Warsaw Chief of Police Permits Jews Buy Provisions for Holidays in Spite Council’s Vote

The possibility of affording the Jewish population of Warsaw a chance to chance to provide the necessary foodstuffs for the approaching High Holidays was a matter of discussion in the City Council in connection with the strict eight-hour day law which exists there. The majority of the City Council members, including socialists, voted against permitting Jewish storekeepers to extend the hours of trade. However, the chief of police in whose hands enforcement of the law rests, finally yielded to the persuasions of Jewish Aldermen and gave permission against the vote of the City Council.

A strict Blue Sunday is in existence in Poland, even for the Jewish tradesmen and storekeepers. Because of the approaching High Holidays beginning on Monday, preceeded by Saturday, universally observed by the Jews and Sunday, the rest day enforced by the State, the Jewish population would have to buy their provisions on Friday, a full five days in advance. The Jewish faction of the Warsaw City Council, therefore, introduced a measure for permitting the Jewish stores to keep open for two hours in the evening on Saturdays September 27 and November 4th and 11th, for the purpose of selling meat, fish and vegetables for the Holidays. The measure was rejected.