Let it rain!!

Rain clouds vs
sunny clouds this
morning

The skies have finally darken and drizzle is beginning to fall right now. The govt has warned that there will be electrical outtages because the dry weather with dust would cause short-circuits on the power lines when it rains. http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Power-cuts-may-occur-in-Israel-after-rains-this-week-474038

Nevertheless it will be an inconvenience we will gladly bear because we need the rains very badly. Prices of food and fruit will certainly go up. I guess today people will be stocking up. It might rain for several days.

The fires are still causing a lot of political and social upheaval. On Beer Sheva, jewish and arab relations have soured and the jewish community has demanded that arabic not be used on the public bus announcements. The Mayor and the Bus Company complied immediately. If it were the other way round, it would have been condemned as anti-semitic. But it's ok to do it on other races. http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-bus-company-bows-to-pressure-drops-announcements-in-arabic/

Compensaiton for the fire destruction to property now seems to be the next raging issue. While a member of parliament promised that all who lost property will be compensated, insurance companies are holding back ... saying that only fires caused by natural circumstances will be compensated. However it will take ages to determine which fire was deliberately started and which not, plus the govt remains divided over state compensation for the fires .... so newspapers are saying it will be a very long time before anyone actually gets compensation. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4886011,00.html
and
http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/disputes-regarding-cause-of-gilon-talmon-haifa-fires-25051

And there was a nasty bit of news for jews yesterday. A reknown rabbi and circumciser was recorded on film as saying apprentice circumcisers could practice on sudanese and eritrean jews because they are "cannon fodder". In any other country it would be racism; if said by a non-jew it would be anti-semitism .... but here a rabbi said it ... and he'll get away with it.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/mohel-urges-apprentices-to-practice-on-babies-from-low-income-homes/

And to stretch the unhappiness, the ultra-orthodox community has managed to outlaw all other forms and expressions of Judaism at the Wailing Wall from praying. It must only be done in the ultra-orthodox way or you get arrested and go to jail. There have been death threats made to reform and other non-ultra-orthodox jewish leaders this week. These groups groups are angered but there is little they can do even if the High Court supports them. The govt has no will to change the status quo and the rabbis are very influential politically. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Reform-movements-express-outrage-with-Shas-law-criminalizing-pluralist-prayer-at-Western-Wall-474008  and  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/raanana-graffiti-scrawled-on-reform-synagogue-24969

Anyway enough of all these news which seem to fall faster than the rains. Last night I woke up at 11.30pm and have been awake till now ... exactly 12 hours ... because of the extreme pain in my shoulder. I did have one asthma attack early in the morning but it was the shoulder pain that is a major problem. Today I have lessons and work ... so I'll be exhausted when I finish work by 10pm which is 23 hours awake without sleep. I don't know how long I can last like this.

Probably rain

Signs of rain this morning

The sky is rosy and hazy this morning. The sun is mostly hidden. There were some drops of rain. Let's hope a heavy shower will fall on us these few days. We really need it. That will certainly stop whatever fires are still burning in the forests.

The fires have left a trail of political and religious problems more devastating than burnt property. Haifa's mixed community of jews and arabs are now suspicious of each other. Jewish politicians are calling for punishment on arabs by taking over more arab lands and building jewish settlements. Arab politicians are saying there were only a few arab arsonists involved and collective punishment is not legal. Now the latest is: rabbis are questioning if it is legal for spouses to live together if their marriage certificate is burnt. Obviously for them, marriage is a piece of paper. Other rabbis are trying to counter this but they're having difficulties to get around this rabbinic law. Poor couples ... their marriages annulled because their certificates are burnt.

Been to the doc who checked and said my shoulder is not subluxed but the rotator-cuff has inflamed ligaments/tendons, which hurt and if continues would weaken the joint and lead to subluxation. My sciatic nerve is inflamed because of the falls and a few ligaments on my hip joint are inflamed. That makes walking and sitting painful. I still have to get my diabetes and blood pressure checked. Not sure if I have time tomorrow as the doc works only for a few hours in the afternoon, and there's always a long queue. Now I'm totally scared of walking on slippery surfaces. I guess that's what most old people fear. After falling twice in a day, I have this dreadful fear of falling again. Remember a month back I fell down Damascus Gate? It's scary. People laugh when I walk slowly, holding on the railings (whenever they are) and call me old man. But better safe than sorry. I can't take anti-inflammatory meds and pain-killers because it counteracts my asthma/allergic medicines. So I'll have to live with the pain. Last night at 2am I woke up suffocating. Had to use my asthma medication immediately ... but panic set in and I couldn't find my medication as a result. I think I should put it next to my bed every night so it's within reach. Last week I had an allergic attack after eating an apple ... the sisters did not wash the apple properly and there were traces of chemicals. That was the 2nd time it happened. I'm not eating apples anymore.

Rain?

Lovely fruit in the cold weather

The fires have mostly been extinguished despite the dry strong winds. There was fear that it might re-ignite the fires but nothing happened. There were smaller fires in isolated pockets but they were taken care off by local fire-fighters. Countries that have sent aid through specialised equipment have now pulled out of the country as well. Seems like mission accomplished. Hopefully Wednesday will see rain for 2 days and this should cool the soil and allow new growth of plants and animal life. The weather has warmed up a little but according to the forecast, when it starts to rain the temp will fall again ... back to 4 degrees. Fortunately the forest fires have not destroyed agricultural land ... so prices of fruit and veggies are still under control.

