Holy Family feast

Feast of the Holy Family ... the octave of Christmas is coming to an end. So is 2012. Just when we hope to end the year on a happy note, we hear of more persecution of christians. This time in Iran - a pastor is re-arrested and re-imprisoned.  http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=297740  The situation in Syria is absolutely appalling as we receive news that there's no flour or bread in many cities. People are starving. And the winter cold is hitting hard. In Egypt the new pro-Islamic constitution is sending shockwaves of fear among christians as persecutions will be the inevitable result.

Sunset over the Sea of Galilee

Healthwise my asthma is keeping me awake all night. And I'm not the only one. Practically everyone I know who has asthma is suffering from it this week. It's the weather and the pollution. But in my case, the docs say it's the polyps and messed-up septum that's causing the severe asthma attacks ... plus allergy to canary poo. Was at the hospital for 2 days to have tests done. Diabetes, BP and cholesterol are high but still below the highest limit, so I'm safe for the moment.

As the year drags to its inevitable end, we recall with thanks for all the good ... and bad that we experienced this year. Everything happens for a reason, and every time it is an occasion to grow and learn. Perhaps that's what the Holy Family feast is all about - family is where one grows and learns in "wisdom, grace and stature" (today's gospel).

Christmas Octave

The Crib on the site of the
Annunciation (Nazareth)

Christmas in the Holyland is always special. And much more so in Bethlehem. It took place there. Pilgrims have come flowing back ... not too many though. They're mainly asians and africans. Very few europeans or americans. The weather is fine ... sunny and cool.

But sadly Christmas cheer here is always shortlived.  Blatant discrimination continues as 2012 ends. A Palestinian man was denied by the Post Office from sending a package to Britain because ... he was not Israeli.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-post-office-says-palestinian-cannot-send-package-abroad.premium-1.490457

And it gets worse. On Boxing Day some Jewish fanatics sprayed pornographic graffiti on a Church wall in northern Israel. Though the church was long abandoned due to the war, it nevertheless receives many visitors who used to live in that town, and where the cemetery still stands.

All these remind us that the peace and joy of Christmas still remains elusive here in the very land where Christ was born. His followers still continue to suffer persecution ... even at Christmas time.

Christmas Day

Christmas Vigil Mass on Dec 24th night was as usual special when celebrated in Shepherds' Field. The sky was clear and the stars were shining; and the air was cold and crispy. There were many groups celebrating Mass in the various altars around the sanctuary. But the crowds trickled toward midnight when everyone went uphill to Bethlehem to join the celebrations.

Candy packs from Israeli
soldiers at Bethlehem
checkpoint

Bethlehem therefore was packed to the brim with locals and tourists. The road into Bethlehem was jammed and it took over an hour to get from the Israeli checkpoint to Shepherds' Field. Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint were distributing packs of candy for tourists and pilgrims as part of their Christmas policy to show welcome despite the Wall and other security measures. Got home just past midnight but was ravaged by severe asthma so I couldn't sleep a wink. Then it was Mass at 6.30am and then chores to be done. Am extremely exhausted because each time when I try to rest, a call comes through and it's more work.

Christmas is not all fun for some people: a 3rd arab youth was attacked by Jewish teens in the City centre in 2 months. No culprits were caught ... which is disturbingly strange because if a Jew were attacked, suspects would have been rounded up within 2 hours. So much for Christmas hope and cheer.

Then the rabbis issued a decree to cancel the certification of all restaurants and eating places that put up a Christmas tree because "Christmas trees are idolatry". Suddenly all the christmas decorations around the City disappeared in a few hours. So how come a giant Hanukiot in Zion Square is not idolatry?

Christmas wish

Rare and unique sky

The sun is up but the temperature is still below 9 degrees. Crispy and sunny. Forecast for tomorrow - showers and a drop in temperature. Midnight Mass will be wet and cold. And Christmas morning will be equally wet and cold.

Yesterday I managed to catch a very unique photo ... the sky over Jerusalem caught between the storm and fair weather. Fantastic.

Let's hope the fighting in Syria will stop and the poor people will not have to suffer through this winter cold. Let's hope this Christmas will bring true peace and protection to the helpless. May the storm of war give way to the dawn of Christ's true light.

Thanks

Thanks to 1Peter for the canned food; Wini and Walter Au, Irene Teoh and Family, Angela Lee, Katie, Jocelyn and Sherwin, Vincent, Glenda and Eva, Mary and Agnes Leung and everyone else who sent their festive wishes.

