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