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.