Coping with heat in Israel

amother

OP ↓

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 12:02 am

Hi I'm making aliyah from england (where summer is one day a year). I'm getting a bit worried about coping in the heat. Does it drive you or your kids crazy? Any tips to keep cool?

amother

Blush

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 12:06 am

amother OP wrote:

Hi I'm making aliyah from england (where summer is one day a year). I'm getting a bit worried about coping in the heat. Does it drive you or your kids crazy? Any tips to keep cool?

As a fellow ex-Brit, it is very tough. Make use of the air conditioning, get used to going out later in the day or in the evening. It's also easier in Yerushalayim than Bnei Brak or Bet Shemesh.

tree of life

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 12:43 am

Hi I'm also from England
Can't love the weather better then rainy Manchester
The air-conditioning is on full time
Shop earlier in the day or late in day and drink
First year will be difficult after that u will get use to it

amother

Springgreen

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 12:56 am

amother OP wrote:

Hi I'm making aliyah from england (where summer is one day a year). I'm getting a bit worried about coping in the heat. Does it drive you or your kids crazy? Any tips to keep cool?

Somehow, even though it bothers me, my pre teen aged kids are not bothered by it and neither are their friends.

Also, depends on where you will be living - in Yerushalayim/Bet Shemesh areas it is usually dry heat so as long as I am in the shade it doesn't bother me too much. On the occasional days that it is humid it is brutal and we stay indoors only.

amother

Ebony ↓

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 1:15 am

You bring everyone water every single time you leave the house. We have separate water bottles for everyone, some people just bring a big bottle with cups. Even if we're walking 5 minutes I bring everyone water. Bring hats for all little kids who are willing to wear them if you are going to be outside.

Also you keep a box of shlukim/pop ice (tiny cheap push-up pops - its like 8 shekel for a box of 60) in the freezer and the kids have one every time they walk in the house, or you bring some with you to the park.

There are areas of the country that are less hot. It makes a huge difference where you choose to live.

amother

↑ Ebony

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 1:22 am

And also we choose parks by how much shade they have. And in the summer constantly look for things to do that include going in water. Many people have above-ground backyard pools (if you have a yard obviously).

Also, there is barad (slushy but more the texture of crushed ice) for cheap everywhere and Popsicles, so we often plan to get something if we'll be out for a while (I know where the cheaper options are and choose accordingly.... barad can cost anywhere from 2-15 shekel for whatever is considered a small cup).

amother

DarkGreen

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 1:33 am

I only wear cotton! I have no idea how people survive in polyester here. I honestly have gotten used to the heat. And I live in. Beit shemesh. I do have a pool so we use that a lot in the afternoons. And we wait to go to the park until probably after at least five and it’s not usually too bad in the shade. But no way to survive without air conditioning.

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 2:08 am

We're moving to Carmei Gat in the south so it will be very hot! Although I heard it's not so hot at night and not humid.

Thank you all for your replies, very helpful! If anyone has a brand of waterbottle that they like that keeps the water cool please let me know.

Reality

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 2:19 am

amother OP wrote:

You don't need a name brand water bottle. It just needs to be metal. I ordered a few different knockoff brands on Amazon and they are all the good. They keep the water cold all day! Most important, an 8 Oz water bottle is too small. We prefer the 40 Oz bottles.

essie14

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 3:58 am

Reality wrote:

I concur.
At least a 32 oz stainless steel water bottle. The issue with 40 oz is that it could be too big for the car cup holder. But I have one for the beach and it's amazing. Water with ice stays cold all day.

Bnei Berak 10 ↓

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 4:05 am

amother Geranium wrote:

I'm chuckling reading this thread. I'm from Las Vegas where the current temperature is 101 degrees (38 celsius) at 10:25pm Laugh

Wow

Brit in Israel

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 4:09 am

Hey fellow Brit.
Nothing much more to add from what everyone else has said.
Your body will get used to the heat.
I have a spray sunscreen I put on my kids each morning (or rather used to but unfortunately running late to often) I like the ones that aren't aerosol.
Water bottles for each kid each time you leave the house and also for in the house. It's just as important to drink especially as air con dries you out.
I've tried expensive ones and cheap ones and they generally break within the same timeframe or mould in inaccessible places with some contigo so I have started just buying the cheapest in the stores and if we are doing day trip bring half iced 2 liter water bottles in the thermal carries you can buy in all the stores. It's the water cold all day by the beach and bring plenty. Each kid wears one on their back.

Good luck with the move and remember it takes time to settle.

↑ Bnei Berak 10 ↓

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 4:18 am

Close your trissim in order to block out the heat. Insulation is your best friend. If you own your own apartment you may consider changing them for double glazing (better insulation)
My best tip: Use a fan together with AC.
Try to walk in the shadow when outside.
Usually younger people are less bothered by the heat.

↑ Bnei Berak 10 ↓

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 4:21 am

amother DarkGreen wrote:

You have your own pool? Wow bli eyin hara

↑ Bnei Berak 10

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 4:32 am

On very hot days I try to remember millions of people in Europe save up a lot of money and take the time to fly to a hot and sunny place and they spend a lousy two or three weeks by the sea or the pool. After that they are back to their half-lousy climate.

amother

Trillium

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 6:38 am

We live in Bnei Barak for almost a decade and honestly we haven’t gotten used to the humidity.
My kids are little but it bothers them a lot, they get very very red and sweaty. For now, (as they’re still small and are ok with it) we rarely go out in the summer, except in the car or to do water activities (beach, water park, blow up pool, water balloons…)
When they beg me to go to the park I remind them that in the winter I take them almost ervy day so when it cools down we will go. They are ok staying in because it’s too uncomfortable for them outside.
Also, yes to cotton clothes only, no polyester whatsoever. And taking along water bottles always. When they come h9me from gan I give them an ice pop or ice water to cool off. Keep trissim closed and AC blasting.
At about shkiyah time we get a drop of a breeze, so sometimes we walk out then for a bit, especially Shabbos afternoon.
But if you live somewhere where it’s dry, it might be easier especially that it cools down at night. But more important to make sure to hydrate when dry.

9atonce

Tue, Jul 16 2024, 6:53 am

If you have a choice of where to live, the Jerusalem area almost always cools down with a nice breeze in the evenings, even in the middle of July-August. It's easier to stay in all day if you know it will be pleasant to go out after ~5pm.

Drink a lot! It's easy to get dehydrated without noticing. You can buy 1L insulated cloth water carriers that keep water cold. Freeze half a bottle of water the day before, and fill the rest with water before you leave the house. Or if you're going out for a long time, take one bottle of water completely frozen, and another half frozen.

Eat a lot of watermelon and grapes, avoid high-calorie, fatty foods.