The State Senate, by a vote of 26 to 11,passed the bill amending the Sunday laws to permit Sabbatarians who close their businesses on Saturdays to conduct their affairs on Sundays. A Fair Sabbath law has been advocated by Jewish organizations in this state for several years, The state House of Representatives had already adopted the measure by an overwhelming vote. The bill will return now to the House for formal enactment, after which it will go to the Governor for signature.
The measure passed the Senate after opponents tried to put through amendments, one of which would have exempted employees of Sabbatarians from working on Sundays One of the counter-arguments by proponents of the bill, including Senate President John E. Powers, was that leaders of the Jewish, Protestant and Catholic faiths favor the measure. One of the members of the upper house, Sen. Joseph D. Ward, of Fitchburg, pointed out in arguing for the bill that, in Israel, Christians are allowed to pursue their businesses on Saturdays.
Rabbi Samuel J. Fox, president of the Massachusetts Council of Rabbis, hailed the Senate action as “a great victory for justice and equality. ” He called the now certain enactment of the bill “the result of the miracle of brotherhood which can solve the greatest problems if only men of good will sit down together to work out their destiny, “
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