A bill to extend daylight saving time throughout the calendar year, introduced by Senator Roy M. Goodman, was withdrawn this week by the Senator “in response to an appeal from Agudath Israel of America which had disclosed that this measure would create a major problem for religious Jews.” “I feel conscience-bound to withdraw my bill out of consideration for the Orthodox Jewish community.” Goodman’s bill, introduced at the initiative of Consolidated Edison, aimed to relieve New York’s power shortages, However, Orthodox Jews would have suffered from its impact, because the earliest time when morning prayers can commence is one hour before sunrise. During the winter months, when prayers normally cannot begin before 6:15 a.m. (EST), advancing the clock for one hour would have meant that the observant Jew would first be able to begin his morning prayers at 7:15 a.m. As these prayers last from 30-50 minutes, it would have created a difficult situation for the religious Jews whose employment requires their presence prior to 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. In commending Goodman for withdrawing this bill, Rabbi Moshe Sherer, executive president of Agudath Israel who met with the Senator, pointed out that Senator John Marchi had two years ago withdrawn a similar measure that he had introduced after Agudath Israel had brought its religious implications to his attention.
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