Debra Eichenbaum is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is a graduate of Brandeis University.

Even though much public discussion surrounds the separation of church and state and what the intended meaning was of our Founding Fathers when they wrote the First Amendment - “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” –to me it seems rather apparent that proselytizing or preaching by a government official, including a public school teacher, crosses the threshold of appropriate behavior.

Such is the case currently in a New Jersey public school where a history teacher allegedly told his students that not only was the Big Bang theory un-scientific, but that dinosaurs were aboard Noah’s ark and only Christians had a place in heaven. Now, a student has come forward armed with audio recording of his class accusing his teacher of crossing the church-state boundary. And in response to standing up for his constitutional rights the student is being tormented by his fellow classmates. To learn more about this story, read the New York Time’s article entitled “Talk in Class Turns to God, Setting off Public Debate on Rights”. Because can’t we all agree that a teacher telling a student they will only go to heaven if they are a Christian crosses the boundary of the separation between church and state?

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Naomi Greenspan is a Program Associate for the Commission on Interreligious Affairs. She holds a degree from St. Louis' Washington University.

Last week, on December 11-12, 67 researchers from 30 countries convened in Tehran for a conference entitled “Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision.” The Iranian regime’s Holocaust denial conference drew racists such as former leader of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke, an array of European Holocaust deniers, as well as several members of the Neturei Karta, a group of ultra-Orthodox, anti-Zionist Jews. As these notorious anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist individuals met under the auspices of the Iranian Foreign ministry, a country whose president has called the Holocaust a “myth” and for the destruction of the State of Israel, the American Christian and Muslim community looked on with shock and horror.

Immediately following the conference, on December 13, the Council on American- Islamic Relations, America 's largest Islamic civil liberties group, released a statement condemning the conference and calling the Holocaust “the systematic destruction of the Jewish community in Europe by the Nazis during World War II.” It goes on to say that “cynical attempts to use Holocaust denial as a political tool in the Middle East conflict will only serve to deepen the level of mistrust and hostility already present in that troubled region.” The statement also notes the example of the Prophet Muhammad which calls on Muslims to reject racism.

The Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops followed soon after with a statement from Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore and Episcopal Moderator for Catholic-Jewish Relations, condemning the “'revisionist history’ that seeks to minimize the horror of the Holocaust.” Cardinal Keeler speaks of the Holocaust as a “heinous crime against humanity by the Nazis who attempted to exterminate the Jewish people.” He also sites a similar statement made by the Holy See and reiterates the Church’s commitment to teaching about the Holocaust.

Finally, on December 15, the National Council of Churches - USA, encompassing a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, and other churches, issued a statement calling the conference “regrettable, unfortunate and repugnant.” The statement also notes that the conference “does not help the peace process at all. In fact, it would seem that such a stance undercuts the potential role Iran could play as a possible diplomatic partner in resolving tensions in the region."  

The reaction of the American religious community is reassuring to the Jewish community. It is noteworthy that such statements did not only come from our usual “allies” but also from those that we do not always work with as closely. Even with the tensions that sometimes exist between us, we must remember that on issues of importance we must come together to condemn those who espouse hatred and bigotry, no matter who such attacks are being directed against.

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Rachel Slomovitz is the Press Secretary for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Last week I had the opportunity to enjoy a cruise vacation to the Caribbean. With mother and sisters in tow, we step aboard our cruise ship where we were to spend 7 days and 7 nights. One of the first things we notice in the atrium of the ship was a large menorah. So large that it was nearly the height of the neighboring Christmas tree. I was pleasantly surprised to see a beautiful Menorah with its 2 candles lit (as it was only the 2^nd night of Hanukkah). I get to my room shortly thereafter and see in my “caper” (the paper we get everyday telling us what the daily events are) that there will be a Menorah lighting at 5:15pm in the Atrium!!

