Last day of the year

The giant hanukkia
at Zion Square

It' the last day of 2016. Can't say I'll miss it ... 2016 was wrecked with bad health, misfortunes and very unhappy events. And frankly I'm not optimistic that 2017 will be any different. There seems to be a great rush to die ... see how many celebrities died last week? As if no one wants to see 2017. What an omen for us.

However there were some bright moments - like the liberation of Aleppo last week. For once in 5 years Midnight Mass could be celebrated without bombings. Our friar in charge of the parish there has been sending out information about the joy they are experiencing. But the process of restoration will be arduous and painstaking. Basic facilities like water, electricity and sanitation. Then there is vital need for food and medicines. The franciscans in Syria are calling out for international help ... not from international bodies which will never respond, but private peoples especially christians to donate a little bit each. Help comes from the little people who are not caught up with bureaucracy and invested interest. It comes from the heart.  http://custodia.org/default.asp?id=779&id_n=32486

Hanukkah will end tomorrow - New Year's Day. The candelabra at Zion Square will be taken down by Monday and life will go on as usual for winter. Usually each house should have its own candelabra called the hanukkia and a candle is lit for each day of the 8 days to recall the miracle of the holy oil found in the Temple. Well yesterday there was an article claiming that this holy oil and fire tradition was probably borrowed from Zoroastrianism. I doubt the rabbis would be happy to hear that. The next feast will be Passover in Spring so there're 4 months to prepare.

A pizzaria and 2 burger shops open
during the Sabbath in Jerusalem

Meantime as Hanukkah ends - a feast that celebrates Judaism against paganism - news is that the city of Beit Shemesh in Central Israel is now totally occupied by ultra-orthodox jews. Secular and moderate jews have abandoned the city. The ultra-orthodox will now impose strict segregation laws for men and women as well as other things. I doubt they will tolerate shops that open on the Sabbath as some are doing in Jerusalem. These shops take the risk of being fined by the Municipality or attacked by the ultra-orthodox.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.762153

Very cold weather

Fingers crossed ... we're getting news that a ceasefire has been signed by rebels and govt. forces in Aleppo which will take effect midnight tonight. Let's hope it'll hold. People need food, medicine and shelter in this bitter winter cold. Pray hard.

My 1st cup of
sahlab this winter

And it still is very cold tonight here in our city. It's not been raining and it shouldn't for the next few days. Forecast says it's 12 degrees now but it feels like zero degrees .... feels a lot colder than yesterday. Even local guys are wearing gloves and beanies to keep warm. It's times like this that a warm cup of sahlab is most welcome. I had my first cup this winter last week when I was in Netanya for midnight Mass. My friend Shlomi who runs a juice / crunchy-munchy hawker stall in front of our church was also selling sahlab, and he offered me one. It's actually a turkish beverage made from the roots of an orchid. The crushed powder is mixed with milk and a dash of cinnamon ... and it's one great comfort drink in this cold weather. I skipped the optional peanut and coconut topping because I'm allergic to the former and dislike the latter. The dried form of sahlab ... mixed with jelly ... is the world famous Turkish Delight.

Today's papers carried the news that some Israeli arabs were removed from a plane  at the request of Israeli passengers. They felt threatened by arab presence onboard. In any other country it would constitute racism and discrimination.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.695633

Sufganiot from Gagou de Paris

Hanukkah will end on New Year's Day, so security has been heightened. It was quite noticeable today as the holiday nears. Even police helicopters were hovering over the Old City all morning. Let's hope everything will be fine as 2017 approaches. One consolation - Hanukkah means sufganiot (polish "ponschki") ... my favourite!! I passed by Gagou de Paris ... the fantastic french bakery at King George Street run by a family of french jews the other day to watch my friend (can't remember his name) cook some sufganiot. It's always so captivating to watch great chefs at work.

First blooms

Dark gloomy skies

There was no rain today. But it remained very very cold and dark all through the day. Everything was gray and gloomy. And the ground was wet and very slippery. It's 8 degrees right now but it feels so much colder. Forecast for next Monday: heavy rains, hail and graupel. That looks like a start to snow. I dread that because I must shovel snow from the roof. If it snows only lightly and will melt away quickly, then I don't mind.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-girds-for-storms-snowfall-as-winter-takes-firm-hold/

The lack of sunshine is not good for my flowers. The anemones have begun to open but because there is no sun, they have been stuck in a semi-bud stage. Same with the narcissus. Let's hope the sun will come out for a couple of days so they flowers can bloom .... before being torn apart by the hail and graupel next Monday.

We received news that Salesian Fr. Tom is alive. A video of him has been released by his captors. Let's hope he will be released soon. It's such a horrible nightmare he's living through. 4 of Mother Teresa's sisters were killed in the attack in Yemen but Fr. Tom was taken away alive by his captors. Please pray very very hard for him. The following article is in italian https://www.avvenire.it/mondo/pagine/padre-tom-video

The 1st anemone to
bloom

Tourists have now dwindled to a handful again after the Christmas crowd. For once the hotels in Bethlehem registered full booking. That is good news. But it's not enough to sustain the industry for the rest of the year, this one week of abundance. Usually January and February are low season due to the cold, rain and snow. You can't see much because places open late and close early due to the winter sunrise and sunset hours.

My shoulder is feeling better today because it was adjusted by a physiotherapist. The ligament/tendon however still hurts but not as severely. The cold air however agitates my lungs and I get asthma attacks as well as a terrible headache. Winter is definitely not for me. I wish I could stay indoors everyday and not have to go out. The Sisters of M. Teresa are very kind and they have cooked a warm meal for me so that I can feel a little warmer and not suffer from asthma during the night.

