Israel Desperately Needs a “Season of Rain”

December 8, 2017

by: Janet Aslin

Friday, 08 December, 2017 | Wednesday morning there were dark gray clouds on the horizon in Jerusalem. Rain had been in the forecast and as I walked to the bus stop, I wondered how much would fall? I had optimistically put my umbrella in my bag but it wasn’t raining yet. However, when I got off the bus in the city center, I felt the lightest of touches—raindrops on my face! As I walked to the BFP headquarters building, the rain became more insistent and I put my hood up, thanking the Lord for the blessing He was sending to His special land.

As wonderful as Wednesday’s shower was, the situation continues to be dire. Israel’s chief rabbi, Rabbi David Lau, issued a proclamation on Sunday calling for specific prayers for rain. And the call isn’t just for the Jewish people. As Breaking Israel News reported, the rabbi’s spokesman Pini Tenenboim said, “This is a call for Jews around the world to pray for Israel and, of course, includes non-Jews…Anyone who cares for Israel should join together and pray for rain.”

The Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee, is often used as an indicator of the nation’s water situation. Water levels are given by how much they are below the two red lines. The Upper Red Line is the level when the Kinneret is at maximum capacity. The Lower Red Line marks the point where, if water levels fall below, ecological damage begins to occur. Finally, the Black Line is below the pipes which take water out of the Kinneret.

At this point, water levels are below both red lines and dangerously close to the Black Line. Measurements on December 6^th showed Kinneret water levels to be 18.24 feet below the Upper Red Line and a mere 2 inches above the Black Line.

Israel needs more than a few good rainfalls to recover from the previous years of drought. Eddelene Marais, a 20-year Bridges for Peace volunteer, said it well: “Israel needs a season of rain!” Let’s continue to pray for the blessing of rain to fall upon Israel.

Posted on December 8, 2017

Source: (Bridges for Peace, 08 December, 2017)

Photo Credit: Grandmaster/wikimedia

Photo License: wikimedia