Sabbath Observers Win Unemployment Compensation in Michigan

The Supreme Court of Michigan, agreeing with arguments presented by Jewish groups here, today rebuked the Michigan Employment Security Commission for denying unemployment compensation benefits to Sabbath observers.

The arguments were presented by the Jewish Community Council of Detroit, Flint Jewish Community Council, American Jewish Congress, Detroit chapter of American Jewish Committee, Jewish Welfare Federation and Council of Pontiac, Beth Israel Community Center of Ann Arbor and Northern Michigan Jewish Welfare Federation of Bay City, in defense of the position that Sabbath observers should not be denied unemployment compensation solely because of their inability to accept employment involving work on Saturday.

The Michigan Employment Security Commission appealed the decision of Circuit Court Judge Blaine W. Hatch of Calhoun County who ruled that three members of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination were entitled to unemployment compensation although, because of their religious tenets, they would not accept employment which involves desecration of the Sabbath.

The Jewish organizations, in filing the brief with the Supreme Court of Michigan, stated: "Since many of the members of Jewish organizations observe a holy day and Sabbath the same day of the week as the appellees, we have an obvious interest in a case which will determine the rights of Saturday observers to unemployment compensation benefits."

"Our interest in the cause extends beyond the confines of the immediate issue since implicit in the controversy are fundamental questions involving freedom of religious conviction and observance, among the basic civil rights of our democratic system, " the Jewish groups emphasized.