Almost every other person I meet is sick. Cold, flu, sinuses ... all associated with the weather. My problem is the sciatica and hamstring. It still hurts. Yesterday on my way home from work, I ran into one of our nurses of our infirmary. He asked how I was and I told him of the recent week's sickness and confusion ... he said it's the blood pressure and I should get it checked in the infirmary this morning. I did plan to go but couldn't as the morning was filled with work. I'll have to wait till Wednesday I think. The doc doesn't work there daily but only 3 hours for 3 days a week.

There is lots of work to do still ... so I've got to get back to it ....

1st Sunday of Advent

My Christmas wreath

Good news : the fires in the north especially Haifa region are extinguished. People are allowed to return home but almost 600 families have lost everything as their property have been totally gutted. There are other fires still burning around the cities north of Jerusalem such as Modiin and Maale Adumim. The Palestinian firefighters have returned to Palestine and the Israeli PM rang to thank the Palestinian president for his help. America's water-bomber ... the largest in the world ... was plying along Highway 1 extinguishing the fires on this artery that links Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. News is coming out that some of the arab suspected arsonists were actually torching their own arab towns and villages.  No one knows why ... yet. Police are investigating and are keeping silent regarding everything. We know at least that there is one arab in Nazareth who tried to set his own city on fire. Other newspapers are now saying that the "Fire Intifada" is just a ploy to divert attention from the govt.'s mistake in slow reaction to stopping the fire.

For the 1st time, ISIS in Syria shot into Israel and a battle broke out. Several ISIS soldiers were killed while Israel suffered no lost. This is the first sign that an open war might just be beginning on our northern frontier with ISIS trying to attack Israel. All I can say is, ISIS doesn't stand a chance. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.755499

I recovered from last night's illness. Still don't know what it was due to. I'm still a little dizzy but I have done some work already this morning. For starters I walked 2 km to the head office bank to deposit money. When it was done I asked if they could give me a statement for the past 6 months. They said no ... I must go back to the branch office for that!!! The same branch office which won't serve me because I'm a foreigner. All I can say is ... the banking system here is a mystery ... which is a euphemism. Well I didn't go there because it was another 1km and my hamstring/sciatica injury was too much to bear. Went home instead.

Yesterday afternoon I went to a nearby Christian shop to buy some Christmas decorations. I got myself a very small wreath with a glass vase for a candle. Actually I was there to buy stuff for the chinese sisters. It's their first Christmas outside China. I couldn't afford much so I got them a larger wreath with glass and candle ... and a poinsettia plant. Hope they like it.

St. Philip's pool

St. Philip's Pool

So as if politicising the fire catastrophe isn't bad enough, now hardline settler rabbis are claiming that the fires are God's punishment on the govt. for planning to pull settlements out of arab lands. Other rabbis are saying that it is permitted to shoot and kill arab arsonists. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4884287,00.html

Arabs and Jews are opening out their houses to families evacuated from the fires ... some 75,000. It's a disaster that breaks down barriers. Human sympathy and empathy at its greatest. Yet division and hatred is never far off. The other day, reformed Jews witnessed a threat written on their synagogue walls ... probably perpetrated by ultra-orthodox jews who deem the former as heretics. Death threats written on a knife as well as on the walls. http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.755127

The Armenian Orthodox church celebrated the feast of St. Philip today. They made a pilgrimage to the Pool of St. Philip ... a natural pool where Philip baptised the Ethiopic eunuch (see Acts of the Apostles). It's surrounded by the ruins of a byzantine church. It lies along the road to Gaza as scripture says. Luckily it's not touched by the fires.

Armenian Orthodox clergy at the Pool

Weather forecast is rain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Let's hope it'll rain heavily because it'll put out the fires. It's been very cold today, like yesterday. Last night was 4 degrees and daytime was between 6 to 9 degrees.

Have been dreadful confused again. Woke up last night thinking it was Monday ... panicked because I had to prepare for class and work, started writing emails due on Monday. Now I'm feeling very nauseous and dizzy after a day's work. Someone said it could be high blood pressure. Whatever it is, I feel sick.

Fire disaster

The fires have reached an uncontrollable state. The govt has declared Haifa and the Mt. Carmel range a state of emergency. 75,000 have been evacuated, Haifa alone has 700 homes uninhabitable. Property totally destroyed. Calls over social media are published asking people to host fleeing families. And as everything in Israel, the fire is politicised as an act of terrorism. In fact the newspapers are calling it the Intifada of Fire. Though the first fires were natural disasters ... the govt is convinced that later fires were set on purpose by arab arsonists. Arrests have been made. Besides Croatian, Cypriot, Italian, Greek and Russian fire-fighting jets flown in to help, now even the Palestinian authorities have sent fire-fighters and Israel as accepted it. Something good coming out of a disaster. Jordan, Turkey and Egypt have also started sending aid to Israel.
http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/700-homes-in-haifa-uninhabitable-authorities-say-24984
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4884314,00.html
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/LIVE-1.755044/701465108
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4884247,00.html

Man huddling in
Jaffa Street in
the cold

It's been a very very cold day. Daytime temp. was only 6 degrees. The wind was biting cold though the sun shone throughout the day. Not much help. What we need is rain. If only the rain clouds would stop above us and start letting down the rain. Tonight it will drop to 4 degrees. I'll have to wear several layers of T-shirts because I gave away most of my winter clothing to the poor with M. Teresa's sisters.