Storm

Rain in the Suq & slippery streets

The rains continued this afternoon .... heavily. Infant there was a hailstorm at 1.15pm before the downpour. But prior to that the sky was bright and blue, though very very cold. The hail caused a lot of noise as it beat down on the zinc roofs. Then the rain pelted down. I had to go up to my other office because I had 2 meetings and 2 chores to do in the New City. By the time reached my office, 1 km uphill by foot, I was totally drenched despite the raincoat  I wore. On one hand it felt like what winter should .... but on the other hand, it's terribly inconvenient. The stone pavement in the Old City is a death trap ... almost everyone has had a narrow escape from the slippery streets.
Most shops are closed though those serving hot food are doing brisk business.

And anyway we really do need the rain after these 15 years of drought.  Tel Aviv and the coastal cities are receiving 2 consecutive days of rain. But it's not as cold as in Jerusalem here. The Sea of Galilee however is not rising because the water is flowing towards the Mediterranean Sea instead of the lake. So we might still have a drought year in 2017.

Freezing weather before the rains

But this weather is nothing compared to the political scene here. Israel is furious over the UN security council voting to draft a resolution against Israel's building of settlements in Palestinian land. Ambassadors of the council were summoned on Christmas Day and roundly rebuked, with promises of aid withdrawal. In fact aid has already been cut or stopped to several countries as punishment for not taking israel's side. Mad with Obama, the Israeli PM thinks he'll have a better deal with Trump.  All I can say is: Trump is a businessman; if he sees no profit in an endeavour, he'd cut his losses by pulling out and going the opposite direction. Israel has one very unpredictable ally in Trump. Israel had better have a Plan B and C  when Trump dumps Israel.

The revenge of having to withdraw one settlement from south Jerusalem this week is the demolishing of hundreds of arab houses in east Jerusalem. And though permits are granted for other arab houses to be built, for each permit granted 18 existing houses are demolished. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.761306

Another scary news of the rising power of the religious far right. Some soldiers died of cold because after exercises in the freezing weather, officers denied them turning on the heating because it's against the sabbath law. I think 3 died of hypothermia as a result this weekend. The Sabbath Law was meant to serve man, to preserve life but now it's man serving the Law. It's pharisaism like once upon a time. Sad because Israel's security is at risk. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/military/commanders-refused-soldiers-to-turn-on-heating-in-tents-for-fear-of-sabbath-desecration-25559

On a happier note, there's an article about what food christians here eat during Christmas. Apparently the christians in the south have different food traditions than those from the north. Interesting. http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/food/1.693702

Feast of St. Stephen

Seminarians encounter

What a storm we had last night .... it was actually a regular shower but by Jerusalem's drought standards, it was a storm. And it was very very cold. I had to go visit a group (the 3rd group this weekend) to share a bible talk. It was a wet cold walk 2 kms to the Rosary Sisters convent where they stayed. Nevertheless it was a nice visit. I brought 2 seminarians from Melbourne to meet with 4 Singaporean seminarians who came with the group. It was a good exchange of experiences. And the meeting room was very warm and dry.

Archbishop Pizzaballa in Bethlehem

Christmas Day was exceptional this year with thousands of foreign visitors entering Bethlehem to celebrate and thousands of Palestinian christians coming into Jerusalem because they received permission from Israel for this festive season. Roads and streets were closed not only in Bethlehem and Jerusalem to facilitate the movement of huge crowds ... but also Jaffa where no religious tourists flock to party out the jewish feast of Hanukkah. It was good to see my old friend and classmate, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, entering Bethlehem as Archbishop of Jerusalem. He was our previous Custos of the Holyland and was consecrated a few months back and assigned as Apostolic Administrator of the Holy Land by the Vatican. A few days back I messaged him to ask if 25 years back when we were classmates he ever thought he'd be an archbishop today. I'm very proud of him.

Poor Haifa ... first torched by the immense forest fire that destroyed hundreds of homes, then inundated by the floods ... now there is a huge fire of its oil refinery plant. It's out of control. Haifa has been having such bad luck recently. The residents can't celebrate a proper Hannukah or Christmas.

Thanks for the lovely gifts, the beanie, clothes, calendars and medicines especially Aunties Yvonne, Mary Patricia Lim, the Caveros, Agnes Lee, Irene Teoh, Marveen and many others. Received everything. Really appreciate your kindness.

Christmas Day

Crowds lining up
to enter the Basilica

Merry Christmas to all. As I promise, I prayed for each and everyone of you in Bethlehem. I was there early in the morning yesterday to celebrate a Mass for 120 expats living in Jaffa and Tel Aviv area. They came to make a christmas pilgrimage. It was very cold and drizzling. And the crowds were unbelievable .... crowds after crowds were walking toward the Basilica. Many streets were closed, palestinian security were everywhere making body searches on everyone entering the area.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4897788,00.html

Even so early in the morning there were thousands of pilgrims trying to enter the Basilica of the Nativity. The line stretched all the way out 200 meters into the streets. And the drizzled did not dissuade the people. More and more groups just kept walking up the hill. By 9.30am the scout bands were marching in parade. The giant Christmas Tree was the focus of everyone who wanted to take photos while the Grotto of the Nativity was the main aim. But it would have taken over an hour lining up to reach the door of the Basilica. Many people just gave up trying to get there.

Altar of the
Milk Grotto

I had Mass at the Milk Grotto. The cloistered Perpetual Adoration Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament who serve in the chapel send their greetings and assurances of prayers. The Milk Grotto was where the Holy Family lived for 2 years after the birth of Jesus but before the flight into Egypt. There I celebrated Mass, remembering all of you, your prayers and intentions.

As I had mentioned earlier, Christmas this year coincides with the jewish feast of Hanukkah. The rhetoric of the rabbis against christianity is not letting up. The call to punish jewish or public institutions that put up a christmas tree has met with tacit approval by most rabbinical authorities but also opposition by secular and tourist institutes who fear the lost of business .... especially this christmas being the most crowded in many years. Any negative impression on this year's groups would lead to less groups coming next year.