Winter Solstice Festival

Wrapping the dumplings

Yesterday's storm has blown away but the cold is still lingering. The Israeli weather dept. says it's a once-in-a-decade storm. The Sea of Galilee rose by 6cm. It was a welcome rain - the air is clean again, the streets are clean again. And everyone is home keeping warm. No trouble in the streets. All is calm ... a fitting prelude to Christmas.

So yesterday was the Winter Solstice festival. A group of northern chinese tourists came to Mandarin Restaurant and started wrapping and cooking dumplings. That was a real feast! Ah Ling the owner called me over for the feast and the group was very kind. They shared their dumplings with me and we chatted and laughed like old friends. The dumplings tasted very good ... both the beef and the pork versions. A little vinegar and soya sauce with chilli and it's like being home again.

Yummy dumplings

The Christmas holidays begin today so school is a lot quieter. Most have already returned home to their own countries. The rest of us will probably spend Christmas in Bethlehem. I'm cleaning up my room for Christmas. It's incredible how much dust collects in a week ... but that's the phenomenon we encounter here in the cities around the desert. Then of course it's studies and studies again.

The H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) is spreading quickly in Palestine ... already 3 arabs have died this week and lots of cases are popping up in the Territories. Israel has issued an alert saying the virus was brought by arab pilgrims to Mecca. So I'm staying away from crowds ... including Bethlehem. Might just spend Christmas in a quiet place away from people. Could be fun.

Hail storm

So it's 21/12/12. And right now we're having a hail storm and gale force winds at the same time throughout the country. It's so very cold. I'm wearing all woollen clothes now ... as everyone else. And heaters are on everywhere. Tonight the forecast is 3 degrees. Though it'll warm up on Sunday, the cold front will return on Christmas Eve, with lots of rain. That is ... if the world doesn't end today.

As everyone has gone home for the Christmas holidays, I'm pretty much alone with the canaries for the festive season. They can't sing carols and I won't sing to them ... so this Christmas is going to be quite carol-less. But I think my past students are coming to visit me tomorrow. That will be very nice.

But for some of us, it's studies as usual. It's the big rush to complete assignments before the term ends. So much for the holidays.

Cheer and drear

As the year crawls towards its end, the weather seems to be protesting. Very cold and gray, with threatening rain clouds waiting to strike any moment. And my asthma seems to be in sync. Found out this almost annual malady is due to the change of temperature in the weather plus the polyps and messed up septum in the nose plus allergy to canary poop. This is really a dumper as it makes my nights sleepless and my days tiring.

Notre Dame wrapped in
Christmas lights

But  on the cheery side, Christmas lights are up in all christian places by now. This year Notre Dame really outdid itself. Very impressive light show. Then of course you have alot of tasteless decorations in many other places that make a mockery out of Christmas.

Groups are picking up in numbers for Christmas, most will spend Christmas in Bethlehem. That's one day in the year when Bethlehemites make a small profit from the tourists. Then they struggle to make ends meet for the rest of the year. It'll be fun to spend Christmas Vigil in Bethlehem but I'm not going if it rains. I don't need to be sicker than I am right now.

The municipality is making renovations all along Haggai Street (El Wad street) and Via Dolorosa. Pretty messy as machinery dig up half the road. If it rains, the roads will be muddy and slippery.

So another 10 days before 2012 fades into history and 2013 makes its entrance. Full of cheer and drear.

Cold

Bethlehem Christmas tree

The giant Christmas Tree in Manger Square, Bethlehem  has been lighted and it looks magnificent. The lighting and decorations were done by an english company form Liverpool. The crib at the bottom of the tree is tastefully done ... nothing kitschy. And a huge stage was erected on the side for choir performances on the night of Dec 24.

The temperature these days are no more than 9 degrees and its very chilly. The nights go down to 5 degrees. On coming Thursday night it'll start raining and peak on Friday/Saturday with a thunderstorm. Temperature will drop to 3 degrees. Christmas is going to be very very cold and wet. Hanukkah ended yesterday.

But studies continue ... reading and writing everyday. The heater is on but it's not enough so I think I'll have to use the radiator tonight.

Chilly Sabbath

Like a pillar of fire ... 

A chilly Sabbath today. Crispy but chilly. It's 13 degrees now. The sun is shining bright though. In the morning I saw a magnificent sight over the Mt. of Olives ... a swirling cloud just like a hurricane rising from the top of the mountain up to the sky, but shining red because of the sunrise behind it. It reminded me of the pillar of fire in the exodus.

