A victory for separation

As the People of the Book, we believe in prayer. But when prayer becomes an instrument of government and a tool of coercion, we must voice our objections.

That is why we applaud Monday's 6-3 Supreme Court decision rejecting student-led prayers in the public schools.

The ruling struck down a Texas school board policy that allowed students to decide, by vote, to lead "invocations" at football games, assemblies and other school events.

Delivering the majority opinion, Justice John Paul Stevens said that even if prayer is student led and participation is voluntary, "the delivery of a pregame prayer has the improper effect of coercing those present to participate in an act of religious worship."

We agree. Unfortunately, particularly in the South, where the Christian right enjoys power, a pregame rally can turn into a revival meeting. And in Mississippi several years ago, a local school district ignored a federal ruling to cease and desist from broadcasting a student-led invocation over the P.A. system every morning. The family that objected -- Lutherans from the Midwest -- was ostracized.

The latest decision is a strong missive upholding the religious freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.

"School sponsorship of a religious message is impermissible," Stevens added, because it sends a "message to members of the audience who are non-adherents that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community, and an accompanying message to adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community."

As Jews, we know what it feels like to be outsiders. Whether a prayer in school is led by clergy or by students, some students will feel excluded, and others will do everything they can to be part of the majority. Including victimizing those who are out of the fold.

That is why separation of church and state is essential. There's something unkosher about a religious act in a public institution when it serves to divide us.