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N.Y. Supreme Court Rejects Petition Against Voting on Saturday

December 13, 1963
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A New York State Supreme Court Justice rejected yesterday a petition from an Orthodox Jew to halt a Rockland County referendum this Saturday.

Justice John J. Dillon disagreed in his ruling with the contention of petitioner Meshulem Rottenberg of New Square, that observant Jews would not have a full opportunity to vote in the referendum. New Square is a Rockland County village established by a Hassidic sect.

Justice Dillon said he had taken judicial notice of the fact that on December 14, the sun would set in the area at 4:36 p.m. and that traditional Jews followed the rule that the Sabbath ends at 72 minutes after sunset, meaning that the Sabbath would end at 5:48 p.m. Observant Jews, he said, would have from 5:48 p.m. to 7 p.m. to vote and thus would “not be compelled to choose between their civic rights and their religious beliefs.”

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