Israel Shifts to Winter Time October 24-25, Gaining an Hour of Sleep

Israel will transition to winter time on the night of Saturday, October 24, to Sunday, October 25, 2026. At 2:00 AM, clocks will be set back one hour, effectively granting an extra hour of sleep. This annual change, mandated by the Time Determination Law and overseen by the Ministry of Interior, occurs on the last Sunday of October. Daylight saving time will resume on March 27, 2027.

The shift to winter time aims to align daylight hours with the shorter days of the season, ensuring earlier sunrises to facilitate school and work schedules, public transportation, and road safety. The 2:00 AM transition is chosen to minimize disruption to daily activities and maintain synchronization with international time standards (UTC+2 in winter, UTC+3 in summer). The move to daylight saving time occurs on a Thursday night to lessen the impact of losing an hour of sleep.

Most smartphones automatically adjust to the time change, but manual updates may be necessary for devices like microwaves, ovens, and car clocks. The article provides instructions for updating iPhones and Android devices to ensure correct time settings, including selecting "Jerusalem" as the local time zone.

While the extra hour of sleep is a benefit, the earlier sunset (around 5:00 PM) can affect mood and energy levels, potentially leading to feelings of depression. Health experts recommend maintaining physical activity, a balanced diet, and early sleep to mitigate these effects. However, some health professionals argue that winter time better synchronizes the body with natural sunlight.

Adolescents may find the time change particularly challenging, experiencing difficulties sleeping and waking, leading to fatigue, irritability, and concentration issues due to biological changes compounded by the clock shift. The change also affects sleep patterns by altering melatonin secretion, potentially causing earlier fatigue and disrupted sleep, especially for children, the elderly, and those with sensitive sleep cycles.

There is opposition to year-round daylight saving time, with Ron Tומר, president of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, advocating for its extension. He cites potential annual economic benefits of approximately NIS 440 million, including NIS 116 million in energy savings, and argues for improved quality of life, increased leisure activities, and safer driving. Some countries, like Japan, China, and India, do not observe daylight saving time, while Russia has experimented with permanent daylight saving and winter time.