Living Torah Archives

Much has been written and taught about the education of our own children in the ways of the Almighty. But as a light unto the nations, we must help educate their children as well.

In 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case about an Alabama law allowing public school teachers to start each day with a moment of silence for meditation or voluntary prayer.

In some U.S. states, public schools begin their school day with a moment of silence, a time during which students can reflect. This presents a perfect opportunity for students to think about a Higher Authority.

Those who oppose silent prayer in public schools, cite the separation of religion and state as the basis to eliminate religion from the public arena. However, this ignores the reason the law was established in the first place: to protect the freedom of religious expression of the original settlers in this country. This modern-day repression of democracy goes against the intention of the authors of the Constitution.

Parents rely on the Public School System to rear their children into mature, responsible adults. Their children are imbued with the values of this country’s sense of pride: That “My own power and the strength of my hand have brought me my success.” But with this approach unchecked, they will grow up to use their education to achieve their own selfish desires.

Civilized society depends on proper education built on a healthy foundation. But the only true foundation for education is the same as that of all of creation: “In the beginning, G-d created the Heavens and the Earth.”