I was excited by the fact that I would actually get to spend Hanukkah with fellow Jews and get to see the Menorah being lit. So I arrive at 5:15 in the center of the ship, where others are beginning to arrive and I see a small table with latkes, challah and Kiddush wine (although neither the challah nor Kiddush wine was required- but a nice touch regardless). So 5:15 rolls by, then 5:30 rolls by. With a nervous confusion, the remaining families begin milling around wondering if there would actually be a menorah lighting and because dinner was happening soon (first seating at 5:45- and it was food!) - would it happen on time?

With no one taking the Hanukkah celebrations by the rein, I stand up. “Can anyone help me light the menorah and say the blessings?” With those words, I unleashed a Jewish flood. A hand was raised, a lawyer from Los Angeles who happens to be a member of Congregation Or Ami jumps up and volunteers to help. The 3^rd night of Hanukkah (our first on the ship) started with 20 people and by the last night of Hanukkah we had close to 100 people attending.

We created a community, affectionately dubbed “Congregation Bet Valor” (name of the ship), unlike any other community that I have ever been apart of. We now had instant friends- no matter where we went- there was always someone Jewish (sounds like a song, eh?). Every island we went to we knew someone, every activity aboard we had friends to sit with, and every meal we knew someone. My 7 day, 7 night adventure aboard the “Hanukkah boat” has provided me with new friends, a new sense of community and a feeling of pride about the Jewish people.

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Gwen Litvak is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is a graduate of UCLA.

In the weeks leading up to the 110 th Congress, leadership in both the House and Senate have declared that it is time to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour by 2008. After this November’s election, a total of 27 states and the District of Columbia have a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage.

Previous attempts to raise the federal minimum wage have been coupled with provisions that will undermine the goal of helping minimum wage workers to stay above the poverty line. Thus, it is time that Congress passes a clean minimum wage keeps pace with the cost of living to ensure that America’s workers can afford a decent quality of life.

This week’s The Nation calls the minimum wage the moral issue of the 2006 election. In “Morality of the Minimum,” the authors Katrina vanden Heuvel & Sam Graham-Felsen commend Let Justice Roll, a nonpartisan program of more than eighty faith-based and community-based organizations, for its success in effectively making the minimum wage a moral issue and an issue of justice. However, minimum wage proponents in the House and Senate feel that passing a clean minimum wage bill may still be difficult. That’s why, despite the stated intentions of the new congressional leadership to bring this issue to a vote in early January, nothing can be taken for granted.

There are a few ways to get involved. Calling or emailing members of Congress always makes a difference. ACORN, the Association of Communities Organized for Reform Now, is circulating a letter for citizens to sign through December 18 asking Senators to support legislation sponsored by Senator Kennedy (D-MA) and Representative Miller (D-CA) to increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 and hour. If you are a religious leader, you can sign the Let Justice Roll religious leader’s letter through January 2. As we begin the New Year, what better resolution can we make than to raise the minimum wage and ensure a better year to come for America’s workers?

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Miriam Fink is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is a graduate of American University.

This week Iran has held a conference entitled “Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision,” raising questions as to whether the Holocaust actually took place. There were 67 participants from 30 countries including former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and many Holocaust skeptics.

As a Jew and someone who cares about the continuity of the Jewish people and Israel, this conference is sickening and frightening. There are still people who believe that the Holocaust did not occur and there is a nation state that is promoting these lies. It is vital that the Jewish community come together, raise our voice on this issue and educate the world community on the realities of genocide. Fighting Holocaust denial all over the world is as important now as it has ever been.

After the Holocaust we said, “Never Again.” This conference is scary because there are people who are denying the worst atrocities inflicted on the Jews in recent memory. Remembering the Holocaust and educating the Jewish and non-Jewish community about this tragedy in our history is the best way for us to continue to hold the Holocaust in our memory and assure that “Never Again” continues to be true.

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Mark J. Pelavin is the Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He is one of the Jewish community's leading legislative strategists, and one of its senior lobbyists.

Read a short analysis Rabbi Marla Feldman and I did on Friday, discussing our first take on the Baker/Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report. We found much to commend, and some real concerns as well. We’d welcome your reactions.

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Cara Fisher is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is a graduate of the University of Texas, Austin.

