The U.S. Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday to make Daylight Saving Time Permanent, sending the bill to the House and the President. If passed, the change would present benefits, and major challenges, for frum Yidden.
By Anash.org reporter
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent – meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change.
The change would mean that “summer time” when sunrise and sunset are an hour later remain a full year, making Shabbos and all other zmanim an hour later as well.
“It’s really straightforward: Cutting back on the sun during the fall and winter is a drain on the American people and does little to nothing to help them,” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a cosponsor of the bipartisan legislation, wrote in a statement. “It’s time we retire this tired tradition.”
The bill, which must first clear the House of Representatives before it can be signed into law, would make the current time zone permanent, as Daylight Saving Time began Sunday, March 13, and lasts through Sunday, November 7. The change would go into effect in November 2023, when the clocks would remain at the same time, instead of “falling back” an hour.
The later time would translate to more time on winter Fridays, with the earliest lichtbentchen well after 5:00 PM. Sof z’man krias shmah and shkiah would also be later, a fact that would undoubtedly give late-wakers a smile.
But later zmanim come with major challenges as well. Currently, netz hachama, which is the earliest time one may daven shmoneh esreh, comes out as late as 7:20, in the New York winter. For working men who need to start their day at 8:00, the time can present a real challenge. One hour later, 8:20 AM, would inconvenience countless more.
For kids walking to school in the morning, the later time could also mean that for a number of weeks they will be heading to their classrooms while the streets are still dark.
For now, the bill still has a far way to go, with no guarantee that the House will even take it up. For now, we can enjoy the later times offered by the summer Daylight Saving Time.
Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!
(Subject to moderation)
Is there a place to patition?
Sending kids to school in the dark is a terrible mistake.
Coming home from school in the dark during the winter is worse.
100%
I vote to make standard time permanent! Late shabbosim are very hard for young children. Also, if netz would be after 8 in NY then it must be closer to 9 in Cleveland!
Yep. And the last time they tried this, in the 1970s, it caused precisely such problems (and others, such as kids getting run over in the dark), and finally wiser heads prevailed. Standard time throughout the year would be _much_ better.
More time for mivtza teffilin!
I say standardize halachik time!
Just make it light for 24 hours
As a woman, I would vote for any politician who would end day light saving time. The long Fridays and even longer shabbas, are really hard. A frum women’s responsibilities are at night too. Lets all Vote to end daylight savings!
No question, the rebbe would love the idea
Do us a favor. Don’t attribute your random neural firings – in this case, that you love an idea – to the Rebbe.
not a vort, these people think they’re the first people around! there’s obviously a reason why they made the change a lot of years ago! thats the problem with america today.., and the worst part is that any random guy sends in his petition.., well hopefully they wont pass the law so it will be good for yidden too!
if this goes it will bring halachic problems
1: for many weeks in the winter the to daven will be as late as 8:00, many people who have to go to work when will they daven plus for older grades of cheder the kids will only be able to daven at 8:00 meaning that school will have to start at 9:30 on a average day
PS: all that was said above is only the case in Toronto I do not know if this applies in New York