The Supreme Court case about the cross in a remote part of the Mojave National Preserve is itself a monument–a monument to changing times.

The cross placed in the Mojave National Monument in 1934. Photo by the Associated Press.

The simple white cross was erected in 1934 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Death Valley Post 2884. A plaque accompanying the cross dedicates it to the memory of the dead of all wars. It is similar in design to the crosses we’ve all seen in photographs of the cemetery fields in France.

Fellow blogger Leigh Hunt Greenhaw has said she’ll approach the legal issues inherent in whether the cross’s placement violates the First Amendment’s requirements for the separation of church and state. (the “establishment clause”). There are other issues as well, which are covered in the story published in the Post-Dispatch last week. My own opinions are based not on the fine points…

Culinaria manager Tom Collora, Jr. works the phones at the customer service counter on Sept. 15. Photo by Robert Cohen.

Today’s A1 story about a crucifix on display at the new downtown Schnucks, called Culinaria, is creating a lot of traffic on stltoday.com.

And I’m getting a ton of phone calls and e-mails from people supporting Tom Collora, the store’s manager. Many of those readers feel like Christianity is under attack in American society, and that newspapers are the voice of such a movement.

Many of the callers are angry - both at those who have complained about the crucifix, and at the newspaper for reporting the story.

Some have used language we wouldn’t be able to print in the newspaper. Two have said they were canceling their subscriptions. One suggested a large swatch of his fellow Americans “go back to their own countries.”

Many more have (calmly) made valid points about cherished, Constitutionally-protected American values, like…

So, I get an email the other day asking if I am planning to start posting again or am I officially out. The problem is that I have been feeling a bit uninspired. A few months ago, I would have a conversation, see a movie, read an article, etcetera, and I would think, OK. There’s a post.

Since I’ve been MIA for several months, let me remind you that I am: a) not the most “religious” person (my oldest friends were shocked that I had anything to do with a blog let alone one about religion), b) I am a mother of two small children, work Monday through Thursday, facilitate youths groups for Jewish teens, act as the president of the preschool parents committee, yada yada yada, so I have limited free time. And by “limited”, I mean none. And, c) because of my “limited” free time in which to blog…

The Anti-Defamation League said in a statement Thursday afternoon that it would meet with Parkway West Middle School officials”to discuss a broad, structured program of anti-bias education and response.”

The response in question comes after news Wednesday that Parkway would discipline a handful of sixth-graders who had organized “Hit a Jew Day” at the school.

From Post-Dispatch education reporter David Hunn on the newspapers “The Grade” blog:

According to a Parkway School District representative, the students started with “Hug A Friend Day,” moved to “High Five Day,” “Hit A Tall Person Day,” and then, finally, this Monday, to “Hit A Jew Day.”

The ADL said the family of a Jewish student who had been hit contacted the organization, which in turn contacted school officials. The news “comes at a time when the regional office is seeing increased reports of anti-Semitic bias incidents against the Jewish community,” according to the ADL statement.

…

So I’m on this committee, well I’m on about 17 committees, but the one I’m going to talk about is in the process of planning an event for Jewish women. The Jewish Federation has a division called “Women’s Connection” whose purpose is to literally connect Jewish women through social, educational and spiritual programs. (A previous post of mine about the fashion show was put on by the same group.) This particular night we’re planning falls under the educational, and I suppose, social umbrella. And the topic for the evening: Jewish guilt.

After about 52 emails, several phone calls and one reschedule, we had our first committee meeting today. As we began discussing our topic, and all the aspects of guilt one could talk about, it seemed that two hours would hardly be enough time to say our hellos, introduce our speakers, show our kitschy video clips, facilitate our discussions, and eat our kosher desserts.…

This past Tuesday night, close to 600 Jewish women gathered at the Frontenac Hilton for the “Couture & Cocktails” soirée. 600 Jewish women! In St. Louis! This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, turnouts the Jewish Federation of St. Louis has ever seen for one of their events.

The fashionable affair was thrown by the Women’s Connection of the Jewish Federation in honor of Israel’s 60^th anniversary. Once everyone maneuvered the gas main break at Clayton & Warson roads, the gala began with live music by Rick Recht, a Jewish rock star if you will, accompanied by the Beit Israeli Children’s choir. Traditional Israeli food was served (think falafel and tabbouleh) followed by a runway fashion show featuring the chic clothing of Israeli designer, Biya, and dazzling bling from Mavrik Fine Jewelry. All being modeled by some really incredible local Jewish women…and me.

So I’m not just writing about this to share with you…

When asked to be a contributor to this blog, my initial response was, “Me? But I’m not that into religion.” I guess that was the point. The desire was for a diverse group of writers and diverse it is. And just to be clear, in case it isn’t by the end of this entry, among the range of scholars and lay people, I’m a lay person.

Religion has never played a big role in my life. Or so I thought. So while searching for inspiration about what to post this week, I realized I’m in Laguna Beach, California. I’ve traveled halfway across the country to attend a childhood friend’s wedding – Jewish wedding. Well, there’s something.

So I’m sitting on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, watching one of my oldest, dearest friends exchange vows under a billowing blue and green chiffon chuppah, and I am moved. Moved to tears by the…