I recently participated in my first Bernard and Audre Rapoport L’Taken seminar, a four day event focusing on social justice and Jewish values for high school students from Reform congregations across the country. Throughout the weekend, students participated in programs dealing with a variety of social and political issues, worshiped together, and had the opportunity to visit historical sites including the United States Holocaust Museum and National Mall.

One of the larger goals of L’Taken is to engage students in dialogue about the connection between social justice and Jewish values and how to advocate on behalf of political issues from the Jewish perspective. Throughout the programs and in preparation for lobby day on Capitol Hill, I was ultimately impressed by the interest and passion expressed by many of the students, particularly during my time spent on the Hill with a group of students from Ohio. During our visits to both House and Senate offices, the students lobbied on a variety of issues including poverty and homelessness, Israel, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and school vouchers. In each lobby visit, the students spoke with confidence, clearly articulating their message and proudly conveying the values of the Reform Jewish community.

Despite my excitement and anticipation in advance of the weekend, I did not expect that L’Taken would prove to be such a challenging or personally fulfilling experience. Reflecting back on high school, I am reminded that the development of my own Jewish identity and my passion for advocacy was influenced by many factors, including my involvement in congregation activities and the relationships that I formed in the Jewish community. My hope is that L’Taken participants left Washington with a similar understanding that as young Jewish advocates, their voice can truly make a difference in influencing social change.

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Rachel Cohen is on a semester long internship at the Religious Action Center. She comes from Washington University.

Sadly, this is the final week of my internship at the RAC. My time here has been an absolute pleasure, and I will greatly miss everyone at the organization and the opportunity to be part of the work that happens here every day.

Predictably, my most exciting and valuable learning experiences took place outside of the classroom and the office during my time in Washington. This week was a perfect finale, as I was able to attend a March on Washington on Monday and lobby Congress with DC Vote on Tuesday. Politics is life in Washington, and the vibrant political scene this week will leave me with many fond memories of my experience here.

This Monday the Supreme Court heard two cases about school integration programs, one in Jefferson County, KY, and one in Seattle, Washington. Proponents praise the districts for creating voluntary and locally-controlled programs that have been effective in integrating the public schools. Those who oppose the programs say they are a form of illegal reverse discrimination; while those in favor argue they follow in the Brown v. Board of Ed tradition and are a legal and necessary means of integrating our schools and ultimately our society. How the Supreme Court decides this constitutional question is crucial to the future of such programs nationwide, which is why thousands of students, activists, and community members rallied in favor of the Seattle and Louisville programs.

Tuesday I joined the efforts of the DC Vote Coalition in an attempt to bring H.R. 5388, a bill to give residents of Washington, DC a voting member in Congress, before the House floor. I was amazed that we were able to simply walk into the Capital and talk to Congressional staffers without appointments, security clearances, or the like. Though the bill was not passed in this week’s lame duck session, the opportunity to lobby was an empowering lesson about the democratic process and our role in it.

School integration and the DC Vote raise a variety of challenging questions about education, segregation, and fundamental notions of equality in this nation. There are legitimate arguments on both sides of these debates. However, the real lesson of the rally and lobby visit for me was that it takes time, effort, and action to get educated on the issues and do something about the ones that you feel passionate about. Without this initiative, we cannot have deliberative debates on these tough policy questions, and democracy cannot be a viable and sustainable form of government. Whether it is visiting the Hill to talk to your representative, picketing outside the Supreme Court, or simply signing onto an email to express your views, we all have the right and the responsibility to do what we can. This is what government of, by, and for the people is all about.

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Mark Pelavin is the Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He is one of the Jewish community's leading legislative strategists, and one of its senior lobbyists.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the first Establishment Clause case of the Roberts era, Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation. It is a potentially far-reaching case. Although the case arises from a challenge to the President’s faith-based initiative, the Court will not be considering the constitutionality of the initiative. It will, rather, decide wheatear taxpayers have the ability to challenge the faith-based initiative, and other similar instances of government funding of religious institutions.

