The Government of India has not lent its support to the World Calendar Association’s plan for reforming the world calendar through the “blank day” device, Indian Prime Minister Nehru told British Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie yesterday, the Chief Rabbi revealed in a statement here today. The Jews have opposed the “blank day” device because it would unfix the position of the Sabbath and interfere with religious observances.
The Chief Rabbi’s statement revealed that after Dr. Brodie explained the Jewish objections to the calendar reform plan, Prime Minister Nehru assured him that although the Indian Government would like to clear up the calendar confusion which exists in India it has not so far studied the scheme proposed by the World Calendar Association and which is now before the United Nations. Mr. Nehru added that the Indian Government would respect the religious scruples expressed by the Chief Rabbi.
The statement by Mr. Nehru came as a welcome surprise to Jewish leaders here because it had been understood that the Indian Government was backing the “blank day” proposal. The interview between Mr. Nehru and Dr. Brodie was arranged through the medium of the European office of the Agudas Israel World Organization.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
