I saw this “Tricky Weekend Setup” image from a local weatherman Steve Caporizzo explaining the challenge of pinpointing Albany’s forecast this last weekend in March. It so happens that we are situated along the mid-state line where the cold front from the north (with much colder than seasonal temperatures) and the extra warm front from the south (with higher than seasonal temps) meet. Albany could go either way.
Albany is scheduled to be right along the line where these two fronts meet. That’s what makes the forecasting extra difficult. Because any movement, any extra wind, from any direction can swing us into a totally different temperature zone. We are at the line where any movement can make a very significant difference.
This illustrates a famous Rambam/Maimonides quote, (which is likely the Rebbe’s most oft-quoted Rambam quote) that each person ought to view themselves and the world around them as if in perfect 50-50 balance where every single good deed tips the scales and makes a world of difference!
This also ties in with our Cholent/Chili Cookoff this week. It’s often a balance question, a ratio question: How much spice? How much water? You don’t want too much or too little, it’s straddling a fence where leaning into one direction or another can be quite significant.
Here’s how the weather actually played out. Albany trended colder in the end, but not quite as cold as the areas just north of us. And areas below were significantly warmer, some twenty degrees or more warmer and New York City and Long Island (where many of our UAlbany students are from) got close to 80 degrees – in March!
And similarly with our Cholent/Chili Cookoff results: The votes were extra close this time. The range between the four entries were only a couple of tickets. But with margins that close, when you’re on the fence, you can be the tipping point. Everything is in play, it’s that fluid. It can go either way.
Yes – each person, each mitzvah, each effort does matter and makes a difference!