My hamstring and sciatica is a little better today. The bank was calling to say our library account was overdrawn and we're in the red. So I had to get money from East Jerusalem and go to the bank in West Jerusalem, a good 3.5 kms walk. I couldn't make it with my leg swollen, so at Damascus Gate I took a taxi to the bank at 7.30am. Reached the bank at 8am to find out it's closed for Friday. What??? It says clearly that the banks are open on Fridays from 8am to 12pm. But today it decided to close. In Jerusalem (maybe throughout the country too), foreigners will not be served at bank branches; a foreigner must go to the head office to do transactions. Wasted my taxi fare ... I was so angry. With only 20 shekels in my pocket which is not enough for a taxi fare (it costs 50 shekels or more), I walked home in the cold and pain.

Bad luck

Burj Laqlaq (Tower of the Stock):
last photo taken from my phone before
it fell and got broken totally

As if falling down once yesterday wasn't bad enough ... having sprained my hamstring and hip ... yesterday evening I fell a 2nd time. Was going down the library stairs when the lights went out ... typical electric shortage in winter ... I slipped and fell down the stairs, and my phone fell down one storey. Now it's totally damaged and I lost all the info in it. And my hamstring and back is doubly painful now. Couldn't sleep due to the pain ... in fact can't even sit because of the sciatica. Have been very upset because of this dreadful day. Today I'll have to get a new phone urgently.

Call it coincidence but yesterday one of my workers in the library also fell ... but she was out in the Old City when it happened. And this morning I saw 2 tourists fell as well ... one sprained badly her ankle. What's happening? Some diabolical power is pushing us around.

Police are suspecting arson in the series of forest fires throughout the central region of Israel. The strong winds are making things worse and no sign of rain despite the many heavy clouds passing us by. Many houses in Zikron Yaacov and Nataf have been gutted and police say it's not likely the residents will be able to return home this weekend. Even Haifa university had to be evacuated. The Carmel mountain range is on fire ... so the sanctuary of Muhraqa is probably in danger as well. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/police-wave-of-arson-hits-israel-24962

On the local political scene the war between the High Court and rightwing ministers have flared again ... this time over the nomination of a military chaplain rabbi. The ministers' choice is a rightwing rabbi (obviously) who is said to have permitted rape by jewish soldiers on non-jewish women during war, the killing of gays, the elimination of women's rights and the expulsion of arabs from Israel. The High Court objected to this nomination though constitutionally it cannot block this move. A war of words ... and ideology have ignited now in public. http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.754696

And one last bit of news ... with the ultra-orthodox jews pushing for the absolute observance of the Sabbath, cafe and restaurant owners have found a way to get round this law .... by opening their shops as "meeting places" on Sabbath instead of cafes and restaurants. What I think they'll do is not to provide service at the table but leave food at the counter so people can pick whatever they want .... buffet style. That would not constitute work. Probably there'll be no cashier but people would leave their payment in a box or something. This would be an interesting development to follow. http://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-cafes-to-open-on-shabbat-but-not-for-business/

Bad accident

Repaving the
streets of the
Christian Quarter

Big fires are raging through central and north-east Israel. The forests are dry due to lack of rain and strong winds are fanning the flames at rapid speed and heights. Yesterday I mentioned the village of Neve Shalom in the Trappist monastery's property. Now another fire much larger is burning down the town of Zichron Yaakov - a very posh area by the Mediterranean Sea with the Rothschild cemetery in the middle. Videos showed houses burned and residents evacuating from the disaster. Just when the firefighters thought the fire was under control, strong winds whipped up the flames again last night and the catastrophe continues. There are also many other fires throughout the forests around Jerusalem and Nahariya (another town near the Mediterranean Sea).  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4883045,00.html

The smoke will not help in aircraft taking off and landing ... because the fires are near the airport. But luckily ... the El AL pilots are on strike so there will be no flights anyway. The skies however are heavy with rain clouds. We hope it will rain and put out the fires ... but the wind is too strong and blows the clouds away into Jordan instead.

Repaved street

Had a bad accident just now while returning from Gethsemane. Was there to preach to a sister of M. Teresa's congregation who is on retreat in the Hermitage. Coming home is arduous because Gethsemane is in the Kidron Valley. It means walking a very steep slope up to the Old City. At Lions' Gate (also called St. Stephan's Gate) I slipped because the cobblestones are very uneven. Pulled my right hamstring and sciatic nerve. The pain was excruciating. Two Israeli soldiers standing guard there saw me but did not help. They have orders to obey. I didn't think I could walk back home (another 300 m. uphill) but seeing the crowds of muslims coming into the City to make the noonday prayers, I thought I'd better keep moving despite the pain. Well I'm home now trying to rest the hamstring but within an hour I have class.

These uneven cobblestones and paving stones throughout the Old City are a hazard. Many people have had accidents slipping on them. And with the wet weather coming, it becomes even worse. The Municipality is aware of this danger and has undertaken to repave the streets in the Christian Quarter.  At least the alleys there are now straight and even so walking on them in the dark is not as dangerous as meeting with a robber.

Laugh or cry?

