End of January

Garbage at
Suleiman Street

The public service continues into the 3rd day with garbage piling up everywhere and streets reeking of rotting food. I wonder if the Municipality will resolve this problem soon. So far there has been no outcry in the  City over this but sooner or later as pests and rodents come out, there'll be a reaction.

Weatherwise the skies have gone all cloudy and grey ... and the cold has returned. A little drizzle this morning and we're expecting showers later in the evening. Everyone is talking about the forecast of zero degrees tonight and the next few days. I'm certainly not looking forward to it.

American politics is still the topic in the streets and newspapers. Like I said in yesterday's blog, the travel ban affects not just arabs here but also jews. The sacking of the acting Attorney General ... well ... looks like America is now a dictatorship. Democracy in the death throes. In a rare move, orthodox and liberal jew have united to oppose the travel ban as they remember jewish refugees turned away by America during their flight from Nazi persecution in Europe.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-rare-unity-orthodox-and-liberal-denominations-slam-trump-refugee-ban/

One of our
illuminated
manuscripts
exhibited in NY

Our manuscripts have returned from the Metropolitan Museum of New York. It was a successful exhibition entitled "Jerusalem 1000-1400: Every People under Heaven". If I remember correctly, there were over a million visitors. Anyway they flew back to Jerusalem accompanied by the Met's conservator. Each of the 3 huge volumes require 2 men to carry as they are a meter high and bound in wood and bronze covers. And inside the illuminated initials are incredible ... gold and tempera exquisitely used to decorate some pages. Soon these and other manuscripts will be available online as the digitalization project ends. But not too soon ... it'll be another year at least. So don't hold your breath.

Strike

Daffodils for the
New Year

Another very cold day even though temp. rose to 14 degrees this afternoon. Tomorrow's forecast is rain and temp. will drop to zero. I dread having to go out to work in that weather.... aaaggghhhh.

Yesterday I saw a bedouin hawker selling narcissus flowers at Damascus Gate. I thought it would be nice to get some for the Lunar New Year ... a touch of home. But on closer inspection, they were all withering. Further up in the New City a flower shop was selling daffodils ... in effect yellow narcissus. So I bought 4 bunches. 2 for the Chinese convent and 2 for myself. They are delightfully scented, and the bright yellow is very cheery on an otherwise grey cold wet day.

All public services have gone on strike for the 2nd day. The streets are stinking with piling garbage. Trains have stopped, Post Offices closed .... what a chaos. Luckily Jerusalem is full of cats so hopefully they keep the rats at bay. Then again I've seen the rats at Damascus Gate ... they're as big as the cats!! Have to be very careful negotiating through the garbage strewn streets now ... being bitten by one of those rats would be disastrous.

Piling garbage in the streets

Repercussions of Trumps's orders are rippling through Israel as well. Israelis born in those 7 banned countries who hold duel citizenship may be subject to the entry ban as well. Lots of confusion here. But even more serious was the Israeli PM's tweet that Trump's building the wall along Mexico is a good idea because Israel built one along Palestine and it succeeded in keeping terrorists out. Boy ... the backlash. http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Mexican-Jews-alarmed-by-Netanyahu-tweet-on-Trumps-wall-479964  and   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.768340   and   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4914286,00.html

2nd Day of the New Year

Last night - wet
and very cold

It's the 2nd day of the Lunar New Year. From the hailstorm yesterday, the weather took a bighorn and the sun was shining very brightly this morning. But it's still very cold ... no more than 5 degrees. Everyone was out to catch a bit of the sun. Even the parkour boys were out in the park jumping and somersaulting. Then suddenly at 2pm the dark clouds flooded the skies and it looks like winter again.

The storm however had washed up onshore countless explosive mines ... and the police are trying to figure out where these came from. No swimming that's for sure.

Meantime a public bus overturned during the storm and fell into a ravine 70 metres deep. Several people died and many injured. All jewish passengers. A Palestinian family braved the storm to come out and rescue the injured before the Israeli ambulances arrived.

Back in my community, the europeans are well-informed about the Lunar New Year. Everyone has been wishing me and Alberto our Indonesian student a happy new year. At lunch they wanted to know more about the lunar calendar and the zodiac ... many asking which year they were born. The sisters in the kitchen baked a cake and the superior asked me to cut it to celebrate the new year. It was nice ... the cake that is. For once the sisters baked a cake without nuts so I could eat it.

This morning in Jerusalem

Mind you today I was supposed to go to our Jaffa parish and serve as sacristan. But got an emergency call from the 3rd Station of the Cross sisters (Armenian Catholic Cathedral) saying they have no priest for the liturgy so I had to go there and preside, therefore having to cancel my service in Jaffa. Pity as I was looking forward to some quiet time there in the church. No class tonight at 4am so it would have been a restful night in Jaffa by the sea. Well I can ask for everything. I'll continue cleaning my room this afternoon ... and play with Buddy who's getting quite upset because I've not had time to play with him all week.

