“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful.”  (Joel 2:23)

On Shemini Atzeret, as the week of dwelling in sukkot came to an end, Jewish people around the world prayed for rain.

The end of Sukkot is the beginning of Israel’s much needed rainy season, without which would result in thirst and famine, since it does not rain in the summer in Israel, and this winter period of rain is necessary for the crops to grow.

Worshipers pray in the rain at the Western (Wailing) Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.

This year God has abundantly answered these prayers.  According to the Israel Meteorological Society, central Israel has had more rain this November than in any rainy season in the past 20 years.  In fact, only one of three in the past 75 years saw as much rain by November’s end.

Parts of Israel have seen one-third to one-half or more of their average annual rainfall.

The Israel Meteorological Service’s report came after Tuesday night brought 80 kph (50 mph) winds and rains that by Tuesday evening had given Tel Aviv double its average rainfall by that date in previous years, as well as Haifa 150 percent and Jerusalem 136 percent.

The Sea of Galilee, which supplies 25% of Israel’s fresh water, has received one-fifth of its annual allocation.

The Galilee rose 3.5 centimeters Tuesday night into Wednesday, adding to its November 25 height of 212.87 meters below sea level. This is slightly higher than the -213 meter red line, at which point water is no longer pumped from the sea. (IsraelWeather)

The northern Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) maxes out at 208.80 meters below sea level before it would flood the city of Tiberias, according to Israel Weather. 

An Israeli man demonstrates ancient fishing techniques on the Sea of Galilee off Tiberias.  (Photo: Go Israel)

While the heavy rains caused some flooding, felled some trees and were responsible for the collapse of a wall in a parking lot and at a construction site, on Wednesday a rainbow was sighted over the Temple Mount—a rare occurrence, and perhaps all the more wonderful in light of recent Arab violence there.

These “first rains” at the start of the winter season promise agricultural abundance in what is the Sabbatical year of the Land, the Shemita year, which traditional Judaism holds endows the produce thereof with holiness.

“And Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.’ … ‘There is nothing there,’ [the servant] said.  Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’  The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’ … Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.  The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.”  (1 Kings 18:41,43–46)