There is a raging forest fire threatening the community at Neve Shalom / What es Salam which is in the property of the Trappist monks at Latrun. Their church was torched by jewish extremists 5 years ago and the perpetrators were never caught. The Neve Shalom community is made up of jews and arab muslims and christians ... an experimental community to show that co-existance is possible. Well if the fire had been purposely started ... then it shows some people are against this idea ... just as they tried to burn down the Trappist church. http://www.timesofisrael.com/coexistence-community-evacuated-as-fire-erupts-nearby/

Drinking from the
ablution fountain

Photos are circulating on the Internet of chinese catholic pilgrims drinking from an ablution fountain at the Wailing Wall. While most jews thought it was funny, some were offended. Of course the pilgrims didn't know any better. It's not their fault. The guide should have explained to them that it's non-potable water used by Jews for washing feet and hands for purification. Like someone said online: don't know whether to laugh or cry. The photos were taken by an israeli ... and in it you can see many other jews taking photos as well but no one attempting to stop the chinese or explaining to them. I guess they were too shocked to react ... drinking water used for washing feet.

Temperatures have dropped drastically and despite the sun shining now, it's only 14 degrees. The wind is bitterly cold. The forecast is more cold days ahead. Two of my african students are suffering much because it's their first winter here. Yesterday I brought them out to the market to buy long-sleeved vests and long johns so they can keep warm. Poor chaps. As seminarians they have no money and no idea where to buy these winter clothes. And if they do, they'll get tricked into paying exorbitant prices. Last week I had to do the same for our Indonesian student. I guess babysitting is now my part-time job.

Riding the tiger

Lovely sunset at the junction
outside New Gate

So we enter the last week of the liturgical year. The Holy Doors in the Holy Land close only in December ... giving more pilgrims an opportunity to enter them. After all this is the land where Mercy was incarnated and fulfilled it mission on the Cross.

Advent will soon start. I think just I'll buy a small Advent wreath for the season. Keeping things simple and only sticking to essentials. I just might go on retreat.

Just read an online article claiming that asthma drugs can cause dementia. Well that might explain my recent lost of memory and disorientation episodes. But don't know how true this article is ... lots of rubbish floating around in cyberspace with no verifiction control over fact and fiction.  http://wisemindhealthybody.com/dr-axe/popular-allergy-insomnia-drugs-linked-dementia/?c=JER

More and more news are coming out saying the govt. is preparing to build thousands (literally ... some say 14,000) apartments in arab land, even expanding other illegal settlements; because they think Trump will not object ... or in fact encourage them to occupy arab lands. Things don't look good. But even though Trump is filling his govt with rightwing people ... Israel's security in having a freehand over everything because Trump will not interfere, is not guaranteed. Seeing how volatile and unpredictable Trump is, he might just wake up one day and turn against Israel. Riding the tiger is always risky.

And regarding the Holy Sepulcher, we're all waiting anxiously for the publications of the archeologists' findings. So far all research findings are hushed.

Christ the King

Rex Cordium
tabernacle door

Another liturgical year ends as we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King today. Few people know that this feast has its primary sanctuary here at the Chapel of the Flagellation and Crowning of Thorns. On the tabernacle door is the suffering face of Christ crowned with thorns but overhead there is another crown : glorious with gems but still woven from thorns. In between are the words "Rex Cordium" (King of Hearts).

News is coming in of the dreadful situation in Aleppo. All the hospitals are bombed and no longer functioning. There are videos of premature babies dying in incubators and patients crushed by falling ceilings. It is all so terrible.

Another chide showed the Dominican sisters coming back to Qaraqosh, to their provincial house and chapel which was gutted and bombed. Impossible to salvage anything. It looked terribly bleak. Christians who decide to return to this city will have no water, electricity or material to rebuild their houses.

While the rest of the Church enjoy this feast, here we pray that Christ the King of Peace may come to reign again in our region. To bring peace, protection and courage to all the christians that are persecuted. We have lost hope in the rest of the world. Maranatha Christ the king.

Sabbath

Sunrise over the Mt. of Olives

I've been getting quite confused lately ... like I cannot remember things; not losing things, mind you, but for example the last few days I was puzzled why the sun was setting earlier than usual. I was convinced it was summer and the sun should set after 7pm instead of 5pm. It took me several days to realise we're in winter. See? I've been writing on the blog about winter but the mind is not registering the reality. So I float through these pass few days puzzled by so many things. Is it a sign of Alzheimer's? I thought it could be due to the lack of potassium ... like the last time earlier this year. I forget what day it is, what time of the day it is ....

My subluxed shoulder still hurts a lot. Never got round to seeing the doc. It's awful trying to sleep with the pain ... I'm up most of the night because of it. The nights have become so cold I finally got the heaters out. Buddy is feeling it already. He hides in the toilet where it's warmer and more humid. Several nights now he's been hiding under my pillow while I sleep. Squashed him twice. Hahahaha. Now with the heater on, he goes back to the curtain rails to sleep. He's grown very attached to me now ... so much so that he gets separation anxiety each time I go out. Poor chap. I have to leave a toy (with bells because he likes to ring bells) or some new food to occupy his attention while I'm not at home. And when I come home and open the door, he flies straight to my shoulder and gurgles and gibber. He's learned to say his first words: yai yai ("naughty").

