Violet Drexler, Flagler County Delegate to Republican National Conventio to Meet with Temple Beth Shalom Teens

Dr. Drexler, Flagler County Delegate to Republican National Convention, to Meet With Temple Beth Shalom Teens

Violet Drexler, Ph.D. one of the two longest serving members of the Flagler County Republican Executive Committee will meet with area teenagers at Temple Beth Shalom on Tuesday evening, December 4th from 7 until 8 p.m. Community teens, parents and friends are welcome to attend. There is no charge, no advance reservations are necessary and refreshments will be available for sale to benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Drexler who was a Graduate Professor of Education at New York University, will represent area Republicans at the Republican National Convention from September 1 through September 4 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She represented county Republicans at their national convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2000 and has served the local and Florida Republican parties in a variety of capacities since 1989. She taught at both Hunter College and Manhattan Community College in New York City before her retirement.

Temple Beth Shalom teens, still reeling from the murder of a fellow student at Flagler Palm Coast High School have been interested in issues relating to gun control and sought to get some answers from local political leaders. They also are looking forward to asking questions about the War in Iraq, immigration and health care. The teens, through their youth group, called Yad B’Yad--Hebrew for “Hand in Hand,” are learning that, despite their youth, they can have great influence over the upcoming election. The group is sponsored by Temple Beth Shalom and oversight comes from synagogue educator Robyn Shapiro.

Palm Coast Rabbi Heads to Washington to Lobby

Palm Coast Rabbi Heads to Washington to Lobby for

Workplace Religious Freedom Act

Should police officers be sued if they refuse, on religious grounds, to guard a women’s health clinic where abortions are performed? Must a hospital continue to employ a nurse who tells patients AIDS is contracted because God “doesn’t like the homosexual?” Can a drugstore fire a pharmacist who refuses, because of his religious beliefs, to fill prescriptions for the “morning after” pill?

As the Workplace Religious Freedom Act comes before the United States House of Representatives, Palm Coast’s Rabbi Merrill Shapiro and his wife Robyn, headed for Capitol Hill to lobby, under the auspices and arrangements of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in the office of Congressman John Mica. In a meeting in the Congressman’s office, the Shapiros spoke of the cornerstones of American society, religious freedom and religious pluralism. “Because of this freedom, each of us has the right to practice, or not practice, the religion of our choice or no religion at all,” Robyn Shapiro, told Brian Waldrip, the eight-term congressman’s Legislative Director, “Yet each of us also should have a right to be able to work!”

The Shapiros and Americans United for Separation of State, feel that the current language of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act is much too broad and will unduly restrain employers who find themselves with employees who refuse to perform their jobs by virtue of their claim of religious freedom. “The law should be written to protect those who wear certain religious garb, such as turbans or burkas and to protect those who need reasonable time off for the celebration of religious holy days, “ Rabbi Shapiro maintains, “but not to protect practices that would harm fellow employees, clients, customers and patients.”

The Shapiros were pleased with the response to their arguments, but remain concerned about the legislation and its potential impact. “All in all, weighing in with our representative in the Congress of the United States, is an especially satisfying practice of the democratic principles that make this country great!” the Shapiros agreed.

Flagler Democratic Chairman Courtney to Teens: "There are plenty of roles for you to play!"

Flagler County Democratic Party Chairman Doug Courtney told a group of teens gathered with their parents at Palm Coast's Temple Beth Shalom that there are plenty of roles for young people, including those not yet old enough to vote, to play in the electoral process. "Most successful ideas come from one person in whom a fire burns to get something done," Courtney, who also heads the campaign to elect a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's Seventh Congressional District, told those gathered under the auspices of Yad B'Yad, the Jewish teen group of Flagler County. "If you wish to get something done, just get involved!" he added.

The teens raised issues about gun control, same-sex marriage, child support laws, the Iraq War and the issue of the January 29th Presidential Primary at the hour-long session.