One upsetting thing during this new year is Trump's administrative order to stop refugees from 7 countries entering the US. It's dreadful. Jesus said "I was hungry and you fed me, homeless and you gave me shelter". Now there's a backlash from foreign govt. to corporate companies to the jewish people ... the people who knows what it was to be rejected and persecuted. They will not forget.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-seeks-to-explain-muslim-ban-in-flurry-of-calls-to-world-leaders/
and

Chinese New Year

New Year altar with card from Mum

Happy and Healthy New Year. Hope all that monkey business of the Monkey Year is gone and the Rooster will peck them away. This year I have no New Year goodies. No pineapple tarts, no Kweh Blandah, no shrimp rolls, no carrot cake (luo buo gao), no water-chestnut cake (ma tai gou) ... like the only festive thing I have for the New Year is mandarin oranges. So I've been eating mandarin oranges last night and today. Am having a fun time trying to teach Buddy to eat mandarin oranges. He dislikes the tangy taste.

Well yesterday evening was high drama ... which I didn't mention in yesterday's blog. I had only 45 minutes from finishing work and changing and preparing to go to Mandarin Restaurant for the Reunion dinner. It was a big rush. While getting my stuff together and rushing out of my room (remember there was a hailstorm), I discovered that I could't find my spectacles. I remembered distinctly that when I changed my shirt I took them off but now I could not find it. Searched the entire room for half an hour and was running late. Was very upset, frustrated and panicky. because of the hailstorm I had planned to keep my specs in its box instead of wearing it. But there was no specs in the box. Finally I decided to go without my specs. But not before washing my face first. Went to the toilet and looked into the mirror ... to see that I was wearing the specs all the time. Now I must be really getting old, or tired or both.

Hailstones in our
flower pots

It's 2 degrees today but the forecast says it feels like minus 3 degrees. And it does! Rain and drizzle alternating. Snow in the north and south of Jerusalem ... while hailstones still litter the gardens. The skies continue to be dark and grey. I have my 2 heaters on but it still feels cold in the room. Let's hope this will pass tomorrow. It's quite inconvenient in this weather to do anything but on the other hand, we need the rain to stop this drought.

Well though it's the New Year, I still have to work today. And it's Sabbat. I'll spend a few hours in the afternoon quietly in my room. It will feel a little different ... some relax time ... just to make it feel like it's the Chinese New Year back home.

Reunion Dinner

Alberto playing in the ice

Chinese New Year Eve ... and we're having a hailstorm. Temperatures dropped drastically. Now it's 2 degrees officially but it's actually zero degrees when the winds whip up. And the hail and graupel ... unbelievably powerful lashes of it. They strike the skin and hurt. And the grass are turning white with ice. The hail and graupel melt on the streets and pavements but on grass and soil, they remain covering the area. Our Indonesian student was excited and played around the ice. It is his first winter.

Reunion Dinner

We had our Reunion Dinner at Mandarin restaurant - we meaning the asian religious in Jerusalem. Nine of us in all. They are priests and sisters and one lay person coming from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Korea and Taiwan. We had to walk through the hailstorm to get to the restaurant. I was soaking wet, hands hurting from the hailstones, and suffered an asthma attack.

Ah Ling did a great dinner for us: dumplings, chicken soup, noodles ... things that were not on the menu. Everyone enjoyed it. Each racial group sang a song in its own language. It was a fun evening. Until we had to go home. The hailstorm was even heavier. The wind lashed the hail like stones were being thrown at us. We couldn't walk fast enough to get home, turn on the heaters and go right into bed.

Thus the Year of the Monkey ended.

Feast of Blessed Allegra

Damascus Gate steps
all wet and slippery

It's raining right now. It's cold and the streets are slippery. Just as forecast. Well the Chinese New Year will be wet. Perhaps it's a blessing. When it rains, there's never violence. Everyone stays home ... dry and warm. I just finished Eucharistic adoration and confessions at M. Teresa's sisters' convent ... 7pm when I looked out of the window and saw that it was raining. I had to go home in the shower ... which was pleasant in a way because we so rarely have rain. On the way home, I found soldiers and police huddling at many doorways with shelters. A police van came along to deliver hot drinks and dinner to them. I thought I needed one too.

Mass for Blessed Allegra

Today of course is the Feast of Blessed Gabriele Allegra. In Jerusalem, and in my house, he's remembered as a professor and scholar. We celebrated a commemoration Mass for him ... and the chinese sisters and chinese laity also came. We sang the Ave Maria in chinese during communion. Fr. Matthias, who is from the Studium Biblicum in China which was founded by Blessed Allegra, presided at the Mass.

In school, there was a small exhibition on the life and work of Blessed Allegra. Unfortunately not many students saw or will see it because term break just started yesterday. Too bad.