Yesterday's muslim demonstration against the law to ban muslim calls to prayer over the amplifier was more widespread than I thought. Newspaper report many villages up in arms over this proposed law. Last night at our place ... in typical tit-for-tat reaction ... jewish youths marched through our street singing very very loudly, banging drums to disturb the sleep of the muslims (and us - collateral damage) twice. You should know that the first muslim call to prayer is at 3.30am and as we go deeper into winter it will start as early as 2.30am.

An incident in Tel Aviv's boardwalk along the port drew fear and confusion today. A cafe brawl between 5 customers and a waiter was mistaken to be a terror attacked many visitors were running for cover in panic before police solved the problem. Seems like I'm not the only one confused.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4881127,00.html

Friday

All kinds of incense

It was a relatively quiet Friday till about half an hour ago when crowds of muslims coming out from evening prayer started to demonstrate against the police ... at least that's what I was told. I could hear the chantings in the street outside Bab Hutta. Luckily there were no tear gas or stun grenades fired. The crowd dispersed after 10 minutes.

I guess local arabs are also very tense because the Jerusalem mayor has promised to tear down lots of arab houses in response to the High Court decision to dismantle illegal jewish settlements in arab land. It's the old tit-for-tat game. The far right has been emboldened by the election of Trump and they are sure he will not oppose the building of more settlements in arab lands, as well as displacement of arabs from their homes. I think there will be more protests to come this winter ... if and when it doesn't rain or snow.

Weatherwise it has warmed up a bit. Still everyone is playing safe ... with jackets and hoodies. Lots of people have become sick. Lucky for me I had the inoculation 3 weeks back so I haven't caught anything ... fingers crossed.

All sorts of spices

Last week I took a walk down the Suq (market in the Old City). It's been a long time since I did that. It was good to see and smell the Middle East again ... all types of incense and spices. My life is now between home and work, and I've missed a lot of the daily life just 200 metres away. The incense and spices are not just condiments and ritual things ... here they are medicinal. But most shops sell them as souvenirs rather than medicine or condiments. Locals would never buy them from these shops as they cater for tourists and the prices are jacked up. There are markets outside the Old City where locals go to buy their stuff at local prices. That's where I go too to buy veggies and other stuff as well.  With my arabic, I'm able to bargain down prices and have made friends with several shopkeepers so I get my things at local prices.

Stromata

... and it was cold again last night. It drizzled a little but no rain. The super moon was partially hidden by heavy clouds. Police still patrolled our streets but there was hardly anyone because of the cold ... or maybe a curfew that was imposed.

Sun conure
parakeet

There's excited in the air ... literally ... as news is afloat that more asian airlines will be flying into Israel: SIA, CX and perhaps Air India, Philippine Airlines as well. Israel realizes that the tourist industry's biggest market is now in Asia. These few weeks are witness to that ... thousands of asian tourists including a Thai group living next door at Ecce Homo hostel. There are also japanese, vietnamese and other asian groups that we usually not see in our streets.

Last week while visiting the arab petshop and nursery, I saw a lovely sun conure parakeet ... very playful and very beautiful and colorful. He won't leave me when I wanted to go home. It flared its wings and nodded its head ... typically parakeet gesture to draw attention. I thought of getting him as a companion to Buddy - who's a green-cheeked conure. But flashes of 2 parakeets tearing up my books and clothes, with sunflower seeds all over room and poop to clean .... I decided definitely no. But another friend is interested ... so maybe this sun conure might get a good life instead of the confines of a petshop.

Cold and drizzling

Mounted police checking the IDs
of arab youths

It was very cold last night ... like the temp. dropped some 10 degrees and the heavy rain clouds were hanging over the sky. There was a drizzle overnight and this morning as well but no rain. Feels like winter. This type of weather deters violence in the streets. The ground is too slippery to run and the heavy clothes impede a quick getaway.

The voting of the new law to stop muslim calls to prayer over the PA system has suddenly met with an unexpected opponent: an ultra-orthodox rabbi who is also a member of parliament. Not that he was interested in the muslim cause, but that he was worried such a law could be used against the jews for sounding the Sabbath siren nationwide on public alarm system (that is a lot louder and is nationwide). And naturally as a consequence this law would also affect christians from tolling the church bells. Not sure where this is all going to lead but at least for the moment the law is blocked. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4879699,00.html

One piece of shocking news is that a cafe in Haifa has ordered its arab staff not to speak in arabic but only hebrew. So it's understandable that the common language is hebrew but surely private talk among staff in their own language is equally acceptable? In any other country this would be called racism, and if don't to a jew it would be outright anti-semitism. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Haifa-cafe-tells-workers-to-stop-speaking-Arabic-around-Jewish-customers-472708

Healthwisde I'm still with asthma attacks but not as bad as the previous months. It might be the change in medication and lifestyle. I no longer rush, run up the stairs or do too many things at the same time. It provokes an attack. But last night walking home and climbing up the 3 storey staircase ... I had a very bad attack. I kept telling myself it's nothing ... but finally blacked out 3 times on the corridor before reaching my room. I've been trying to avoid using the spray or other cortesone medication because the side-effects are really making me more sick than I already am. I try not to use them unless absolutely necessary ... like last evening.

Rain tonight?

