The first winter rains, usually in November, may be skimpy or may be torrential. Whatever the amounts of water, those first downfalls are quickly soaked up by the arid, thirsty earth, erasing the seemingly eternal signs of the long dry summer. Trees and shrubs, covered in a fine layer of visible dust, are refreshed and purified. The harsh gray soil quickly becomes soft and luminous, and the air turns clear. The ground releases pleasant odors indicating that organic processes, dormant for many months, have been reactivated.

Only a few days after the first rain, seeds of wild plants and weeds will begin to sprout. By December, a thin coat of light green will have covered most areas of fields and forests, a sure sign that the winter growth season has finally arrived. This activity heralds the blossoming of the early winter wildflowers, mostly bulbous plants that are the first to react to moisture. Almost overnight, pink-pedaled flowers erupt through the surface, as if in planned unison.

These are some of the natural beauties of the Land of Israel at Chanukah time.