News

So what's happening in Jerusalem today?

First of all it's cold. No rain. But cold. Somewhere around 10 degrees. A Jewish woman was arrested at the Wailing Wall because she wore the "tallit" (prayer shawl used by men) and wanted to read from a Torah scroll. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129040.html

Then this morning a Jewish boy stabbed an arab man. Security scramble in the Old City as they thought an arab riot would start. Helicopters flying over head, soldiers at every street corner. But no riots. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129330.html

And Israel's go ahead to build 900 more homes in Palestinian land has been condemned by the many countries including China. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129330.html If Israel continues to occupy Palestinian land and building Jewish cities in them, very soon there will be no more Palestine left, and therefore no need to talk about peace or two states or an independent Palestine because there will be no more Palestine. Smart move. And British Jews are incensed that Channel 4 has "exposed" the "power" of the British pro-Israel lobby. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129102.html

This evening the Swedish Institute commemorated the memory of Fr Piccirillo with two talks. I actually didn't want to go but the dean said I am one of the last students who personally knew Fr Piccillo and I should go to honour him. So I did. Met some friends back from the '90s - Prof. Claudia Dauphine who delivered a magnificent memoriam of Fr Piccirillo's life and work, and Prof. Leah di Segni, paleographist from the Hebrew University, Fr Thomas Meier, now superior of the White Fathers and several others. It was good. But it was emotionally exhausting. Fr Javier was buried today in Spain as well.

And my asthma is killing me despite all the medicine I'm taking. Medicines don't work anymore ... even the prednesone works when I take it but the asthma resumes immediately a day after I stop the course. And I ask myself why didn't I go before Javier? Madeleine Wu noticed that I looked bloated ... and I am. I do feel quite sick. Don't know why. My face is pretty bloated but my tummy is worse. I can't even wear my pants. And I know what you're going to say ... "go see the doctor". Well if only it were that easy. Remember ... I live in Israel!