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/