Weather It Is (High Heat/Smell Like a Dog)

Good Morning:

Highlight: Hot temperatures in the desert and valley areas today.  Extreme heat for coastal areas and other major cities on Monday.

With a change in wind direction has come a change in our temperatures.  I noticed that the high temperature here in Efrat was 26 C yesterday (Shabbat).  This might have been a tad warm for some, but for others it was a welcome change.

The warm winds will bring high heat by Monday to the central plains, coastal sections, valleys, northern Hills.  The central mountains may have their highest temperatures as Tuesday just prior to the passage of the front.  Temperatures right on the coast may be in the 20s with high humidity, but in the 30s (just inland), and even upper 30s in many cities a few kilometers inland.

However, by Tuesday afternoon/evening a weak storm moving across the Mediterranean sea will bring a cool front through the area and some refreshing breezes from the north. Temperatures should call off by almost 15 degrees by Friday.

Looking further ahead, we don't see any clear indication for next week.  Temperatures could remain on the cool side, or even return to more summer-like warmth.  However, they are more likely to be just seasonably warm.

In any case, today's weather should be fairly fine for today's parades and celebrations of "Yom Yerushalyim."  I remember coming here years ago and going to the Kotel for the first time. It never once entered my mind to doubt that the Jewish people had come home -- not just to their land but to their city.

Today will turn into tomorrow, and with summer warmth comes a reminder of life's important lessons -- we learn from "Man's best friend" -- the dog. These are : i) Lie down with the dogs, get up with the dogs; ii) sleep like a dog, iii) bark like a dog, eat like a dog, and  iv) smell like a dog. Of course, "the dog days of summer" is probably the reason the last one caught my attention when my wife commented about the end result of my morning Shabbat walk -- that I needed to refresh afterwards.  When I pointed out that I planned to do so, she remarked that it wouldn't really help.  In plain words: I'd smell like a dog.

This made me think.  What smells worse than a wet dog?  Pretty much, nothing else.  You can pour water on a dog, and he/she can be as clean as a whistle, but they'll just smell worse.  Unless, you use doggy shampoo.  In fact, there is nothing more pleasing/pleasant than the fresh smell of a dog after a shower with a good doggy shampoo -- sort of like that new baby smell we all love.

And, thus, I had the solution to my problems -- a bath with doggy shampoo, or at least a little freshening up with a few dabs here or there.  Like honey or a rose, I've never seen her smile quite so.

Yom Yerushalyim Samaech!

Barry Lynn