The tragic killing of teachers and students in the US school is the buzz around town. It's unbelievable how it could happen ... even for us living in this country where violence is relatively a daily occurrence, we never have had such a tragedy occur in a school. Received a photo message of a t-shirt written "How could you allow such violence in schools, God?" and God replies "I'm not allowed in schools". Succinct yet poignant answer to this american problem.

Christmas is approaching ... let's not forget the spiritual aspect of it. Go to http://elwebcast.blogspot.com for a daily short reflection on Advent.

Thanks

... for the ginger snaps, prosciutto, biscuits, blanket, Osim. Got everything.

Stromata

Rioting and deaths in Hebron these past 2 days. 16 year old arabs shot dead. The version from SCMP says "Israeli policewoman pumps six bullets into teen on birthday.."
http://thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=29293
while the Israeli newspaper version headlines "IDF shoots, critically injures Hebron rioter".
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=295880

Another tree turns brilliant gold
in this weather

The power of rhetoric. Anyway violence in Hebron is no surprise. It's always been a flashpoint back in the 2 Intifadas. Today Friday we expect more tension in Hebron. But that's 60km away from Jerusalem. A totally different world. Jerusalem so far is normal. No extra police or cavalry. If there's any tension, its the weather - cold and overcast ... a bummer for the weekend.

Turning to Israel, it's still Hanukkah season. This 8 day celebration is often compared to Christmas but Jews detest that. Whatever it is, I like the part when sufgoniot is eaten ... this year I've tried banana sufgoniot, pistachio, chocolate, tiramisu, blue berry, vanilla ... my diabetes has gone super duper sky high. Doc warned me not to eat them again ... but we'll see.

Sufgoniot treat: coffee choc,
blueberry, pistachio, multi choc ...
It's diabetic hell with a smile

The asthma is not getting any better but I'm using Olbas Oil as an inhalent. Sure clears up the stuffy nose and relieves the lungs. Should get some more as I'm down to my last bottle ... but they're not on available in Israel. Will need some angels from Singapore to help me.

Burbara seeds

Another very cold day ... with drizzle and overcast skies. The ground is so wet and slippery it's a hazard going out. People are getting sick.

Sprouting burbara seeds
on our window sill

The beans are sprouting! They're placed on wet cotton and left to sprout on the Feast of St Barbara to commemorate her escape from Roman soldiers through a freshly sown field. The seeds miraculously sprouted to cover her tracks. Nowadays christian families sprout seeds and when they're fully grown, they're placed on the Christmas cribs as decorations. Seeds are chosen from barley, chick pea, millet, lentils ... anything green and grassy. Lovely tradition.

Was out to see my doc this morning. Woke up late - 4am. Had to go to Tel Aviv for appointment at 8am. Was late. But half way through, a call came to say that the workers in the library are sick and cannot work at the afternoon shift. So I had to terminate my appointment and travel 70km back to Jerusalem, walked another 1km in the rain to get back to work in the library. Utterly exhausted.

And yesterday we didn't have Internet connection for 24 hours. I had to cancel a class as a result. When the Internet company guys came to check the problem, they said someone pulled my cable out of the server. What??????? I was fuming mad!!! That got me into another asthma attack.

Mist

Mt of Olives and sunrise all
smothered by the heavy mist

We woke up to a very very foggy morning ... the Mt. of Olives was not visible, not even the sun rising behind it. And the western half of the City was equally enveloped by the mist. And it was very cold. The temperature dropped to 4 degrees during the night. The rains had stopped though but the cold lingers.

After the mist lifted, a brilliant sunshine slapped the City awake. Kids were out in the streets again, the Suq (markets) were busy with buyers and sellers. Life back as usual.

Perhaps too much life back as usual. This morning the Monastery of the Cross was again vandalised by fanatic Jews - the 2nd time this year. They sprayed "Price Tag" (meaning revenge for dismantling settlements in Palestinian land) and "Jesus is a bastard". I wonder what would happen if someone sprayed an equivalent insult on a synagogue. And for the record, the vandals who burnt the Trappist Monastery chapel doors, vandalised the same Monastery of the Cross previously, the Last Supper Chapel etc.... they were never caught after 1 year. But in 2 hours the guys who planted the bomb in a Tel Aviv bus was arrested. Disturbing and unsettling discrepancy.

Well things are not too good healthwise either. Asthma every night. Dreadful pain in the right shoulder and neck. And today I had to work extra hard in the library as some employees were sick. I'm so very tired. Wish the mist would wrap me up and set me to a long painless sleep for once.

Snow on Hermon!

