CursorinfoPolitics07:28

Israel Continues Twice-Yearly Time Change Amid Health, Religious Debates

By Ирен Давид

Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba

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Russian · 4 newsrooms covering

Israel will revert to standard time on October 25, continuing a practice debated for religious, medical, and economic reasons. Proponents of permanent daylight saving cite social and economic benefits, while religious groups worry about morning prayer schedules. Experts, like Professor Eran Tauber, argue standard time better aligns with biological clocks, potentially improving sleep and health. Despite international trends and past legislative attempts, Israel maintains its twice-yearly clock changes.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Israel will switch back to standard time on October 25, continuing its twice-yearly clock changes.
Religious groups cite difficulties with morning prayer schedules as a reason to maintain standard time.
Experts argue standard time better aligns with biological clocks, potentially improving sleep and health.
Proponents of permanent daylight saving time cite social and economic benefits like increased outdoor activity.
Past legislative efforts to abolish standard time in Israel have been unsuccessful.
Globally, there is no consensus on whether to abolish seasonal clock changes.

Israel Continues Twice-Yearly Time Change Amid Health, Religious Debates — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Israel will once again switch to standard time on Sunday, October 25, moving clocks back one hour and causing darkness to fall earlier. This annual transition reignites the debate over why Israel does not adopt permanent daylight saving time, which would offer an extra hour of daylight in the afternoon. The decision to maintain the twice-yearly time change is influenced by religious, medical, and economic factors, alongside long-standing political disagreements.

Proponents of permanent daylight saving time highlight benefits such as increased family outdoor time, physical activity, and support for the entertainment industry. They also argue it could improve road safety due to better lighting during evening commutes. The Manufacturers Association of Israel has historically supported permanent daylight saving, citing potential boosts to productivity, trade, tourism, and reduced energy consumption.

However, religious considerations play a significant role. Jewish tradition dictates prayer times based on the sun's position, with morning prayers ideally occurring at sunrise. Permanent daylight saving time would shift sunrise later according to the clock, creating practical difficulties for observant Jews who wish to pray at the preferred time and still reach work punctually. While Jewish law permits earlier prayer under certain conditions, the preference for sunrise prayer is a key concern for religious parties.

From a biological standpoint, experts argue that standard time, or "winter time," aligns better with the body's natural circadian rhythms. Professor Eran Tauber of the University of Haifa explains that permanent daylight saving can disrupt sleep patterns by delaying melatonin production in the evenings and reducing morning light exposure, potentially leading to chronic sleep deprivation and health issues. This view is supported by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which recommends standard time year-round for better synchronization with the natural light-dark cycle.

Historically, Israel's daylight saving time has been a subject of political contention. It was abolished in 1958 under pressure from religious groups, reinstated briefly in 1980, and has been an annual practice since 1984, though the dates have varied. A significant change occurred in 2013 when the Knesset extended daylight saving until the end of October with a 73-15 vote. Despite this, a 2025 Knesset bill to permanently abolish standard time was rejected. Globally, other countries like the EU and Mexico have considered or implemented changes to daylight saving, but consensus remains elusive. Israel's current law dictates the end of daylight saving on the last Sunday of October.