My friend Melissa Rogers, whose blog is becoming one of my most important daily reads, has this great summary of the case and the history of taxpayer challenges.

For the real hard-core among you, the Department of Justice’s brief asking the Supreme Court to hear the case is available here.

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Sean Thibault is the publicity and new media director at the Religious Action Center. He joins us from the great white north, and is proud to represent Canada's frozen chosen.

Rep-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to ever be elected to congress, has requested to take his individual oath on the Koran. Conservative commentators are less than pleased . Somehow, even Jewish ones (read: Dennis Prager), think that the Christian bible is the only valuable holy text in America .

He also forgets that secularism is a hallmark of democracy; as article VI of the U.S. constitution clearly states: “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” Indeed, democratic thought for centuries has espoused religious tolerance, from Locke’s Letter on Toleration to Rousseau’s idea of an additional “civil religion.” The RAC’s press release more eloquently engages this idea.

Even other conservatives, like Eugene Volkh , are distancing themselves from Prager’s all out attack on Islam.

For, when Prager writes: “If Keith Ellison is allowed to change that, he will be doing more damage to the unity of America and to the value system that has formed this country than the terrorists of 9-11,” he not only undermines and demeans the tragedy that was September 11 th, he alleges that Rep.-elect Ellison is at least a supporter of terrorism and violence.

What seems most clear is that when Prager endorses ‘moral’ violence it is acceptable, but if an elected official were to merely suggest they take an honest oath of office, this amounts to an endorsement of violence so dangerous, that, how do you say, the basics of American democracy (read: “Constitution?”) are apparently at risk.

There's also more at the Jewish Journal.

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Allison Grossman is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona.

Every night this past week, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum here in Washington D.C. projected images from the genocide in Darfur, asking viewers, “Who Will Survive Today?” Around 8:30pm this past Sunday, I went to view the display. It was a moving project, with giant images projected on two walls at the front entrance of the museum. But the ineffable effects of the exhibit were much stronger than the tangible ones.

The pictures were presented alone, without text; after reading and hearing so many personal stories from those affected by the violence, I could only imagine the situation of the women marching through the sandy desert, the little boy staring defiantly into the camera, or the people living in refugee camps that seemed to stretch forever into the distance. The lack of context was slightly disorienting, but it allowed the mind of viewers to wander to all of the possibilities that might create this person’s story.

And simply the idea of such a project being carried out on the walls of the Holocaust museum, commemorating the worst humanitarian tragedy of the twentieth century, resonated with me; the Jewish community has played an integral role in bring the genocide in Darfur to the forefront of public awareness and forging the fight to stop it, in large part because of the shadows of the Holocaust and our pledge of “Never Again.” The connections drawn between the two genocides by the location of this display alone helped to connect the geographical and cultural distance of Africa to a story that people of my generation have known all of our lives.

For more information on the situation in Darfur, please visit our website.

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Sherry Levy-Reiner, Ph.D., is the director of development at the RAC.

The rabbis at our synagogue, Temple Sinai in Washington, D.C., have recently begun including a prayer for the safety of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians in our Shabbat Services as well reading the names of the U.S. soldiers killed each week in Iraq and Afghanistan when they read the kaddish list.

These are among the suggestions in the Iraq War Community Action Guide on the RAC’s website for creating opportunities for prayer and reflection in response to the war in Iraq.

They are not antidotes for murder and atrocities, but perhaps they can help alleviate some of the gross callousness Bob Herbert powerfully describes in his New York Times op-ed piece yesterday, “While Iraq Burns”: There is something terribly wrong with [the] juxtaposition of gleeful Americans with fistfuls of dollars storming the department store barricades and the slaughter by the thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians, including old people, children and babies. The war was started by the U.S., but most Americans feel absolutely no sense of personal responsibility for it.”

Herbert goes on to describe the widespread indifference of Americans who are hell-bent only on scooping up the best bargains, whether they need them or want them . . . or not.

Turning ourselves – one by one – from coldness to caring precedes turning a whole country. It’s only a first step, but without it, we can go no further.

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