Whereas, the “Sunshine Protection Act” advocating for permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST) passed with unanimous voice consent in the US Senate, on March 15, 2022, and was followed by reports that Senators were not aware unanimous voice consent had been requested, leading to the bill’s expiration at the end of the 117th Congress and reintroduction to committee;
Whereas, the United States previously approved permanent DST three times, with War Time in 1918 and 1942 and through the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act, a two-year permanent DST experiment in 1973, which was terminated after one year due to declining public support and inconclusive evidence of energy savings;
Whereas, it is well known that the biannual changing of the clocks is linked to numerous health and safety concerns, including heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure, car accidents, traffic fatalities, workplace injuries, and exacerbation of mental health issues;
Whereas, Permanent Standard Time is more in line with with natural human circadian rhythms promoting overall better health, and the darkness on winter mornings resulting from DST exposes children to greater risk of traffic accidents while travelling to school;
Whereas, energy savings from reduced light usage at the end of the day due to DST are offset by increased light usage in the early mornings and heightened climate control use, and extended daylight increases travel and gasoline consumption;
Whereas, the implementation of permanent DST in the United States will automatically trigger permanent DST in Canada, and likely changes in other countries;
Whereas, the shift to permanent DST would cause winter sunrise in northern cities across the US, Canada, and Europe to occur during peak commuting or work hours, significantly impacting religious observances in the Jewish community, in particular, forcing people to choose between morning minyan and arrival at work on time, thus depressing attendance at minyan, and impacting synagogue and home holiday observances.
Whereas, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has cautioned against making DST permanent, citing potential health risks and its misalignment with human circadian physiology, as well as the negative effects on sleep, heart health, stress management, and other issues, with various professional societies[1] worldwide advocating for the abolishment of DST;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly will actively support a permanent adoption of Standard Time in the United States and other countries.
[1] The American Society of Sleep Medicine, the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, and the European Society for Sleep Research