An Orthodox Jewish family in London surprised a suspected serial arsonist who was trying to set fire to their home, but family members did not call the police because the incident happened on Shabbat. Orthodox authorities later said the family should have phoned the police, because doing so could constitute saving a life, which takes precedence over Sabbath observance.
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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.