But the real good news for Christmas was to learn that east Aleppo has been liberated from the militias and the govt. has declared it a safe zone. Christians returned to celebrate Midnight Mass in the ruined churches.  Our friar in Aleppo and the little children of the ruined city send their christmas greetings in a video:   https://www.facebook.com/ChristianMediaCenter.HolyLand/videos/1832854670325775/

Also in Mosul in Iraq the muslim militias have been chased out and christians have returned to celebrate Christmas in their ruined churches. As our Archbishop said ... the physical war may be over but the ideological war continues. We need to pray so hard.

1 day to Christmas

Sufgoniot at a
local bakery

The weekend is upon us .... it's holiday mood throughout Israel and Palestine: Israel because it's the feast of Hanukkah (the re-dedication of the Jewish Temple after it was defiled by the Seleucid kings), Palestine because it's Christmas and tens of thousands of people are flocking into Bethlehem. Most shops in the Israeli side of Jerusalem are closed ... except pastry shops and bakeries selling sufgoniot. That's the traditional jam-filled doughnut eaten during Hanukkah. Shops on the Palestinian side on the other hand are opened 24 hours, making the most of the tourists' visits.

The weather is still very cold. Tomorrow's Midnight Mass will be quite trying for those celebrating in Shepherds' Field. It's all open-air and the night wind blowing from the desert will be biting cold. If you're planning to go there for Mass, you'd better bundle up. Forecast is rain on Christmas Day. I'll be far away in another city near the north to celebrate Mass for the catholic community there because they have no priest. I hope I won't catch a cold.

We're just receiving news that the Berlin Christmas Market attacker has just been shot dead. And that a Christmas plot in Australia has been foiled. So far it's good news ... but goodness knows what's lurking in the dark of people's minds and souls. We must be very vigilant especially here in our land during this festive weekend. Anything can happen.

2 days to Christmas

Lovely gift

I just noticed that there are a lot fewer elderly and poor in the streets this week. The cold has been so harsh most stay indoors. For the poor, heating is too costly so they simply wrap themselves with blankets if they have. I even saw a family collecting wood from the street dumpsters to be used as firewood. Some children were also collecting branches from trees on the Mt. of Olives. This winter cold is making the poor suffer a lot.

And talking about poor, Mother Teresa's sisters are busy visiting these poor to see to their urgent needs. On Christmas Day they will go to the streets looking for street sleepers to assist them. Just an hour ago I was at their convent for Eucharistic Adoration. They surprised me with a lovely gift - handmade ... of an infant Jesus statue inside a plastic cup: the Poorest of the Poor in the poorest chalice. They also cooked a nice warm dinner for me : chapati with boiled potatoes. I like it very much. It's very simple but filling ... what poor people would eat. No frills, no fancy. It's authentic charity in simplicity.

Chapati & potato
dinner

Israel has started moves to bring wounded Aleppo refugees into Israel for treatment. I hope they succeed. Israel is the only country in the region capable of doing this. The other muslim countries, rich like UAE and Saudi, have done nothing to help their own muslims. Other medical teams are lined along the Golan Heights to wait for refugees who enter into Israel.

On the local scene, the rabbis are stepping up their war on Christmas. Hotels are threatened to have their kosher licenses withdrawn if christmas trees are not removed.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.760490

On the other end of pendulum, the muslim mufti of Malaysia declared that there is nothing wrong for muslims to offer christmas greetings or join in christmas festivities. How opposite can the rabbis and muftis get?  http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/kl-mufti-okay-for-muslims-to-wish-friends-merry-christmas?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&xtor=CS1-10#link_time=1482367298

The ultra-orthodox jews are also tightening their grip in the city of Beth Shemesh. They're blocking buses on the road because they do not like men and women sitting in the same bus. They're demanding segregated bus services for men and women.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/obstruction-and-rocks-religious-war-in-beit-shemesh-25470

Christmas round the corner

Street artist in
Via Dolorosa

The weather was again sunny and there was no threat of rain. But it was very cold ... about 8 degrees during the day but it felt very much lower. Youths took advantage of this sunny day by practising (or showing off) their parkour skills in the park outside Damascus Gate. Old people thickly clothed, sat out in the sun. Businesses were set up in and outside the City Gate. And a foreign artist sat along the Via Dolorosa painting street scene.

My shoulder has been hurting the last 2 nights, perhaps because of the biting cold. Coincidentally this morning there was an article in the news discussing shoulder pain. Looks like I tore a ligament ... from what I read about the symptoms and pain. Anyway the article advised immediate medical attention. Hospital again? No way. I'm not going just yet. I do dread nighttime though. I feel so tired and need so much sleep but the pain keeps me awake. I barely sleep 3 hours a day.

Meantime, the Israeli and Palestinian security forces, in a rare act of unity, are co-ordinating their actions on a massive scale for one of the largest pilgrimages this Christmas. Expected to enter Bethlehem (Palestine) are 35,000 people and just as many Palestinian christians will be coming out to Jerusalem (Israel) instead to celebrate Christmas. Checkpoint crossings will be relaxed and free shuttle buses from Jerusalem are being offered by the Municipality. It's a little sign of hope for us. But please ... right at the back of all this is money ... tourist money. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Police-finalize-Christmas-security-for-pilgrims-476031

Tel Aviv on the other hand is preparing to celebrate Chrismukkah ... Christmas and Hanukkah on the same day. Should be interesting. This can never ever happen here in Jerusalem because the ultra-orthodox control the City and consider Christmas as a menacing idolatrous threat to Judaism.

After the call by many isarelis to intervene in the tragedy in Aleppo, the PM announced he's ready to take syrian casualties. Israeli doctors have asked to be allowed into the syrian border to treat the wounded. This is a good sign. Very humanitarian. http://virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=24586

Cold but sunny

Wet cold & deserted
Via Dolorosa

The sun is up ... it is bright and sunny today ... but it is freezing cold; in fact today is one of the coldest days this winter. Last night the temp. fell to 2 degrees and today the maximum is no more than 9 degrees. It will get down to 2 degrees again tonight. Forecast for the weekend is rain ... so Christmas will have it's feel but it'll be quite uncomfortable walking about in the mud and sludge.

