Friday

Bedouin women
hawking veggies
at El Wad street

Friday passed with no violence but the atmosphere was very tense in the Muslim Quarter and all over East Jerusalem. Military presence was heavy. Even 2 police were despatched to guard our Way of the Cross at 4pm today. In the morning there was a marked drop in tourists and locals walking down the street. But in the afternoon crowds of muslims came to pray in the Al Aqsa Mosque, Catholics made the Way of the Cross and Jews began to gather towards the Wailing Wall. For 3 hours El Wad street, shared by all 3 religions, was packed and police were at every angle ... then it was all over and the street was silent again. Only the soldiers remained.

Bedouin women continue to sell veggies along El Wad street although occasionally soldiers chase them away. They sit on both sides and the middle of the street and thus impede the soldiers from running when chasing suspects. And in case of a riot or stampede, these women will be trampled. However its their livelihood to sell the few shekels of veggies each day otherwise their families will have no food. Most of their menfolk work in the fields to plant the veggies and their wives bring them into the city for sale.

Wild chamomile

My heart is still very weak and I tire easily. Today I had to work in our university library and then i had to walk to school to return the exam results. It's 2 kms away uphill and I was very tired when I reached it. I had to make 2 stops along the way in the park. At the Park there were huge masses of wild chamomille. Imagine having to pay US$3 for a pack of chamomile to boil tea when here you can pick the flowers, dry them and make tea ... all free of charge. On the way home I stopped at the Salesian chapel and joined the Ethiopic Catholics make the Way of the Cross. They sing very well. It was beautiful.

Tomorrow I have class but also work in the library. I'll have to juggle the hours ... this is one of the main causes of my ill health: I have some many things happening at the same time and need run from one to another and back. It's physically and psychologically exhausting. Unfortunately there are people who think I have nothing to do everyday ... just waiting by the computer, drinking coffee and chitchatting. Get real people. You won't want to share one hour of my life.

Violence at Damascus Gate

Sunny day for picnic in the park

Yesterday at about 4pm an arab woman about 50 yrs old was shot dead at Damascus Gate for apparently trying to stab police. Her son was wrongly shot and killed by police a year before ... being mistaken for a terrorist. And we guess the mother's grief was too much to bear so she went toward the police with a pair of scissors. People in the streets are saying it was a suicide attempt. It's not the first time. 2 years back when the stabbings began, many young girls were shot dead for carrying knives and threatening police and soldiers though never actually stabbing them. They were trying to escape from forced marriages or abusive husbands and so decided to end their lives this way.

Well because of this, our Quarter was locked down. City Gates were closed. No one could go in or out for over an hour. It's a price we who live in this area have to pay for the acts of individuals. We in the Old City want to live in peace, to live normal lives. But everytime someone from outside comes in to cause trouble, we are the ones who pay the price.

Arabs confront Israeli police

The weather is warm and sunny and many people were picnicking at Damascus Gate Park ... and you won't know that just 50 meters down there was violence. Today police tried to clear Damascus Gate of hawkers and a confrontation ensued with the local arabs. I was walking to M. Teresa's convent for adoration and confessions when I saw it. I decided to quickly get away as I don't want to be caught up in the middle of a fight.

The tension between the 2 peoples have been running undercurrent for some time and perhaps now it's erupting. An israeli talk show host spelled out the reasons for this tension. I'm not sure if a majority of israelis would share this view ... but you watch it and make up your mind.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.774663

Solemnity of the Flagellation / Crowning of Thorms

Today is the commemoration of the Flagellation and Crowning of Thorns; the friars will make a pilgrimage to our Chapel of the Flagellation/Crowing of Thorns to sing solemn Vespers and celebrate solemn Mass. This is part of an ancient tradition here in the Holyland where every Wednesday of Lent the friars make a pilgrimage to a sanctuary that commemorates the Passion of Christ. First Wednesday is at Dominus Flevit chapel, 2nd at Getsemani, 3rd at the Flagellation and 4th at the Condemnation chapel. We don't expect a large crowd because the Chapel is really small and most people will have to sit in the courtyard.

