The helek (Hebrew, meaning "portion", plural halakim) is a unit of time used in the calculation of the Hebrew calendar. The hour is divided into 1080 halakim. A helek is 3¹/₃ seconds or ¹/₁₈ minute. The helek derives from a small Babylonian time period called a she, meaning '"barleycorn", itself equal to ¹/₇₂ of a Babylonian time degree (1° of celestial rotation).

360 degrees x 72 shes per degree / 24 hours = 1080 shes per hour.