I had a horrid evening because I was caught in the heavy shower that fell between 6.30pm and 7pm. I had just completed an important translation of a document and sent it by email before walking home from office in the heavy rain. Was wet through. As soon as I entered my room, I received a message that I had sent the wrong document and they needed it urgently in half an hour. So I ran (actually shuffled) up the hill in the downpour to resend the correct document and returned home. Was absolutely drenched. I thought I would get sick so I stayed in my room instead of going down to the freezing chapel for vespers. I think I was the only crazy guy out in the streets .... everyone else was probably indoors as the streets were deserted.

The sisters of the Silent Workers of
the Cross come to visit.

This morning the sisters of the Silent Workers of the Cross came to pay a visit. They have a convent and pilgrim hostel up on the Mt. of Olives, between Bethphage and Bethany. It's a very special congregation of religious priests and nuns ... most of them are disabled. It's the only congregation that accepts physically challenged people with religious vocations whom other congregations would reject. In their quiet way they work in projects for other disabled peoples in the various parishes around our area. It's a very brave apostolate which few people know about.

The attack in Istanbul that killed the Russian Ambassador and the Berlin truck murder shocked all of us. It's an extension of what is going on here in our region ... the ripples are extending to Europe. And it's not the first time. If the war does not stop in Syria, then Europe will have no peace either. It's dreadfully tragic.

Bleak Christmas in the Middle East

Yesterday saw a series of demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem by local israelis protesting in solidarity with the syrians in Aleppo. Recalling how they suffered in the Holocaust, these Israelis used their rallying call for the Holocaust "Never Again" to apply also to Aleppo. And in the face of world silence and reluctance to stop the massacre, I seriously think Israel alone is brave enough and capable to end this massacre.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-denounce-aleppo-massacres-in-tel-aviv-protest/ 

There is also a report on the small and persecuted community of christians in Gaza and the bleak Christmas they face. It seems that all christians in the Middle East are facing serious persecution in all forms with no world help. Extremely bleak for the local christians ... and an appalling reflection on the universal christian church of all denominations for their silence.    http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.759270

Yet in the dark news christians in the Middle News there was a little light ... news is leaking out that the ISIS occupied monastery near Mosul which was liberated recently still held a few hundred precious manuscripts secretly hidden by a priest before fleeing from the muslim extremists 2 years ago.  http://www.livescience.com/57240-historic-texts-hidden-isis-occupied-monastery.html

Mini-panettone

Weatherwise it is still a little warm ... about 10 degrees. But in 4 hours it'll drop to 3 degrees. I forgot to bring a pullover so I think I'll freeze on my way home. I dread it. Last night was tough as it was cold and I had an asthma attack and my shoulder hurt very much. I don't think I was made for winters. Can't understand how anyone could enjoy winter ... except of course if it's Christmas time and we get panettone to eat!!! The shops are now selling mini-panettone ... small as your palm. Just nice for me as it won't be too much of a danger for my diabetes.

Another rainy day

Grotto of OL in
the MC convent

Another freezing night ... and I was too tired to take out the extra blankets so I slept in my bathrobe to keep warm. Buddy also huddled beside me to keep warm. I think there was a passing shower last night because this morning the ground was all wet. Then again it could be the fog and dew. Luckily for the Missionaries of Charity, they had a grotto built in their courtyard before this wet season started ... about 3 weeks ago. The damp humid conditions would not have let the cement set. The grotto houses a statue of the Immaculate Conception who is their patroness.

La Salle College
in lights

Last night I had to preside over prayers ... it's solemn Vespers with the chanting of the O antiphons and Magnificat in latin. Immediately after I rushed off to the chinese sisters' convent because they organised a Christmas dinner for the chinese religious in Jerusalem. We're not many ... one jesuit, one salesian, 3 franciscans and the 2 sisters. Well I was late and everyone had already left. I didn't want the sisters to bother cooking again so I drank a bowl of soup and went home. That was when I saw the lighting of the Christmas lights at New Gate. It was very nice.

Under High Court orders, the illegal jewish settlement in Armona built on arab land must be demolished by Christmas. Tensions are rising as the settlers refuse to leave and are promising a heated resistance. To appease the settlers, the govt. is proposing to allow 20 families to rebuild on another plot of land nearby; the govt. will also demolish arab houses in other parts of East Jerusalem as a tit-for-tat gesture. This should appease the jewish public.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4894513,00.html

For a couple of days now the newspapers are reporting of a rise in poverty among the jewish community. Living expense has gone up steeply and many people have fallen into the poverty line. The govt. must address this sooner or later otherwise the next elections will not be about security from arabs but where to find the next meal. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4894318,00.html

One bit of good news though: the govt. is starting a new bus line from Jerusalem to the airport. Thank goodness because the Nesher company of minibuses has held the monopoly of this route since living memory and they have become arrogant and tyrannical in their service and attitude.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/221864

Christmas lights

Fog covering the Mt. of Olives

It was freezing last night. Almost 4 degrees but it felt a lot colder. The weather forecast said it felt like 1 degree. I think it will be similarly cold tonight. I must get the extra blankets out. The whole day  was damp and cold as well .... temp. hovered around 9 degrees. Skies were dark and there was a thick fog overing the Mt. of Olives. The streets are very slippery because dew had smothered the pathing stones ... and these stones are so well worn, you would even slip without it being wet.

