Security's Personal Impact

At this juncture I do not want to address the politics that surround the reality that is the security issue. There is enough to be said and written about the politics to fill several blogs for several decades. As has become my approach, I want to relay three stories/thoughts in which I was face to face with Israel's security reality

1)Bags, purses, backpacks, and the like are searched before entering crowded public areas, be they shopping malls, grocery stores, art fairs, or any place that could be considered a potential target. As a male, I often receive extra scrutiny. The most common example, "do you have a weapon?" It does not bother me, and I still feel safe, but it is a regular reminder of the reality in which I am living.

2)The other day I was waiting for a bus, and the police had set up a machsom (checkpoint) close to the bus top. They were stopping vehicles at "random" to check identification and run the license plates. As I watched, I recalled the similar checkpoints that were erected following the sniper shootings of October 2002 in the Washington, D.C. metro area. What continues to fascinate me is the fact that Israel society accepts some of these disruptions while American society will not tolerate them on a number of grounds.

3)Another suspicious package was found on the street outside Pardes. As per the usual protocol, the street was blocked from pedestrians and vehicles while the bomb squad was called. Although the package turned out to be nothing more than a backpack that was accidentally abandoned, there was a palpable anxiety among those assembled. Watching from the windows of Pardes, I had a good view of the unfolding situation. Because of the reality, every one of these suspicious packages must be treated with the utmost seriousness. Once the all clear was given, the cars immediately began honking, not even giving the bomb disposal team time enough to collect its gear. Israelis will tolerate these slowdowns as long as there is a potential threat, but once the threat is neutralized, they return to their impatience.

Shavua tov.

Hebrew phrase of the day: Gever, yesh l'cha neshek? "Sir, do you have a weapon?"

Rain Rain Go Away?

I have made reference in a number of previous posts to the rain that is supposed to be falling in Israel at this time of the year. The rain has not yet fallen, and the drought has not seen any improvement. Yesterday, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel declared a day of fasting and prayer in hopes that it will open the heavens.

It is difficult for me to stress how badly Israel needs this water. Recently I read two expert evaluations of the ongoing drought. One of them suggested that the extreme heat experienced this summer would have resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths if the technologies for desalinating and moving water around the country did not exist. The second prediction posits that without a normal amount of rain this winter, there is a good possibility that Israel will have to take up a program of water rations next summer.

As for the title of this post, I cant' help but laugh when I see the Facebook and gChat status messages of people who are residing in the United States. On an average rainy day it's not uncommon to read a complaint or two about the rain, and perhaps even one that says "rain rain, go away." Water is critical here, which is generally not something that is experienced in the United States.

What can we do in Israel to help?
Shorter showers, turning off water while brushing teeth, doing only full loads of laundry, turning off the water while scrubbing dishes, and more...

For those of you in the States or in other places where rain is abundant, the next time you're complaining about rain, just remember there are people not so far away who would rejoice in the streets when the rain falls.

Shabbat shalom.

Contrasts

Here in Jerusalem, the average rain can be upwards of 500 mm. In the Arava, a portion of the Negev, less than 30 mm of rain fall on average. What grows with 30 mm of rain, not much. As you can see above, plant life is fairly limited.

Jerusalem, which is relatively well supplied with rain during an average rainy season, does not have the ability, for a variety of reasons to grow large quantities of vegetables. However, the area with 30 mm of rain is responsible for 55-60% of all of the vegetables grown in Israel. This is made possible by the technological advances including hot houses and drip irrigation. The Jordanians have begun to copy the Israeli model, as greenhouses are springing up on the eastern side of the border as well.

After spending three days in the desert, I can't tell you how appreciative I am to have access to potable water. In the States, water flows pretty freely, and without a second thought. That's not the case here, whether in the desert or in Jerusalem. Quite a contrast.