Rosh HaShanah

Lovely sunrise after the sandstorm

Yesterday morning's violence in the Al Aqsa compound was repeated this morning. Arab youths threw stones and molotov cocktails as Israeli police open the gates of the Al Aqsa compound for tourists and Jews to enter. Now that's the problem ... it's the feast of the Jewish New Year and some nationalistic jews, who are forbidden by jewish rabbinic law to enter the compound, insist on entering and praying in there. Unfortunately the muslims do not tolerate anyone (including christians) from praying inside the compound and so start throwing rocks and molotov cocktails. Police and soldiers fire tear gas in response, arabs return fire with fireworks and the whole deal blows out of proportion. This morning was the same but the police were ready and the violence did not spill into the streets.

Offerings from the harvest during the
Mass of Monti last Saturday

The sandstorm has finally stopped and the sky is visible again. The sunrise was beautiful but the heat was still very oppressive. Summer is not letting go easily but Autumn is certainly fighting to get in. The nights are chilly and trees have begun shedding their leaves. Fruit are ripening so the streets are full of grapes, pomegranates and lots of gourds and squashes. It would have made the markets a lovely and colourful experience if not for the violence in the mosque ... the streets are dotted with soldiers and police, making it very tense.

Well if things won't get better ... Yom Kippur falls on the same day as Eid El Adha, the muslim feast of Abraham's sacrifice of Ishmael (not Isaac). I don't even want to think about it.