Today the U. S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a wide majority. Agudath Israel of America and its constituents understand the popular desire to “lock the clock.” We are concerned, however, that by choosing permanent daylight saving time (DST) for the entire country it will put children at risk and affect our religious practices.
Permanent DST would mean sunrises after 9 am in some parts of the country for weeks in the winter thereby causing many of America’s schoolchildren to head for school – by foot, by bicycle, or by bus – in the pre-sunrise darkness and putting them at increased risk.
For the Orthodox Jewish community, an unintended, yet compelling, consequence of such legislation is the effect it will have on our fundamental religious practices. In Jewish law, morning prayers, and the rituals associated with them, must be recited no earlier than at specified times. The later sunrise occurs; the later synagogue services must begin. The extension of DST will create an extreme hardship on observant Jews. It would be extraordinarily difficult – if not impossible – to arrive on time for a job and will effect the start time of our schools.
The last time this happened in the 1970’s the popularity of the measure dropped dramatically once Americans experienced one dark winter and Congress had to reverse itself within a year.
We are hopeful that the Senate will consider all of the effects of DST and compare them to the effects of permanent standard time or maintaining the status quo before rushing into this major change.
Later zman krias shema
ReplyDeleteLater shabbos in the winter
Less hangouts motzei shabbos
Vasikin guys will need to find a new identity
More excuses for coming late to school
Morning kollel will be mandatory
What about people who have normal jobs and need to be at work by 9 o'clock and want to daven normally with netz being at 8:20 that won't be possible
DeleteThe Agudah US is so lame! Nebach
ReplyDeleteWhere was the Ahudah before the bill was passed????
ReplyDeleteBDE The Levaya of Harav Hagaon R' Yehoshua Max zt"l will be today at 11am @ Lakewood Chapel
ReplyDeleteChildren going to school in the dark isn't that much different than coming home in the dark.
ReplyDeleteAs for Shacharis, people will have to figure it out, daven near their workplace. Stay a little later.
It sounds awfully entitled to me to expect the whole country to be affected by our religious needs.
This isn't about our religious freedom. Nobody is stoping you from davening when you need to. You can work it out with your employer. Or become self-employed like 80% of religious Jews (statistic not backed by any facts).
I think that kvetching about our problems with the law can provoke even more anti-Semitism. Especially silly if, as noted, it will be repealed after a year if nobody likes it.
Spot on,
Deletefor most of frum population it works better this way
I agree. If need be, get to work early daven in your office, beyechidus behind closed doors. Yes, it will be somewhat of a hardship, but we can't cry about every single thing, and make it all about us. It isn't. Pick your fights. Where is the sechel?? With all the internet hatred, all we need, s for them to hear that we're trying to affect the whole country. Leave it alone. I pray calmer heads will prevail.
DeleteThe good news is that aguda it's actually functioning as usual. There's someone in the office since someone had to write this letter of. This is what the chafetz chaim et al had in mind when he created this organization..... It was a great need for a organization to say nothing so eloquently. BH
ReplyDeleteThe Tziyonim are responsible for Savings Time.
ReplyDeleteAgudah is just complying with dineh deMalchusa.
NK urges the tzibur to comply.
Exemption from musical Hallel this morning due to 9 teg.
Speaking of teg, where's this incorrect minhag of eating in Yeshiva cafeteria or restaurants from? Everyone should be eating teg. Like in the alte heim.