Yom HaZikaron

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By the Hebrew reckoning, a day begins at night.
Last night all Israel entered into the saddest day of the year, Remembrance Day for Israel's Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Enemy Actions.
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In between the national memorial ceremonies at the Western Wall, Mt. Herzl, the Knesset, and Ammunition Hill, Israel TV has been showing filmed stories of heroism, of battles, of terrorist actions, and of families struggling with bereavement.
They are riveting; I have to watch. They make up our history.
But oh so many times in the last 21 hours have I dried my tears or cried "Oh God" or sighed a big Jewish sigh of "Oi . . . ."
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At sunset tonight we will make the sudden transition into the happiness of Independence Day, all the time remembering that our independent state did not--and does not--come easy.
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That's My World and it is a great privilege to live here.
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More posts about Memorial Day in Jerusalem can be found here.
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Shalom, peace to you, my country!
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Cloud-gate

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Just last week thunder was shaking my house and clouds were dropping rain on the Jerusalem Hills.

This week Jerusalem has 20% humidity and a heat wave.

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Today I unpacked the fan, unscrewed the back, and gave the motor and blades a dusting.

It's going to be a long, hot, dry summer.

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This may be the last serious cloud for SkyWatch Friday until next autumn.

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Creating light

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The Hebrew on the black T shirt is from Genesis:

"And God said . . .

[energy formulas]

. . . and there was light."

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Light in the heavens for Sky Watch Friday.
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No, we don't have tornadoes in Israel

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Tuesday's sunset, just five minutes after the orange sun had slipped behind the mountain.
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I saw a bottlenose dolphin jumping through the sky in pursuit of the sun, which by then would have been going down into the Mediterranean.
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Happy SkyWatch Friday.
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Full hearts and newness

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Gentle rain is falling on the thirsty earth. A good sign.
And look -- a heart in the sky!
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Dear blog friends around the world, with all my heart I wish you many blessings and new delights throughout the new year about to dawn.
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Gentle skies to us all, for SkyWatch Friday.
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Shalom, peace, and Shabbat shalom.
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A few Friday clouds

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In honor of SkyWatch Friday, last Friday Jerusalem skies actually, finally, had some nice big clouds.
Still no rain (since last spring), but at least we had clouds to block the hot sun.
It is in the mid 30s C, that's the low 90sF, still.
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I always smile to see modern communication equipment on top of very old buildings, like here atop the former St. John ophthalmic hospital on Hebron Street.
Today it is the Mt. Zion Hotel.

Or the two satellite dishes way up on the hundred year old bell tower of the (Anglican) Cathedral of St. George the Martyr.

The tower was built separate from the church to limit potential damage from earthquakes.

Today the structure contains staff housing.

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First shy rain

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Finally! Clouds on the horizon last night!
And at noon yesterday a whole minute of sprinkles, the first rain we've seen since last spring.

For the first time in a month, the day temperature dipped a few degrees below the 30s C.

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For SkyWatch Friday, things are looking up.

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Summer sky

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About half an hour after sunset.

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Cloud Strider

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Just after sunset last night this giant rose up on top of the mountain.

I saw a long-haired celestial being seemingly striding toward the right, trying to catch his or her bright halo!
Do you see that? Or something different?
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We all have fun with the sky at Sky Watch Friday.
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Clouds with engine noise

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Here in the Hills of Jerusalem the last four days have been cloudy, gray, chilly, and with rain off and on.
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What this crop-duster was dusting on the hill across the valley is beyond me.

I mean, it's not like we have crops on the slopes.

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Hope your skies are quieter than in these pictures.

Happy SkyWatch Friday.

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This is winter??

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A mid-afternoon late December sky in Jerusalem.
Shirt-sleeves weather. Unnormal.
For Sky Watch Friday, where many bloggers' skies are now full of snow.
This week we bask in temps of 24 degrees C. Mid-70s F.

Minaret of the Mosque of Omar.
The building on the right is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.


The Crusader bell tower of the Holy Sepulchre.
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I just sat in the courtyard watching the clouds and the pilgrims go by.
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Airport fun

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Whenever I go to Ben-Gurion Airport to welcome an arriving friend I like to spend hours enjoying the sights and sounds.
There goes another El Al jet!

Whatever rain we last had seems to have stayed trapped just outside this side entrance to Terminal 3. It is really only an emergency exit, but I was standing inside when a uniformed airport personnel lady waded through the deep water in high heels, making faces as she swiped her card to open the door.

The huge puddle on the roof was perfect for reflecting the clouds though.

Good for both SkyWatch Friday and Weekend Reflections.

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Welcome clouds

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Clouds! We finally had some clouds one day this week!
But not rain clouds. Our rain season begins only around October.

So pretty, so welcome. And they brought the high temperatures down by two degrees.

I just have to cross the street and walk a minute to see the wide sky above the Jerusalem Hills/the Mountains of Judea in all its sunset splendor.

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Have a look at other bloggers' skies today over at SkyWatch Friday.

Did anyone see meteors?

Clouds of glory

Late afternoon. Grand finale.

Shalom to all the SkyWatch Friday friends.

The burning bush?

More skies from around the blogging world today over at SkyWatch Friday.

That's My (Other) World

Jerusalem Hills Daily Photo is now in Australia, until early February, visiting family. Seems like this is a good time to be out of Israel, judging by the news. Sigh . . .

Yesterday my daughter took me and my two little grandsons by bus and train to Circular Quay. Thousands of tourists were down there but we found room on a beautiful ferry boat to Rose Bay and Watson's Bay. Sydney was in sunlight in the morning, but the sky over the city looked like this from the beach in Watson's Bay where we had a mid-afternoon fish and chips picnic. Very dramatic rain clouds.

It is so beautiful here--big sky, big country.

Rainy grayness --> sudden brief light

Hundreds of SkyWatch bloggers share the beauty of their home sky every Friday.

You are welcome to look and to join the friendly group.

Israel's dry season, which normally lasts from spring until fall, has finally ended. Tuesday and Wednesday were gray days with on and off drizzle. Yesterday evening thunder and lightning and a big rain; 23 mm fell in Jerusalem and caused gridlock.

On Tuesday at 4:10 pm I noticed out the window a sudden glare of white in the dark gray of the eastern horizon. Jerusalem was caught in the swan song of the sun just before its setting! The city was like a mirage!

I ran over to the other side of our hill to say goodbye and thanks to the setting sun.

A foretaste

Israel is in the middle of her dry season. It usually lasts from around April until October. Normally the sky is cloudless and not a drop of rain falls. The last rain even has its own name in Hebrew: malkosh. And yoreh is the first rain in the autumn. That's how important they are.
But yesterday we were treated to a cooler day ("only" 28 C), a breeze, and a skyful of gray clouds! YAY!
This photo shows the situation at 8:00 a.m. as seen from my village, facing west, looking down into the Valley of Soreq. That's an electric power station marring the wooded Jerusalem Hills.

I can hardly wait for the yoreh. . . .
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There are over 300 skies to choose from over at SkyWatch Friday. Pop over and enjoy or better yet, join the fun and contribute your own sky photo.

Sheltered by a cloud

Night falls on Jerusalem. In almost every house the Sabbath candles have been kindled and the joy of Shabbat Eve is bright. Shabbat shalom to you!

The big sky

The grand finale to a quiet day in the Jerusalem Hills.