My Mr Dog shoes

Another storm broke last night and the temp. has fallen drastically ... down to 6 degrees but actually feels like 2. So says the weather forecast. Even the Polish guys feel cold ... so that's a good indication of  the weather now. And Mt. Hermon has snow for the first time this year! Let's hope this keeps up for the next weeks and into Christmas. Would be lovely to have Christmas in the snow. I've got my Mr Dog shoes out ... yup, it's that cold.

For the past several nights I've been having bad asthma attacks.  Must be the cold. I've got the heater on but it's not enough. Ventolin puffer is close at hand ... The headaches have mostly gone; it's the side effect of the medicine I'm taking.

Well one thing good about the cold and wet weather is nobody goes out to cause trouble. The streets are serene, tourists hardly anywhere as the 1st two weeks of December are notoriously low season. Tourists may come back during Christmas but we don't expect many because Christmas is primarily a family celebration and people prefer to remain at home.

And just received one piece of upsetting news - someone stole Rocky. We feared sooner or later Rocky would be stolen because he is such a nice dog and the arabs in the Bethlehem area are known to be dog-stealers. Rocky's chain was snapped and the thieves probably jumped over the fence. Fahdi the present owner is still frantically searching for Rocky ... and me and Ahmed (Rocky's first owner) are very upset.

Hanukkah

Hanukiah at Zion Square

Hanukkah begins tonight. It's the celebration of the Maccabee revolt against the Syrian occupation of Palestine which forced the jews to adopt gentile ways. Read it all in the Books of Maccabees. Every family lights the hanukkiah (9 candle stand). In Zion Square, as in former years, there's a giant hanukiah. And of course, eating sufgoniot is a must.

The weather for the past day was nice and sunny but the nights are cold. 8 degrees. Today the drizzles returned, overcast skies and very cold winds. We expect rain tomorrow and Monday. It's nice. We all know we need the rain because of the drought ... but still it's inconvenient going out when the streets are very slippery. Goodness knows why the municipality paves the streets with smooth Jerusalem stones that are a hazard whenever it rains or snows. This morning I saw mothers gingerly taking step after step over the slippery stones while carrying babies in their arms. One fall would spell disaster for both.

Yesterday's riot in Hebron has raised the security alert of the City again. Cavalry and more soldiers are out and about in the streets. But nothing happened. It's too cold and wet for people to go out. It's winter as usual.

Healthwise I was back to see my doc 2 days ago - blood pressure high, sugar level high, cholesterol high. Must be the sufgoniot. And the headaches are the side-effect of the new medicine I'm taking.  I'm recovering from a second cold now. Was caught again in the rain. With all the nose-wiping, I've developed a cold sore too. Not fun. Spending time in bed reading on my studies. I've got 4 new books to cover - all on classical Greek literature. Everyday it's Greek examples of epideictic literature: encomia, protreptikos .... I finally caught myself speaking greek to the prof. sitting next to me in the refectory. Luckily he also speaks greek. It's all getting too weird. I need a break.

Storm

El Wad street in the storm

The rainstorm came. It was a welcome rain but not when I get caught in it. Very heavy winds and cold. The nights are 8 degrees and the days are 13 degrees. The canaries are now in 3 small cages kept warm in the school corridor. I had a meeting yesterday evening and was almost all wet when I got there and back. Then the whole night I had a fever again ... and a splitting headache right up till now. What's with this headache thing? Somehow everyone seems to be getting it. Must be some chemicals in the air released during the previous week's war that the rains have precipitated. Everyone is getting this dizzy feeling with migraine like pain in the head. We need a sleuth to find out what's behind this mysterious sickness.

Meantime another type of storm is also brewing big time - political. The govt is bulldozing ahead with the building of 4000 houses in occupied Palestinian land despite several countries protesting. The Housing Planning Council met this morning to decide which areas should be built up first. Nothing will or can stop Israel. But in the streets, there's little reaction. People just want to continue making a living and feeding the family. So long as it's not their house or land, there's barely an eyelid batted.

St Barbara

A dramatic twist of soap-opera proportions in the Israeli punishment of Palestine; it's now revealed that the building of 4000 houses in E1, the confiscation of $120 million and other punitive measures against Palestine for it's successful bid in the UN, is actually a punishment against America, an open outright slap in the face of Obama. The poor pawn happened to be Palestine. America is reportedly furious but still is playing it's Hollywood part of the smiling handmaid of Israel and "nothing is wrong".  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-angered-by-claim-that-new-building-at-e-1-aimed-at-obama-not-palestinians.premium-1.482197

Burbara cooked this
morning

The rains have come - hard and heavy. The winds were also strong. Much as I didn't want to, I was caught in the storm while on my way home from school. Luckily this time I had a plastic poncho so I was quite dry. Right now the rains have trickled to heavy drizzling. But I think it'll pick up again tonight.

