An Extra Hour of Sleep: Winter Time Begins Tonight - Shorter Days and Longer Nights

From 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, Israel will officially move to winter time, as clocks across the country are set back one hour. The change means shorter daylight hours — but an extra hour of sleep for everyone.

According to Israel’s Time Setting Law, the country switches to winter time every year on the last Sunday of October, by turning the clock back one hour.
Winter time will remain in effect until March 27, 2026, when summer time begins again on the night between Thursday and Friday, moving the clock one hour forward.

Automatic Updates — But Check Your Phone Settings

Most smartphones and digital devices will update automatically according to the local time zone. However, mobile networks recommend verifying that the clock has updated correctly to avoid confusion in scheduled events and alarms.

If your phone does not automatically adjust, you can set the time manually:

• Android users: Go to Settings → Date and Time → Disable “Automatic Date and Time”, then select your time zone and adjust manually.

• iPhone users: Go to Settings → General → Date & Time, turn off “Set Automatically”, and set the correct time zone manually.

Once winter time takes effect, you can safely reactivate automatic updates.

The Logic Behind Winter Time

While many find shorter days and darker evenings inconvenient, the change in time has a practical and historical purpose — aligning human activity with daylight hours to conserve energy.

Daylight strongly influences our biological clock. Adjusting time each March and October helps match citizens’ waking hours with sunrise, reducing electricity consumption and supporting natural sleep cycles.

How Time Zones Work

Every country operates according to a local time zone determined by its position on Earth.
The planet is divided into 24 time zones, each spanning roughly 1,500 km in width.
Time is measured relative to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC) — with Israel located in UTC +2, meaning local time is two hours ahead of Greenwich.

The Science Behind the Seasons

Many assume seasonal changes are due to the Earth’s distance from the sun, but in fact, the tilt of the Earth’s axis is what causes variations in temperature and daylight length throughout the year.

How the Time Change Affects Our Health

Dr. Abdel Rahman Nader, head of the Sleep Laboratory at Misgav Ladach Hospital, explains that moving the clock can disrupt our biological rhythm, leading to temporary fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, and morning drowsiness.

He notes that “although the body adapts relatively quickly, full acclimatization may not occur,” and warns of possible ‘social jet lag’ — a state of ongoing fatigue that may contribute to obesity, depression, and cardiovascular issues.
The good news, Dr. Nader adds, is that “these effects fade within a few weeks.”

Bottom Line

Tonight, as Israel transitions to winter time, set your clocks back one hour and enjoy an extra hour of sleep — even if the evenings get darker a little earlier.