Bill Banning Job Bias Against Sabbath Jews in New York Becomes Law

A bill banning discrimination against privately-employed Sabbath observing Jews has been signed into law by Gov, Nelson A, Rockefeller. Rabbi Moshe Sherer, executive president of Agudath Israel and initiator of the legislation, attended the signing ceremony. Rabbi Sherer called the Rockefeller supported bill “one of the most important pieces of law the Jewish community ever had passed for it.” A similar bill, banning such discrimination in public employment, was passed several years ago. Undue economic hardship is the only consideration employers in New York State may now cite as reason for refusal to hire or retain Sabbath-observing Jews. Others present at the bill signing included Sidney Kwestel, chairman of the Sabbath observance committee of the National Commission on Law and Public Affairs (COLPA), and Rabbi Menachem Shayovich, chairman of the Agudath Israel legislative commission.