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Religious equality Amendment revived by Republican leaders WASHINGTON (JTA) — In a move that signals the return of a nightmare for Jewish dvil liberties advocates, congressional Republicans have launched a new push to amend the Constitution to allow for organized school prayer. House RepubUcans, who are advancing prayer in public school under the banner of a 'religious equality amendment," say they intend to bring the measure to a vote in coming weeks. Jewish groups and a host of other religious and dvil liberties watchdogs are decrying-the move as an assault on religious Uberty andthe constitutional separation of church and state. See statements from 2nd District congresaional candidates. Rep. Jon Christensen and James Martin Davis, and editorial on page 4. Many Republicans in Congress have been seeking to pass such an amendment since last year, but efforts became bogged down by disputes about language. The new measure, introduced by House MEgority Leader Dick Armey (R-Teias), has supplanted similar proposals offered by Reps. James Istook (ROkla.) and Heniy Hyde (R-IU.), whose competing amendments had split religious conservatives. Hyde, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, has thrown his support behind the new amendment At a recent hearing of the Judidary Subcom-
by Daniel Kurtzman mittee on the Constitution, he said the amendment is aimed at "repairing damage done by the Supreme Court." 'Our problem is not with the Constitution itself," Hyde said, 'but with courts that interpret the First Amendment in a way that undermines rather than protects religious freedom." The latest effort comes largely at the urging of the Christian Coalition, which hopes to include a list of how each member voted in the 45 million voter guides it plans to distribute to 100,000 churches before the November election. The measure is now on a fast track, and the Republican leadership wants Congress to vote on the amendment by early September. Jewish groups have consistently opposed efforts to bring prayer into America's classrooms by tampering with the First Amendment. Several Christian groups also oppose the amendment. The current debate is a struggle that will determine whether we will continue our 220-year tradition of religious liberty and church-state separation that has worked so well, or whether we will adopt an ill-conceived, unnecessary and dangerous amendment that will radically transform our government and religious institutions and the very fabric of our sodety," Rabbi A. James Rudin, interreligious affairs director of the American Jewish Committee, testified before Congress. The amendment proposes changing the Consti-
NJHS announces new exhibit
Where are they now? When Central Hig^ School announced that the Robin Monsky coordinates press coverage at positions available for the 1973-74 school year tlie opening of Centennial Paili. induded separate editors for boys' and girls' sports, security, however. Ms. Monsky resumed her origiRobin Monsky told the journalism adviser she nal responsibilities, this time with more scrutiny would accept only if she could be the editor of both. fit>m a world-wide press corps looking for more The advisor relented and she became the flrst than just light features in their coverage of the woman sports editor of the CHS Register. Olympics. That started her career in sports public relations Ms. Monsky obtained her Master's degree in and led her to the 1996 Summer Olympics. sports administration from Ohio University after Today, Robin Monsky is Venue Press Chief for finishing undergraduate work at St. Lawrence Centennial Olympic Park, working for the Atlanta University in upstate New York. She has worked Committee for the Olympic Games. She works with in miuor league baseball, handling public relathe media, ACOG and the athletes every time an tions for three World Series, as well as three event takes place in the 21-acre park. Super Bowls, the Davis Cup and NCAA basketball 'More than 200,000 people are visiting the park pia3ro£b. each day,* said Ms. Monsky in a recent interview, The granddaughter of Anne FererSostrin and It's the largest urban park developed in the U.S. daughter of Hubert and Ramelle Monsky, former in the last 26 years. Omahans now living in Palm Desert, CA, Ms. 'The day we opened, one week before the Monsky still comes back to Omaha occasionally to Olympic games began, I managed more than 200 see her brother, Henry, his wife, Pam, and their media who covered the governor, the mayor, filOC two children, as well as her cousin, Aaron Ferer. Chairman Juan Antonio Samaranch and ACOG "Wherever 1 am Uving, Atlanta or Chicago, when Chairman Billy Payne. people ask me where I'm from, I always answer, 1 also had the opportunity to give private tours 'Omaha," she stated, "Hiat's home to me. of the park to members of President Clinton's cabi'Even though Fve been awsy for 22 years, when net,* the added, 'as well as celebrity sports figures I go back for a visit, I foel a sense of comfort and like 'Flo Jo,' (Florence Qriffith-Joyner), and Tom connection.* MacMiUan, a former NBA player who's now a cooAnd after the Olympics, when the athletse go grsssman.* home and ths Journalists pack up their cameras Her job changed dramatically after a pipe bomb and equipment, what event will Ms. Monsky exploded in the park last Friday night Instead of cover? arranging press coverage for the tnt rock eooeerts Shell return to Chicago and run her own sports and other events, she found herself dealing with p.r. firm, Round Robin Sports. the press about terrorism. That's quite a long-jump from the balls of The park did reopen on Tuesday, under tighter Central Highl
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tution 'to further protect religious freedom, induding the right of students in public schools to pray without government sponsorship or compulsion." Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the ranking Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, said the amendment's backers appejuto have forgotten that 'the Constitution is not the statutes — it's the guiding document. "All my constitutional-amending colleagues, I ask to cool it," he said. Observers doubt that the House can muster the two-thirds m^ority needed to approve the amend-' ment. Passage of a similar amendment in the Senate is also unUkely, observers said. Nonetheless, Jewish activists have launched an all-out lobbying campaign to defeat the amendment. Most Jewish groups, across the religious and poUtical spectrum, are on record opposing such an amendment At a rally recently on the stairs of the Supreme Court, a broad coaUtion of religious groups united to oppose the proposed amendment. 'One can only conclude that the supporters of the amendment wish to take the momentous step of adopting a constitutional amendment so that they can falsely portray themselves as defenders of God," said Joel Levy, co-chairman of the American Jewish Congress' Commission on Law and Sodal Action. 'God, we are confident, will take care of Himself."
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Hundreds of photographs of Jewish youth from Nebraska and Coundl Bluffs, Iowa, are being readied for display in the JCC Gallery from Monday, Aug. 5, through the month of August According to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Sodety, sponsors of the exhibit, one wall features "Yesterday's Kids-Today's Leaders" while the other wall features "Today's Youth-Tomorrow's Future". Subjects covered include young children in the JCC Child Development Center programs to high school teens in youth groups. Also shown are young people in Jewish education, sports, contests and camping.
Shown above are 1984 third-grade students (W>m tiie UTTO "special sitter service," started by SUnley Mitchell for Cabbage Patch dolls, rrom left: Dana Zueker, Caren FViedman, Cari Biniaaiow, PauU MoCreight, Leslie GolbiU and Carrie Jaeobaoo. The exhibits have been made possible by grants from the Esther K. Newman Foundation, The Nebraska Humanities Council and the Omaha Section, National Coundl of Jewish Women. Roger Reeves and members of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Sodety prepared the exhibit for showing. Additional photos are still being accepted in the Carl Frohm Archival office. At the dose of the showing in the JCC Galleiy, • portion of the exhibit will be on display in the NJHS Corridor of Jewish History mini-museum at the Jewish Community Center. "-•!.• . • • - • -, '.^asissaM