Chapel of the Capuchin Monastery

The previous evening I was invited for dinner at the Capuchin Monastery. I've never been there before and had some trouble finding the place. Luckily I met a Notre Dame sister along the road and she pointed the direction to me. It's not really very far ... as I had thought ... about 3 kms from my house. The new superior is a Tamil and we had known each other last year when he first arrived and we worked together for the Indian chaplaincy. The "monastery" is actually a complex of 5 buildings with several patches of gardens. It was acquired over 100 years ago by a Lebanese capuchin friar but the British converted it into a prison during the 1st World War. When the State of Israel was founded, the Israeli govt. converted it into a lunatic asylum. It was only 10 years ago that it was restituted to the Capuchins. They renovated the main building and it's gorgeous ... a pilgrim hostel. The chapel is also very modern in style.

There was quite a crowd for dinner because several other religious were also invited for dinner. It was a farewell to Jose Angel, a capuchin who is being transferred to Puerto Rico. We had a nice time  meal, chatted and then I walked home thereafter at 10pm.

Yesterday there was a country wide demonstration by ultra-orthodox jews against compulsory military draft. It was massive ... and in some cities it got very violent. The ultra-orthodox consider zionists, the State of Israel and the army as its enemies.     http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-of-ultra-orthodox-take-to-streets-in-mass-anti-draft-protest/
and   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4941933,00.html

Then this morning a soldier made a wrong turn and drove into an arab village. He was stoned and was saved by some other arab villagers. It only shows how tense the atmosphere is between the 2 peoples. No one should take for granted the peaceful atmosphere we seem to experience in the cities. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4942104,00.html

Sinai is on red alert

The report on the renovation of the Holy Sepulchre (actually the Empty Tomb) has finally be published and an abbreviated version with lots of pictures was given to our library. In the section presenting the history of the Empty Tomb, there is a very interesting illustrated chart which I've posted below. For the first time it's been clearly explained and we can now understand the different layers of stone better. It's fantastic.

Blocking highways seem to be the trend these days: ultra-orthodox blocked Highway ! because of the arrest of one of their kind for evading military service, workers blocking the same highway because their contracts are not secure, now we have workers from the Haifa chemical plant blocking the highway because the company is threatened by environmentalists and residents with closure.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4941663,00.html

Israel this morning issued the highest alert possible on the Sinai Peninsular. Absolute no go for anyone during this Easter and Pesach season. However the Salesian Seminary College will go ahead with an excursion there despite Israeli warnings. I think it's too risky and so does every religious here in Jerusalem and Cairo. I just hope it's not a mistake they'll live to regret.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israelis-warned-of-increased-ISIS-threat-abroad-ahead-of-Passover-holiday-485312

Roly Keating CEO
of the British
Library at our
library

Yesterday the CEO of the British Library came to pay us a visit ... with an entourage from the Library as well as directors of the Israeli National Library and the Museum. It was an honor. The British Library is very prestigious and has helped us in the digitalization of our ancient archives. I hope the collaboration will continue further.

Meantime my back is less painful as I managed to sleep 4 hours last night. It was a rest that my aching back needed. The asthma so far is under control. The weather as well is getting warmer. I still do get dizzy spells and nausea but not as often or strong as last week. Perhaps the retreat I made last Saturday was what I needed ... retreat from Jerusalem and work and lots of nasty people who give me problems.

Of planes and pastries

Cathay Pacific landed its first aircraft in Israel today. With flights from 2 companies (El Al and Cathay) now direct from Hong Kong to Israel, we expect more tourists this summer. Asia is where the money lies ... and the tourist industry is not going to let this slip by especially now that tourism from Europe and America has slipped to a very low point.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4940848,00.html

Delicious pastries
from Qadosh

It's Monday again ... and today is especially tough for me because it's my turn to preside at the community Mass. With lessons ending at 6am and Mass at 6.30am I barely have 15 mins to rush to church and prepare the altar and other stuff. And being Monday it's also laundry day so I have to pack the laundry bag at that time before it's transported to our laundry in another part of town. Everything to be done in 15 mins. No wonder my poor heart is taking a beating from all this.

Yesterday I went out to the New City for a walk ... actually to accompany our Indonesian friar to buy a pair of pants. He didn't know where to get one. Along the way we stopped by Qadosh, an established bistro which is famous for it's pastries as well. I just had to go in and take a picture of their famous tarts and biscuits. They're all freshly baked; none of the frozen stuff that most restaurants offer.

Last night I had to rush off to the Chinese Sisters convent as they had some important news for me: their Superior General and her council had met an accident on the highway in Hebei. They had been to another part of the province for the solemn profession of vows by one of their sisters. On the way home the car skidded and fell some 100 m. down the slope. Luckily no one was killed but everyone was injured and are in hospital.