Herod's Ascent
deserted

We expected trouble today ... it being the Palestinian "National Day" despite not having a nation or land. Coupled with this was the parliament's movement to ban muslim muezzin from singing the call to prayer on loudspeakers because it disturbs people at 2.30am. Muslims are not happy. The police know that. Last night was practically a curfew in the streets. I came home just before 9pm from work walking through deserted streets. I guess the police must have enforced a curfew to prevent any rioting and demonstrations. Tensions will only rise ... quietly under the surface of normality. Already I have heard of nasty remarks and threats by neighbours ... out of earshot of police and soldiers.

The super moon is still around. Lots of people are stopping in the streets taking photos. All it takes is one person to look up, raise his cellphone to take a photo and everyone else around will do likewise. Crowd psychology. I did just that last night ... taking a photo of the moon over New Gate and immediately a young man drew out a professional camera from his backpack and took his photos ... and passersby on motorbikes stopped to do the same. But I doubt this time the super moon can deflect the unhappiness of the local arabs for long.

Super moon seen
from the Via Dolorosa

It's been a tiring day as usual. Lots of work to catch up. From our meeting with collaborators in the library, we think it'll take another 3 years to complete cataloguing the extant books. The weather has gone all cold and damp. Tonight the sky is red ... a sure sign it will rain tonight or tomorrow morning. Not that it'll rain heavily ... perhaps a short shower but we're happy all the same. We need the rain. I've decided if it rains tomorrow morning, I'm not going to work. I'll just sleep in.

Super moon night

Super moon over
our monastery

It's super moon night. Actually we already saw it last night. Tonight was a lot bigger and clearer though. From my office I could see it just rising over the buildings. Walking home I could see it floating above the City Walls and Gates. I took photos ... and many local youths also followed immediately. They had professional cameras. There's been a lot of fantastic photos from all over the world. Simply incredible. For just a few hours, it took our minds off Trump and war and economic crises. We needed that break. Thanks to the super moon.

Zika has arrived in Israel ... central Israel to be exact ... in the city of Rishon le Zion. But it'll not be a stir like in other countries. Over here no one really takes seriously health issues.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-13-2016/

Super moon over
the City Walls

The Knesset (parliament) is now ready to pass a law to limit muslim calls to prayer. It's a noise hazard. Israelis have complained a lot about it so now the govt. might limit the muezzins' calls ... probably not by shutting them up which is impossible ... but probably making the mosques lower the decibels. I don't know how they can control that ... but let's see. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/politics/netanyahu-supports-muezzin-law-24765

Trump's win is making rightwing Israelis bold ... and the rightwing govt is going ahead to annex areas of Palestine for jewish settlements. They are sure America under Trump will not stop them. That's bad news for the Palestinians. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.752908

... but for the moment, we're putting all those things aside and admiring the super moon.

The Tea seller

Traditional tea
seller at Damascus
Gate

It's Sunday again ... another week begins and we're heading towards the end of 2016. Time flies. Where did summer go? There wasn't much time to rest ... I should take 2017 off. The bustle of work these years have left me breathless ... literally .... from asthma.

Winter is on us ... with a few days like yesterday and today very hot. But once evening approaches, temp. can drop by 10 degrees or more. The traditional tea seller is out at Damascus Gate during this season. A glass of traditional arab herbal tea wards off coughs and colds in this weather. He's quite a character ... dressed in traditional Ottoman garb with his traditional tea dispenser. He's always a tourist attraction. I think he makes more money taking pics with tourists than actually selling his tea. And tourists have indeed been coming in the droves. Lots and lots of chinese tourists. There is such a shortage of chinese-speaking guides that agencies are doubling the price just to hire one ... US$500 a day instead of the usual US$250. Now everyone wants to study mandarin. But the tourism industry here is very fickle. Now we have a glut in tourists from Asia ... but just one news of a stabbing or riot and everything ends. We've seen companies and hotels open and close within months because of this. Anyway when the tea seller is out in Damascus Gate selling his tea, it's always a sign that things are good and safe.

Newspapers everyday are talking about Trump and his surprise victory. I don't even want to read the headlines ... its not going to be good for us here. That's what we all know and accept. We just trudge on with life and bear whatever comes our way. There's nothing we can do about it.

Exhibition and conference

Part of the exhibition

So it's been 3 days since the last update. I've been extremely busy because of 3 days of exhibition and a conference. Plus working in the evenings to earn something to pay for the exhibition and conference. Nothing is for free and yes ... I have to work to earn money like all the rest of you do, in order to pay for other things.

The exhibition presented a sample of 15th century incunabulae (earliest western printed books) that our library holds. It's an interesting collection ... and precious too. It was a time of experimenting with block printing, different types of fonts, different types of paper and binding, and especially of covers to preserve the printed work. It was a time when knowledge became available to more people, cost of books became cheaper, education more universal.

Dr. Rivali explaining an exhibit

We had many visitors ... mostly scholars rather than common folk. I guess the topic was too specialized. On Wednesday afternoon we had an inter-cultural conference on cataloguing of ancient manuscripts. We had invited heads of the Israel national Library, the muslim Khalidi library, the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem and as key speaker the directress of the Royal Library in Madrid. The latter connected with us to deliver her speech via Skype. The audience was small ... because the topic was exceptionally specialized ... on cataloguing. But they were all librarians from other institutes who wanted to learn more.

