Sabbath Alliance Protests Against Proposed Calendar Change

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Objection to the proposed calendar reform now under consideration by the National Committee on Calendar Simplification here was voiced by the Jewish Sabbath Alliance of America, in a communication directed to the Committee.

“It has been brought to the attention of the Jewish Sabbath Alliance of America, the organization representing the Seventh Day observing Jews of America, that there is a proposal before you to reform the calendar by causing one or two days of the year to be disconnected from the week in order that the New Year may always begin on the same day, which is, as we understand, to be considered Sunday,” the communication read.

“We wish to call to your serious attention the fact, that, this arrangement, if carried out, would have most serious, in fact disastrous consequences for all those who observe the historic Jewish Sabbath, which is known as the Seventh Day of the week. At present, in accordance with the arrangement which has now existed for many centuries, the Sabbath is practically identical with the Saturday, it begins on Friday evening at sundown and ends on Saturday evening at sundown. This period is clearly recognizable and is well known and familiar to all, both Jews and Gentiles. Under the proposed arrangement, if carried out, there would be no definite day of the week identical and recognizable as the Sabbath. In some years it might be observed on Monday, in other years on Wednesday or Thursday, and so forth, and there would be no regularity whatsoever in the matter.

“The consequences of this confusion on the observance of the Jewish Sabbath can easily be perceived. It would bring a tremendous uncertainty into the Sabbath observing Jewish community, for since there can be no other day substituted for the Seventh Day of the week, and this would be liable to occur on different days, it would be very difficult for the masses of Sabbath observing Jewish people to harmonize their observance of their Sabbath with the constantly varying conditions. We are, of course, not authorized to speak for the Christian denominations, but it would seem to us, that the conferring of the name Sunday on different days of the week, would also be highly objectionable to those who observe the first Day of the week in accordance with their traditions.

“We wish to add our protest, in the name of the millions of Sabbath observing Jews in both Americas, to the protest from leaders and organizations in Europe, against this proposed change in the calendar.

“If a change is to be made, we think that some method might be found by skilled astronomers and other scholars acquainted with the problem of the calendar, through which the existing difficulties might be surmounted without interfering with traditional observances either of those who revere the Seventh Day or the First Day of the week as holy time,” stated the letter which was signed by Dr. Bernard Drachman, president of the Jewish Sabbath Alliance, and William Rosenberg. Executive Secretary.

ORGANIZATION FORMED TO SURVEY CONDITION OF JEWISH GROUPS IN THE ORIENT

Organization of the Ha’Or, Oriental Jewish Committee of America, has been announced. The association will have its headquarters in the Hias Building, New York City. The purpose of the Ha’Or will be to create a commission to make a survey of the conditions of the Jewish communities of central and southern Asia with a view to formulating plans for improving those conditions.

According to plans, a scientific institution is to be made to determine the best procedure for improving the health, educational, and economic conditions of their co-religionists in the unenlightened sections of the Orient.

The organization already has a considerable number of members, the announcement stated. Among them, in addition to the American members, they have representation from Persia, Afghanistan, the Bokhara district of Turkestan. India, Arabia, Egypt, and other countries in the same region.

The officers of Ha’Or are: Joseph A. Kashioff, president; Norman Jemal, vice-president; Morris Zekaria, treasurer; Ellis Meyer, secretary; Abraham Emanuelson, field manager; Morris Obada, assistant secretary.