A New York judge made it clear today that Jews have a right to keep their businesses open on Saturday if they prove that they are closed on Saturday for religious reasons. He dismissed the 11th summons for Sunday law violation given to a Jew who keeps his launderette open on Sunday but closed on Saturday.
The judge, George S. Rader, told the policeman who served the Jew with the summons that he would notify his commanding officer that a Jew has a right to keep his business open on Sunday as long as he keeps it closed on Saturday. He asked the officer whether the launderette neighborhood was predominantly Jewish and whether the fact that it was open on Sundays bothered nearby residents. When the officer said the neighborhood was Jewish and that there had been no complaints, the judge dismissed the charge.
Section 2144 of the New York City Penal Code permits work on Sunday for those who observe another day as the Sabbath, but the burden of proof rests on the individual.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
