Nature and nurture in Israel

Now that I have been here for over a month, I realize that the weather prediction is easier for a steady and dry land climate such as this.  Even the hourly temperature predictions are quite accurate.  Yesterday the temperature soared to 40 degrees (104 degrees Fahrenheit).  The predictions were that temperatures would drop after that faster than the day before, and that they would stay around 30 degrees maximum the coming days.

Around 16:30 a sand storm came up.  The air was full of sand so that even the sun did not come through anymore.  In the meantime temperatures dropped by about 10 degrees.  We were working in the vineyard, so the cooling down was a welcome refreshment.  A storm like this in the Netherlands would have brought thundershowers, but apparently the dry air here does not accumulate enough moisture to break out.

So you see, we are about 30 km (20 miles) from Rafah in the Gaza strip.  But, apart from some very deep and distant pounding of explosions now and then, we live in a very quiet environment.  A few days ago I went for a walk in the desert.  I chose to walk in the valleys, as there is a chance of water and therefore life there.  Specifically I was looking for scorpions or snakes.  At some point the shrubs rustled and a dust cloud rose up.  I expected some deer to come out, but instead I saw a hyena.  He was a large one too, probably to chest height.  But he ran from where I was.  Sorry, no pictures.  So I got more than I bargained for.  One of the farmers used to be a natural park officer.  He told us there are foxes, jackals, wolves, even giraffes in Israel.

Last night there was a memorial gathering for a soldier from a town close to here who died on October 7.  His name was Liran, they call him the ‘desert man’ because of his love for this environment.  He used to jog a course of about 10 km (6 miles) around here.  Every once in a while a group of friends of his come together to run his course as a way to remember and honor him.  People here are very loyal in remembering all who perished for their safety.

The group of volunteers is growing smaller as fewer people travel here than those who return home.  Meanwhile the farmers grow more desperate.  This is the most labor-intensive period for the crops, and they culminate in July and August with harvest time.  If anyone who reads this feels the urge, they can use many more hands.