And today is St Barbara's feastday. Locals make and eat the traditional "burbara" today - a very sweet mix of boiled barley, nuts, candies, pomegranates, anise .... It should be a festive time for children throughout Lebanon and Syria (Barbara was born in Lebanon) who go trick and treating in costumes because Barbara was constantly in disguise to escape the Roman soldiers. But with the dreadful war in Syria, we can only hope the children have enough food and shelter from this winter. St Barbara pray for them.

Autumn leaves

The Israeli punishment of Palestine gets a backlash from some european countries but America as usual is not saying anything. The 4000 houses to be built in E1 area effectively cuts off Bethlehem/Hebron from Jericho/Nablus/Ramallah because the only road that links these two West Bank regions lie in that area. It is the last strangle that will choke Palestine. Actually I'm surprised the rabbis have said nothing so far.  Such vindictiveness on Israel's part will not do it any good. Read the Bible ... it says everything.

The expected storm is brewing right now. The skies darkened by 4pm and a chill spread throughout. I think it will start raining tonight. I managed to get all the canaries into 3 smaller breeding cages and placed them indoors. They're too young to withstand the storm, cold and rain.

Autumn leaves

Waking up at 3am to teach is taking it's toll on me in this wintry weather. Asthma attacks the whole day and exhaustion ... so much so that I rested throughout the day, so no studies or work done. Bloody waste of time. But my health is not what it used to be. It's scary to think that I've passed the threshold to a slower sedentary life, reluctant to change, fear of catching a cold ..... aaaagggghhhhh why not get me a wheelchair and a fireplace? The autumn of life. And it's bad to be sick now ... the nurses have gone on strike ... again. It's exactly a year since the infamous strike that got me stuck.

The autumn leaves are showing up on City walls ... the creepers are the first to change, then the trees. It's a little late but at least the plants know its time to change before it's too late. Maybe Israel can learn something from that.

1st Sunday of Advent

Israel today punishes Palestine for getting the UN vote as a non-state member. It confiscated millions of dollars designated for Palestine donated by foreign countries and is building 4000 houses in settlements in Palestine. And of course America will tacitly nod its agreement.

The weather held up today. Everyone said it was beautiful. It was sunny and yet cool. About 23 degrees. But Tuesday will see a tremendous thunderstorm that may last for 4 days. This time I'm going to be very careful and not get caught in it. Last week's fever and pain is a lesson enough.

Little Rocky looks good

Being such a lovely day I went to see Rocky in his new home. He's alot thinner but still very happy. He has a large garden to run around, lots of cats to chase and is getting used to his new food. And it's time for his jabs. I hear he's very well behaved and the doctor likes him. He's so cute and friendly, we're afraid he might get stolen. He ran away twice and Fahdi his new owner was witless searching for him. As the weather gets chilly in the nights, Rocky is kept indoors. Also during the day when it rains. He's well behaved and sleeps in his bed all day and night when he's indoors. He's still a little dog - 7 months old.

Well it's the 1st Sunday of Advent. Liturgical colours change to purple. Readings go back to the Old Testament prophecies. Time for self-evaluation and introspection.

Weekend

This morning was especially upsetting when I read the news. A jewish rabbi took advantage of the pain and suffering of the war to collect millions of dollars from american evangelical "christians". And Israel is lauding him. The headlines read "When rockets start falling, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein springs into action. The worse things look on the ground here, the easier it is to ask hundreds of thousands of evangelical Christians in America to open their pocketbooks." Shockingly disgusting.  

Christmas kitsch 24/7

The big news around town is the UN admission of Palestine into the non-state  observer status. On the ground, it doesn't mean anything. But psychologically it's a big boost to a hounded people. Lots of young people are wearing the arab headdress (khafr) or carry the Palestinian flag. Military presence was especially tight the past 2 days as Israel feared a rise in Palestinian nationalism against jews going to the Wailing Wall. 

On the christian side of the City, christmas decorations are up. Shops are selling the kitschy stuff. One shop actually is opened 24/7 .... horrors!! I'm just putting up a small christmas wreath with a candle. 

Healthwise I'm still nauseous and weak in the legs. I realised it could be due to hunger and exhaustion. I'm really stressed out and overworked. And I'm eating just a little because I'm not hungry. I only ate something because the medicine requires it. Today I was pretty giddy but still had to go out to do some chores. Really regretted it. What exhaustion .... Tomorrow begins Advent, a new liturgical year ... and I'm too tired to get started. Not ready.