Feast of St. Moses

Earthquake in New Zealand. Are you guys counting the number of earthquakes each week? We're still awaiting our turn here ... my survival pack is still nearby.

Autumn has set in. The sun rises much later now, around 6am. The Palestinian territories had switched to solar time at the beginning of Ramadan but Israel hasn't yet. But sometime this week the change will take place so as to facilitate Rosh HaShana. Have to watch out for the day of change otherwise things will get pretty confusing... as it usually does every year ... people coming down at the wrong time for Mass or meals.

The weather is also changing ... alot cooler than the last month. The night's go down to 18 degrees. The plants are picking up again from the heatwave, putting out shoots and flowers.

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Moses. Moses, you say? Yes. Here in our land, Old Testament people are saints and we celebrate their feastdays. Abraham, David, Isaiah, Zechariah and Elizabeth ...... There is no canonisation process. Their virtues are recorded in the Bible which is the Word of God - that's enough authority to declare them saints! There's a solemn Mass up on Mt. Nebo (Jordan) where Moses died.

Meanwhile the streets are full of excitement. The muslims eagerly wait for the feast of Eid el Fitr, the closing of Ramadan; while the Jews are preparing for Rosh HaShana. I'd love to go out and have a look but it can be quite frightening in the immense crowd. The Al Aqsa mosque has a new muezzin (cantor) probably for the feastday. He's a very good singer, good voice and powerful lungs; and he sings in a minor key which sounds a little odd but refreshing from the usual tones we hear.