Summer Climate

Abstract

In Israel, as previously noted, it is difficult to distinguish between winter and transitional seasons. On the other hand, Israel’s summers have clear and distinct characteristics. With few exceptions, as will be defined later, typical synoptic conditions prevail during the summer months. In Hebrew, the word summer — kaits — has two complementary meanings: The first meaning is sunny days (no rainfall); kaits is also the time when fruits (especially figs) are spread out to dry. The Aramaic translation of the word kaits, as in the verse “...and bread and kaits to feed the young men” (Samuel II 15, 2) here kaits is a loaf of dried figs.

[An enclosed] valley during sun season: It is [considered] a private domain with regards to [the laws of] Shabbat and a public domain with regards to [the laws of] impurity; in the rainy season it is [considered] a private domain with regard to this [Shabbat law] and that [impurity law]. Babylonian Talmud, Baba Batra 153b