Desperate times call for even more prayers

Before I meander into the dire rain situation, I’ll being on a positive note. The past couple of days, the weather has been absolutely terrific; overcast dark grey skies that have yielded an abundance of rainfall.

And how do I know? Because for the first time this winter, water is accumulating in the seasonal brook opposite my house.

Nonetheless, as we head into March and with another six more weeks of praying for rain, this has been an awful winter in terms of precipitation in the Golan Heights, and Israel at large. From what I remember, November started slowly with little rain, December was slightly below average, January’s skies were akin to summer, and February has been an on and off month.

Granted, the rabbis have encouraged people to add a special prayer for rain; however, now they’ve added an additional prayer. The communal prayer, similar to a rain dance without the dance, is said on the Sabbath when they open the holy ark.

I’ve been in Israel for over a decade, but never recall getting this desperate for rain. So if you’re feeling good, go ahead and do a little jig for rain.