Weather It Is (The Weather, Holocaust Day, and Yom HaAzmahut: Israeli Independent Day)

Good Evening:

The day of our independence is coming.  It's a day that has especially special meaning for a people who (not so long ago) needed to rely on others -- to rescue them from the Holocaust -- only to find that Humans are (for the most part) simply indifferent to the plight of their fellow human beings.

While sitting with my youngest daughter, I passed on the message that we must only rely upon ourselves, and if someone tells you that you can rely on him/her (or them), don't believe them.

Times have changed, though, and even the weather reflects this.  There is a new feeling among Israelis that we cannot seek peace as a condition for survival, rather we must be strong and as tough or tougher than anyone else who wishes to do us harm.  Is this the reason (it does make for a nice message) that after a week that will see some cool spring time temperatures (and maybe a shower), we will turn things around for a relatively mild period of weather?  Instead of shivering on the Yom HaAzmahut evening, we may actually be able to really relax and enjoy the ceremonies?

People sometimes ask me how I became a meteorologist.  A more interesting question is why did I choose Meteorology over Biology (I have a "Green Thumb"). The simple answer is that I don't like the smell of Formaldehyde, and I'd much rather be outside looking at the weather than the insides of I don't know what.  However, there is a deeper reason, and its especially applicable to someone who realises that he has lived more than half his life (or is at least likely to have).  It's the point where you realise that you've actually lived longer than the time remaining, meaning that the time will come when... (you know).  This is what is so nice about the weather.  The weather is made of seasons, and we always can look forward to one season to the next, and we do so again even as the years pass by -- which gives us a certain feeling of security and permanence -- regardless of what we might suddenly discover otherwise.

I hope that we will always remember and always remind the world of the lessons of our history -- the Jewish people live, and they live in their own land, and they will fight to stay here, so they can always  fight another day, but that they can also know times of peace.

Barry Lynn

Weather It Is (Summer or Not)

Good afternoon:

One might be forgiven for thinking that summer has arrived.  It is a tad bit warm out there.  And yet, this would not be quite right.

We're still in a transition zone between strong (cold) low pressure over central Europe and the hotter (also lower pressure) area over Saudia Arabia.  As has been typical over the centuries, our area is the battle zone between the opposing weather armies.  The result is that we never feel quite safe to completely change over to summer clothes.

Just to keep things interesting, next Shabbat may see some rain showers as a bit of cold air moves eastward from its perch over central Europe.

Shabbat Shalom,

Barry Lynn

Weather It Is (Just the Facts, Please)

Good Evening:

We would be remiss if we didn't mention that we would be entitled to feel a bit buffeted by the changes in weather.  One might be of the opinion that today it was a bit on the warm side, but that the sudden windy weather and light rain also leaves much to be desired.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, even The New York Times Editorial Board.  Yet, I wondered, how they could blame Israel for the failure of the peace talks.  In their recent editorial, they cited two reasons: i) Israel did not release the latch batch of prisoners, and ii) Israel announced building of 700 new homes.  However, Israel never agreed to release Israeli Arabs as part of the prisoner release, and Israel never agreed (prior to the start of the talks) to end all building, especially in Gilo (a suburb of Jerusalem).  Moreover, prisoner releases were suppose to be dependent on progress in the talks, and the Israeli government was certainly justified in concluding that there was not enough progress to justify further releases.

My question is: how could The NYT's editorial board reach their erronious opinion, giving these set of fairly basic facts.  I have thought of two possible answers: i) they read only NYT's articles, and have been misled by their own reporters (unlikely), and/or two: political leanings trump truth.  If the latter, than one is forced to even concede that The NYT's board has wilfully changed the "facts" to fit their political agenda.  Why they wish us ill, I do not know.

Lastly, the NYT's reporting and opinion does matter: witness the number of supportive comments supportive of blaming Israel for the impasse -- regardless of the Palestinian position to ultimately negate the two state solution by insisting that their expatriates return to Israel "proper," rather than to "Palestine.". Of course, I used to be a "New York Times Jew," until the reality of the facts of living in Israel intruded on The New York Times fantasy world.

Getting back to our locale: I am not sure if the prisoners will or will not be released (I hope not), but I am pretty sure that we're in for a last gasp of late winter cold before warm high pressure builds its way northward from Africa.  The high will combine with low pressure situated far to our east to bring the warmest period of summer like weather since (well...) last summer.

So, I can with certainty say: put away those winter clothes, at least until Independence day when it always seems to turn a bit chilly, just in time for the fireworks.

Modim L'Simcha,

Barry Lynn

Weather It Is (A Transition)

Good afternoon:

Sometimes, transitions are hard.  For example, there is unseasonably cool winter storm over central Europe. Yet, over the desert of Jordan and Saudia Arabia, low pressure associated with warming spring time temperatures is slowly expanding in our direction.  The two systems are at odds, and during the holiday they will battle back and forth.  The warm air should win out on Friday and Shabbat, but lose out until the end of the Holiday, only to return again for Isra-Hag.

As the systems battle back and forth, there will be a slight chance of showers, but there appears to be nothing standing in the way of a rather pleasant holiday period (as some like it hot and some like it cold, but who really likes it 9 days in the pot!?).

It's very close to Sedar night.  Is it a shame that our quest for freedom must be renewed every year, or is this simply a measure of our strength as a people that the opportunity presents itself again?

You've read from time to time about my wife.  This week was full of work, getting the house ready.  At the end of it all, there is not even a crumb, not even a crumb big enough for a mouse.  While it is true that I got up very early to lend a hand -- and I did what I thought I should and even what I didn't think of, in the end, it is the wife I must say thank you to.

Hag Sameach,

Barry Lynn

Weather It Is (On Our Way)

Good Evening:

There is a definite chill in the air.  In fact, I am still wearing my coat (even though I am now indoors).

The chill will moderate a bit, but then return right before Pesach.  After Pesach, a bit of tropical moisture might come our way, and bring a bit of dirty rain.  However, temperatures should moderate nicely upwards soon after, and remind us all of spring.

On our way to a Kosher V'Samaech Pesach,

Barry Lynn

Weather It Is (What to Say?)

Good Afternoon:

It's the week before Pesach.  All through the night, mice are about, so so it seems.  That scratching sound is actually the sound of a brush, or a broom, or even just a lone fingernail.

Now that the Palestinians have decided to "blow-up" the talks, and proceed along the lines they were going to anyway, to do everything they can to "get rid of the Jews"  (from "Palestine," God forbid), we might as well get it over with  The hope is that their efforts will be confined to the non-violent kind (and this does not include throwing rocks).  In my opinion, there is a catch 22 here.  If the Palestinian claim they have a state, then I say: "all the best" (in Area A and Gaza). It's not what they wanted, but there tends to be less interest when we're talking only about a border dispute (rather than whether Israel should exist or not).

What I wanted to say is that much warmer temperatures should arrive as we progress from Shabbat into late Sunday.  However, before we can say: "ICC,"  the cold air will sweep back in, putting an end to any grand aspirations.  Right now, this looks to be a fairly cold storm, but moisture supplies are limited.  We'll have to wait and see.

Pesach looks fairly clean, with (most likely) moderating temperatures.

Barry Lynn