By Eric Cortellessa
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks past an electoral billboard bearing a portrait of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem, on April 1, 2019. (Thomas Coex/AFP)
September 21, 2019, 2:16 pm
Deadlocked election highlights Israel’s secular-religious divide
As secular voters complain of ‘overboard’ religious coercion, it appears Netanyahu’s iron-clad alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties has cost him politically
By Aron Heller
From left, Pastor Marilyn Rivera, Rabbi Abba Cohen, Karen Pence and Vice President Mike Pence participate in a National Day of Prayer service in the Rose Garden at the White House, May 2, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/via JTA)
May 14, 2019, 4:55 am
Trump’s ‘religious freedom’ changes are heartening some Jews and rattling others
‘Where religious freedom claims are pitted against important civil rights claims, they’ve done significant damage,’ says emeritus director of Reform’s Religious Action Center
By Ron Kampeas
Jewish Home MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli speaks during a Knesset session on July 26, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
January 10, 2019, 12:26 pm
New Right MK under fire for saying Israel should abide by Jewish religious law
MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli recorded speaking about the ‘battle to bring Torah into every aspect of our lives’; opposition lawmakers assail party
By Michael Bachner
Illustrative photo of a synagogue in Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Harvey, on September 3, 2017. (Joshua Wander)
December 22, 2017, 9:57 pm
US House passes bill allowing disaster funds for houses of worship
Legislation would overturn law that prohibits FEMA aid money from going to religious institutions, due to separation of church and state
By JTA
Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch at a news conference on Capitol Hill, February 1, 2017. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images/via JTA)
February 19, 2017, 4:23 am
In reviewing ‘Hobby Lobby’ opinion, Jews see reasons to diverge over Neil Gorsuch
Like some partisan issues before it, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has had a polarizing effect on traditionally liberal or conservative denominations
By Ron Kampeas
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