Easter Monday

Khalil working on dough
to bake buns

It's Emmaus Monday ... when we remember the road to Emmaus. Celebrations took place in two Emmauses: the Custos presided at the Franciscan one which is the village of Qubeibeh, and the Patriarch at the ruins of Nicopolis in Latrun. Blessed bread is usually distributed to the congregation after the Mass. And at home, Khalil our cook has been baking bread for Easter Week. It's also time for mamoul ... the dates/walnut filled cookies shaped into the Crown of Thorns, the Sponge (of Vinegar) and the Nails (nailheads) eaten during this Easter time by local christians.

Home-baked Mamoul cookies

Today is also the last day of the Jewish Pesach. No work is allowed. But that did not stop a group of Jewish protesters near the Knesset (Parliament) who blocked the roads. They were demonstrating for the right to legalise marijuana in Israel and had organised a "Big Bong Night" at the nearby park. Police made sure it never happened! The muslim riots on our side of the City has ceased. There was no trouble this morning and life went on as usual.

Jewish news is working on the emotions and fears of Jews by publishing an article insinuating a conspiracy by the Vatican to "take control" of King David's Tomb. A masterpiece of misinformation and opportunistic propaganda because it never mentioned that the Franciscans own that property for some 750 years, with proper title deeds that were never challenged by the muslim conquerors nor the State of Israel; that archaeology has proven it is not the Tomb of David but an early church with it's apse oriented toward the Holy Sepulchre and not the Temple (today Al Aqsa mosque) as a jewish tomb should; that the anti-semitic photo attached to the article has nothing to do with the subject of the article ... the list goes on. It's provocative and likely to fire protests and violence against christians. And the editors and author of that article will be responsible for the damage. And I'm posting this as a warning first before it happens so when it does, everyone will know the misinformed and twisted facts and who is responsible. http://virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=12653