


Israelis do not distinguish between cold and rain. If it's raining, then it must be cold. An Israeli shivers when watching the rain from inside a heated building. Various things make Israelis think cold, even when the thermometer proves otherwise:
That's right � Israelis are taught about the necessity to wear sweaters and coats, and to shiver during the winter season, irrelevant of whether it is cold. Rubbing your upper arms is unofficial Israeli sign language for Chanukah.
This is not a different reality. This is the reality. Israelis really are cold because of the calendar or the rain. They really are as cold as they have been trained to feel.
Heat is different. It is not related to the calendar, the sun, or the lack of rain. Body temperature is not related to the fact that they are sweating a great deal or wearing lighter clothes.
Since the weather has nothing to do with the temperature, the weather report is presented in a boring monotone. The announcer frequently replaces the local weather report with reports of temperatures in other parts of the world. Nobody cares about the local forecast anyhow.
That makes sense. If it's Chanukah, then you already know that it is cold outside.
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