The adoption of a thirteen-period calendar on the part of several business firms in the United States, does not involve endorsement of the Eastman Calendar Reform Plan, according to a statement issued today by Rev. Dr. Moses Hyamson, President of the League for Safeguarding the Fixity of the Sabbath Against Possible Encroachment by Calendar Reform.
“In a letter we have received from Sears, Roebuck and Company, over the signature of its vice-president, E. J. Pollock,” stated Dr. Hyamson, “the following comment is made on the thirteen-period calendar:
“‘By adopting the thirteen-period calendar, we have not disturbed the Fixity of the Sabbath in any way; we have simply divided the year into thirteen periods instead of twelve, for accounting purposes only.’
“In the discussion of the question of calendar reform,” continued Dr. Hyamson, “we have pointed out that it is possible for business, as is exemplified by this statement of Sears, Roebuck and Company, to gain the advantages of a thirteen-period calendar, without disturbing the fixity of the Sabbath, and thus do violence to the religious convictions of all those who value the sanctity of the Sabbath. Therefore, a ‘blank day’ device as part of a thirteen month or thirteen-period calendar plan is unnecessary for accounting or other purposes.”
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.
