Heroine

Asst. Cmd. Ahuva Tomer, the 1st woman commander in the Israeli Police rushed headlong into the fire to save the trapped cadets in the Carmel inferno but was herself badly burned and is now fighting for her life in ICU. http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=197818

 The country is reeling with shock and disbelief at the immensity of this fire. Reports say fire spread almost 1km in 3 mins. Everyone is watching the news on TV or listening to the radio, talking about it. Utterly devastating. The fires are still raging, and Israel has admitted it is out of control and need foreign help as State depart.s are not equipped to handle such a huge calamity. Thankfully countries have started sending planes ... even from Turkey, which our PM graciously thanked despite the souring of relations. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/british-greek-cypriot-planes-join-battle-to-contain-israel-s-worst-ever-wildfire-1.328535  Human tragedy draws hearts, not swords.

Now we hear the fires have cut into Highway 4 and Highway 2, nearing Denya and towards the city of Haifa - Israel's 3rd largest city. I think Zichron Yaacov is also cut off.

The whole irony of this fire is it's burning on the very mountain that 2700 yrs ago the prophet Elijah called fire to fall from heaven. But also from the same mountain the prophet saw the cloud of rain that ended the 3 yr drought. And another irony is it's burning during the feast of Hanukkah - the feast of miraculous light. The feast is called the days of awe and light - but now with a tragic twist. What biblical lesson can we learn? Let's hope there're no more casualties.