Dr. Salameh presenting the holdings
of muslim libraries in Jerusalem

It was definitely a success because it was the first time jews, muslims and christians came together and share knowledge on library science. Each presented in brief the treasures their libraries hold ... and it is utterly amazing. And I remarked to Dr. Finkelman, the curator of the Israeli National Library, that we may live just meters apart but we don't know the holdings of each other's libraries. Dr. Finkelman said he hoped this would be a beginning for our communities to collaborate in future projects.  Sow e succeeded in building bridges. The only regret is the absence of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. They never participate in anything ecumenical or inter-cultural. Too bad because they have a huge and precious collection of manuscripts form ancient times.

And the Consuls General of Spain and Italy were also present.

Anyway it's all over. The team from the University of Milan which came to help organize this conference and exhibition returned to Italy this morning. I've slept very little and had worked hard for these 3 days. But there's no time to rest. I must resume school again. Perhaps Sunday would offer me a few hours free to sleep.

Inauguration Day

Inaugural Speech of the new
academic year

Just saw the live coverage of Hong Kong's legal personages making a silent protest walk to the Legislative Building. As far as I know, Beijing always held the right to interpret the Basic Law. It is Britain under Thatcher who dumped this on Hong Kong. Britain must take responsibility for the situation ... and not pretend that it is not its problem. 

The rise in chinese tourists has been a big help this week. Not only to the economy but to the poor christians living here. They bring medicines, toiletries and money to help the various institutes that support the poor with care, food and medicine. Of course there are also those who simply come for tourism sake ... spending thousands of dollars on diamonds and snob appeal goods.

Honoring  Prof. Buscemi
(white haired franciscan in
the middle) 

Today the Dominican biblical school and the Franciscan university in Jerusalem held their combined "Inaugural Speech" (Proluzione in italian) for the new academic year. It was packed as usual not only by the students of both institutes but also by members of other academic institutions. Notably missing though were the bishops and Custos who were away for a serious meeting. It was also an occasion to honor Prof. Buscemi on his 70th birthday and 40 years of academic service in our university. He is now retired in Sicily. Buscemi is one of my best friends and we walk 4 km every Sunday ... partly to exercise and partly to shop for weekly necessities.

At the same time our library organized a 3 day exhibition on the Incunabuli held in our ancient books section. It's an interesting collection of the 1st printed books in Europe. Though there were others who did most of the work, my little contribution in organisation has left me exhausted. in fact the pressure was quite hard and due to lack of sleep, I almost fainted again during the precview. Went to my office to rest for a couple of hours. Still feeling dizzy.

Meantime the water crisis in Palestine is worsening by the day. The fact that the Palestinian govt refuses to meet Israeli officials (who hold the water sources) only makes the fate of poor arabs even more dire. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4876000,00.html

Good old days?

Was watching live streaming of the demonstrations in Hong Kong last night. Unbelievable. What would be the solution? It's a standoff of sorts.

And then there is Singapore: MTR system breaking down every week, Internet service breaking down, road rage, mainland chinese abusing locals .... LKY would never have stood for this. He'd kick them all out. What's happening?

And Israel saw it's share of demonstrations by ultra-orthodox jews in several cities. They were demanding the release of one of their members who did not show up for compulsory military draft. The police had arrested him. The ultra-orthodox jews do not want to serve in the army. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4875492,00.html

Rusted iron motorbike with sidecar

What a dismal start to the week. Makes you want to go back to the good old days. It wasn't really that good but human memory plays tricks. It's always the good old days ... and we forget how nasty it was back then. Reminded me of a rusted remake of a 1940s motorbike with sidecar I saw in Jaffa last week. Must have been dreadfully uncomfortable to sit in back then ... but today it looks excellent for show. No one remembers how uncomfortable it was.

Cold

Early morning chill: bedouin women
prepare to sell vegetables

The weather has cooled drastically in 2 days. Nights go down to 10 degrees ... and daytime is very cloudy with dark clouds though it never rains. And the wind is cold too. Hoodies are the main clothes worn by most people. So are scarves and caps.

The streets are quite empty in the early mornings as the chill deters people from going out. Only the bedouin hawkers dare to brave the chill by setting up their vegetable produce, waiting for the first customers to pass by.

I managed to notice all these when I went to the Holy Sepulchre yesterday morning for Mass. It definitely feels like winter. Our new Indonesian student is having trouble with this cold weather. He was not prepared for it. Now he's sick with cold and does not have winter clothing. I gave him what I luckily had - mostly new winter clothes and shoes. Yesterday I bought him winter pyjamas and socks. Hope the poor guy recovers.

Holy Sepulchre Church at 4am

There's a video circulating in the Internet showing the Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Bagdida returning to the bombed out cathedral and offered the first Mass in 2 years on a makeshift altar. Let's hope the christians will return to the christian towns. It will be a lot of work to rebuild the lives and buildings there ... and they need our help. Basic infrastructure such as water, electricity and food is essential ... and now that winter is in, heating will be very necessary. It will not be a warm, joyous Christmas for them this year. Perhaps you can spread some joy to them.

Mass in the Empty Tomb

The original stone bed is covered by
the modern marble slab ... again

Early this morning at 4.15am I walked slowly to the Holy Sepulchre Church for Mass. It's my first Mass inside the (still) renovated Tomb ... definitely one of the first Masses to be celebrated after the original cave stone where Jesus' Body was laid, had been uncovered ... and re-covered. It was an overwhelming experience for all who attended the Mass.