The huge Christmas tree at New Gate

The christmas lights are finally turned on at New Gate in the Christian Quarter. The huge Christmas tree at the La Salle College this year is white instead of green. And the streets are much more well decorated than last year. Remember last year the ultra-orthodox jews demanded the Municipality to remove all Christmas trees in public because they ere idols. This year we have not heard any objections yet. No decorations were placed outside the City Gate though ... only the 4 trees outside had lights wrapped around them. Nothing religious.

Entry through
New Gate

The Municipality, as if to make amends for last year's fracas with the ultra-orthodox jewish demands (we had to remove christmas decorations from the New Gate), has now announced that it will organise free shuttle buses from Jerusalem to Bethlehem during this Christmas week. Nice gesture but too little too late. The ultra-orthodox have taken over the City and they are making life difficult for the rest of us.

Israelis ar organising a huge demonstration in Tel Aviv to show solidarity with the syrians in Aleppo. They have not forgotten how they themselves suffered the Holocaust and they are now demonstrating that others should not suffer the same. A human chain will form from the Russian embassy to the American embassy. http://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-to-hold-mass-protest-over-aleppo-massacre/

Solidarity

Full moon over
East Jerusalem

There was a brief moment of sunshine this morning but the clouds soon came to overcast the sky. It's been chilly ... below 10 degrees during the day and nights fall to 4 degrees. However whenever the clouds disperse during the night there is a wonderful sight of the full moon. I managed to take a beautiful photo of it just over East Jerusalem.

2 seminarians are doing a short study program here in Jerusalem. They are from Melbourne which sends each year 2 seminarians abroad for experience and formation. These 2 seminarians came to acquaint themselves with our libraries and, like the last group that came, I brought them out to dinner and we had a great chat, catching up with news of the former group.

Healthwise the shoulder is less painful as the medicine pads seem to help reduce the inflammation. The sciatica is still bothering me though ... I can't sit for longer than 20 minutes as the pain becomes acute. That becomes a problem when I have to travel to Netanya for Mass ... the journey takes almost 2 hours.

Santa Claus with phylacteries

The Christmas season is in the air and some secular jews are not averse in joining in the celebrations. Here's a picture circulating in social media of a jew dressed as Santa Claus but stopping to wear the phylacteries in order to pray. I'm not sure what the ultra-orthodox would say about that.

The bombing that killed 26 Coptic christians in Cairo has shocked all the christians in the region. We thought that some form of normalcy has returned to Egypt but obviously we were wrong. Now even Israel is aware of its moral responsibility to protect its own minorities and those in the surrounding region because of tis own experience during the last World War and also because of its distinctive calling by God to be a light unto the gentiles. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-bombing-at-St-Marks-Cathedral-Why-Israelis-should-care-475408

In fact Jews from around the world are planning to do something to show solidarity to the syrians caught in the massacre at Aleppo. To quote the organizers ... "Citing the Jewish commandment, “Lo tuchal lehitalem” (Deuteronomy 23:2), which means “You must not remain indifferent,” organizers called for a show of solidarity with victims of the Aleppo violence. “Indifference – to human suffering, to hatred and to genocide – contradicts everything that Judaism holds sacred,” they said. “Regardless of your opinion on the politics behind the conflict, the reality is that children and innocent civilians are being killed in a war waged by others.”  http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Jews-around-the-world-speak-up-for-Aleppo-evoking-never-again-mantra-475542

Stabbing attack

Yesterday just after noon, a stabbing attempt took place in front of the Austrian Hospice and 3rd Station of the Cross. It was the same place where the "stabbing Intifada" started. 2 policemen were injured in the head and the assailant was shot to death. The City Gates to the Muslim Quarter were closed and so too all the main streets in the Quarter. Shops around the area were ordered to close down. It's a bad start to Christmas. We hope the police will not limit our Christmas festivities because of this; and that this is not a new beginning to another season of violence.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Initial-Stabbing-attack-in-Jerusalems-Old-City-475348

Christmas wishes
from the Jerusalem
Municipality

The rains finally came to Jerusalem ... a few minutes of a regular shower but for the rest of the time it's a constant drizzle. Dark skies, very strong and cold winds but nothing severe unlike the rest of the country. The highway from Tel Aviv to Netanya was flooded, and Haifa suffered the most from the storm. Ironically only 2 weeks ago Haifa was ravaged by the forest fires, destroying over some 700 houses and thousands had to be evacuated. This is a land of extremes.

The miniskirt crisis in the Knesset (Parliament) reach breaking point when several more women were turned back from work due to the ultra-orthodox dress code. The demonstration against it included a male member of parliament coming in his shorts to protest. Today security personnel refuse to enforce this dress code and it seems this demand by the ultra-orthodox is falling apart. Let's see how it will unfold in the next few days. http://www.timesofisrael.com/mk-strips-in-solidarity-with-miniskirt-clad-knesset-aides/

And the revered circumciser who told apprentices to practice on ethiopic and non-jewish children has been suspended for 3 years by the Chief Rabbinate. Apparently he was caught doing just that by undercover journalists posing as non-jewish parents wanting a circumcision for their baby. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Chief-Rabbinate-suspends-cannon-fodder-mohel-for-three-years-475378

Sign boards placed
throughout East
Jerusalem

The siege in Aleppo still disturbs us. Though a cease-fire was called to allow civilians to leave the area, bombings continued. We hope the poor people will be safe ... and they reach help not only for shelter from the winter but also food and medicine. In Iraq the Christian population fell from 1.6 million to a mere 150,000. Christmas will be a very trying time for them as they live under ISIS persecution. http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-Threat/Few-remaining-Iraqi-Christians-prepare-for-Christmas-as-lands-liberated-from-ISIS-475216

The Jerusalem Municipality has placed numerous signs wishing Christians a Merry Christmas just as it did for Ramadan for the muslims. Very noteworthy is that these signs are not found in the western side of the City because it's jewish and the ultra-orthodox jews would riot if such a thing were done.

