Sukkot 2

Giant sukka in Municipality Square

Spent a couple of days away from the City ... to rest and recover. Sukkot had just begun when I left. Never saw a sukka? Here are some pics. The sukka is a tent used by farmers as they go out for the autumn harvest. Today observant jews eat their meals inside a sukka for 8 days.

On Saturday morning the jewish priests went to the Wailing Wall to give the Priestly Blessing - an event that takes place twice a year (Passover and Sukkot). I heard thousands of people went there but I couldn't because I had classes.

Mini sukka for 4 people

Saturday was also the feast of St. Teresa of Avila - a very courageous lady who made reforms in her Order despite alot of persecution.

Sunday was quiet. Nice change. Bumped into lots of friends though when I went for a walk with Praveen. He wanted to know where the Convent of the Sisters of Ivrea was, so I brought him there to see it. On the way met lots of friends - arabs who owned shops etc... We also did abit of shopping at Salahaddin Street. He got some toiletries and cups while I got my elbow-guard (I have tennis elbow even though I don't play tennis). And we both got nice bamboo place-mats.

Inside the sukka of Luigi's Restaurant

This morning while about to cross the road, a car screeched next to me and someone inside grinning like crazy shouted "Liiiiiiiiooooooooo" so that the whole town could hear. It was Souhaib  -  a gym buddy who owns a cellphone repair shop. This is the second time he did that. Souhaib has the same stomach disorder that I have; he lost over 13 kg in weight, can't eat, vomits, nausea and diarrhea. He's gone real skinny. But he goes to Hadassa hospital for checkups.

So who else did I meet? There was Ihab whom I met twice walking pass his stationary store: he's another gym bud but though arab he was born and brought up in America, speaks with a southern drawl. Also met Mohanad in his jeans store; bought a nice shirt for 40 shekels but had to shorten it at Abu Muhammed's tailory which is next to Mohanad's cousin's store that sells muslim women's veils; that's where I got Mabel's nice veil!!! Also met Mohanad's brother Achmed who goes to China 4 times a year to get clothes for their store. Met Abu Peter going up Damascus Gate. Met several times another gym bud who owns a Drama Theatre for therapy with disturbed children. Can't remember his name. Met Mr. Serious (can't remember his name), a friend of Ihab. He gets his name because he's very serious when working out in the gym ... no smiles or hi. Anyway there was no shortage of people this weekend ... which is a nice way to start the New Year and Sukkot.