Mashiv Haruach Umorid Hagashem

The weather has been interesting during our visit. Each day has been hot and sunny. Some reported that this is the first hot and sunny weather that has been seen here. But at night, there have been thunderstorms. In fact, the first night, as we gathered at the Nosyk Synagogue, a horrific storm descended on the city and synagogue: From the upstairs gallery where I was seated for the beginning of the program, I could see a huge nearby tree rocking violently in the wind and rain – and when we emerged, we had to avoid floods, mud and fallen trees. (In fact, one of the tour guides was injured by a falling tree and had to be taken to a local hospital.) The storm really was something of biblical proportions.