Stromata

Half of the day is gone ... celebrated the conventual Mass at 7am then the Armenian Mass at 9am ... now preparing for the Triduum conference at 5pm. What a Sunday. But it was nice because after the Armenian Mass, the superior Sr. Cecilia invited me for lemon ice cream. It was very nice especially in this hot weather.

East growing dates
on the palm trees

I noticed something strange in Palm Plaza outside Damascus Gate. The palm trees are fruiting with huge bunches of dates but they all grow facing east ... with practically none growing toward the west. I wonder why. It looks very lopsided ... over 40 palm trees with heavy bunches of dates only growing on one side of the tree.

Just saw the news ... Israeli schools are teaching mandarin. There are some 3,200 students studying the language ... a rise of over 50% in 4 years. More schools are considering teaching the language now. Very interesting.

And there's another news that in the Old City there is a tattoo shop which goes back to the Crusader period. That's a good 800 years!! Apparently during the Crusader period, pilgrims came to the Holy Land and left with a tattoo to prove their visit and confirm their commitment to their faith. Funny I've been living here so long and never heard of this place. Anyway it proves that tattooing was part of the christian tradition here in the Middle East. http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/inside-the-worlds-only-surviving-tattoo-shop-for-medieval-pilgrims

But 2 more news are the talk of town. The first is the statement by orthodox jewish rabbis regarding christianity (particularly catholicism). In response to the Catholic Church's document Rostra Aetate 50 years ago to open up and accept Judaism and reject anti-Semitism, the orthodox jewish leaders have finally responded by declaring positive attitudes toward christianity and an openness to it. http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/12/10/orthodox_rabbis_issue_groundbreaking_statement_on_christians/1193458

Secondly the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America also issued a statement declaring unity with the Catholic Church is "on the way" despite some very insurmountable dogmatic points. It is a very positive document and is much more progressive than the European Lutheran churches.