Thursday Salad Lunch

Lunch at Salatiah

It's almost weekend again (Muslim weekend = Thursday Friday; Jewish = Friday Saturday). One thing I like about Thursday despite it's more than usual hectic schedule is having lunch with my friend Aviram. We don't do it as often as we like because our schedules are really tight (more me than him because he gets Thursdays off except for night school later in the evening), but we still try and meet up. It keeps me sane as I take a break from everything and just walk off to the New City. We always have a salad lunch because it's healthy and cheap. For 35 shekels you get to choose 9 different types veggies (over the basic lettuce) plus various sauces. And the portion is really big so we usually eat only half and keep the rest for dinner. And we chat up a lot during lunch. The salad place is called HaSalatiah (literally "salad"). It's the only one of its kind in Jerusalem and is very popular. Too bad today they were out of green peas and bean sprouts. I had tomato/parsley, baked sweet potato, baked potato, mushrooms, baked eggplants, an egg, pasta ... can't remember what else.

Back to the implosion theory: the police chief said it's only natural that Israeli police should suspect ethiopic jews. Huge backlash since yesterday.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/ethiopian-israelis-seek-apology-resignation-of-police-chief/

More disturbing is a summer camp organized by extreme rightwing Israelis. A video showed how israeli youths were taught to attack Israeli police and interrogators, sabotage techniques, assault, martial arts and other violent actions which have shocked the rest of Israel. This group attacks not only arabs and christians and other minority groups but also Israelis who do not agree with their worldview. Members of parliament (Knesset) have asked the group to be branded terrorist ... similar to arab terrorist groups. A Major General said it is more worrying than incitement from the arabs.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4848543,00.html

Former Custos Pizzaballa will be
Apostolic Administrator of the
Holyland in place of a Patriarch

Anyway the weekend is upon us. On Sept. 10th our former Custos will be consecrated Archbishop and take over the Patriarchate of the Holy Land (there is no patriarch).  Also the canonization day of Mother Teresa is this Sunday the 4th. On Sept. 11th evening the muslims will celebrate Eid al Adha "The Sacrifice of Ishmael" (not Isaac) and October 2nd begins the cycle of jewish High Holy Days beginning with Rosh HaShana (New Year) and ends on Oct 23rd. Autumn is always full of celebrations.