In Yiddishkeit, time is more than a tool for scheduling—it is a vessel for kedushah. Every moment is tied to z’manim—fixed times for t’filah, limud Torah, and avodas Hashem. As clocks move forward this Sunday for Daylight Saving Time (DST), the annual debate reignites—not just about hours of sunlight, but about how artificial shifts in time affect frum life. With President Trump’s recent comments reigniting discussions about ending DST, the issue has taken on new urgency. While much of the country views this as a question of convenience, for the Torah-observant community, it strikes at the very core of halachic living.
President Donald Trump has recently called DST “inconvenient and very costly to our Nation,” expressing support for eliminating the biannual clock change in favor of permanent DST. While many Americans welcome the idea of longer evenings, the frum perspective shifts the focus. This isn’t just about how late the sun sets—it’s about preserving halachic z’manim and the daily seder hayom that anchors a life of avodas Hashem.
For frum Yidden, DST isn’t merely a matter of adjusting clocks—it’s a shaylah of t’filah b’zman. Halachah mandates that Shacharis be davened after haneitz hachamah (sunrise). Under permanent DST, sunrise would be delayed past 8 a.m. in New York for nearly two months and beyond 9 a.m. in cities like Detroit for several weeks. This places many frum Jews in a dilemma: either davening too early, before haneitz, and invalidating their t’filah, or risking their livelihoods by arriving late to work.
Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, decried the idea of extending DST into winter, calling it a “g’zeirah mamash al hat’filah”—a decree that could prevent Yidden from davening k’halachah. The Chazon Ish, zt”l, similarly emphasized that tampering with natural z’manim disrupts the delicate balance of avodas Hashem. When the government’s clock doesn’t match Hashem’s, the spiritual cost is heavy.
Rabbi Zalmen Gurevitz of the Rohr Chabad Jewish Center at West Virginia University reinforced this, stating that permanent DST “would definitely make it more challenging and limit the places where observant Jews can work.” The clash between later sunrises and work schedules not only complicates t’filah but risks sidelining ruchniyus for parnassah.
DST also poses significant health risks. Medical studies have shown that disrupting sleep cycles leads to increased rates of heart attacks, strokes, and car accidents. In the frum community, where physical well-being directly affects avodah, these disturbances can take an even greater toll.
Dr. Mayer Eisenstein, a frum physician from Chicago, highlighted this link: “The disruption to sleep patterns affects both physical health and spiritual focus. A guf without proper rest cannot be a suitable kli for a neshamah striving for avodas Hashem.” Fatigue makes it harder to daven with kavanah and maintain consistency in limud Torah.
Dr. David Pelcovitz Ph.D, Straus Professor of Psychology and Education, Azrieli Graduate School, Yeshiva University, has spoken extensively about sleep hygiene and its effects on mental and emotional well-being. He warns that disruptions to sleep, particularly from external factors such as time changes, can negatively impact both cognitive function and emotional stability. This reinforces the concern that DST affects not only physical health but also one’s ability to maintain kavanah and spiritual consistency.
The frum community hasn’t remained silent. Gedolei Yisrael and major organizations, including the Orthodox Union (OU) and Agudath Israel of America, have opposed permanent DST, warning that it threatens t’filah b’tzibbur and upends the seder hayom.
In a letter to congressional leaders, the OU stated that permanent DST would “interfere with the ability of members of our community to engage in t’filah b’tzibbur and arrive at their workplaces on time.” The organization has consistently advocated for the protection of religious freedoms and has worked alongside lawmakers to ensure that frum Yidden are not placed in impossible positions when it comes to observing halachah.
Agudah has taken a leading role in lobbying against permanent DST, recognizing that z’manim are not merely guidelines but foundations of Torah life. Any government policy that disrupts t’filah must be challenged, and Agudah has worked tirelessly to ensure that Orthodox Jews are not placed at a disadvantage when observing halachah. They have engaged with legislators to highlight how shifting time artificially would create undue hardship for Orthodox Jews, and they continue to urge community members to make their voices heard on this issue. Agudah has a long track record of successfully advocating for frum communities, ensuring that government policies do not interfere with religious observance. Both the OU and Agudah remain steadfast in their opposition to permanent DST, working to ensure that t’filah b’tzibbur and religious observance are not compromised.
While the broader public debates DST through the lens of economics and lifestyle, the Torah perspective remains unyielding: Time is a creation of Hashem, and z’manim are sacred.
The Ramban writes that the mitzvos tied to time—like t’filah—are opportunities to align ourselves with Hashem’s divine rhythm. When artificial time shifts like DST interfere with z’manim, the spiritual impact extends throughout every aspect of a Torah Jew’s day.
Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President, Emeritus of the OU and a noted psychotherapist, has emphasized on OU Torah the importance of structuring one’s schedule around spiritual priorities, explaining that time is a sacred gift meant to be used purposefully. His perspective highlights the tension that arises when government-imposed time shifts interfere with religious life, further underscoring the challenges DST presents.
As policymakers debate shifting the clock, our commitment to Hashem’s z’manim remains unwavering. The Torah’s framework of time is not subject to political convenience, and we must ensure that our ability to serve Hashem is protected. By staying informed, supporting advocacy efforts, and voicing our concerns, we can safeguard the integrity of davening, learning Torah, and serving the Almighty for generations to come.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
The Clock Conundrum: How Daylight-Saving Time Affects Frum Life
Typography
- Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
- Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times
- Reading Mode