Lawmakers considering a proposal to make Daylight Saving Time permanent in New Jersey heard opposition Monday from Agudath Israel of America, whose state legislative director, Shlomo Schorr, warned that such a change would create serious hardships for Orthodox Jewish residents.
Testifying before the Senate Transportation Committee on Senate Bill 1510, Schorr said the measure — while intended to end the twice-yearly clock changes — would inadvertently discriminate against religious Jews whose morning prayers can only be recited after sunrise.
“If Daylight Saving Time were to be instituted year-round,” Schorr explained to the lawmakers, “services in the winter months would not be able to start before 8 or even 8:30 in the morning. As the services take between forty minutes to an hour, this would place a severe burden on members of our faith, forcing them to make a difficult choice between observance of the morning services and coming to work on time.”
Representing the Orthodox Jewish communities across the state and the 75,000 students attending 200 Jewish day schools, Schorr said the bill could have wide-ranging effects on employment and equality. “Employers would look for any excuse to avoid hiring members of our community,” he cautioned. “Faced with shrinking opportunities, people would be forced to sacrifice their livelihoods, be false to their beliefs, or relocate.”
Schorr urged lawmakers to preserve New Jersey’s longstanding reputation for religious accommodation and reject the measure in its current form. “We respectfully ask that you help our state maintain its well-deserved reputation for hospitality to members of all faiths and beliefs,” he said.
Following Schorr’s testimony, the committee chairman acknowledged he had not previously been aware of this concern, calling it a legitimate issue that warranted consideration. He said he still intends to vote the bill out of committee but indicated he is open to possible changes to address the religious and practical implications raised during the hearing.
Senate Bill 1510, which would place New Jersey on permanent Daylight Saving Time if federal law allows, is part of a growing nationwide debate over whether the United States should abolish the twice-yearly clock changes. While proponents argue the switch would improve health and reduce confusion, critics warn that darker mornings in the winter could disrupt routines for students and workers alike.