Parsha Hashavua
A Chilling Connection: Daylight Savings Time and Amalek! [Remember to Move Your Clocks Ahead One Hour on Motzaei Shabbos]
By BJLife/Ori Strum
Posted on 03/07/25
Motzai Shabbos the clocks move forward one hour (spring forward, fall back, you are welcome!), meaning the sun sets an hour later in the evening and rises an hour later in the morning. Yes, I also get confused each season if we are really losing or gaining an hour. Here is the simple way to understand it: we will lose an hour of sleep but get an extra hour of light the next day, as the sun sets an hour later.
The timing of daylight savings time (DST) this year could not have been more perfect. Daylight savings lasts for nearly 8 months (March to November), lasting a grand total of 240 days to be exact!
Think about that, 240 days!
This week we read the Parshah of Amalek, something that all yidden are obligated to hear. It is known that the gematria of עמלק is 240, the same as ספק, or doubt. The goal of Amalek is to fill our lives with doubt and confusion.
It could be said, Amalek (240) is in the realm of Daylight Savings Time (240 days). Ironically, it was the Germans who were the first country to establish Daylight Savings Time, in 1916, as part of their efforts in World War 1 to conserve energy. Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld once said, "I have a tradition that Germany is Amalek!"
What does this even mean?
The Jewish nation are a people that sees Hashem no matter what, in the light and even in the dark. When the world at large experiences darkness/confusion/doubt, they tend to give up hope. We, however, understand that experiencing darkness is part of the normal process of the world, “There was evening and there was morning, one day.” We don’t run away from the dark, rather we live it and have Emunah/Bitachon that Hashem is right there with us, amidst the darkness. We learn to see in the dark! We say והגית בו יומם ולילה - we study Torah day and night . We don't just serve Hashem and function in the daylight hours; we serve Hashem always, even (especially) in the nighttime.
The world, as influenced by Amalak (240), goes through a period of 240 days of Daylight Savings Time. Why? Because they CANNOT HANDLE THE DARK. They RUN AWAY FROM IT, at all costs. I mean this literally, at all costs. The simple adjustment of time costs millions of dollars each year, and scientific evidence even points to acute increases in adverse health consequences from changing the clocks (including heart attack and stroke).
While practically we need to follow suit and change our clocks to go along with the rest of society, let us know that daylight savings time is, in some way, antithetical to Judaism. We believe that even in the dark, we can break free from ספק, all we need to do is put on our night vision lenses (Emunah/Bitachon) and see Hashem amidst the darkness. We study and pray even in the evening! We can function and do things even in darkness.
We’ve been doing that throughout our entire history and will do so until the coming of Moshiach!
The downfall of Amalek comes when we tap into the realm of מחר, tomorrow, as the Torah says (Shemos 17:9) וצא הלחם בעמלק מחר - “Go do battle with Amalek tomorrow.” Tomorrow by definition means that we experienced a nighttime. Tomorrow means we went through darkness. THAT is how we defeat Amalek. They try to infuse our lives with doubt and confusion, telling us, "You can only serve Hashem when things are clear. You can only function and accomplish during the daylight." We tell Amalek, "I'll see you tomorrow! I will go through a time of darkness and still come out alive! Darkness doesn't stunt my growth. Darkness doesn't dictate that I cannot accomplish."
The very fact that we have gotten to tomorrow - מחר - is what obliterates the scheme of Amalek who tries to convince us that we cannot grow amidst doubt and darkness.
Let’s abolish Daylight Savings Time at least from the realm of Avodah, and let us continue to serve HaShem and be the light even amidst darkness, chaos, and confusion.
Wishing you all the best!
Ori Strum