A spokesman for the American Jewish Congress today urged enactment “without any changes or amendments” of a City Council bill to exempt Sabbath observers from the State Sunday-closing law.
Howard M. Squadron, chairman of the New York Metropolitan Council of the Jewish group, spoke at a public hearing in City Hall in support of a measure introduced by City Councilman David Ross. He warned against any measure that went beyond the local-option law enacted by the State legislature last April.
Under the State law, New York City was given the right to enact, before Dec. 31, 1963, a local ordinance exempting from the State Sunday law persons who keep their places of business closed on Saturday in observance of their religious day of rest. Such legislation would cover Orthodox Jews, Seventh Day Advantists, Seventh Day Baptists and other Sabbatarians.
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