Yesterday as a result of so much rushing up and down the hill from one place to another (for 3 consecutive days) dealing with various postal problems and other urgent stuff, I hurt my sciatic nerve again. It was bad. I could not stand up straight. And I had to hobble home. Sleeping was impossible because of the pain. Because I was so tired, I didn't even think of spraying analgesic balm on my hamstrings. This morning though it was better. I can walk on flat ground. It's climbing stairs and slopes that hurts the back and legs.

3 days to CNY

Police horses and their trailers

Tensions continue to rise as news spreads that Israel will increase building more settlements in Palestine. There is a propaganda war on the Internet with Israel pushing out videos claiming sovereignty over Palestinian land, that Palestine never historically existed, that it is an israeli right to build and live in Palestine. I only hope dialogue and help resolve this, not violence from both sides of the divide. Meantime more stop-and-search are taking place throughout the City, vehicles still forbidden to traverse our streets in the Muslim Quarter (something I'm grateful for) ... and the Mounted Police have arrived. That is a sure sign that they expect problems. The horse trailers are parked opposite the Old City in a plot of land below Notre Dame. The horses are allowed to destress and acclimatise to the noise and smells of the City before they are brought into service in the streets.

One thing is I hope this tension will not dampen the Chinese New Year celebrations. Not that Israel ever celebrates it ... but for us chinese pats who want to celebrate, closure of roads, curfews and transport stoppages would not be pleasant.

And the weather promises to be cool if not cold during the CNY. Forecast is for rain on Friday night to Monday.

Prayer for Unity Week

Barren trees in the park

Police presence has been visibly stepped up today. All vehicles are now forbidden in our street (Via Dolorosa) except for residents'. Even tractors that bring in goods and vegetables to the shops are stopped. Only guys who push carts are allowed. Now that is a nice change for us ... less noise and danger in our narrow street in front of our door. And ... there're lots of stop-and-search at every police bloc. Well the reasons were mentioned in yesterday's blog. I dislike the tension that this creates. It feels so like something is going to give way ... and that's scary. Dialogue seems to be out of the equation. Anyway more news saying another 2,500 Israeli houses have been approved to be built in arab Palestine.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.767203

Tel Aviv skyline at dawn: like a
painting

This also dampens the lovely weather we're having today. It was 15 degrees and very sunny though the wind can be quite cold. Teenage guys were practicing parkour in the park while some families were picnicking under the trees. While some bedouin hawkers were tolerated inside Damascus Gate, I witnessed a man selling balloons having his boxes kicked over by 6 soldiers and told to leave. The poor guy was grabbing all his goods along the steps, stuffing them back into boxes while the 6 soldiers stood over him. Miserable and humiliating. Lots of arabs stood and watched silently. No one dared to help, no one dared to criticise. This is the beginning.

This week is Prayer for Unity Week and prayers are offered at different christian churches throughout the City. Yesterday was at the Armenian Orthodox Cathedral. Tonight it's at the Anglican Cathedral. Lots of people join in ... nuns who have nothing to do, priests who are curious at seeing other churches, and lots of lay people who go for the free refreshments. Nothing like a little free food and curiosity to unite people.

5 days to CNY

Rainbow over Andromeda's Rock

Another busy weekend has passed. I had to work in our other monastery in Jaffa because it's the Orthodox feast of the Baptism of Christ. Our Oriental Rite catholics follow the Julian Calendar so they also celebrate the feast day on Sunday with the Orthodox. In Jaffa 3 of our priests are Oriental Rite so they went to the River Jordan with their pastoral communities. The superior is on home leave and another had his family visiting. So no one at home. I had to go for the weekend to care for the sacristy as well as provide Masses at the various centers around the coast. It was very hectic but a nice change from Jerusalem.  And the weather was fantastic. A warm 18 degrees during the day. And there was a lovely rainbow over the Mediterranean Sea in the morning when I arrived.

On the local scene, tensions are rising day by day. Trump's push to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem is very very provocative and we're expecting violence in the next few days if reports progress. Then yesterday the Israeli govt. has gone ahead to approve building 566 houses in Palestinian land, with the eventual move to annex parts of Palestine. And the on-going demolition of arab homes is raising the ire now of Druze communities - traditionally the allies of Israel - because they too have been targeted. This will surely trigger more tensions. We're not looking forward to the coming days.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.766839

 The chinese restaurants here are preparing for the New Year. Both Mandarin and Mian have special dinners catered for the expatriate chinese communities in Jerusalem. There will of course be no public decorations as it will be deemed idolatry by the ultra-orthodox jews. Everything is kept indoors behind closed doors. It's such a different experience to be a minority in race and religion living in another country. Chinese New Year doesn't have that feel back in Asia ... not simply because  it's celebrated by a minority but because it's frowned upon and (sooner or later) condemned by the hosts.

One week before CNY

Awesome sunset

There was an amazing sunset this evening ... bunched clouds reflecting the red sun ... like grapes hanging in the sky. The weather was warm, about 18 degrees today. Nights are also quiet warm, about 8 degrees. I only had one heater on last night. And I noticed the sun rises early than before ... like about 5.40am. That means Spring is on its way.

