[img]96|left|||no_popup[/img] Dateline Jerusalem — Yesterday it was sunny, hot, and humid, typical August weather in Israel. Yet this is the end of October. My window air conditioner unit has been on 24/7, so noisy that I cannot hear the TV.
Today the temperature dropped 12 degrees (but in the 70s), and there was thunder, lightning and heavy rain. The thunder was almost deafening, indistinguishable from Israeli fighter jets until I saw the flash in the sky and heard the sound of pounding rain.
Yet, the entire episode lasted less than 5 minutes. It reminded me of midday in Hawaii when it would rain “pineapple juice” for a couples of minutes. But, Hawaiian sprinkles and Israeli rain are only similar in their duration.
This is the time of year that Jews add to their daily prayer the request, ” Grant us blessed dew and rain.” Considering the average amount of rainfall in Israel has dropped 30 percent over the last few years, this prayer is of great significance to Israelis.
So, even the few minutes of rain today was greatly welcomed. When it came, it was fleeting, but it was more than “pineapple” raindrops. It came in a deluge.
Reaching a Risky Level
Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee), which is Israel's major reservoir, is so low that it will take approximately 600 million cubic meters of water a year to get back to normal. In fact, the level is so dangerously low that Israelis begin water rationing this month.
As part of the water rationing program, the amount of water we will be allotted is based on the number of people in our homes. We had to notify our municipal water departments of the number in our family. The program starts out with a set amount for 1to 4 people, with additional amounts of water for each extra person. If we use beyond our pre-determined amount, we will be heavily fined.
The worst part of all is if Israel is forced to give up any more land, it will lose approximately 3/4 of its current water supply. As it is, although its water supply is critically low, it currently pumps water over the Green Line to Palestinians living in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and into Palestinian-controlled Gaza.
Yet, most of the world media ignores this fact.
The sun is shining again, the air conditioner is still going strong.
The only remaining evidence of the earlier thunderstorm is a wet spot or two on the pavement in front of my apartment building.
L'hitraot. Shachar.
Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County deputy sheriff who moved to Israel two years ago.
