No Snow

Last night!!!

 No snow. Despite the coldest day this winter ... and the hailstorms ... it did not snow in Jerusalem. It did snow up in the north. Photos sow a wonderland of mountain slopes in thick white snow ... and roads being cleared by snow-machines. However without snow, it still was very cold. Last night it fell to 2 degrees. It was so cold I couldn't sleep. Had to use 2 blankets and the heaters were practically useless. 

However this morning the sun came back up ... clear skies. Temp rose to 8 degrees. And the wind had died down. The anemones in my flower pots are flowering ... so Spring must be round the corner. In fact the jewish Arbor Day (Tu BiShvat) is on Jan 27th. The almond trees should be blossoming for this event. I guess this year it'll be very dry ... judging from the lack of rain this winter. Let's hope it will throw off Covid19 as well.

Ultra-orthodox jews have defied the govt lockdown by reopening schools. Police sent to enforce the law were stoned and attacked. Various ultra-orthodox areas in the country have threatened open rebellion. Frankly they are a small minority and they play insignificant economic roles. But because the rabbis are behind them, the govt is afraid. The police will not enforce the law on them even though it has the highest rate of covid infections in Israel. It's fear of the religious powers. And there's going to be alot of reckoning when this pandemic drags on because the govt exempts one group from following the rules. The price to pay will be high ... above all, the decimation of population.   https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkUe00aHJ00

I'm feeling much better today. The sore throat is negligible except when I swallow. It'll take a couple more days for it to pass. Meantime still no fever, good sense of smell and taste, no fatigue. Let's hope for the best.