Illinois Mayor Extends Crossing Time for Shabbat Observers

The city of Skokie, Illinois has made an unusual accommodation for its Orthodox Jewish residents: extending the pedestrian crossing time at a major intersection during Shabbat, after the mayor recognized that Shabbat-observant families couldn't press the crosswalk button.

The intersection of Dempster and East Prairie sits in an area with several synagogues and serves thousands of Shabbat-observant Jews walking to and from services and their homes.

The problem was straightforward but significant: on weekdays, pedestrians who press the button receive extended crossing time. But Shabbat observers don't press the button, so the system defaults to a much shorter pedestrian signal — only 30 to 40 seconds.

For elderly residents, families with young children, wheelchair users, or parents pushing strollers, that window often wasn't enough to safely cross the wide roadway.

Skokie Mayor Ann Tunney said she became aware of the issue firsthand after visiting a synagogue in the city. She witnessed families, children, and people in wheelchairs struggling to complete the crossing in time.

After taking office, Tunney decided to make the issue one of her priorities. She worked with the Illinois Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the intersection, to find a solution that wouldn't require Shabbat observers to activate the button.

The solution proved relatively simple: during Shabbat hours, the system automatically activates the full pedestrian crossing phase, eliminating the need to press the button. Instead of 30 to 40 seconds, pedestrians now receive between 60 and 65 seconds to cross the intersection.

According to local reports, the automatic arrangement begins Friday afternoon and continues throughout Shabbat, with pedestrian signals activating automatically. City officials explained that this allows those who don't use electricity on Shabbat to cross the street without needing someone else to press the button for them.

But Skokie isn't stopping at one intersection. The mayor said she hopes the solution will be expanded to other Jewish holidays when observers refrain from using electric activation buttons, and to additional intersections near synagogues.

The initiative comes during a sensitive period for Skokie's Jewish community. In recent months, the city has dealt with several antisemitic incidents, including some involving Jewish children. In response, Tunney established a council of religious leaders and worked with city officials and local organizations to raise awareness and combat antisemitism.