Dateline Jerusalem — It was like waking up in the Twilight Zone. The stillness in the air, an overbearing gloom, a bizarre yellow sky, oppressive heat and humidity even though the air conditioner was blowing 24/7. The gloom felt like doom, as though I had awakened to an indescribable atmospheric phenomenon reminiscent of pictures from a nuclear holocaust. As global tensions rise along with the frightening threat of Iran’s stated intention to annihilate Israel in the near future with its world-sanctioned nuclear weapons, my vivid imagination was working at warp speed. This yellow sky was unique, a thick haze of smoke, dust, sand, and who knows what other contaminating particles. This was not the usual sharav or chamsin, a dry, hot, sandy wind prevalent earlier in the year. This was eerily different.
Where was the perfect blue Jerusalem sky that hovers over the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, the holiest place in Judaism? Where were the billowing white clouds against the lighter blue skies in the rest of Israel? This was not like the brownish gray overcast smog that settles over Los Angeles. This was not like the reddish orange skies after a fire. This was a supernatural, unearthly yellow sky that enveloped Israel yesterday. By today, the yellow had turned white, like a thick fog choking the Land of Milk and Honey and those of us trying to breathe normally. This smoky, sandy, dusty sky was not cloud cover.
It has been described as the “heaviest and most polluting storm” Israel has experienced in 15 years, with Israel’s capital of Jerusalem having the highest pollution values. Sandstorms are not unusual in parts of the Middle East, but the intensity of this one is rare, and usually does not occur this time of year. Usually the dry winds of a chamsin blow dust and sand with high temperatures, but this was a wet, muggy, windless air surrounding us. The temperature was almost 100 and the humidity nearly 80 percent. Yellow skies usually mean thunderstorms. Not here. Visibility was reduced to less than a half-mile. Arkia and Israir airlines cancelled their flights. Eilat’s airport was shut down. The weird yellow haze blanketed Israel from early morning until night, finally becoming milky white this morning.
The Environmental Protection Ministry issued health warnings to those with heart or lung diseases, to the elderly, the pregnant, and children. Hundreds were hospitalized with respiratory problems. Schools kept children indoors. All outdoor activities were to be avoided. I sat outside yesterday with my elderly friends for a charitable book sale, all while commenting on the weird sky and complaining about the sweltering heat. It was a surprise that anyone attended the event. When it comes to charity and fundraising, especially so close to Rosh Hashana when repentance and prayer and charity can avert the evil decree, personal considerations are overshadowed by the Jewish need to give tzedakah. Tzedakah literally means “justice” in Hebrew, and Judaism considers charity to be an act of justice.
I wish you all a “Shana tova umetukah — a good and sweet year” and “Ketiva v’chatima tova — may you be written and sealed for a good year.”
L’hitraot. Shachar