It was Sr. Nimfa (a PDDM sister who graduated form our university 2 years ago) who organised the Mass for her small group of pilgrims. The priest who was supposed to come with them could not make it, so Nimfa asked me to celebrate the Mass for them instead. I brought along some old friends Gus and Eunice and their friends to join in as well. All in all there were only 11 people which made the Mass inside the Tomb very pleasant.

Glass window
exposing the
original cave wall
inside the Tomb

Something new was added inside the Tomb: a glass window exposing part of the original cave wall. Remember Jesus' Tomb was originally a cave. It is amazing. Everyone was crying when the Gospel was read regarding the women coming to this Tomb with spices, wondering who will move the stone away from the entrance. Now we could see the actual remains of it.

And I remembered everyone of you during Mass inside the Tomb. And I prayed for you all and your intentions.

Meantime there has been an incredible influx of asian tourists to the Holy Land this week. This morning alone the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross which is a street) was packed with chinese, indian, filipino and indonesian groups. I had to push my way back home. This is a good sign. Now let's hope it's not just a shopping tour for them but an encounter with the Risen Christ.

Unity in diversity

3 oriental rite priests

Tomorrow morning I will be celebrating Mass inside the Empty Tomb, over the marble slab that covers the original rock table where the Body of Christ was laid. Will remember you all and your intentions there. It's great to be confirmed in faith by this archaeological event. This time people can be sure that this is the place of the burial. Celebrating Mass there will never be the same.

The other day while resting in Jaffa, I celebrate one Mass with the community. It was presided by Fr. Tojy, a syro-malabar rite priest. On his right was a greek catholic rite priest Fr. Pantelemon and on his left was an ethiopic catholic rite priest Fr. Medhin. All belong to the oriental rite of the Catholic Church but they were celebrating the latin Roman rite!!! It was very funny because they were not familiar with the roman rite. Only here in the Holyland will you see celebrations like this .... truly catholic ("universal"). Yesterday morning I concelebrated the 1st Mass of the Dead with the community again. The whole community was there: polish, filipino, ukrainian, indian, ethiopian and singaporean. And Mass was celebrated in italian ... which is not any of our mother tongues!!! Again, how catholic can you get???? Unity in diversity.

Several days back there was a revolution of sorts at the Wailing Wall. The ultra-orthodox jews have control over the Wall and dictate who and how prayers can be conducted there. That practically excludes all other jewish groups except the ultra-orthodox. It enforced unity in religion by conformity with the ultra-orthodox tradition. The govt. promised to divide a space separate from the ultra-orthodox for other jewish groups to pray ... but it never materialised. The govt. is afraid of the ultra-orthodox. So groups representing liberals, reform, conservative and other smaller groups of jews marched into the Wall carrying Torah scrolls. Ultra-orthodox jews physically forced them back and scuffles broke out. Eventually they succeeded in reaching the Wall and praying there. But bad blood has been stirred and we can expect repercussions for challenging the powerful yet minority ultra-orthodox community.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.750459  and  http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-historic-first-pluralistic-worshipers-bring-torah-scrolls-to-western-wall/  and  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Violent-fracas-breaks-out-at-Western-Wall-471476

Well it's always a tension between unity in diversity ... and unity by conformity.

Halloween horror

Uninvited Halloween guest

All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day were a rare occasion when I can get a vacation. Both libraries are closed on both days so I could get away to our Jaffa community where I could rest. I slept right through the first day .... all the exhaustion and sickness had taken its toll. But quite nicely it started to rain and temp. dropped so it was just right to keep me asleep. Buddy came along and he only wanted to play. Woke me up a few times but otherwise he's very well behaved, sleeping on my shoulder. It was a good rest except for one midnight surprise. I was woken up by something flying around the room. I first thought it was Buddy but he doesn't fly when there is no light. I switched on the light and there on the floor was an enormous bat ... probably from the Haunted House down the road. It was at least 8 inches long and a wingspan of one foot. And it had very sharp teeth. Now that was Halloween night, precisely at midnight. And all the windows and door were closed. So how did it get in? Anyway I opened the door and it crawled out.

It's a sad day when local news report that documents handed to the High Court "went missing" against jewish youths who set fire on an arab house killing a baby and its parents. In the past, police were known also to lose documents and even "accidentally" erased video tapes of jews attacking arabs hence trials had to be cancelled due to lack of evidence. This is very very scary .... much scarier than Halloween bats when justice is impeded.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4873683,00.html

And today to top it all up, the Supreme Court in an unprecedented move decided to severe ties with the Minister of Justice. The Minister is a young ultra-nationalistic ambitious girl who had sought several times to curtail the powers of the Supreme Court or change its composition because the Court was not tough enough on arabs, accusing the Court of being Leftist. This time she tried to get around the law by changing the way Supreme Court judges are elected so that her candidates will be appointed. The independence of the Supreme Court is now called into question. The usually tolerant and calm judges took the unprecedented step to issue a strongly worded warning to the Minister to severe ties with her ministry if she sought to control the Court. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Supreme-Court-severs-ties-with-Ayelet-Shaked-over-gun-to-the-head-threats-471568

This is all too scary. No horror movie or Halloween costume can beat this. Not even a mysterious 8 inch bat at midnight.