It was just as well that the weather was fine because the Orthodox Churches just celebrated the Baptism of Christ a day ago. Traditionally all (Greek, Syrians, Copts, Armenians, Ethiopians) orthodox churches celebrate this feast at the River Jordan. A bishop blesses the river and throws a cross into it, symbolizing the baptism of Christ. People then jump into the water to search for it. The finder of the cross is believed to have good luck all year round. I think that's just superstitious, but I must say it's a miracle in itself that anyone could jump into the cold muddy filthy water and come out alive.  http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Christians-flock-to-Jordan-River-baptism-site-despite-landmines-478901?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=targetings-jp&utm_content=rss_news#0_5_5123_11169_954_86326960

It's one week before the Chinese New Year, and the forecast here is lots of rain. Well I guess that's a blessing for us. The fine warm weather now will turn cold and damp again. Let's hope it won't dampen the festive spirit here ... the few chinese living in Jerusalem. Billy has invited me to his restaurant for New Year hotpot ... but it'll depend on the weather. I'm not walking 2 km uphill in the rain for that.

I have no comments over Trump's becoming the President of the USA ... except that it's the reason why there is a heightened military presence in the City. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israeli-security-forces-predict-uptick-in-tensions-as-Trump-inauguration-looms-near-479072

Tensions have already been heightening before the Trump inauguration, when the Israeli authorities began demolishing bedouin houses to make way for a jewish settlement. Several killed and many injured in the skirmishes. Israeli arabs have now joined the protest as well. Arab shops and businesses have gone on strike to show solidarity.   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4909735,00.html

And then there is this damning editorial regarding the demolition and deaths:   http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.765915

Polish president pays a visit

The Polish president and his entourage are right now in our courtyard, paying a visit to the Custos. Israeli security is everywhere ... they first made a search of the entire building before other polish visitors (mostly nuns and priests as well as the Press) were allowed to come in. Well that doesn't bother me one bit except if they want to block my way from going to other offices to do my job.

My librarians & the E.A. team
working on a manuscript

And there's a lot to do in my job. Right now the "Endangered Archives" team form the British Library are here to digitalise our manuscripts before time takes its toll on the parchments and the  manuscripts are destroyed. It's a painstaking task, page by page photography and we have several hundred codices. The team also advise on how to conserve the manuscripts and try to do minor conservation whenever possible. We lack a lot of tools for proper conservation here in Israel. Buying equipment and accessories for conservation from Europe costs a lot of money.

The Min. of Health has issued a warning this morning that all shops selling coffee (espresso and the like) from machines must stop. That's because it's been discovered that the machines have a very high percentage of lead which is poisonous when drunk. Shops have started removing those machines and looking for alternative means to boil good coffee. But to ask Israelis and arabs to stop drinking coffee ... well it's impossible.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/health-ministry-stop-buying-coffee-lead-traces-found-in-machines/

This morning while walking to work, several policemen were accompanying a handcuffed arab to the police station. There's been a significant rise in police presence and stop-searches these few days. Not sure why though. But it's making the City tense and people unhappy. I'll keep out of the way.

News from Aleppo

Inside a chapel

We're just receiving images of the destruction caused by ISIS and other extremists in Aleppo ... churches and sacred images destroyed and burned. A group of our franciscan friars have gone there to survey the situation and reported the suffering in that city ... and not just in Aleppo but now also in Damascus. Rebels have cut off electricity and water in most parts of the city and poisoned the wells and springs so no natural water is available for drinking. Luckily it's snowing so the people can melt the snow for drinking. The situation is bad. Don't forget to pray for them and do your part in helping your fellow christians.

There's no snow in our part of the country ... and it was warm today ... about 15 degrees during the day. It will get warmer tomorrow ... forecast is 17 degrees. Nights are around 8 degrees. That's good. I can live with that. I've had only one minor asthma attack so far. But the shoulder continues to bother me.

Friars in the chapel

Military presence in the Old City has been stepped up after an arab youth was killed in one of the southern villages during a police raid. There was another attempted stabbing near the town of Tulkarm at the checkpoint today. Helicopters were flying really low this morning over the Old City. Let's hope all this violence would stop. It is doing no one any good.

Tourist groups have ground to almost a halt. That's usual in January, the low season of every year. Usually February is also low season due to the cold, rain and snow. But in recent years February is becoming crowded and many hotels and hospices reopen to receive guests. Groups are usually from Asia especially China ... people enjoying the Lunar New Year holidays. Let's hope lots of groups come this year. It'll help boost up the economy.

