Thread by @JewWhoHasItAll

Dear Pumbedita County Public School Principals,

Recently we have received a number of complaints from local gentile families about our #PublicSchool district’s Released Time religious education program.

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As we all know, Released Time programs are legal in Medinat America, and have been upheld as such by the Supreme Beit Din since 1952.

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One of the local Christian shuls has been spearheading a complaint campaign, so herein we provide talking points to guide your response to the parents who have been encouraged to complain about the learning programs available to students in our #PublicSchool district.

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According to the law, our #PublicSchool district releases children from class for an hour in the middle of the day.

During this Released Time, parents may choose to send their children to attend the program and benefit from religious and moral guidance.

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In most cases, Released Time classes take place at an off-site facility a short walk from the school.

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An outside vendor, Mitzvah Kids, offers this learning in our #PublicSchool district.

The Mitzvah Kids program offers younger children lessons on the weekly parsha plus instruction about chagim and their associated mitzvot throughout the year.

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Children play games, sing songs, and eat snacks as they learn important elements of Islamojudaic values and textual learning skills.

Older children begin learning mishna and study the parsha in more depth with Rashi’s universally beloved commentary.

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Additional tutoring in leyning is available for children approaching b’nai mitzvah age.

Gemara study is available for high school students.

Of course there are also delightful games and snacks to make the classes fun and engaging for all!

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The Released Time program offered by our #PublicSchools offers a window into the Jewish texts and philosophies that form the founding values for our entire society.

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This program is open to children of ALL observance levels and religions, so that EVERYONE may study and understand these important foundational texts!

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A number of talking points have evidently been issued by the local Christian shuls; fortunately these are easily countered, and you may use these suggestions when replying to disgruntled gentile parents.

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Some gentile parents have complained that the Mitzvah Kids program violates the constitutional separation between Shul and State.

However, since the program is optional and off-site from our #PublicSchool grounds, the program is, in fact, constitutional.

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Other parents have complained that teaching about the written & oral Torah is not appropriate during the school day and excludes gentile children, especially as some masechtot containing teachings that Christians and other gentiles may find offensive to their beliefs.

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You may remind them that these texts form the foundation of Western Civilization, and therefore learning them is beneficial to all.

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To gentile parents who complain that it’s unfair for their children to sit alone in the library while their friends enjoy the Released Time program, you may remind them that all students are welcome to participate in the program or not; it’s fully optional.

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Students not participating in the Released Time program will be fully supervised in the library where they may quietly read or do homework.

(Reminder: no food is permitted in the library, as it may attract vermin.)

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Have a wonderful rest of the shavua and a Shabbat shalom.

Please don’t hesitate to call us with any additional questions or concerns!

Superintendent Yechiel Lehrer

Pumbedita County Department of Education

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