Of moon and Valentine

The weather is warming up and everyone is finding it very nice to be out in the open, soaking in the sunshine like reptiles. The nights are still cold though, down to 4 degrees. Forecast is for rain tomorrow and Saturday. Let's hope so. Everyone is worried it will not rain, and we'll have another drought year.

Moon at 3.30pm!!!

Tomorrow should be Yuen Xiao, the 15th day of the Lunar New Year which is a full moon. The moon here is so large and bright, yesterday at 3.30pm it was already halfway up the sky. Everyone noticed this strange sight.

And talking about strange sights, yesterday the news reported that a statue of Mary up in the north of Israel has begun weeping oil. Wildfire reports are flashing around the world right now and filming it. I really don't know. If this "miracle" can bring about peace in our region, then by all means go ahead and weep ... If it's just a ploy for attention to the plight of Christians, then forget it. Muslims and Jews will simply condemn it as idolatry. And the rabbis are getting pretty aggressive about that.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.573781 


A good example of the rabbis' fight against anything and anyone is today's discussion about Valentine's Day (tomorrow). Can a jew celebrate it? Big discussion.  http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-features/.premium-1.573940   Well can they? If it's just giving presents, roses and chocolates, then it's permissible because it's nothing religious (read "christian") about it. But if St. Valentine is invoked and worshipped, then it's not permissible because it's idolatry. And since even the Pope doesn't worship St. Valentine or celebrate the feast .... so it's permissible for Jews to enjoy Valentine's Day!!