Israeli durians

Damascus Gate market back to
normal routine

Sunday passed so quickly I still am trying to get to terms with it. I planned to clean my room, keep the christmas decorations and do some reading. But none of it was realised. I was just rushing from one place to another at work. As I said in a previous blog, the Endangered Archives team from Europe is here to digitalise our very ancient and poorly conserved manuscripts ... some going back to the Medieval Ages. Most are huge and heavy antiphonaries and psalters used in the Holy Sepulchre or Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem; most have heavy wooden boards as covers, lined and studded with bronze. Two full grown men are required to carry one book. My injured right shoulder doesn't help.

The weather has gone very sunny again today. No dark clouds and overcast skies ... but still very cold. The fine weather has brought the hawkers back to Damascus Gate and the bustle of the Suq (market) brings back some life to an other quiet subdued weekend.

There was a piece of news in today's newspapers that ... well, I'm not sure to laugh or be shocked. A blunder at the police station ended with an issuance to a dead person that she can appeal against her cause of death, as investigations end. http://www.timesofisrael.com/cops-tell-dead-woman-she-can-appeal-cause-of-death/

Israeli durians?

And yesterday as I was out at the Filipino asian grocery, guess what I found in the freezer for sale? Durians!!! 3 pieces of frozen, de-seeded durians in each pack. And the package had hebrew ... hence I think Israel is now growing durians, as I heard about this several years back. Israel is already producing starfruit, soursops, lychees and mangos ... and the the local consumer is getting used to these exotic fruit. Now I'm really looking forward to rambutans and longans.

Well the rest of the week is going to be busy ... as far as I can see. The students are having their exams and the libraries are full of them studying and researching. Looks like I won't get a break these few weeks.

About chasubles

Beautiful chasuble
in silk and gold

Saturday ... this morning was so different from yesterday. It started very sunny and crisp ... but after lunch the skies darkened, drizzle started again and it looks as if temperatures will drop. It's been 8 degrees the past few hours. And getting colder. I've had another early morning: 6am at work moving manuscripts, 7.15am Mass inside the Empty Tomb of Christ for the migrant community of Jaffa then immediately after, a bible class with the same group. When they left, it was again moving manuscripts, then rushing to the other library to work till lunch time. Total exhaustion.

While at the Holy Sepulchre sacristy, the sacristan was laying out an exquisite baroque chasuble. It was hand-embroidered in gold-thread. Made in Spain. A spanish cardinal was coming to preside Mass and the sacristan prepared this for him to vest. There're not many people who know how to hand-embroider liturgical vestments anymore ... let alone in gold.

Little girl trying on new
shoes. Note the string hold-
ing up her sock.

Got some good news from Damascus. Sr. Munira who works in the St. Vincent de Paul hospital there called to thank for the kind donation that helped the sisters buy medicine, food and clothing for the refugee syrians at their hospital grounds. The children were given winter clothes and shoes to stay warm in this bitter cold. Sr. Munira sent photos as well. Meantime a local newspaper ran an article about israeli youths who took the initiative to collect used clothes from the neighbourhood to be donated to the syrian refugees. It was one of the largest national actions ... and it says a lot especially when syrians are not considered the best of friends of the Israelis.   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4907188,00.html

Weekend begins

Damascus Gate all wet with drizzle

It suddenly started to drizzle from midnight to early morning. Without traffic pollution at that hour, the smell of drizzle falling on the cold grass and stone pavements is something most of us have rarely experienced in this drought ridden land.

I had another very early morning work schedule. 5am I had to go up to the other library to prepare some 20 manuscripts (some are over a meter in height and weights a good 30 kg) for the team from the British Library to digitalise. They start work early at 7.30am but I must get the manuscripts out before that, otherwise I won't be able to make it back to the university library at 7.30am to open it to the students. It's up and down hill on the very slippery slopes of the City.

One piece of good news yesterday. Some Old Boys from my Secondary School have managed to save the Cross that was dismantled from the entrance and handed it over to the school administration at its new premise. It's a nice thought. Thousands of us boys have passed beneath the Cross to get to and out of school. It means a lot to us, even for the non-christian students.

Billy's pear soup

Yesterday Billy and his wife boiled some nice chinese soup for me to keep warm. There were pears, chinese figs, carrots, snow fungus ... lots of other stuff. It felt good drinking it in this cold wet weather. Billy and his wife run the cantonese noodle shop "Mian" opposite the Chinese Sisters' convent in the Mamilla neighborhood. The pears however were local ones, not the chinese sand pears which would have made the soup a lot more home-like. But no complaints. It's already a blessing to have soup made like that; and people who care enough to share their food.

It's Friday and military presence is again high in the streets. Trump's insistence on shifting the American embassy to Jerusalem is causing a lot of tension here. But being so dramatic and unpredictable, he might just change his mind at the last minute.

Built over memories

Syntagma Square in Athens with
ceremonial guards

The cold continues to bite us ... 2 degrees in the nights and just around 8 degrees during the day. The cold snap has overtaken Europe with Greece and Turkey snowed under. It's amazing the photos coming in of snow in the beaches of the Greek islands ... snow and sea pushing each other at the shoreline. Incredible.

