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