How Do We Deal with the Situation Today?

In recent months, there has been a move to introduce various religious items and prayer in public schools. Should Jews be getting involved? This question was the subject of a debate between the Rebbe and R’ Moshe Feinstein 60 years ago.

By A Lubavitcher chossid

Recently, the State of Louisiana instituted that a display of the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom. The State of Oklahoma likewise instituted that the “Bible” and the Ten Commandments be added to their public school curriculum.

This all follows the recent US Supreme Court ruling in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District 2022, which allowed a high school football coach to lead a Christian prayer on the field at a public high school football game.

Although on the surface this may seem like a positive development, the Rebbe was strongly opposed to the introduction of any kind of religious practice or prayer in public schools. The exception is a non-denominational prayer that turns to G-d without any mention of a particular religion.

If we study a letter the Rebbe wrote in 1964, we can see how we should proceed in the present situation.

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By way of introduction:

In 1962, the US Supreme ruled that the non-denominational prayer in public schools established by NY State was unconstitutional.

While some parents embraced the ruling, other parents argued against it, saying that children in public school must be conscious that there is a G-d. They appealed to the US Congress to establish a prayer amendment to circumvent the court’s ruling. Almost all Jewish leadership at the time accepted the court’s ruling.

In a teshuva, dated January 1, 1963, written to R’ Sholom Rivkin – a Chabad rov who lived in Seattle and later in St. Louis, MO – R’ Moshe Feinstein expresses his position that although there are those who hold such a prayer is good, yet others have concerns with it. Therefore, he advises, a G-d-fearing person should keep out of it and not get involved.

However, the Rebbe did not agree with Reb Moshe on this matter. At that time, the Rebbe came out strongly in favor of a non-denominational prayer in public schools and called upon all Jews to write to Congress to make an amendment allowing it.

In 1964, some members of the US Congress took steps to introduce a constitutional amendment to allow certain religious exercises in public schools. As such, one person asked the Rebbe, perhaps the Rebbe would change his stance on the need for a non-denominational prayer in light of how Congress is progressing.

In his response, dated April 8, 1964, the Rebbe voiced his strong commitment to non-denominational prayer in public schools and his opposition to specific religious practices or prayers.

“All efforts, petitions, etc., should be brought to bear towards the introduction of a constitutional amendment which would permit the recitation of a strictly non-denominational prayer in all public schools.

“At the same time it should be clearly emphasized that any other kind of prayer or religious exercise, including Bible reading, is not desirable in the public schools because of the friction and divisiveness which such a practice would inevitably entail. It would surely be detrimental to introduce an amendment which would do just that.”

The Rebbe continues to say that the opposition to a non-denominational prayer by the Jewish community in fact what caused the Christians to try and permit sectarian prayers and Bible readings.

“The vehement opposition to any kind of prayer and to the mention of G-d’s Name in the public schools, which, in my opinion, is unjustified and ill-conceived, and which has placed the proponents of this view in league with the atheistic and anti-religious elements in this country, has inevitably called forth a correspondingly strong counter- reaction. As a result, we are now faced with a concerted effort to introduce a constitutional amendment which would permit sectarian prayers and Bible readings in the public schools.

“I am convinced that had there been taken more practical position in the first place, it would have been possible to bring about a peaceful solution of the controversy on the basis of a non-denominational prayer which would have been acceptable to everybody (except a few fanatical anti-religionists), since such a prayer would be voluntary, and any conscientious objector would be excused from participating in it.”

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We are now witnessing a similar phenomenon in which non-Jews are pushing for more faith in our schools. However, this can result in the development of Christian practices and prayers in the schools.

For guidance on how to proceed, we turn to the Rebbe’s letter.

The Rebbe asserted that if Jews would have been involved with a non-denominational prayer there would not have been a movement to allow sectarian prayer and Bible readings.

Today as well, the lack of a non-denominational prayer has led to states instituting religious practices in the school. A concerted effort with state representatives for a non-denominational prayer in public schools – using the very same arguments made by the Rebbe – will reduce and replace those motions.

Now, the question is addressed to every chossid: Will you side with the R’ Moshe Feinstein and avoid getting involved, or will you take action as called for by the Rebbe?

For an in-depth discussion of the Rebbe’s view of a non-denominational prayer in public schools, see Heal the Nation: Actualizing the Rebbe’s Vision for America.