August Brings Universal Discomfort and Anticipation for Its End in Israel

August is widely disliked in Israel due to its oppressive heat, humidity, and crowded public spaces, making it a month everyone eagerly awaits to end. The author, Nir Kipnis, reflects on personal memories of August, including a family trip to Eilat intended to let hormones run wild, which instead sparked imaginative stories. Much of the time was spent at Haifa's beaches or engaging in minor mischief, such as sneaking into the zoo or stealing fresh challah from a local store.

Kipnis contrasts these youthful freedoms with his military service experience, recalling how the last week of basic training in July 1987 marked the end of summer freedom when he saw high school students heading to the beach. The military taught him to look forward to weekends as rare escapes, a mindset that persists into civilian life where Thursdays bring hope for the weekend, and Sundays often bring a mild depression as work resumes.

Around age 50, perceptions of time shift again, with days and years seeming to pass more quickly and work routines becoming less burdensome. Yet August remains an exception, a month people want to get through quickly due to its discomforts and inconveniences, including crowded malls, beaches, and airports, and colleagues taking vacations when urgent work is needed.

Kipnis humorously suggests that the dislike for August might be a historical revenge against the Roman Emperor Augustus, after whom the month is named, for his brutal suppression of a rebellious people in southern Syria. He also shares recent personal challenges, including recovering from pneumonia after a honeymoon in Madrid, dealing with a dog fight at home, and injuring his foot on wet concrete.

Despite these setbacks, he looks forward to a short vacation planned between the upcoming elections in November, giving him another reason to wish August would end soon so he can say, "Next month we are supposed to fly."