Time to start being on time

HOWARD FELDMAN

Some years ago, I took one of my first business trips to Africa. I wanted to use the time that I had as constructively as possible, so I scheduled meetings at 07:00, 08:30, 10:00, and so on. I was downstairs in the hotel lobby ready for my first meeting from 06:45. To no avail. My 07:00 meeting arrived at 09:00, my 08:30 around 11:00, and I remain uncertain if my 10:00 has yet managed to get there.

By the end of the day, I was frustrated and irritable. And so, I raised the issue with the poor guy who now sat across the table from me. He, incidentally, was only about 30 minutes late.

I will never forget what he told me. He said, “G-d gave white men watches. But he gave us Africans time.” I knew then that if I was to conduct business in the region, I would need to throw out the expectations and relax.

Difficulties with transportation, vast distances, and life circumstance are some of the causes that I encountered for the lack of punctuality in Africa (north of our borders). And I get that.

What I don’t get is that we should accept that Jewish functions can and most often run late. In Jewish law, time is critical. Shabbat begins for example at 17:48, and it ends at a specific time. We are told when we can say morning prayers, afternoon prayers, and how long – to the minute – we need to wait between eating meat and milk. We get time… when we consider it to be important.

The Koolulam event on Sunday was wonderful and awe inspiring. The intention here is to not detract from the magnificence of thousands of people who came together to sing. It was unifying, inspiring, and uplifting. It was prayer. I remain so grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in it.

But it was called for 16:00, and it kicked off after 17:00.

The attendees were disciplined, and arrived on time. Many had young children. And many, because more than an hour was spent waiting around in the beginning, had to leave early.

It made no sense.

Although I did not attend the recent the Shwekey concert, I am told that was much the same. It was called for 20:00, and started very late. As a result, many people who had children with them left during the interval, and deprived themselves and their children of the last part of the experience.

It makes no sense.

If the concern is that people have not yet arrived, then the only thing that will discipline them is for them to lose out on the opening of whatever the event is. Why should those who have the respect to be punctual pay the price for those who do not?

This applies to communal events, shul services, and school functions. We need to get our act together. It’s time.

When we say “Jewish time”, it should mean exactly the opposite of what it does.