Sabbath Observance Federation to Call World Congress

“Our Federation was born to meet the need of the time,” the Committee of the recently created Sabbath Observance World Federation declared in an appeal which it has issued here, announcing its decision to call together a Sabbath Observance World Congress to decide the methods of work.

“In the speed and hustle of our time,” the proclamation says, “the Sabbath, the ancient and sacred institution of our faith, is in danger of losing its unquestioned sanctity. Home and family life, which are consecrated by the Sabbath atmosphere, and labor which it civilizes, are confronted by the menace of having to sacrifice this inestimable treasure of Jewish tradition. In order to fight against this danger, we have established a non-party World Federation to safeguard and protect the Sabbath. Leading men in Jewish intellectual and economic life, who belong to a number of different political groupings, have joined our movement. Declarations of sympathy and statements of readiness to join the Federation have come from all European countries and from other Continents.

“The aims of our Federation are: (1) To recall all Jews to the idea that Sabbath observance is the basic idea of Jewish teaching and of Jewish life, so that the Sabbath will again become a living force. (2) To link together the Sabbath observance organizations of all countries and to promote their activities. (3) To seek to influence the legislation of the various countries in matters affecting labor conditions, Sun- (Continued on Page 4)

day observance, rest-days, hours of labor, protection of workers, wages, etc., and to secure that municipal and state undertakings should allow their Sabbath-observing employees to be absent on the Sabbath.

(4) “To support independent Sabbath-observing undertakings and to assist Sabbath-observing Jews in obtaining employment. (5) To influence enterprises which work on the Sabbath, that they should employ a specified percentage of Sabbath-observing workers and employees, even if necessary, by requiring them to work longer hours on other days. (6) To establish credit institutions which, while conducting their affairs on strict business lines, will promote Sabbath observance. (7) To organize Sabbath-observing merchants and artisans in cooperatives, to protect their interests and to facilitate their observance of the Sabbath. (8) By an exchange of forces and of experience between various countries to make it easier for Sabbath-observing employees to obtain positions. (9) To influence Jewish organizations, like the Agrojoint, the Ort and others to support our work and to establish Sabbath-observing settlements. (10) To promote the five-day week movement, which will make it possible for Jews to observe their Sabbath.”