The 15 agencies comprising the Pennsylvania Jewish Community Relations Conference hailed Gov. Raymond P. Chafer for including in his legislative program a Sabbatarian Exemption Bill, which enables Jews and other religious groups to by-pass the State’s Sunday closing law if they observe Saturday as their Sabbath.
The Governor listed the bill as a measure for which he would seek passage in the State Legislature, during his recent State of the Commonwealth address. It was originally passed in the State Legislature’s lower house last year, but died in the Senate Judiciary General Committee.
In addition to the support of Orthodox and Conservative Jewish groups, and of leading Jewish secular agencies, the bill was endorsed by the Greater Philadelphia Council of Churches and by other Protestant groups.
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