Let it snow, let it snow

February 16, 2012 - 3:38 PM by · 1 Comment
Filed under: General, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life 

It’s pouring outside and we Jerusalemites are praying for a snowy weekend. I know, that’s odd to those of you who spend much of the winter months digging yourselves out from winter snow, scraping your car windshields, hoping that you won’t have the kids home for yet another snow day.

But the benefit of living in a fairly snow-free climate is that when it does snow that once a winter, if once a winter, it’s absolutely magical. The world around us turns quiet, as no one has snow tires or shovels. You hear the sounds of kids playing in the snow, you see your neighbors taking walks, kicking their heels in the white stuff. There are people who drive in from nearby cities and towns, looking to take part in our weather delight. It doesn’t last all that long and it’s usually gone within the course of a day.

I’m really hopeful this time, as I just received a press release from Mayor Nir Barkat’s office that he’s visiting the municipality’s Snow Preparedness Center, including a photo-op this afternoon with him posing next to the city’s emergency equipment-including snow plows and salt trucks. I think there’s just one snow plow, but still, hope springs eternal.

Here are some glimpses of our snowy city that last time it happened, back in 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ISRAEL21cdotcom?feature=mhee#p/search/0/Lz61TnDurRk

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Talking about the weather

December 12, 2010 - 12:00 PM by · 1 Comment
Filed under: A New Reality, Environment, General, Israeliness, Life, News 

A week ago, we were worrying about the country burning down, today we’re alarmed about it blowing away.

The much-touted first winter storm has so far been largely a wind storm, although some dirty, sand-filled rain has fallen throughout the country leaving cars and windows a globby mess. But mostly, there has been lots of dust, sand, fallen trees, garbage flying in the air and power outages around the country as we await a good, strong rain.

At least in the North, heavy rain fell in the Galilee and 10 centimeters of snow fell on the Hermon in the Golan, with the ski resort there hopeful about opening up this week.

It’s hard to believe that a week ago, the fire in the Carmel was still raging. If these gale winds had been blowing then without rain, the results of the fire could have been much worse.

Does anyone remember the season called Autumn? It seems to have passed us by here completely once again, moving from sultry to frigid in the blink of an eye. At least, with all this talk about the weather, we can almost pretend that we’re like any normal country for a couple days. Until the next political, military social or diplomatic bombshell hits.

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Snow patrol

February 5, 2010 - 9:01 AM by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Immigrant Moments, Life 

From the last big snowstorm

With Jerusalem on the verge of its bi-annual one-day snowstorm, I was reminded of the last time the white stuff blanketed the Judean Hills.

I’ll be the first to admit it. I’m not a big snow fan. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the beauty of a snowy day, I do. It’s very pleasant to look at…from a distance. But up close, it’s just so darn inconvenient. Especially in Jerusalem where everything shuts down. Completely.

In other locations around the world, a little snow means you might have to drive a little slower or put chains on your car tires. In Jerusalem, the city is paralyzed. Schools are closed. Supermarkets don’t receive deliveries. Bus service is canceled. Last time it snowed, even the trendy new Waffle Bar in our neighborhood was shut tight. I mean, what more could you want than a hot caramel and whip cream covered waffle on a cold snowy night, but no…

People who live outside of Israel don’t expect snow in Jerusalem. With our baking hot summers and close proximity to the Dead Sea, it’s easy to forget the city is perched on the top of a mountain, at an elevation of 2500 feet.

My worst snow experience in Israel by far was several years ago. It was during the time I was working in Tel Aviv. I needed to get back home but as I set out from my office, the news was reporting that the main highway to Jerusalem was closed. But Highway 443, which I’ve written about before, was still flowing, albeit slowly.

As I approached the summit near Givat Ze’ev, the snow became thicker and visibility dropped to just a few inches. Cars were skidding off the road, the sides of which were lined with people who’d gotten out of their non-functional vehicles and were actually walking in the meter high snow drifts, where to I don’t know. There was a bus turned over on its side.

I got on the cell phone with my wife and she talked me through three hours of the most treacherous driving I’ve ever experienced. There were times when other drivers whose vehicles had already skidded into oblivion physically guided my car when I could neither see nor steer. I was so traumatized I didn’t go back to work for the rest of the week. And don’t ask me about the phone bill (fortunately the company was paying).

These days, I work from home. That doesn’t entirely ameliorate my distaste for the Jerusalem version of the proverbial winter wonderland. But with everything I need just a 30 second commute away, I say: bring it on snow, I’m ready for you this time.

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