We don’t need a weather man to tell us when a storm is coming. We can simply step outside and see how the air gets heavy with anticipation as the world seems to hold its breath. The clouds darken in warning, and then the sky breaks open. Occasionally, the rain is intense but brief; other times, it is light and long. Either way, it is a gift direct from Hashem, and the clouds are the neatly wrapped packages that hold this gift until delivery.
Clouds
of Glory
It was these same
clouds – this simple phenomenon of nature – that miraculously formed a
protective wall for us during our 40 years in the desert. While Rabbi Akiva
said that we lived in mundane, physical booths while traveling through the
Sinai before entering the Land of Israel, Rabbi Eliezer explained that klal
Yisrael was enveloped in seven layers of Hashem’s ananei hakavod, Clouds
of Glory, which shielded us from the broiling sun during the day as we
faithfully followed His path. They also leveled the ground, making it easier to
walk, and provided protection from predators. Arriving immediately after yitzias
Mitzrayim, they represent Hashem’s close relationship with klal Yisrael
as one based on miracles.
According to the
Vilna Gaon, Hashem’s presence, which manifested in the Clouds of Glory, disappeared
during the chet ha’egel, the golden calf, and only returned
once the mishkan started to be
rebuilt, five days after Yom Kippur. This gives further insight into why Sukkos
is celebrated after Yom Kippur instead of after Pesach (when we actually began
to live in the sukkas) since the sukkas are connected to the unlimited love
that Hashem has for us, even after we make mistakes.
Today, clouds are
a passing part of almost every day.
On
Cloud Nine
More than half of
the Earth’s surface is covered by clouds, especially over the equatorial oceans
where moisture and warmth are constants. They look like they are leisurely
making their way across the sky but actually average 10 to 50 miles per hour and
can reach speeds of up to 100 mph depending on how high up they are! They
travel with the wind, but at higher altitudes, the wind doesn’t always go in
the same direction as the wind at ground level. In fact, you will likely sense
that the air is warmer and slightly stickier right before it rains because the
wind brings cold air from above the clouds, which pushes the warm,
moisture-filled air down. This drops the temperature above, which quickly
transforms the buoyant water vapor into water droplets (usually around
dismissal time!).
Not all rain
reaches the ground. Occasionally, the air is so hot that the rain evaporates
while it is still falling in a phenomenon called “virga.” This can be seen as
streaks coming from the bottoms of the clouds.
The three main
types of clouds are cirrus, stratus, and cumulus. Cirrus clouds are wispy in
appearance and often signify an upcoming change in weather. Stratus clouds, which
cover wide areas in gray, bring steady, light rain. And cumulus clouds, the fluffy,
white clouds indicate fair weather. When cumulous clouds reach vertically into
the upper atmosphere, they turn into cumulonimbus clouds (Cloud Nine in the
cloud classification system). These dense, towering storm clouds can reach up
to 30,000 feet and can produce lethal lightning (even up to 25 miles away from
the storm), as well as damaging hail. Despite their
potential for damage, the great height and beauty of cumulonimbus clouds
inspired the phrase “cloud nine” for those times when we are at the height of
happiness.
Head
in the Clouds
When clouds form
close to the ground, it is called fog and creates an eerie environment where
everything in the distance appears to have been erased. When driving with such
low visibility, you should always put your hazard lights on, so the cars behind
you are aware of your presence as your vehicle disappears into the freshly
white-washed world. Although you are probably rushing on your way to work or
carpooling, take time to reflect on the truly mystical experience of moving
through the heart of a cloud.
When the hot,
moist exhaust of airplanes enters the colder layers of the atmosphere, it instantly
condenses into water droplets to form long, straight lines of clouds that
stretch across the sky. These “contrails” are real clouds, formed by machines,
rather than natural phenomena. Another way man influences the clouds is by “cloud
seeding.” This involves adding dust to clouds in the hope of increasing the
formation of water droplets, which will then stimulate rain in areas that
desperately need it.