My back is hurting very much today. I think it's because of carrying my heavy backpack everywhere I go. In this strange weather, I must carry an extra jumper because temperatures may fall 10 degrees within minutes; then I must carry all my medicines with me. They don't seem heavy but they actually do.

4th Sunday of Lent

Celebrating the
Sacred Liturgy at
the Armenian
Catholic cathedral

It's the 4th Sunday of Lent. I didn't go to the Vigil at the Holy Sepulchre as I returned home from retreat very tired. I slept for several hours till about 3am when I woke up ... not because of asthma which I have not had since I changed my medicine  ... but because it was cold. One of my heaters had broken down after 4 years of use. And with only one other heater working, the room remains quite chilly during the nights.

Instead I presided the Surp Badarak or armenian liturgy at the 3rd Station of the Cross this morning ... as I have been doing throughout this month. Offered the Mass for all of you there. The armenian families are returning since I started presided because I celebrate the Mass partly in armenian and the laity wanted that.  The other priest who usually celebrates the Mass does it in italian which no one except the 2 nuns understand. Even some of the families bring their children along. It's good to see them coming back to Church. And I have rounded up my students from the Salesians and White Fathers' seminaries to come and help. I've taught them to sing in armenian, and 2 serve as my acolytes and 2 others as lectors. They enjoy it very much.

Our Custody has posted a news online about its housing project and how your Good Friday offering helps in this. Many catholic families too poor to own a house will be given free apartments.  https://cmc-terrasanta.org/en/video/a-house-for-the-christians-of-the-holy-land-12659.html

Israel has turned its clocks to daylight saving. But Palestine isn't. And it's just across the road. 2 time zones just several metres apart. Tourists visit Israel at one time zone but when they enter Bethlehem or Jericho they must switch an hour back because their meals are served at Palestinian time, and so are the Masses.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.779320

And the Tourist ministry has reported today that chinese tourists have jumped 69% and they are spending also 69% more each day than tourists from any other country. The chinese are keeping the tourist industry afloat.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4940337,00.html

Annunciation Feast Retreat

Fr. Dharma preaching the retreat

I decided to go on my Lenten retreat today, Solemnity of the Annunciation,  as I had missed our community retreat 2 weeks ago due to work. It was a last minute thing but it was a good choice. it took place at our parish of St. Anthony in Jaffa. Fr. Dharma our assistant chaplain to the Indian community preached the retreat. It was simple but good. Something a franciscan friar should do .... not like those super intelligent professors who do mental gymnastics and use fanciful words which no one but themselves understand.

There were about 30 participants mainly filipinos and africans. The high gothic style church  is magnificent, And the man stained glass windows made the church look very elegant. Across the street the Greek Catholic Church hosted the Indian community retreat ... there were thousands. One capuchin preached while 3 others were listening to confessions. The queues stretched all round the church garden. It was fantastic. After that the capuchins had to go to Haifa (120 km) for the afternoon retreat; and tomorrow they go to Tiberias (90 km) and Kiryat Shemona (120 km) near the Lebanese border. They have a lot of work to do.

Stained glass
window of St.
Antony of Padua

Back at St. Anthony's, there was also recitation of the Franciscan Crown - the 7 decade rosary of the 7 joys of Mary -  and the Way of the Cross. After that I went to St. Peter's Church down the road to spend some quiet time. It was on this day over 25 years ago that I was ordained ... and I celebrated Mass alone in the Crusader chapel ... lots of quiet time to reflect.

After that i went out to be with my jewish friends selling their wares at the church plaza. I helped Bar sell nuts and it was a great success today. Next stall was Rudy my great buddy and next to him was Meir's stall ... his son Ben always calls me "ahi" in hebrew meaning "my brother". That's usually a term used by jews for fellow jews. Well actually Rudy also calls me that ... as also the security guys in front of my house in Jerusalem. They consider me one of them. No wonder some of the arabs hate me. There's one arab man near the Austrian hospice who always calls me "jewish dog" whenever I pass by. I know one day one of the arabs will stab me because of my friendship with jews. But I have no regrets nor am I intimidated. I am a friend of everyone.

At St. Peter's there was one of our students taking a 4 day break from school. Being the Sabbath, there was no cook in the monastery so we both went down to the Town center to buy some food ... it was already 3.30pm. We had a nice chat ... not as student and professor but as confreres. It was nice to be away from the academic atmosphere in Jerusalem.

Weekend starts

Loquats 

Daylight saving started last night. We lost one hour of sleep ... but those working night shifts like my friend working in security had a hour less to work. I had a very tiring day yesterday so I went to sleep as soon as I got home from work.

