Israeli schoolchildren got an extra day off

January 28, 2000
Web posted at: 6:28 p.m. EST (2328 GMT)

From Jerusalem Bureau Chief Walter Rodgers

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Jewish Yeshiva students don't typically engage in snowball fights in Jerusalem, but then snowstorms aren't the norm in the Middle Eastern city.

Snow is rare in Jerusalem -- and 40 centimeters (15 inches) is almost unheard of, perhaps excusing the levity of the usually serious religious students.

"There's a famous rabbi walking by, and he saw his Yeshiva students throwing snowballs at each other," one of the battling students said. "He said to them, 'It's not because you're throwing snowballs that I'm upset, but why are you missing each other?'"

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The snow made for the ultimate picture postcard as a land of stone was magically transformed into a landscape of lace.

"Beautiful," "breathtaking," "gorgeous," "blessings from God," "pure" -- these were just a few of the words used to describe the scene, although some allowed they're just as happy it doesn't happen too often.

But in a land where people clearly lack the skills necessary to drive in deep snow, the storm also brought on a few strange sightings: an Orthodox Jew wearing a Santa Claus hat and the living romping among the dead in a World War I cemetery for Australian and British soldiers.

An odd sight for tourists

The snow was even stranger for tourists, who frankly never considered they'd find the white stuff covering Middle Eastern sands.

"Back in Sweden we have no snow today," said one such visitor, "so we go to Bethlehem and find snow."

The snow brought a new look to Palestinian-controlled areas as well. In nearby Bethlehem, a shout of "Allah Akbar!" -- "God is great" -- heralded a rain of snowballs.

Holy sites are blanketed in snow

In a scene that might look more familiar to North Americans accustomed to a snowy winter, a snowman guarded the entrance to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, the traditional location of Christ's birth.

Snowmen dotted the landscape in Jerusalem's Orthodox neighborhoods as well, where the round white guys wore black hats just like their human counterparts, who also sported plastic bags to keep out the cold moisture.

Perhaps because it is so unusual here, the snow had a softening effect, bringing a measure of peace for some and joy for others.