Biblical injunction

Editorial

Even as the brouhaha over the proclamation of Bible Week in Gilbert and the state of Arizona was brewing, a two-day symposium at Temple Beth Israel in Scottsdale and on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe was taking a historical look at how Jews interact with their neighbors.

The conference offered scholarly perspectives on cultural intersections between Jews and non-Jews. Several presentations, including one dealing with Jews in America, laid open the inherent tension that comes with living as Jews in a predominantly Christian culture.

Despite the fact that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, sets forth the principle of the separation of church and state, countless individuals and groups, including the office of the Mayor of Gilbert and the Governor of Arizona, have issued proclamations that fly in the face of such separation.

Citing the deteriorating moral fiber of the nation, contemporary pundits make a case for an infusion of religiosity in American life. While many American Jews may agree with the call for a renewed spiritual focus, they balk, and rightly so, when religious doctrine comes too near the school house or the state house.

A government proclamation of Bible Week, in Gilbert or any of the 500 or so other communities across the United States where such observances takes place, is a clear abrogation of First Amendment freedoms, and the Arizona Civil Liberties Union is correct in seeking redress in the courts. But the backlash against the ACLU's action, especially the unfortunate spate of anti-Semitic calls and letters, points to the need for ongoing dialogue to promote understanding of differences.

Jews in America navigate a complex landscape. Multiculturalism may be the byword, but preservation of the majority status quo - or just plain status - remains the discomforting subtext. Realizing a true celebration of diversity, in which each individual religious or ethnic group is respected and valued, remains the continuing challenge for all Americans.

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