Anyway it's strange that the snow never got further than Turkey. In our part - the eastern Levant - there is no rain, only cold winds. We hope this will pass soon. What we really need is the rain. The drought looms over us this summer and water prices and taxes are rising.

Been receiving news and photos of the demolition of my Alma Mater - St. Gabriel's Secondary School. Sad. The cross over the main gateway was removed yesterday. Many Old Boys were there to photograph and video it. Later in the week the gateway itself will be knocked down, and then the entire school. It has to make way for a highway. Development takes precedence. I remember a Charlie Brown cartoon where Snoopy returns to his birthplace "The Daisy Mill puppy farm" only to find a shopping mall and carpark built in its place. Snoopy shouts "You've built over my memories".

Full moon over St.
Louis hospital at
3am

Right now I've been in the cold, outside New Gate, waiting for a group of Polish professors. They took a night flight but because of the heavy snow their flight was delayed. They could arrive anytime between 4am to 6am ... I think. Anyway I've been in the street since 3am. They're boarding at our hostel "Maria Bambina" but because of the early hours, no one (the nuns in charge) will wake up to open the door for them. The nuns gave me the keys and I have to bring the group in. Poor me. It's cold out here in the street ... but the full moon is amazing. In the silent streets, the moon dominates your attention while no one, not a sound is heard.

There's an interesting report that in 15 years, China will have the world's largest number of christians. Wow. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10776023/China-on-course-to-become-worlds-most-Christian-nation-within-15-years.html

Extreme cold

Empty street at Municipality Square

It's possibly the coldest day today this winter ... even though it's 8 degrees. Weather forecasts all say it's extremely cold ... and it really is. Lots of people are wrapped in (artificial) fur hats, hoods and earmuffs. Most people are wearing gloves and scarves. It is unbelievable. And this bitter cold winter is hitting Europe hard .... even in the Greek islands where snow seldom if ever falls. The world famous sunny beaches of Mykonos and Santorini are snowed over. Incredible pictures are being posted on the internet of snow throughout Greece.

Yesterday we saw one of the worse terrorist attacks ever in Jerusalem: a truck ramming into a group of soldiers, killing 4 and injuring 15. It had all the looks similar to Nice and Berlin. Horrific. It is difficult to identify such attackers because they seem to work alone ... and intelligence is not available on non-organised acts. Let's hope this is the last. It's not coming to anything positive. Everyone is a loser.

Don't be fooled by
the bright sun - it's
freezing cold

Tel Aviv has lost it's iconic fountain at Dizengoff Square. This Square is above the busy roads below and had become a landmark to the White City (the local nickname of Tel Aviv). Many people went to take photos of it before it was demolished yesterday afternoon.

Healthwise my shoulder still hurts very much. I guess the cold is partly to blame. My 2 small heaters are insufficient and I'm using 3 blankets to cover up at night. The asthma is not as severe but I still have attacks everyday. I was in a bit of panic the other day when I ran out of Telfast (my allergy medicine) and the only pharmacy opened at that hour had no stock of it. Next time I'll have to buy several boxes to keep as reserve so that if they run out on a public holiday, I won't have to panic.

Epiphany

The chinese sisters have now been officially gazetted in the Diocese of Jerusalem. They are now an official part of the Holy Land mission, and they come under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. That's good news ... all possible because of your support and prayers.

Basking in the sun at Damascus Gate

The sun is up again but the wind continues to be bitterly cold. It is however great weather for a walk. I noticed the Spring bulbs are all sprouting vigorously in this weather ... especially the tulips. They need this cold snap to get them going. Despite the cold, lots of locals and tourists take advantage of the sun, basking along the parks and steps of Damascus Gate ... eating a falafel pitta, drinking coffee and of course, updating their Facebook.

The case of an israeli soldier shooting dead a wounded arab terrorist has divided the country. It's another moment of the israeli implosion ... and this time it is very serious.  The military court found the soldier guilty of killing an incapacitated criminal but the opposition to the verdict was/is not only loud but dangerous. Locals feel the soldier should be exonerated, and there had been incitement of violence against the judges, the govt. ministers etc .... Justice stands second place to nationalism. To the nationalists, the soldier is a hero. In response, a demonstration was organised to confront this violent implosive nationalist movement. Former military chiefs rally support to defend the Defense minister and judges are given security guards. As expressed by an official, the worry is not just about the safety of govt. officials but about the whole country, where it is heading when the judicial system is not independent but should tag along popular demands. Event the PM has supported exonerating the soldier, implicitly  expressing displeasure with the judges. The country is torn apart and violence is incited by jews against other jews. This is a sad prelude to further disaster.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4904425,00.html

Another must-read article on this subject written by a parent:  http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/i-will-not-turn-the-other-cheek/

Grandma's bowls from a bygone era

Leaving aside this ominous saga in the public domain, personal life continues trudging along. Yes there were a few hours of break for Christmas and the New Year, but even then I had gone to work in the nights. There has not been one day that I have not worked ... which tells you how much there is to be done. My sciatica and right shoulder continue to hurt ... much more these days because of the cold. The past 2 nights were quite sleepless due to the pain. But one consolation: my cousin can on a pilgrimage and brought me some memos of my grandma: a few porcelain bowls from which we as kids used to eat from whenever we were at her house. It's nice to remember the old days and keep the memories.

