For Jews, Negatives Of Daylight Savings Outweigh Positives
Like Rabbi Gil Student (Dec. 20), I have been following the incoming administration’s statements about Daylight Saving Time with great interest. Rabbi Student’s comments about the effects of the time change on Jewish life are cogent, but he ignores a major advantage of year-round Standard Time: an earlier sunset and nightfall during the summer. Many struggle with starting the Pesach Seder after 8 p.m. and ending the long fast days (17 Tammuz and 9 Av) close to 9 p.m. And that is in New York – the time is even later in other locations.
Furthermore, even when making “early Shabbos,” the Friday night meal is often eaten uncomfortably late during the summer, especially for families with young children. And on Shavuos night, common custom precludes eating early. Even on weekdays, many would prefer to be able to daven Maariv earlier in the evening or Mincha earlier in the afternoon.
It seems that the issue of late nightfall during Daylight Saving Time is much harder to work around than the problems that Rabbi Student raises with year-round Standard Time. Eliminating the twice-yearly shift and sticking with the earlier (and original!) clock setting would also be advantageous from a health perspective, as has been discussed in the secular media. All this should make Jews wholeheartedly daven for a return to permanent Standard Time.
Rabbi Yaakov Hoffman
New York, N.Y.
Carter’s Caveat
Throughout our history, the Jewish people have always showed respect and engaged in diplomacy with the leader of whichever country in exile we resided in. Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away last Sunday at the age of 100, wasn’t our friend (“Jimmy Carter Dead At 100; Damaged The Security Of The Jews And Israel,” Dec. 30). But he brokered a peace treaty between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat which holds to this day, albeit shakily.
Bogged down by high inflation, the Iranian hostage crises, and an energy crisis (sweaters, anyone?), Carter sought to save his legacy. Who have world leaders historically turned to as a scapegoat for their own troubles? The Jews. Farmer Jimmy spent the last decades of his life trying to solve the Middle East crises by painting Israel as an apartheid state which must cede land to the “Palestinians” for the sake of peace.
How careful we have to be, then, to be diplomatic but not delude ourselves into thinking that any one ruler is our savior or downfall. As it says in Melachim II, do not fear the blasphemy of the foreign king. We don’t know what Trump will do to close the deal or save his legacy. The lessons we learned from Chanukah must carry us through the year, the next election cycle, and beyond: Live peacefully amongst the nations when you can, but don’t get too close to the foreign flame.
May the menorah shine bright always.
Chaim Yehuda Meyer
Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Transformative Power Of Music
Re: Winks From Above: How Musical Synchronicity Led Me To G-d (Dec. 27): I really enjoyed and appreciated Andrew Hershkowitz’s article on how certain songs he heard at specific times affected him deeply, how he felt Hashem was guiding him and showing him love through the timing of the songs, ultimately leading him to a lifestyle centered around Torah and mitzvot.
I recently experienced something similar, when by finding specific songs, I was able to cope with a personal loss and also commit to working on something difficult but extremely important. I had wanted to work on it for a very long time, but just could not muster up the strength to do it – until I heard music that moved and inspired me in a very real way.
The music I refer to is by Yonina, an Israeli couple who sing and produce music together. They have the most magnificent voices. They sing original songs, which are all superb, and many covers, which they tweak, update, and enhance. They have released two amazing albums, perform live around the world, and have hundreds of songs available on You Tube, Facebook, Spotify, and Apple Music. Yonina’s music is upbeat, soulful, and rich in meaning. Their music has been available for over eight years, but I only stumbled upon it exactly when I needed it – and it had a tremendous impact on me, spurring me to action.
Hashem runs His world with order and precision, and although there are billions of people in the world, He gives every one of us the personal messages we need to hear.
Thank you for producing a great newspaper full of thought-provoking articles.
Miriam Cymet
Jackson, N.J.
Hashem’s Knocks On The Door
Kudos to Andrew Hershkowitz for finding his path to Hashem. I had similar experiences about 35 years ago so I could truly relate. Unfortunately, many – make that most – don’t get it.
By 1990 I was fully frum and I called “Ken,” a close friend from college and dental school, and asked him, “You know, David, Joe, and Steve [friends and dental colleagues] all became Orthodox – why don’t you take the plunge?” I wasn’t prepared for his response: “Sheldon, we’ve been friends for 15 years, and the reason is that you never mentioned religion. If you ever broach the subject again, our friendship is over.” He then added, “You picked the wrong day to bring it up. This morning I was on my way to work and these two Lubavitchers tried to get me to put on tefillin. I told them I’m not Jewish to get rid of them.”
Think about it. The last time “Ken” had had a thought of being Jewish was at his bar mitzvah 20 years earlier, and now he got a double dose on the same day. I spoke to him a few years ago and mentioned this exchange. He said he had no recollection of it at all.
My point is that Hashem is constantly communicating with us – and that means all of us. I was debating with someone about the concept of “tinok shenishba.” He insisted that every irreligious Jew in our times has that status and so won’t be held responsible for violating the mitzvos. That’s nonsense. Only Hashem can make that determination. We must realize that Hashem wants us to come close to Him, and therefore, when we experience “coincidences,” we have to recognize that Hashem is knocking on the door. If you let Him in, He may take you in a different direction than you planned, but ultimately you’ll realize that it’s exactly where you belong.
Dr. Yaakov Stern
Via E-mail
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