Obama blues

Now I must really be sick because for 3 days now I'm feeling tired and listless. Yesterday my eyesight became very blur, eyes were swollen and red. Needed to rest and sleep mostly. And drinking lots of lemon juice.

Mass at the Condemnation

And the Lenten rigours are not making things easier. Yesterday was the lenten pilgrimage Mass at the Condemnation chapel. A small crowd came luckily because the chapel is so tiny, many people had to stay outside. Lasted almost 2 hours as everything was in latin and the Gospel (Passion narrative of John) was sung in 4 parts.

Obama is in town. Half the city is closed off. Unbelievable. Security was super tight. In fact some roads were not only closed to traffic, they were closed even to pedestrians. Residents in the city had to find alternative ways to get to where they want. Taxi drivers lose business and are complaining. And poor people like me who need to get home from school have to take a long detour. And me being sick at the same time.

And residents are not only complaining about the closure of roads these 5 days. Restobar, one of the signature restaurants in the Rehavia neighbourhood, finally closed because it was not kosher (it opens for business on Sabbat). That's how powerful the ultra-orthodox jewish community is here in the city. They may no longer be in the govt. but they sure hold the govt. under its thumbs. Many people fear Restobar is the first of a domino effect. Many other non-kosher businesses will soon collapse under the pressure of the ultra-orthodox. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/not-kosher-no-business-jerusalem-eatery-closes-after-8-years-of-operation.premium-1.510345