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Moshe-Mordechai van Zuiden
Psychology, Medicine, Science, Politics, Oppression, Integrity, Philosophy, Jews -- For those who like their news and truths frank and sharp

It’s not raining cats or dogs in Israel

Yet, not all areas are created equally

Rain in Israel

In Biblical times, they had no baths and no Trump to complain about showerheads trickling down. But a drought in Israel meant a famine, for no crops could grow—the threat of starvation lurking. Apparently, groundwater had not ceased yet, because there are no writings about trees withering or people and livestock dying of thirst. It seems their only problem was a lack of irrigation systems for their agricultural lands.

It’s not raining too much this rainy season in Israel, which used to be life-threatening. But we now have so many water recycling and desalination plants, so much water reserve, and an intricate piping network for potable water and farming includes much irrigation and water conservation (using dew), so Israel’s population is safe. We save a lot for a non-rainy day!

Once upon a modern time, the mountains around the Sea of Galilee needed enough rainfall, or the Lake would be in danger. Salt water would intrude, plants and fish would die, its water would become undrinkable. Those times are over. We can now pump desalinated water from the Mediterranean into the Kineret (the Hebrew name), so no more fears.

Electricity in Israel is cheaper than using cooking gas. But the smallest household supply expense is for water, even after recycling, desalinization, filtering, and pumping it around and up all over Israel and to Jerusalem.

Or the Lack Thereof

Still, the relative drought of this year can be problematic:

  • Groundwater recedes, endangering grown trees in the wild.
  • Dry earth crumbles. When it rains, the soil might wash away.
  • Vegetation in the wild dies. Rains could wash away the soil.
  • Birds and other wildlife die if they have nothing to drink.
  • Dry vegetation makes wildfires and arson more dangerous.

Long-term, there is still much we can do to alleviate drier weather. In cities and villages, and from paved intercity roads, rainfall is often channeled away to the sewage system. Laying penetrable pavement would allow for greener cities and replenish the local groundwater.

Short-term, prayer could help too. Jewish prayers in the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Washington State, where people are tired of rain, all go to what Israel needs. In the Jewish Daily Prayers outside of summertime, we mention rain twice. The first time to acknowledge the One Who makes it rain; the second time to request rain. Much is made of the second, but I would like some more attention to the first, especially when it rains. What better time than to tell of our admiration?

The News

Regarding wildfires, there is some good news. Tel Aviv University scientists found that smartphones collect environmental data such as temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and more, but these are typically discarded. Harvesting these untapped data may provide insight into which conditions may predict, and thus, early detect and stop wildfires.

Concerning terrorist arson and wildfires from carelessness, there is also budding good news, an ‘Iron Dome’ to stop wildfires. The system should shoot capsules of ‘eco-friendly’ fire retardant to create barriers and detect and extinguish blazes. It is set for testing in Israel in May.

Israel water reports in the news need to be taken with a drop of water. They often are inaccurate because many journalists don’t know the geography and are often language geniuses but also number dyslectics.

The water level of the Kineret has been exceptionally high for many years since global rain may have diminished but not in Northern Israel. Our water reserves have never seen such good times, and Israel is thinking of selling more water to Jordan and refilling the Jordan River. So, if the Kineret water level is a bit low now, it means little. If it rains too little on the Kineret, it means little because what counts is the rain on the areas around the Kineret that run off into it—which has increased this year. Typically, it takes a couple of months for that water to reach the Lake.

Rain is always much more plentiful on Israel’s coast than on its more arid East. The dune aquafers are full even before winter starts since we now also pump water from the Kineret into them. When it rains, it pours!

So, in the North, rain has been plentiful for many years, which is a great blessing since Israel gets much of its drinking water from there. Water rationing is now years behind us. Unfortunately, the lack of water for natural areas in the rest of the country is troubling. So, surely, let’s step up our prayers and force all politicians to take climate change more seriously.

We’re only halfway through winter so G^d can shower us with blessings without upsetting Nature Law so that only grateful people will notice. Rain is mercy because it rains for both the deserving and the wicked.

_____

You may find more controversial writings on Amazon or my own blog.

About the Author
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. * As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. * This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2000 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog, to which one may subscribe too, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. * Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. * Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. * Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. * He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. * He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. * He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. * His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. * To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. * His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
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