Awesome full moon

Full moon at Ben
Yehuda Mall

Very dark skies and bitterly cold winds .... but only a drizzle here in Jerusalem today. The rest of the country is flooded in most parts. There'll probably be snow up in the Golan Heights these few days but I doubt it'll snow in Jerusalem. Too humid and not enough rain. Anyway these nights there is a beautiful full moon shining over the City. Utterly amazing. Weaving through the rain clouds, it creates an eerie atmosphere for the end of the year ... ominous and mysterious. The moonlight shimmers through a rounded aura created by the clouds ... emanating strange colours.

I managed to photograph the moon on my way home yesterday evening. It was a marathon exam session. Oral exam for 24 students. It started at 1pm and ended at 6.30pm with only a 2 minute toilet break. I was utterly exhausted, and very cold and very hungry. The sun sets at 4.30pm and the drizzle and bitterly cold winds made it a miserable walk until I spotted the moon. I was the only one photographing the moon ... everyone else was rushing around getting out of the cold. If it does snow, the moon would look even more incredible.

Moon peeking through the palms
at Municipality Square

The provincial of M. Teresa's sisters arrived in Jerusalem and recounted the horrors of the war in Aleppo and the rest of Syria. Their sisters and 60 handicap patients have moved into our monastery next to the church for safety. Fighting is just 2 km away and it could spread at any moment into west Aleppo where they are now. The situation in Yemen is worse and Iraq is not any better. This is a very sad christmas for the christians in those countries. Do something meaningful this christmas .... share your blessings with these persecuted brothers and sisters in the Middle East.  http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-Threat/Few-remaining-Iraqi-Christians-prepare-for-Christmas-as-lands-liberated-from-ISIS-475216

Another 5 female employees of the Knesset (Parliament) were prevented from entering the building for work because they violated the new dress code .... skirts too short for ultra-orthodox jews to accept. In retaliation other female workers demonstrated in protest. The ultra-orthodox have practically controlled most parts of Jerusalem life now.

Storm again

The awful news of the massacres in Aleppo continue to flow out. Many innocent people are sending out their last farewells because Assad forces are entering east Aleppo, driving out ISIS but killing everyone in the process. It is so tragic ... and the world remains silent. Shame on the UN.  http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/.premium-1.758722

Overcast skies today

Today's skies seem to reflect the frightening events in Aleppo. The rest of the country saw storms and flooding so bad that a man drowned in his car when a road in Haifa was overcome with flood waters. Extremely cold and strong winds beat down all day throughout the country. But there was no rain in Jerusalem, just some drizzle in the morning. People are saying that Jerusalem is punished by drought while the rest of the country is flooding. Forecast is heavier rains tomorrow. Well good luck to Jerusalem.

Meantime Israel's ultra-orthodox community begins to tighten the noose in the country as the Chief Rabbi declared that girls should not serve in the army (it's compulsory for boys and girls here) but rather do the laundry and cook. Then more restrictions on non-orthodox jewish women who pray at the Wailing Wall. And a dress code imposed in Parliament for women ... an assistant was prohibited from entering Parliament because her skirt was above the knees.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.758568  But my biggest fear was the Minister of Health, an ultra-orthodox jews, announced publicly that Hannukah should not be celebrated by eating sufgoniot (jam-filled doughnuts) which is the traditional thing to do!! And I love sufgoniot!!! http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4891755,00.html

News just out: the Jerusalem Municipality will give out 150 free christmas trees.  http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Jerusalem-Municipality-to-distribute-150-free-Christmas-trees-475255

Pruning palm trees

3 years ago this day we had the great snow storm of the decade. Newspapers have been floating pictures of the 4 day storm, stirring up not just memories but fears of electrical and food shortage. Well enough fear for the Municipality to prune all the Palm trees at Palm Plaza outside Damascus Gate. Any storm would uproot these palms and crash onto parked cars below.

Chrismukkah again

Stormy weather by the coast

Still recovering from the busy weekend. Couldn't rest much though because it's Monday ... meaning I have to get up at 3am to prepare for classes. This morning the sun was up and bright but I think like yesterday it'll be overcast and cold again by noon.

Last Friday I walked through the Musrara open market just outside Damascus Gate. I usually avoid that place on Fridays because of the immense crowds. And I saw something which I haven't seen in a long time ... fresh seafood on sale. Now "fresh" by local standards means "not frozen" and not "alive and swimming in the water". I had visions of chilly crab, steamed carb, cuttle-fish fried and steamed .... and that's that. Without a fridge or cooking facilities, there is no way I can cook seafood. I thought of bringing it to the chinese sisters .... but they're northern chinese; and being nuns they do what they fancy no matter what you tell them otherwise. Seafood for them means throw it all in a pot of water, add salt, bring to boil then eat. Last week I called them to ask if they can just boil some soup for me ... nothing fancy, just soup with nothing but a little salt and pepper. They came with a pot of noodles, veggies, seafood in soup.

Anyway with the stormy weather by the coast, I think seafood will be pretty expensive soon. That means nothing to the jews as they cannot eat seafood (non-kosher) but muslims and christians do it when it's cheap.

"Fresh" seafood galore

This year like last year, Christmas coincides with the jewish feast of Hanukkah - the feast of the rededication of the Temple after it was profaned by the Seleucids (see books of Maccabbees). The locals have a name for it when the 2 feasts coincide : chrismukkah. Each time there is a big discussion whether jews may put up a christmas tree for Chrismukkah. Last year the rabbis condemned the Christmas Tree as an idol and forced police to remove all Christmas trees from public places. Even the Municipality which offers free Christmas trees to poor people at Damascus Gate, were stopped by the rabbis. I wonder if it will be the same this year.

