It was a scorcher on Sunday, 1 Elul, launching another week of unseasonably hot weather, the third major heatwave of this summer. At the Gilgal meteorological station in the Jordan Valley, temperatures hit 49.3 C (120.7) during the afternoon hours. The temperature recorded in the shade was a mere 42.8 C (109 F) with 21% humidity.

For the residents and farm worker in Kibbutz Gilgal, dealing with extreme heat is a way of life, located just 16 km (10 miles) from Yericho.

Channel 1 News asked some residents how a sane person lives in such a place. On resident explained jokingly “We are on the Syrian African rift and we to have a rift, from one ear to another”. Speaking seriously, he explained he and his neighbors love their community and work happily even during the summer. However, during the hot afternoon hours everyone heads indoors to their air conditioned homes.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)