Back again

I've been having problems uploading my blogs the past few days. Don't know why. Anyway things look like they're back to normal again so hopefully today's blog gets uploaded.

Ethiopic rite Christmas Mass

Today the Orthodox churches are celebrating Christmas. It's usually a week after ours, because they follow the Julian calendar. That means it falls on our Latin rite Feast of Epiphany.  Bethlehem therefore is double crowded with latin and orthodox christians ... all celebrating Nativity mysteries. Security has been extra tight as a result ... both in Jerusalem as well as in Bethlehem. Israel is touting itself as having the tallest Christmas tree in the Middle East, and christians having the greatest freedom to celebrate their faith. Well, yes and no. Lebanon is much more christian ... with some 40% of the population as Maronite Catholics. There they do not have rabbis banning christmas trees or carols or lights because it's idolatrous; but neither do they have muslims threatening to chop off christian heads if they celebrated Christmas. This year in Israel and Palestine, many muslims came to see the christmas lights, taking photos and generally having fun on this holiday. Secular jews too are doing the same.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/watch-christmas-in-israel-25802

The Custos in mitre

I was at our Jaffa community today to help out at the Epiphany - Christmas celebrations. First there was the Ethiopic Catholic rite celebration which was very colourful and different. Huge traditional drums were beaten, the choir was dancing in rhythm to the chants. Fr Medhin the celebrant had a wonderful voice that wove between the mesmerising haunting chants of the people. Later I went to our Ukrainian Catholic Mass further down the street. It was equally crowded as the Ethiopic Mass. The Unkrainian catholics follow the Byzantine rite which is very restraint. But their chanting is very harmonious, usually in 4 voices ... which sounds a lot better than Greek chanting.

I noticed in some photos published in our circular newsletter of the Custos presiding at the Christmas Mass in Bethlehem. He was wearing the mitre for the first time I guess as Custos. That's because the Custos has been the ordinary of the Holy Land ever since the Patriarch fled when the muslims conquered the Land 700 years ago. Though not consecrated as bishop, the Custos functioned as one until only 100 years ago when the patriarchate was re-established in Jerusalem. However the secular powers (both muslim and jewish) continue to recognise the Status Quo which deems the Custos as the ordinary of the Holy Land, so the Custos retains the privileges such as wearing the bishop's mitre and pectoral cross.

Midweek

Damascus Gate this morning ... wet

The bright cold weather yesterday turned dark and gloomy today. It even started to drizzle ... and continued to drizzle right through the night. I had to go to work up at the other library at 5pm but climbing up the hill was difficult. The streets were so wet and slippery ... I was in constant fear of falling and breaking a limb. Now if that's scary ... coming home downhill is a nightmare. Everyone I met along the road was walking gingerly, holding on to handrails when there were, others holding on to each other for support.

Inside Damascus
Gate: hawkers brave
the drizzle

This wet weather has caused some minor flooding in the Old City. Drains used to being dry for 11 months a year ... for the past 10 years, are stuffed with dirt, garbage and grime. Rainwater cannot flow through so flooding occur in the streets. This evening Municipality drainage teams are opening the drainage manholes, cleaning and flushing out all the stoppage so rain water can flow as it should. Problem is they leave the manholes opened right down the street ... in the night, where in our Quarter the street lights are very very poor. I'm just hoping no one falls into one ... especially the little children who play in the streets. It's a tragedy just waiting to happen.

We're expecting colder weather this weekend. Tentative forecast is 2 degrees minimum and 8 degrees maximum. Sunday would see lots of rain and graupel ... perhaps snow in Bethlehem. But please ... no snow in Jerusalem. I'm not ready to shovel snow from the terrace.

The oil spill off Singapore waters is a catastrophe. You read about it in other countries but now its on Singapore's shores. No more swimming, no more seafood, expect a lot of sea life to die. I wonder what the S'pore govt. is doing about it.

Feast of the Holy Name

The New Year begins with a series of strikes here. Today teachers from secondary, primary schools and kindergartens have gone on strike over their salary. It's been a very very long dispute and we're not sure it'll be resolved. Then tomorrow bus drivers are on a whole-day no-work strike. This will affect the entire country ... especially soldiers travelling long distances. Let's hope everything gets resolved.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4902129,00.html  and  http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Egged-strike-planned-for-Jerusalem-Wednesday-477253

Wet, cold night

The weather is still freezing ... between 4 to 9 degrees during the day. Tonight it'll drop to 2 degrees I think. It drizzled all night and the skies, even in the night, is a heavy grey with rain clouds reflecting the street lights.