My heart still isn't very good and today I still had hand tremors, sweaty palms, a painful chest and constant fatigue. Also dizziness. I had to go out of my office to get some fresh air. And I was holding on to my heart attack spray all day. It feels so awful. Thankfully the weather was good and sunny ... 15 degrees though it feels very cold in the shade. When I felt better I went to my other office to finish another job. A student came to get advice about writing his thesis and I also had to deal with some issues faced by poor families who were threatened of being evicted for not paying the rent. Landlords are aware that the economic situation is getting worse and are demanding 6 months rent in advance but many families cannot afford that. Eviction is in order. I had to help out one bad case where a single-mother, bedridden with cancer, with 4 children (eldest is 17 yrs old in school) was threatened with eviction. Things don't look good for many other families this summer.

In a bizarre twist, the series of bomb threats to Jewish Community Centers around the world have been traced to one teenager who was arrested ... here in Israel, a fellow Jew at that. Leftwing newspapers are asking if he will be tried as anti-semitic since that was the accusation when the culprit was not yet known.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.779087

On the other hand, Israeli humanitarian groups have started a school in Greece for Syrian refugees. It's a great gesture and honestly, Israeli groups have done much to help Syrians during this war, especially in the medical field.   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4939967,00.html

And back to bizarre, a brawl broke out when Israeli police - jewish and arab - got into a fight during a karaoke competition when one of them started singing in arabic.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.778600

News is out that Israel will evacuate thousands of residents in the northern border should a war break out with Lebanon. It's the easier option than making residents run to bomb shelters everyday.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Govt-prepared-to-evacuate-hundreds-of-thousands-from-northern-border-in-a-war-484926

My freesias are
in bloom

The Spring festival "Sounds of the Old City" ended yesterday and I was only aware of it today. That explained the concert at Tsahal Square I saw on Wednesday night on my way home. Didn't miss anything as I don't feel well enough to have seen it anyway. But what I won't miss is the loquats growing now throughout the country. originating from China they were probably introduced to the Middle East centuries ago via the Silk Road. They are delicious in the hot summer weather.

Doctor needs doctor

At the Emergency Clinic last night

Yesterday I was feeling quite sick ... must be the heart as I had no strength to walk. There was a heaviness over the chest. I called my doc and he came after work from Tel Aviv (60 km away). But as he alighted from the Light Rail he tripped and fell, breaking his left forearm. I was up in the clinic at that time but he managed to call me with his right hand. I rushed down to the main street below ... and it wasn't difficult to find him because 3 mobile emergency units (motorbikes) were racing up the road. When I reached him the 3 medics were testing his arm to see how severely injured he was. They put it in a sling and told him to get to the closest hospital as soon as possible as he had refused an ambulance. Being a stranger to Jerusalem, he didn't know where the closest Kupat Holim clinic was, so I had to bring him there. That's 4 stations away by the Light Rail. The Kupat Holim is one of the main health insurance agencies here, and they have their own clinics (even emergency units) but not hospitals. It's meant to help relieve the load of patients in the hospitals, and only those holding Kupat Holim insurances can use it because the insurance covers it.

Concert at Tsahal Square last night

Well I was with him for 4 hours from 6pm to 10pm. When his girlfriend came from Tel Aviv, I went home. I walked over 4 kms back home, very hungry and still ill as no doctor had attended to me (I'm not a Kupat Holim holder). Halfway home I saw the "Thai" restaurant still opened so I bought a plate of fried rice to eat. It was almost midnight when I got home. Utterly exhausted. Anyway I called my doc today to see how he is. He's back in Tel Aviv in hospital and he may need surgery. Well I can only say how lucky he is because had he fallen when a train was passing, that would have been it.

Billy and his wife were calling me all evening because they had boiled herbal soup and wanted me to pick it up. I only managed to go this afternoon to get it. They were very kind and gave me rice as well as they saw I was tired and hungry. I still have to teach 2 hours now and later 2 hours more of adoration and confessions with the nuns. Its a tiring day. Hopefully I can go straight to sleep tonight. No more drama .... please. Enough for one day.

Mother's Day

Flowers for sale on Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day in Palestine. Flower shops are plying their flowers all along the streets. Kids are buying bunches of flowers for 10 shekels to bring home to their mothers. The school opposite our house is having a party ... everyone is in the quadrangle, singing and dancing. Well most families are too poor to really celebrate so the schools help. Most mothers are at work anyway so they'll only see their children in the evenings. But a little joy is always welcome in this sad tragic world.