Cloudburst
Weathermen do
their best to examine the direction, speed, and temperature of various air
masses to determine the arrival of rain. Please don’t be upset with them if
they “predicted” that it would still be sunny at 4:15 p.m. and then it poured
when you were coming out of the grocery store. The wind (and therefore the
clouds and the rain) can be unpredictable, and you should always keep an
umbrella in your car, so you’re not caught unprepared.
The word “cloud”
originated from the Old English word “clud” which means a lump of rock, and at
some point, it was also applied to a lump of water vapor. Though ostensibly
ironic, the similarity is more appropriate than one would realize, as clouds
can weigh 500 tons – more than the Boeing 747 that flies through them!
If they’re so
heavy, why don’t they just fall out of the sky? Simply put, the air beneath
them is heavier and denser, leaving the relatively lighter, less dense clouds
sitting on top. That’s why you will often see clouds appear to have flattened
bottoms; they are literally flush with the layer of air below.
Clouds help to
regulate the Earth’s global temperatures by reflecting solar radiation during
the day and trapping heat for the night. The difference between walking in the
shade of the clouds and struggling under the direct glare of the sun is clearly
noticeable. Clouds are always a welcome relief from the unrelenting heat.
Clouds not only
bring rain and shade but also provide a blank canvas for the imagination. For
generations, people’s eyes have been drawn heavenward in admiration, wonder,
and creative fancy. The fluffy formations bring cries of recognition of all
kinds of animals and objects that seem to materialize far above. The shapes
shift quickly because clouds are constantly reforming. Finding shapes in the clouds used to be a
leisurely way to pass time before technology delivered constant entertainment.
Perhaps it would be wise, in our overstimulated society, to take a few moments
to pause, look wistfully at the clouds, and see what you might find there.
(Just this week, I “saw” a ship, a duck, and the Mona Lisa!)
Clouds are made of
tiny water droplets that have been warmed, mostly by the sun. Effortlessly
ascending through thousands of feet of sky, they begin to cool as they reach
the chilled upper layers, causing them to condense back into water droplets.
With the correct conditions of high humidity and rapid cooling, they can form
and reform in minutes. High humidity adds to their longevity because it
increases the availability of water in the air. (Don’t worry if knowing that
the Baltimore stickiness that mandates two showers per day helps cloud
formation doesn’t thrill you. It’s just a fun fact, not an excuse for
sweating.)
Direct sunlight is
white but contains the entire spectrum in its glow. Particles in our atmosphere
scatter the light, giving the sky its signature blue color, but the light
passes more directly through clouds, focusing its white essence. During sunrise
and sunset, however, the angle of the rays separates the sky’s natural
kaleidoscope, causing the clouds to be painted in beautiful colors.
To
Every Cloud a Silver Lining
The comic
illustration of personal struggle is often a rain cloud that has formed over
only one person. Yet there is comfort in knowing that that challenge was
custom-designed for you. This knowledge doesn’t make the storm less painful,
but it does make it less stressful because you know that Hashem trusts you and
is holding your hand through each thunderclap. (And anyway – you already have
an umbrella in your car.) There are few things more empowering than being aware
that Hashem already gave you the inner strength to persevere before He even
sent the downpour in your direction.
Clouds remind us
to lift our eyes to the heavens. Clear skies are undeniably inviting, but
cloudy ones are glorious. With their interplay of sunshine and shadow, their
freedom of movement despite their enormous mass, and their ability to protect
the world from the constant barrage of solar radiation and heat, clouds are
truly awe-inspiring. In Perek Shira,
the clouds sing about how darkness can disguise blessing. Although it is
sometimes hard to accept, the darkest clouds are the ones that hold the most
potential for life.
Debbie
Glazer lives in Pikesville with her family and teaches language arts in Bnos
Yisroel High School. She can often be found either writing or reading and loves
to share her passion for the written word with others.
