Priestly Blessing

Jewish priests blessing the people

Tried to rest yesterday. Didn't go to work for 2 days as the fainting spells continued. Yesterday fainted again. I give up on seeing the doctor. It's a hit-or-miss thing ... you just never know when he's at the clinic. Today I'm feeling better .... the head is a little dizzy but not to the extent of fainting. Thank God.

The weather has cooled down a lot. Nights go down to 16 degrees. And my asthma has increased in frequency. I'm dressing up with hoodies and jackets ... like everyone else. Now let's hope it'll rain as well. The drought is awful ... and we need the rain desperately. The rain would also clear the dust from the air so it might help my asthma.

Jewish man holding
the 4 species

Yesterday was also the time when the jewish priests called kohanim blessed the Israel. As many priests as could come to the Wailing Wall, had their backs facing the Wall, covered themselves under their prayer shawls called tall it, and gave the blessing of Aaron found in Numbers 6:22-27. It's a very touching an emotive experience. Thousands of people would go for this blessing ... and on the Feast of Sukkoth, thousands of non-jews as well. They are mostly zionist christians who believe they fulfill the prophet Zechariah's words that pagans will come to Jerusalem and celebrate the feast of Sukkoth (Zech 14:16-18). And there are many many protestants from Mainland China here for this feast.

During Sukkoth, jewish men carry 4 species (a palm frond, a willow branch, a myrtle brach and an error which is a type of inedible lemon). Many explanations are given as to why these 4 types of plants and fruit are used during prayer ... so there is no consensus. They wave it at the 4 points of the earth, then towards heaven and earth (up and down). You should google to find out its meaning.