More news coming in that Israel admitted to bombing convoys of missiles in Syria. It's necessary that's for sure. But it also raises tensions in our northern borders. And internally tensions are also rising over as Hamas threatens to attack israelis during the Passover holidays. Now the jewish Passover coincides with ours so we too will be affected, if not as collateral casualties of Hamas attacks, then victims of road blocks and body-searches by the Israeli police.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/shin-bet-head-warns-hamas-will-target-israelis-during-passover-27337

As Easter approaches, christians in Syria and Iraq try to return to their towns and villages. Those who succeed find themselves among ruins ... their homes and churches destroyed by islamists. It's so sad but that is the reality of the Cross. While the rest of us pray the Way of the Cross in the luxury of churches this Good Friday, there will be thousands who will do so walking in the mud, among the debris, in rain and snow, cold, wet and hungry. They are the truly blessed ... who suffer persecution for the sake of Christ.  http://www.persecution.org/2017/03/18/christians-in-iraq-hold-onto-hope/

Very strong winds today

And we here in the Holy Land don't suffer as much ... but the persecution is a lot more subtle. Today's newspapers carry a sensational news that the stone ossuary (casket) of Christ has been found. That's old news ... it goes back some 15 years. But every year it comes back on the news as "new" and international media will pick it up as if it was only discovered yesterday. And of course the local news coverage is to discredit christianity ... that there was no resurrection, that the casket and bones have been found. Just watch the online newspapers ... these 2 weeks this type of news will flood the papers.  http://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/1.778379

Dementia?

Procession of the Apostolic Admin.
(in purple) from the Holy Sepulcher
back to the Patriarchal Palace

I've been checking up on the date of the Jewish Passover. It's on the 11th till 17th April which coincides with our Holy Week and Easter. The Julian calendar also coincides with our Gregorian calendar ... that makes the Orthodox Churches celebrate Holy Week and Easter with us. That week is going to see chaos in the streets of the Old City, intense security presence, road blocks, street blocks, closures of periphery roads around the Old City ... and possibly curfews for the muslims. I don't want to be around ... really I don't. I'll ask to go somewhere outside Jerusalem for that week.

The Empty Tomb will be publicly opened on Wednesday at 10am with all the heads of the Christian Churches in the Holy Land present plus the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Vatican will send a high-ranking envoy as well. I'd like to go and witness this inauguration event but  it'll depend on my work schedule.

Lots of tulips in the parks now

Tell me about forgetful. I had to rush off yesterday evening to my other office to get some work finished and it was only halfway along the road that I realized I forgot to wear my specs. It was already dark so I decided I wasn't going back to get my specs ... I just had to work without it. And that was just one of the many moments that I forget things or events or names or faces. It's getting really bad. I should get tested to see if I have dementia. I mentioned this at lunch time to the guys around my table and they said anyone who has dementia doesn't know they have dementia so they can't talk about it.

The Egged bus service that runs the southern region's bus routes will strike tomorrow at 5am onwards to protest over pay. Many people will be affected. That's bad news.

An Israel made a 2nd strike at Syria killing an official. Everyone thinks this summer will be a heated one with Israel against Lebanon and Syria. But frankly both Lebanon and Syria have their hands full with the rebels and ISIS. I doubt they have the power nor time to fight Israel. Summer will be fine. No worries.

Feast of St. Joseph

A Judas tree still in bloom near
Mamilla neighbourhood

The local Church, while keeping the Lenten rigours, celebrated today the Feast of St. Joseph. Of course it's a big deal ... Joseph is a local boy from this Land. I celebrated Mass at the Armenian Cathedral ... I didn't manage to go to the Vigils last night as I was very tired by 10.30pm. So I prayed for you all at Mass at the Armenian place. I'm glad some of my students come to help me there ... 2 as acolytes, the others as readers and choir. Not an easy job as I have to teach them and the organist how to sing the armenian hymns and prayers. But it's all worth it when the Armenian Catholic families come back for Mass. Today we had half the crowd made up of Armenians and the other half foreigners. Not a big crowd .... only 20 persons or so. But it's a big improvement from one Armenian and 2 nuns.

