Five-day-week Endorsed by Synagogue Council

The five-day working week in industry received endorsement of all sections of Jewry at a meeting of the Synagogue Council of America in New York. Representatives were present from the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, Rabbinical Council of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Central Conference of American Rabbis, United Synagogue of America, and Rabbinical Assembly of the United Synagogue.

The following resolution was adopted:

“The Synagogue Council of America has followed with great interest the country-wide discussion on instituting a five-day working week in American industry. While the Council, consisting of religious organizations, cannot speak dogmatically upon the economic value of a five-day working week, it does rejoice to observe that such a shortened working week is becoming increasingly a fact in a number of industries, and that competent authorities maintain that it not only gives more leasure to both employer and employee, but that it also raises men’s morals, improves men’s health, increases men’s efficiency, betters men’s home life, and affords men greater opportunities for physical and spiritual recreation.

“The Synagogue Council of America, desirous that every man should have freedom to observe the Sabbath, is interested in the shortened working week principally because in Saturday and Sunday as the consecutive days of rest, all classes of men will be released from the necessity of laboring on their respective Sabbaths.

“The Synagogue Council of America therefore gives its endorsement to the furtherance of this social and spiritual ideal and urges upon all public spirited forces in America cooperation in attaining such a shortened working week, in the Saturday and Sunday as days of rest, in order that a great historic religion may be helped without outward handicap, to exert its morally and spiritually educating influence upon those who profess it.”

A report was presented by Dr. Abram Simon announcing that the membership organization of the Synagogue Council have approved the proposal of the issuance of a calendar for distribution among schools and officials. A committee was appointed, composed of Dr. Leo Jung, Dr. Abraham Burstein and Dr. Nathan Stern, to prepare such a calendar. This calendar will be ready for distribution before the opening of schools and colleges in the Fall.

Dr. Simon presided at the sessions. Among those who attended were:

Representing the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America: Capt, N. Taylor Phillips, New York City: Mr. Morris Engelman, New York City.

Representing the Rabbinical Council of the ## Orthodox Jewish Congregations: Dr. ## Sola Pool, New York City; Dr. Bernard ?achman, New York City.

Representing the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Dr. Abram Simon, Washington, D. C., Mr. Ren Altheimer, New York City; Mr. N. Henry Beckman, Cincinnati, Ohio; Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, New York City.

Representing the Central Conference of American Rabbis: Dr. Samuel Schulman, New York City: Rabbi Solomon Foster, Newark, N. J.: Rabbi Louis Wolsey, Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Nathan Stern, New York City: Rabbi Wm. H. Fineshriber, Philadelphia, Pa.; Dr. Isaac Landman, New York City.

Representing the United Synagogue of America: Dr. Elias L. Solomon, New York City.

Representing the Rabbinical Assembly of the United Synagogue of America; Rabbi Abraham Burstein, New York City.

Jocob H. Mayerberg was appointed on the Maryland State Board of Optometry by Governor Albert C. Ritchie. His name was on a list submitted by the Maryland Association of Optometrists.

Governor Ritchie, at the same time, announced the appointment of Martin Lehmaver, former member of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore, as a member of the board of managers of the Spring Grove State Hospital.