Israeli Clocks Fall Back Early — And Some Object

By JTA September 23, 2012

Israel moved back to Standard Time, bringing out demonstrators in protest of the early switch due to Yom Kippur.

Dozens of protesters demonstrated Saturday night in Tel Aviv against the decision of Interior Minister Eli Yishai of the haredi Orthodox Shas Party to turn back the clock in mid-September in order to accommodate an early end to the Yom Kippur fast.

The protesters from the Israel Hofshit organization, or Be Free Israel, which promotes religious freedom, said their quality of life was damaged by the change.

A law passed in 2005 requires that Israel move to Standard Time the Sunday morning before Yom Kippur, which falls anywhere in September and half of October each year. Legislation to extend Daylight Savings Time into October was adopted this year by Yishai, but it was not brought before the whole Knesset in time for consideration before this year’s change.

Europe moves to Standard Time on Oct. 28, and the United States follows on Nov. 4.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO