Despite what kids learn in school, there is no fall in Israel. The word stav, used to mean fall in modern Hebrew, means winter in Biblical Hebrew. As it says in Song of Songs 2:11: “Ki hineh hastav avar, hageshem chalaf halach lo,” “Behold the stav has passed, the rain has dispersed and gone on its way.” As you can see from the picture above, the rain has not dispersed and whether you choose to call it stav, winter or fall it is here to stay, at least we hope.
We ran into a huge thunderstorm on our way into Bnei Brak for a shiva call Friday morning. I took this picture on our return to Petach Tikva via Jabotinsky Street. Ahead is the submerged street, a stuck car, and other cars inching through on the left. As we watched trying to decide what to do there were periods when no cars got through at all.
In the distance you can see the bridge of Highway 4 over the Geha intersection that borders Petach Tikva and Bnei Brak. Jabotinsky is the only way to get under the highway and into Petach Tikva. We decided to cut out on the left and go the long way around, which took us through Ramat Gan and north Tel Aviv. It was probably the wrong decision, although when we got home we heard they had closed the Geha intersection entirely.
Now we have to find the winter clothes. Instead of the wonderful transitional weather of April and May, we will likely alternate between cold/windy/wet and blazingly hot for a good few weeks. Until now we’ve alternated between blazingly hot and tolerably hot. It seems impossible to believe it will get hot again, but from experience I will keep a few short-sleeved shirts in reach. And if you’re planning to buy winter clothes tomorrow, enjoy the crowds because everyone else will have the same idea.
oh my! Thank you for the quick answer to my question about what to do/see while in Israel. We are wondering about the valley of Elah and how easy it is to find? is the fortress open to the public now? We are also thinking of heading into the Shomron….thoughts on this?
Hubby and I were in PT on Friday as well. Driving past us at some point (we were waiting for the bus back to Ariel on Jab. St. between the mall and hospital), was an emergency vehicle with a rubber raft strapped to the roof…
Devo, I think ever emergency vehicle in the center of the country was in use on Friday.
B”H for the rain. Also for the fact that I can now be comfortable without a/c and walk to/from shul without heat exhaustion.
RA, the cooler weather is a pleasure. But I still prefer May.
I must have nevuah. I asked my mom to pick up some long pants for the boys… on Thursday!!! And the pants were here in time for Friday.
Should I ask her to go shopping again so we will have some more rain?
To the poster who wants to visit the Shomron: why not? Rain is rain, no matter where in Israel you visit.
Yes, Tamiri, ask her to shop for me too. At Trik Tzeva the long-sleeved “tricot” were nearly double the short-sleeved ones–25 vs. 14 each! I stopped buying sweatshirts as they keep the classrooms so hot.
I’m not worried about the rain….just the whole media hype over safety. We’d really like to see Bet-el and Shilo, made Shechem…
on the top of my list is Hevron, but the Husband would never allow that (rolling eyes)
WoZ, feel free to swing by Ariel.
And the folks over at Shiloh Musings (http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/) could probably hook you up with the “10 agurah tour” 🙂