Sharp protests against a decision of the board of directors of the Jewish Community Center of Houston to open the center on Saturday afternoons for a limited program of youth activities have resulted in suspension of the plan pending the polling of the adult membership of the center.
The board had voted to open the building at 2 PM on Saturday instead of 6 PM, but opposition to this was so strongly expressed at a special board meeting following the announcement that the board agreed to submit the plan to a vote of the membership. If two-thirds of the adult members concur, the center will be open on Saturday afternoons.
Critics of the plan charged that opening of the center on the Sabbath would be “another let-down in Jewish tradition.” Speakers warned that the action would create a serious rift in the community. Ballots will be sent to all eligible members of the center, to be returned by Aug. 10.
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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.
