The House has passed legislation that could make daylight saving time permanent.

For the Orthodox Jewish community, this is far more than a minor issue. During the winter, sunrise in New York could be pushed past 8:00 a.m., making it difficult for many people to daven Shacharis before work. Yeshiva students could also be traveling to school in complete darkness, raising legitimate concerns about safety and disrupting the daily schedule that many families rely on.

Orthodox organizations have voiced these concerns, and that advocacy is important. But it is fair to ask: why wasn’t the broader community mobilized before the House vote?

Why wasn’t there a widespread campaign encouraging people to call and email their members of Congress? Why weren’t buses organized to bring rabbanim, parents, yeshiva students, and working community members to Washington to meet with lawmakers?

Imagine hundreds of constituents respectfully visiting congressional offices and explaining, firsthand, how permanent daylight saving time would affect their families, their work schedules, their schools, and their ability to daven.

Private meetings and organizational advocacy are valuable, but elected officials also need to hear directly from the people whose daily lives will be impacted.

The legislation must still pass the Senate before it can become law, so there is still time for meaningful public engagement. Regardless of the outcome, this should serve as a lesson for the future: when legislation directly affects our community, the community itself should be informed, organized, and actively involved before the vote—not only after it.

Shmulie Hartstein

Wesley Hills

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