The first, serious, cats-‘n-dogs rainfall of the season fell on Thursday night/Friday morning in perfect timing: the date, according to the Hebrew calendar was Zayin B’Cheshvan, when Jews in Israel began praying for rain.

On average, Ma’ale Adumim receives 440 millimeters a year. Jerusalem, in comparison, averages 554 millimeters. Boaz Dayan of the Israel Weather site forecasts colder-than-usual weather for Winter 2011-2012, with average rainfall.