The Sabbath

Three divisions of U. S. citizens are compelled by their religious beliefs to abstain from all work and business from sunset Friday until sunset Saturday: orthodox Jews, Seventh-Day Adventists, Seventh-Day Baptists. Existing legislation in 24 of the States takes no cognizance of this fact. If members of these religious communities observe their own Sabbath, they must also observe the Sunday of other denominations.

In regard to business, New York, where live some 17% of U. S. Jews, is one of the non-Sabbath observing States. Last Week Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein of the Institutional Synagogue in Manhattan, broadcasting his sermon, declared that this "religious persecution" must cease. "I call upon the Legislature of the State of New York to pass the Hofstadter-Moffat Sabbath bill!" he cried. Sponsored by Senator Samuel H. Hofstadter and Assemblyman Abbot Low Moffat, the bill would enable seventh-day observers to engage in business on "the first day of the week." Thus all would be equal in the sight of God and the State.

When the question was argued before the legislative codes committee at Albany three weeks ago, Rev. Dr. Bernard Drachman of the Jewish Sabbath Alliance of America insisted that the issue was essentially a religious and spiritual one. "We are not at all interested in its commercial aspects," said he. Others, however, pointed out that, because the Jewish faith prohibits work on Saturday, and the State laws restrict work on Sunday, Jews are condemned to a five-day business week. All agreed that a partnership between a Jew and a Gentile should not be used as a device for working seven days a week. So an amendment was suggested specifically providing that any business conducted on Sunday must be closed on one other full day of the week.

Similar facilities having been granted to Jews in 16 States, the bill at Albany was simply an attempt to bring New York into line. The general argument is that people of all creeds should be interested in intensifying the faith of others, in order to present a united front against the power of Irreligion. Last week the bill went to the rules committee and it was understood it would not be reported out.

The Sabbath day, according to Genesis, was not established in Paradise. God ended his work on the seventh day, and blessed it and sanctified it. He did not command Adam and Eve to observe that day as a day of rest. There is no evidence that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or any of the other Patriarchs observed the Sabbath. Nor is there evidence that when the Israelites came out of Egypt had they never heard of it. Hence their surprise on receiving double rations of manna on the sixth day (Ex. 16:22), so that they might rest on the Sabbath of the Lord as commanded through Moses. Sabbath day observance was, to the Christians, a ceremonial law of the Jews and not part of the moral law which was accepted by them after the coming of the Messiah. Its status was like that of the Passover and the Day of Atonement. After the coming of the Messiah the Old Testament ceremonies were revoked, so far as Christians were concerned. But even in the New Testament there is no divinely appointed day of rest. In fact, Saint Paul said: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." (Col. 2:16.) Clearly the Sabbath is a matter of convenience and adjustment.

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