The Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada (Agudath Harabonim) sent a telegram yesterday to General Hugh S. Johnson, Recovery Administrator, in Washington, asking him to take into consideration the thousands of Jews who cannot work on the Sabbath, when mapping out nation-wide plans for shorter working hours.
The telegram sent to General Johnson said:
“Being that the Industrial Recovery Act is also interested in regulating labor conditions which include distribution of working hours, and as thousands of Jewish citizens are directly interested in this distribution in connection with observance of the Sabbath which they may be compelled to violate with Government consent if the Sabbath will also be included in the working days, may we therefore appeal to you to set a five-day working week so that Jews may have the privilege of observing the Sabbath. We assure you that hundreds of thousands of religious Jews of the United States will be highly appreciative of this cooperation of the Government.
“The making of this appeal was decided upon at a special well-attended meeting of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada held in Far Rockaway. A similar appeal was made on June 17 in a letter to the President of the United States.”
The telegram was signed by Rabbi L. Silver, president of the organization, and Rabbi L. Seltzer, secretary.
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