Assumption Day

Chinese priests and seminarians
make a pilgrimage to the Holyland

Not many people know this ... but the Tomb of the Virgin Mary is in Jerusalem, near the garden of Gethsemane. The stone tomb has been partially broken  due to the ravages of time and war, but is still visible and is well visited by hundred of tourists each day. This has been the earliest tradition in Church history, and has archeological and literary backing. The Ephesus tradition on the other hand, is of a late tradition and no archeological backing. Anyway it is here that the feast of the Assumption is celebrated. The Virgin Mary died and was buried here but her body was then assumed into heaven from this tomb.

Some rightwing residents in south Tel Aviv complained that the Israeli soldiers should not do volunteer work with children of illegal immigrants. The soldiers spend a few hours each weekend playing with the children and teaching basic hebrew. The Defense Minister immediately jumped into the debate and ordered all volunteer work with the refugee children to stop. In fact, banned. His hatred for anyone non-jewish is legendary. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.736898 and http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.736922

The tranquility of Jaffa contrasts
with the tensions in Jerusalem

Yesterday's tensions at the Al Aqsa Mosque is still felt today in the streets ... police and soldiers are everywhere. Local residents don't want any problems. It's people from outside Jerusalem that cause all these violence. Fear of this ongoing violence since last September has seen a drastic drop in tourist numbers. Only chinese tourists continue to come. In fact there has been a 112% rise in chinese tourists while all other groups have gone down by almost 50% or more. It's the chinese that are keeping the industry afloat right now ... and the demand for chinese speaking tourist guides is high. In fact there are not enough chinese speaking guides so the govt. is closing its eyes on chinese students who do guiding despite visa restrictions. Let's hope more chinese priests and nuns will come to help me with the chines catholic groups. They deserve proper catholic guides who can lead them spiritually through the Holy Land.