The Land that Looks to Heaven for Its Water

Before the Israelites entered the Land of Israel, they were provided with the following powerful truth: Unlike Egypt, sustained by the Nile’s steady flow, the Land of Israel depends on rain from above. Only a steady connection with the Lord will provide the land with the abundance of water it needs for its sustenance.

“The land you are entering to take possession of is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come… It is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it”. (Deuteronomy 11:10–12).

This week’s winter storm brought that dependence into vivid relief, filling streams and waterfalls, blanketing the highlands with snow, and prompting a series of dramatic rescue operations across the country as emergency forces responded to flooding, stranded motorists, and dangerous conditions.

Flooded Streams and Severe Weather

Heavy rain and thunderstorms began last night  (Monday) and are expected to continue throughout the day. Snow fell on Mount Hermon and in the northern Golan Heights, while authorities warned of flash floods in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea region, as well as localized flooding in the mountains and along the coastal plain. Very strong winds are reported and temperatures will drop sharply. By evening, conditions are forecast to gradually ease.

Amid the stormy weather, streams across the country swelled and overflowed their banks.

Watch:

Wadi Arugot (Judean Desert)

Ein Maboa (Binyamin Region)

Nahal Prat (Judean Desert)

Tanur Waterfall (Upper Galilee)

Snow in Gush Etzion and Mt. Hermon

Residents of Gush Etzion awoke to a striking winter scene, with streets coated in a white layer of hail mixed with snow.

Elazar

The Mount Hermon site will remain closed today and tomorrow due to severe weather. Overnight, approximately 15 centimeters (about six inches) of snow accumulated at the lower elevations of the mountain, with snowfall expected to continue throughout the day.

Rescue Operations Across the Country

Emergency and rescue forces carried out multiple operations as flooding intensified:

• Three trapped in Wadi Anava: Fire and Rescue Services received a report of three people stranded on the roof of their vehicle after flash flooding and strong currents swept through the wadi. Firefighting and rescue teams from the Ayalon station were dispatched, joined by the national Lahava rescue unit and the Central District’s special rescue unit. Crews prepared for a complex extraction under challenging terrain and weather conditions.

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• Five rescued from flooding in Kiryat Malachi: Earlier in the day, a shuttle vehicle became stuck in deep floodwaters with five passengers inside, unable to exit on their own due to the water level. Firefighters reached the scene quickly and safely evacuated all five, unharmed, to dry ground.Vehicle stranded in floodwaters
  Photo: Israel Fire and Rescue Services SpokespersonFire and Rescue Services reiterated their warning to the public: do not attempt to drive through deep puddles or flowing water.
• Driver rescued beneath a bridge near the Amunim junction: Fire and rescue teams from Ashdod responded to a report of a vehicle submerged under a bridge. The driver had climbed onto the roof of his car to await help. Using a specialized water-rescue boat, firefighters reached him, brought him safely to dry land, and transferred him to medical personnel for evaluation.

In Jerusalem, a woman in her 50s was evacuated in critical condition to Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital after reportedly being struck by a heavy object inside a flooded home. She was transferred to Magen David Adom teams near the Shuafat checkpoint while undergoing resuscitation efforts.

As the rains descend on the mountains and valleys of Israel, they bring both blessing from above, renewing the land. In moments like these, the ancient biblical description of a land sustained by rain from heaven feels strikingly present.