Rabbi J. L. Fishman, who yesterday resigned his post as representative of the orthodox Mizrachi Organization on the Jewish Agency for Palestine, resumed his duties today after a controversy over Sabbath observance had been settled.
The Agency’s Executive declined to accept the resignation and Moshe Shertok, head of its political department, sent a letter to the secretary of the Royal Commission of Inquiry amending a statement about Sabbath observance he had made orally on Tuesday.
The amendment, which apparently dispelled Mizrachi’s objections, stressed that the Agency holds that Jews should not work on Saturday, but that this does not affect Jewish rights to public positions. His original statement, which caused the resignation, was in reply to a question at the commission hearing.
Lord Peel, chairman of the commission, had asked whether the Jews were ready to work on the Sabbath in public words positions. Mr. Shertok said that the Agency was eager to make it possible for the Jews were to rest on the Sabbath, but if this were impossible, the Jews were ready to work, adding that the matter should be negotiated.
The Mizrachi Organization protested to the Jewish Agency on Wednesday concerning the testimony.
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