Posting the Ten Commandments in Public Schools

June 1999

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has declared its opposition to the bill, passed this week by the House of Representatives, permitting the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools.

According to Stephen Wolnek, President of the organization, "Rep. Aderholt's amendment is clearly illegal and constitutes a significant encroachment on the principle of church-state separation."

Rabbi Jerome Epstein, USCJ Executive Vice-President, points out that passage of the bill would have the effect of overturning the 1980 Supreme Court decision specifically prohibiting the posting of the Ten Commandments in Kentucky public schools.

Sarrae Crane, director of the organization's Commission on Social Action and Public Policy, notes that while the goal of promoting morality among children is in itself praiseworthy, this will not be accomplished by the proposed legislation.

Instead, she adds, "The posting of a set of religious principles in a public classroom only serves to blur the line between religious teachings and philosophies sanctioned by the government."

J.B. Mazer, Chair of the Commission, points out that while the Jewish community clearly endorses the Ten Commandments, Judaism has 613 commandments that Jews are expected to follow. It would be inappropriate, however, for Jewish religious authorities to insist that these commandments be posted in secular venues.

The United Synagogue calls upon all affiliated synagogues in the United States to voice their concerns about this legislation to their Congressional representatives, stressing that the Conservative Jewish community remains committed to maintaining the Constitutionally guaranteed separation of church and state.