Busy weekend

The Netanya community at Mass

It's been a super hectic Saturday. Well Friday I made sure I finished all the work of the week because the weekend would be full of activities. On Saturday morning at 6am it was Mass at the Holy Sepulcher in the Empty Tomb for the Block Rosary Group of filipinos form our St. Anthony Parish in Jaffa. Over 25 members came for the Mass. Immediately after I had to give them a Bible Class from 7am to 8.30am. Once finished I had to rush back to house work and within 2 hours it was off to our other Jaffa parish of St. Peter. Went there to pick up wine, hosts and vestments because I had to preside at the Mass in Netanya for another community of filipinos. It's 60km from Jerusalem to Jaffa and another 60 km from Jaffa to Netanya. I had to turn down another penitential service at Rehovot which is 30 km drive away from Jaffa because there was no way I could rush there in time.

Sunday Mass at
St. Peter's church

After Mass there was blessing and confessions and then back to Jaffa which was already almost 10pm. The superior there told me to stay overnight as it was late and I was tired. Sunday morning there was another Mass at 9am at St. Peter's ... a much smaller community of expatriates attend this Mass because Sunday in our country is the first working day. Most catholics cannot make it.

The week before Christmas will be equally busy. Several Masses in various cities along the coast. I think on the 24th Dec I have a Mass in Bethlehem for a filipino  community, then rush off to Jaffa for the Indian Mass at 4pm and immediately off to Netanya again for the 7pm Mass.

Luckily there were no traffic jams along the highways. There was drizzle tough and the skies were dreadful dark and the winds bitterly cold. In a way it feels like Christmas 25 years ago.

Just read the horrible news that over 25 copts were killed in a bomb blast in their cathedral in Cairo. Still no news who is responsible. A terrifying christmas for the egyptian copts. Another bad news is that the first reading of a new law to expropriate palestinian land for jewish settlements has passed. It's amazing that this is happening in broad daylight and no one is saying anything. http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-1.757846

Christmas soon

Our wild poinsettia

Another Friday. The first thing I noticed about this morning was .... the muezzin's call to prayer at 4am was much less loud than before. Apparently the govt.'s imposition to silence or lower the volume of the loudspeakers have gone into effect. It was significantly softer, the loudspeaker of the Al Aqsa Mosque that lies directly in front of my window. The other smaller mosques were so soft I could not even hear them. What a difference! Today however we read in the newspapers that the PM is now going to enforce this low volume even during the day.

The Tourist Ministry just reported that November saw the highest volume of tourists in the year, a 38% increase from last year which comes up to about 300,000 people. Chinese and Indian tourists make up the bulk of this visitors and the govt. has decided to pump more money to attract asians because the market in America and Europe has dropped significantly. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4890567,00.html

Christmas is fast approaching and streets in the Christmas Quarter are decked with buntings and lights. It's an italian tradition that Christmas trees are put up on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (yesterday) so most shops and houses have had them up by evening yesterday. Our courtyard has a huge poinsettia tree, almost 2 meters tall and it is flowering profusely. That's our christmas tree ... it looks very festive in green and red, and evokes the spirit of christmas to every visitor that comes to our place.

Immaculate Conception Day

Weekend with cloudy skies

From sunny weather to cold cloudy skies. Huge change in weather this morning. Went out to work in warm sunny climate but within 2 hours it must have fell to 9 degrees. As it's a feast day, no one is working in the libraries but we still have 3 books on loan to an exhibition and I must go at 8am to deliver the books and collect them at 5pm when the exhibition ends. So I had to celebrate Mass early this morning at 4.30am in order to arrange all my work and get to my delivery mission on time. Then there was a series of emails to respond, bookings for volunteers, work schedules to be organised and luckily for me, a very nice lunch break with my best buddy Aviram. Haven't seen him for over 2 months though we keep in contact. He's been always there for me during my toughest times and I really appreciate that. And he had wonderful news when we met ... an institute just offered him an internship a few minutes before he left his house to come for lunch. He was very very happy. And I'm happy for him too. He's a really bright guy and passionate about his studies.

The other day I went to Rami's pharmacy to buy Tiger Balm plaster for my shoulder. It's been hurting so bad I cannot sleep because of the pain. Well Rami was out of it but had another type of plaster, less powerful and stinky. No choice ... had to buy it. But it worked out good .... I had minimal pain last night after keeping it overnight on my shoulder. Will have to use it again tonight. Well I also kept the shoulder warm by wearing double t-shirts.

Icon of Mary's birth
in St. Anne's Church

So it's the Immaculate Conception feast day. At St. Anne's Church (Bethesda Pool or Sheep's Pool in John's Gospel) there was a solemn Mass celebrated at 10am because traditionally that's the place where Mary was born. I think almost all the seminarians of the 5 seminaries in Jerusalem were there. And of course the many religious and priests as well. Few people know that it was our 14th century theologian Duns Scotus who defended this dogma when many were against it. He was vindicated only 400 years later when it was declared a dogma but he remained in the shadows until 16 years ago when Pope John Paul II beatified him.

Latest bit of news ... a stabbing attempt at a check point. Hope this will not sour the Christmas celebrations should Israel decide to close the borders and not allow christian arabs to come to Jerusalem.

Gone with the wind

Wednesday was nothing but stress. For simply repeating what someone had said, I was accused of putting words in that person's mouth. That person is afraid to admit having said that .... and the supporter is totally closed off to any possibility that these words were said. Living in a fantasy world that his friends will never make mistakes or do anything wrong but everyone else is culpable. Reality will rudely wake them up.

Wet winter leaf

The weather continues to be cold but not rainy. Though good for outdoor activities, what we really want is rain. The Sea of Galilee must rise another 5 meters to get back to normal. Water taxes have risen and an additional drought tax is imposed. Plus the cold, when heating takes up a lot of electricity as well .... taxes will be exorbitant for many poor people. If it rains then at least the water taxes will be reduced.

As I said, exams are round the corner and I have to invigilate an entire afternoon next week for my course. It's an oral exam but with some 16 students it'll take a lot of time. And I'll be very tired at the end of the day. Will need to take ginseng for energy.