Last night Johannes invited the 5 of us chinese out for an early Chinese New Year dinner at Mandarin Restaurant. He's retuning home for the celebrations in a few days time, and Sr. Marie Ann will also be returning next week. It's been a very long time since I was at Mandarin's. The food is still good but the prices have gone up. The cooks are still the same but the waiters have changed. It was nice to get together as a chinese catholic community. Everyone is usually so busy, we have little chance of meeting up. In the cold wet weather, the hot "lao huo" soup, dumplings and rice were very welcome. Thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact I think I ate a little too much. Had to go for a little 2 km walk to digest the dinner. The streets in Ben Yehudi Mall were crowded with people despite the drizzle. Of course one fear at the back of my mind was slipping on the wet smooth paving stones. I almost did fall on my way home but I managed to catch myself. The younger guy in front of me was less lucky.

Despite the rains, the Sea (Lake) of Galilee remains well below the red line. It's not good because in a few weeks the raining season will end and drought will be declared, and water prices and taxes will rise. It's the poor people who will suffer most.  http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Lake-Kinneret-water-level-remains-remarkably-low-477275

And one sad news for us asians ... the creator of Lao Fu Zi cartoons died yesterday. He was 93 years old!

2nd day of 2017

Divided skies

It's barely 5 degrees right now at 1.30pm. The sun is shining brightly but the wind is so cold, it's freezing. The sky was strangely divided into 2 parts ... the south was sunny but the north was covered by dark clouds. It was ominous ... like a premonition of what 2017 has in store for us. Light and darkness in a battle ... the line was very clear in the sky. Terrifying sight to see.

Israel and Palestine continue with the working week ... the western New Year is not celebrated here because there's the autumn Jewish and Muslim new years. As a result, most christians who can afford, go overseas to celebrate. That ranges from going to Tel Aviv or Eilat, to Greece and Turkey where New Year is celebrated. That happened to the christian 18 yr olds - israeli arab christians - who were injured (one killed) in the Turkish club 2 nights back. Christians are targets of these muslims whenever they celebrate their feasts ... it's like shooting fish in a barrel. Easy targets because they're all gathered together in one place, all dressed unlike muslims, They're too easily identifiable.

Yesterday Haaretz newspaper carried an article about the wild mynah birds that have suddenly flourished in our parks. It was something I noticed in the past 2 years. They're invasive and destroy the local fauna. In fact they are so agile and intelligent, they have reduced the crow invasion by eating their their eggs and nestlings. That was what the crows were doing to the local birds. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/science/.premium-1.762316

Emoticon flipflops

And another bad news for the new year: Israel is deporting children of migrant workers; they may be born here and educated here but they have no status, so they will be deported to their parents' home country which the children know nothing about, nor relatives whom they know.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/children-of-foreign-workers-to-be-deported-25648

Sounds like a bad start to 2017. Well to add a smile despite it all, I saw  in Jaffa Street a tiny shop selling emoticon flip-flops. Very cute. Couldn't help laughing when I snapped a photo of it.

New Year's Day

Sunrise on New Year's Day

2017 has started ... I'd wish you all a Happy New Year ... except that I'm pretty cynical. Each year  that I've seen has been no better than the last ... with the same problems or even worst. But lest I dampen the spirit, let niceties be and "Happy New Year".

For starters yesterday I had a bad allergy reaction. I was offered a chocolate which I reluctantly accepted because most chocolates contain some race of nuts. Though I was told there are no nuts in it, just one bite and out came a hazelnut cream soft-centre. I spat it out immediately but damage was done. My hands were swollen and itchy, and so was the rest of my body. Eyes were red and swollen, tongue swollen and I couldn't breathe. Luckily there was a seminarian who stayed with me for a while. Being Sabbath and also Hanukkah, getting a taxi to hospital would have been a very big hassle and expensive. I took my medicine and Epipen ... and the reaction slowly faded in 4 hours. And Coca-cola was a big help too. What a way to end the year.

Jaffa Gate and the hanukkia

Anyway I was in my office till 10.30pm when I felt much better and could safely walk home alone. It was very cold ... about 3 degrees. But I decided to walk instead to Jaffa Gate to see the lights of Hanukkah and perhaps fireworks at midnight to welcome the New Year. There was a large crowd of tourists, locals and ultra-orthodox jews in the Jaffa Gate Plaza, watching the audio-visual on the City Wall. There was also a giant hanukkia at the Gate.

I remained there till midnight, hoping to see the fireworks that are usually stationed at Sultan's Pool down in the Gehenna Valley. Many other people were waiting as well. But nothing happened. This year there was no fireworks. Everyone went home disappointed.

As I was only just recovering from my allergic reaction, I walked home very slowly and cold. That was when I felt very cynical. Nothing good has happened to me, not last year, nor the years before, so why should the new year be any different?