NCJW Celebrates Fifth Circuit Decision Upholding Separation of Religion and State, Striking Down Louisiana’s “Ten Commandments” Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 20, 2025
PRESS CONTACT: press@ncjw.org

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion in Roake v. Brumley, upholding the First Amendment’s clear separation of religion and state and declaring Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law as unconstitutional.

In response, Darcy Hirsh, senior director of government affairs and advocacy at National Council of Jewish Women — one of the nation’s leading Jewish feminist civil rights organizations, representing 250,000 advocates from across the country — issued the following statement:

“Today’s Fifth Circuit ruling striking down the state Ten Commandments law is a meaningful victory for children and families in Louisiana — especially those of minority faiths and no faith at all. This decision affirms a core American value: that no child should feel excluded, othered, or pressured to conform in their public school classroom.

“Religious instruction is the job of parents, not the government. The separation of religion and state has always been about protecting every person’s right to believe — or not believe — freely, without government interference or coercion. For the Jewish community and other minority faiths, this principle has safeguarded our ability to live and worship openly.  

“National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) was proud to actively oppose this law and lead an amicus brief on behalf of 21 diverse faith organizations, urging the court to recognize the harms such mandates impose. We opposed this law in deep alignment with our Jewish values, which teach us to honor the diversity and dignity of every person. Together with our 250,000 advocates across the country, we will continue fighting against any state or federal law — including a similar new law in Texas — that attempts to subvert the longstanding constitutional division between religion and state by infusing religion into our public schools.

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National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a 132-year-old Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. Through the efforts of our 250,000 grassroots advocates and 48 local sections, NCJW combines education, direct service, and advocacy to affect lasting social change at the local, state, and national levels. We approach our work through the intersections of gender, economic, and racial justice to center those most impacted in a uniquely Jewish way. Learn more at NCJW.org, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.