60% Chance of Rain!

Saturday is the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, an extra day tacked on to Sukkot to celebrate for just one more day. It marks the transition when we begin our prayers for rain. We wait until Shemini Atzeret to pray for rain because we don't want to pray for rain while people are living in their Sukkot (i.e. under bamboo or other thatched material) because it wouldn't make for a pleasurable eating or sleeping experience.

I was so moved to see the seasons change around the high holidays. It was hot, hot, hot right up until the day before Rosh Hashanah and since then, the weather has been wavering between warm and cool - somewhat fall-like. It was fascinating to see the weather change around these holidays that mark the beginning of fall.

Fascinatingly, the current weather forecast for Jerusalem predicts a 60% chance of rain on Sunday - the day after Shemini Atzeret when we start praying for rain! I think it will be so very cool if it rains right after Shemini Atzeret! I'll let you know how it goes!