Assurances that Jewish employees on work relief projects who absent themselves during the High Holydays will have an opportunity to make up for the pay loss involved were given to the American Jewish Congress by Commissioner William Hodson of the Department of Public Welfare of New York.
Commissioner Hodson’s assurances were in reply to a request by the American Jewish Congress that Jewish employees under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Welfare be permitted to observe the High Holydays without incurring any loss in pay.
Replying, Hodson explained that “the rules of the State and Federal government do not permit us to pay any of our personnel on work relief for days that are not worked. It is, therefore, impossible for me to comply with your request.”
On the other hand, Commissioner Hodson declared: “I am glad to say, however, that arrangements will be made whereby Jewish workers can make up for the time lost so that they will not suffer by reason of observing the Jewish holidays.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
