Friday

Tis'a b'Av is always a politically charged feastday - it commemorates the destruction of the Jewish Temple twice (once in the 6th century BC and later rebuilt only to be destroyed in 70 AD). There are some Jews (mostly religious Zionists) who believe they must rebuild the Temple in order for the Messiah to come (Zionist Christians share the same theology); and the orthodox Jews who consider it forbidden to enter the area today. Very opposing views that led to a shouting match between the two Jewish groups yesterday at the Wailing Wall. Of course the muslims were not amused as they control the Temple Mount today - having built the Dome of the Rock Mosque over the where the Temple used to stand. Pretty sensitive. That's why lots of soldiers were out and about yesterday. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277936884&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull and by the way, the soldiers' presence at the Wailing Wall was considered blasphemy http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277936941&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Meantime the heat was so unbearable, most of us could not sleep last night. Being Thursday, muslim marriages abounded and fireworks flared through to midnight - something the jews would not have been amused as they celebrated Tis'a b'Av. Then adding the heat to the noise, you can imagine the situation.

My left ankle is still swollen and hurt when I walk ... no new news. I haven't tried the traction kit yet but will need to soon because the right arm is practically numb most of the time. Today is the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. I wonder if anyone remembers that the name Ignatius came from the greek Egnatio, the general who gave his name to the famous road in greece 2000 years back.