Tomorrow is the Immaculate Conception feast ... and though it's a holiday for us, I still have to work because there's an exhibition where some of our books are on show. I need to take them out to the exhibition centre in the morning and keep them in the evening. Another holiday blown away ...  like the colorful dead leaves falling from the trees.

St. Nicolas day

Some of our students on their way
home from school

The weather continues to be fine and wintery .... sunny and cold. We're waiting for another rainy period but we're not sure when it'll come. If it falls on Christmas it'll be fun. I'll definitely stay at home. Our students are enjoying their weekly compulsory excursions in this weather. But extra-curricular activities (read "shopping, movies, happy hour") are much reduced because exams are round the corner. I'm sure everyone is looking forward to the 1 week Christmas holidays. Meanwhile today is St. Nicolas' feast day ... the original Santa Claus. A little joy and ho ho ho is in order.

Local unhappiness is still rampant though. This time an Apple Store complained about an arab security guard. The Shopping Mall immediately imposed a rule that no arabs may work in their company's security unit. In any other country this would be called racism; if it were a jew it would be anti-semitism .... but it's Israel here. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.757075

Another bad news is a new law being penned to legalise many illegal jewish settlements in private arab lands in Palestine. It's very bold and blatant ... and as usual the world is helpless or rather chooses to be helpless to stop it. Utter shame. If America is quiet about this, then it should also be quiet about Russia occupying Crimea.

I've had another incredibly busy day ... no exaggeration. I can't keep up like this anymore. Had my antihistamine jab as well which makes me very sleepy. But still had to struggle with work. My sciatica still gives me trouble if I have to sit longer than 20 minutes. Walking afterwards becomes a torture. This evening Id decided to take the long route and go home through Herod's Gate. I wanted to buy chocolate milk which suddenly this week is running short throughout the City. Visited 5 stores and none carried it. So I thought I'd go to my friend's shop at Herod's Gate. On the way I met 6 old friends from Israeli security: Ben who is french-moroccan, Avihai the eritrean and others. Haven't seen them in ages ... it was good just to say hi and chat for a few seconds.

Jaffa Gate

Jaffa Gate at 5pm

It was such a busy day I forgot to bring my Ventolin spray in my bag. The "day" started at 3am with class and then work in the library, then 2 meetings, then lunch (which is a chore for me) because the Custos came, then guiding him through the library, then rushing 1km to school for 2 classes. Result: got an asthma attack at the end of the day. Frantically searched my bag for my inhaler only to remember I left it in my room. So wheezing and gasping, I walked to Jaffa Gate to our christian pharmacy. Rami who was making his shift there quickly brought out an inhaler and I got my double dose. Sat in the pharmacy till I felt better.

Going home, I decided to go back through Jaffa Gate and following the City Walls. It was just after 5pm but it was already very dark. Winter time. The lights on the City walls were stupendous. The chill made many people stay indoors so there was no crowd at Jaffa Gate Plaza. Behind the southern wall rose the steeple and cross of the Catholic Patriarchate's co-cathedral. The main cathedral is the Holy Sepulchre Church further inside the City.

City wall with the co-cathedral
behind it

The traffic outside was horrendous: the jam was as long as the eye could see. Then there were sirens blaring and horns blasting because the Prime Minister was coming home. No amount of noise could get the traffic moving so the PM was stuck in the jam like everyone else. That's democratic equity.

Well not everything was so equal. Today in Parliament the Ethiopic and Eritrean MPs blasted the rabbi and his govt. supporters for using their babies as guinea-pigs for circumcision. I mentioned this several blogs back. As long as I can remember, these african jews have been treated as 2nd class in Israel. Several years ago after police aggression against unarmed african jews led to demonstrations throughout the country. Sad.

Well they're not the only ones. AJ news has a video of an old muslim man who survived an air-raid in Aleppo that killed many people including 5 children in a market, cursing the world's muslim leaders because muslims are killing muslims by the thousands each day in Syria and the world's muslims still keep silence. Sad.

Sunny Sunday

Musrara open
market at night

It was a bright and sunny Sunday. It was still cold and in the morning the sky was overcast but there was no rain. Afternoon was lovely and sunny. Life goes on as usual. There have been several moments when military presence spiked but for the rest of the day, things were normal. Coming back from work yesterday evening, I passed through the Musrara open market. It was still opened at 10pm ... with fruit and veggies laid out on the floor. It gives the character of East Jerusalem, the middle eastern atmosphere that its been fabled for. The crisp night air after the rains wafted with the scent of fennel, lemons and other produce brought in from the farms.

Not everyone was enjoying the weather though. Israeli farmers demonstrated with a slow drive of their tractors and big machines down the highway, throwing tomatoes and other produce onto the road. I'm not sure why but it seems the agricultural industry is facing a crisis and the govt is not helping out. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/israels-farmers-protest-ready-to-fight-25144

The El AL pilots' strike however is resolved with the Union, and they will resume work soon. Many flights had been canceled for the past 2 weeks and tourists have been stranded. This is just as well because the Tourism Ministry is boosting its target on Indian and Chinese tourists as they are the biggest group of visitors for the past year when all other countries have stopped coming. I just hope Israel is prepared for the ugly chinese tourist well-known throughout the rest of the world. http://www.timesofisrael.com/how-israel-is-courting-tourists-from-india-and-china/

Giant Christmas Tree in
Bethlehem's Manger Square

It's the 2nd Sunday of Advent. On the 1st Saturday of Advent, the Custos of the Holy Land enters Bethlehem accompanied by a cavalcade ... a tradition since Crusader times. Very impressive. All the friars and clergy line up in Manger Square to welcome his entrance in order to start the Advent season.
Last night the giant Christmas Tree was lit in Manger Square, followed by a fireworks display. It's much more joyous than last year when the muslims allowed only the tree to be light and no other celebrations. The extremist muslims are everywhere in Palestine, trying to curb christianity.