What difficulty would a Jew living in Barrow, Alaska, encounter in keeping the Sabbath?

author

The observance of the Sabbath according to the sunset reckoning in the Arctic regions becomes practically impossible during part of the summer, when the sun never sets below the horizon, and during part of the winter, when the sun never rises above the horizon. http://www.biblestudy.org/godsrest/when-does-the-bible-sabbath-begin-and-end.html Sep 29 09, 8:24 PM

asgardshill

In the Jewish faith, the Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night. However, in Barrow Alaska, the sun remains visible 24 hours a day during the summer months, making the detection of stars problematic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat#Shabbat_rituals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_sun Sep 29 09, 8:28 PM

star_gazer

These Jews in Siberia celebrate Passover. http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?aid=376994 Siberia is a place that also experiences periods of constant darkness. http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/283/6/R1314 Sep 29 09, 8:36 PM

queproblema

Correct, gentlemen! Here are some people who figured it out, enjoyed their religion, new friends, and travel all at the same time. http://zaklad-tzfat.com/barrowsh.htm Sep 29 09, 9:11 PM

Arpeggionist

A former neighbor of mine was also one of the chief rabbis of Sweden for some time, and he said there's plenty of solutions to the definition of a halachic day in Arctic regions. His own solution in the summer was to simply perform the ritual known as "havdalah" (distinguishing the Sabbath from the rest of the week) on Sunday morning when he woke up. Sep 30 09, 10:06 PM

Baloo55th

I wouldn't give up pork chops and bacon, but I do love some of the things the rabbis come with. They negotiate with the Law, rather than applying the letter and losing the spirit like some others. (OK, there are Jewish fundamentalists too...) Oct 01 09, 11:46 AM