Tawjihi

Tawjihi celebrations
before the big fight

Today Tawijihi results were published - it's the matriculation results or equivalent to A Levels. Fireworks were set alight as early as 9am when the results were announced in every arab school and published in the arab newspapers. Cars honked throughout East Jerusalem and the Territories, parades of triumphant students - boys and girls - up and down the streets. Hugs, tears, phone calls to family. The city was upside down. Down in Salahaddin Street - the main thoroughfare of E. Jerusalem, youths were parading in cars and setting off fireworks. Then a fight broke out ... some 50 or more. Fists were flying, then belts were whipped ... total chaos. I was right there in the midst ... and had to make a quick retreat into a safer place. Youths running up and down the street attacking each other. Police and ambulance arrived soon after. So much for the joy of graduation ... everything here is so shortlived.

Well there were 2 stabbings in Jerusalem yesterday ... one in Liberty Bell Park and the other at Damascus Gate. Nothing to be alarmed.

I've been suffering from terrible diarrhea again ... I think it's because I'm drinking chocolate milk (which soothes the ulcers in my tummy) in summer without refridgerating it. Really bad diarrhea way into midnight. But I'm also very tired and stressed because of all the work and responsibilities. Had to go to the bank 4 times today, walking some 3km just to find out a transfer to pay for books cannot be made. Utter frustration.

And finally we have new Chief Rabbis ... after a very disturbing period of candidacy. Both ultra-orthodox candidates, sons of former Chief Rabbis, won the votes to become heads of the Askenazi and Sephardi sects. Calls of nepotism are rife. Newspapers are posting articles of secular Jews calling for an abolition of the Chief Rabbinates. A very sensitive issue.

What a day.