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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 560

separation of religion and state

Illustrative: The Oklahoma Supreme Court is pictured in the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City, May 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
February 17, 2025, 4:08 am
A US Supreme Court case could pave the way for publicly funded Jewish day schools
A ruling on religious charter schools in Oklahoma could make education a lot cheaper for many American Orthodox Jews while opening up new options across the religious spectrum
By Asaf Elia-Shalev
Rachel Laser, the president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, speaks at an event the organization held at St John's Episcopal Cathedral in Los Angeles on November 21, 2024. (Courtesy of Evan Clark, Atheists United)
January 4, 2025, 8:40 pm
The Jewish woman leading the fight against American Christian nationalism
Since 2018, Rachel Laser, the first Jew to lead Americans United for Separation of Church and State, has worked with Christian allies to keep religion from influencing US laws
By Asaf Elia-Shalev
Left: Conservative Rabbi Shalom Tzvi (Harry) Davidowitz (public domain); right: From right to left, Rabbi Mauricio Balter, executive director of Masorti Olami, Dr. Yizhar Hess, Rabbi Ashira Konigsberg, Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, CEO of the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, look up at the street sign named for Shalom Tzvi (Harry) Davidowitz, Herzliya, December 11, 2024. (Herzliya Municipality)
December 15, 2024, 6:06 am
1st street in Israel named for Masorti rabbi who influenced Declaration of Independence
In Herzliya, the Conservative Movement celebrates the commemoration of US cleric Shalom Tzvi Davidowitz, who is likely responsible for adding God into the historic 1948 statement
By Mati Wagner
Illustrative: Workers repaint a Ten Commandments billboard off of Interstate 71 on Election Day near Chenoweth, Ohio, November 7, 2023. Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on June 19. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
November 13, 2024, 8:39 am
Federal judge temporarily halts Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments in schools
Law obligated state schools, universities to hang posters laying out biblical laws; case brought by coalition including three Jewish families claims it violates first amendment
By jacob gurvis
Secular and Orthodox activists clash after the religious Rosh Yehudi group sets up a gender divider made of Israeli flags in defiance of a municipality decision at a public prayer service in Dizengoff Square, Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur, September 24, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash 90)
October 10, 2024, 2:16 pm
Despite winning court battle, group cancels outdoor Yom Kippur prayers in Tel Aviv
Citing concern of saboteurs disrupting gender-separated services even after court confirmed their legality, Rosh Yehudi says they’ll be held inside to keep the peace
By Mati Wagner
Gabe and Liz Rutan-Ram in a still from a campaign ad from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. (YouTube)
July 12, 2024, 10:14 am
US religious freedom drive backs Jewish couple barred from Christian adoption agency
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State makes Gabe and Liz Rutan-Ram’s struggle to adopt the centerpiece of their critique of conservative think tank’s Project 2025
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Illustrative: Workers repaint a Ten Commandments billboard off of Interstate 71 on Election Day near Chenoweth, Ohio, November 7, 2023. Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on June 19. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
June 26, 2024, 1:09 am
Jewish parents join suit challenging Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments in schools
Lawsuit argues that last week’s law violates the First Amendment, and some Jews feel that while rooted in the Bible, the statutes as presented push Christian values on kids
By Jackie Hajdenberg
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
Former Bremerton High School assistant football coach Joe Kennedy takes a knee in front of the US Supreme Court after his legal case, Kennedy vs. Bremerton School District, was argued before the court, April 25, 2022. (Win McNamee/Getty Images via JTA)
June 29, 2022, 10:32 am
Leading US Orthodox group praises Supreme Court backing for football coach’s prayer
Agudath Israel of America backs decision to do away with decades-old standard for assessing violations of church-state rules, but remains concerned about proselytization in schools
By Ron Kampeas
Michael Flynn, former national security adviser to former US president Donald Trump, gestures as he departs a campaign event where he endorsed New York City mayoral candidate Fernando Mateo on June 3, 2021, in Staten Island, New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
November 20, 2021, 12:29 am
Pro-Israel pastor apologizes for event at which Mike Flynn pushed ‘1 religion’ in US
After church initially distanced itself from former Trump aide’s event, video subsequently emerged of pastor greeting the rally at its outset, spurring stronger apology
By Ron Kampeas
The Supreme Court is seen on the first day of the new term as activists opposed to abortion demonstrate on the plaza, in Washington, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
October 8, 2021, 3:16 am
From abortion to Nazi-looted art: Jewish issues on US Supreme Court’s docket
Justices insist personal beliefs won’t influence rulings; but some Jewish groups worry erosion of court’s reputation could eventually spell trouble
By Ron Kampeas
Representatives of the Chief Rabbinate deliver a kashrut certificate to a local restaurant in central Jerusalem, on December 31, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
August 2, 2021, 12:39 pm
Facing religious reforms, some Haredim now call for synagogue-state separation
The new government, Haredi politicians warn, is ‘destroying’ and ‘corrupting’ Israel’s Jewish character. Separation, some say, may be inevitable
By Haviv Rettig Gur
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and his book 'Morality,' which will be available Sept. 1 in the United States. (Courtesy of the Office of Rabbi Sacks)
August 28, 2020, 4:43 pm
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks warns ‘cultural climate change’ eroding collective morality
With release of his new book, former UK chief rabbi discusses cancel culture, restoring morality and Israel’s missed opportunities
By LAURA E. ADKINS
People celebrate on the street during a Pride march event banned by authorities, in Istanbul on June 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
April 28, 2020, 3:22 pm
Erdogan defends Turkey religious chief’s anti-gay sermon
Turkish leader says Ali Erbas was ‘totally right’ in publicly claiming homosexuality causes diseases, corrupts people and is condemned in Islamic teaching
By AFP
President Donald Trump listens as Energy Secretary Rick Perry speaks during an event about the environment in the East Room of the White House, Monday, July 8, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
December 2, 2019, 8:56 am
Belief in Trump as chosen by God part of growing evangelical power movement
Rick Perry and other influential conservatives are part of a movement seeking to change society by placing believers in critical social, commercial and governmental posts
By Brad Christerson and Richard Flory
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