One scary news is that Syria is receiving missiles from North Korea. Yesterday the Israeli airforce bombed a convoy of these missiles in Syria.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/middle-east/israel-and-the-middle-east/idf-attack-target-north-korean-missiles-in-syria-27306

Homecooked
noodles

One surprising good news is that the Vatican has offered half a million dollars to help with the renovation of the Holy Sepulchre ... and another similar sum for the renovation of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. So far all the costs are covered by the Franciscans' benefactors on behalf of the Catholic Church. Nice gesture.

I'm keeping a vegetarian diet this Lent. It's not that difficult as vegetables and fruit are plentiful. They're still relatively cheap ... well almost. 5 stalks of chives cost US$1.50. Is that expensive? Anyway yesterday I managed to boil some noodles and spinach ... and added some leftover vegetable dumplings I cooked for Matthias. Simple meal but satisfying. St. Joseph always provides.

Sabbath

Capoeira demonstration at
Damascus Gate

Thank goodness the Marathon is over. I'm sure it was fun ... lots of families joined in. But the traffic was awful and thankfully it's all over. I hope next year I don't have to go to school when there's a marathon. Well we weren't the only ones stuck with traffic closures. Up on Highway One to Tel Aviv, cars stopped and many people demonstrated in the middle of the Highway because there are no govt. measures to protect workers from termination of contracts. For almost half an hour traffic on both sides were halted.

There's a touching article in the leftwing newspaper Haaretz about the mother of the arab boy burnt alive by jewish youths several years ago. She and some 200 women - jewish and arab who have lost children to the conflict - gathered to speak ... and that mother spoke of reconciliation. http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.777393

Meantime a raid by police on rightwing extremist jewish youth had uncovered  in their homes graffiti calling for death to arabs,zionists, jewish police, jewish left-wingers  .... As long as this hatred is being fanned by religious leaders on impressionable youths, it is unlikely peace will ever be achieved.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4936290,00.html

Arab sesame bagels
known as kaik: a
typical breakfast

Thew weather continues to be cold and the skies grey. There's probably a sandstorm as well as fine yellow desert sand covers the roofs and terraces. I sculled stay indoors. But I'm thinking maybe tonight I will go to the Holy Sepulchre for midnight vigils. Without asthma attacks, I feel better to go out ... but I must walk slowly. Only thing is I'm afraid I'd be attacked as I go through the dark streets of the Old City. Perhaps Al our Indonesian student will accompany me. Anyway if I do go, I'll be praying for you all.

Yesterday was fasting day. I realised it wasn't any different from my daily meal routine because I usually eat only one meal a day. I do eat several dates during the day when I'm hungry during this Lent but usually when I finish work at 9pm or later, I'm too tired to eat else anything anyway. But the downside is I become weak and faint.

Dreadful Friday

A little after midnight last night, we heard a very loud explosion. It was scary ... but the sirens did not blare so it was safe. This morning we learned that Syria had fired a missile into Israel but the Israeli Defense Force fired an anti-missile rocket which blew it up in the air before it could land. Newspapers are all reporting a tense situation  ... asking if this is a new stage of Syria's war.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Analysis-Will-the-Israel-Syria-missile-flare-up-set-a-new-precedent-484473

King George Street
closed off

Today was also the Jerusalem Marathon. You cannot imagine the chaos when roads were closed at 6am. I had an examination with 41 students up in the New City but that area is totally closed off. Some of my african students living in the Old City actually left the house in a car at 5am but already parts of the roads were closed. One of them has a broken leg and cannot walk far. They could not enter the school at 5.30am because police refused entry to the road. They had to park in the Jesuit House 2 km away and walked to school and wait till 11am for my exam. Poor kids.

I was the last to leave the house as I had to work in the library till 9am. By that time the Marathon was in full swing and roads were definitely closed. The police would not let me cross Damascus Gate so I had to walk 1km north along Prophets Street till I reached King George street. In order to get to school another kilometre away, I had to enter King George street but it was totally blocked off by thousands of runners. But a blessing in disguise saved the day ... as hundreds of ultra-orthodox jews were on my side of the road demonstrating against the arrest of one of their men for not showing up for compulsory military service. They had vowed to disrupt the Marathon.   http://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-marathon-up-and-running-despite-disruption-threats/

Police move in to arrest ultra-
orthodox jews 

As I stood there trying to figure out how to crosse into King George Street, the ultra-orthodox were singing and mocking the police and soldiers. Suddenly the soldiers moved in to arrest some of them, and scatter the rest of them. In the midst of the chaos, I found my chance to hide between the runners and crossed the barriers. Sneaky but necessary. The normal 2 km journey had become 4 km and if I were to take another detour, it would have been 6 km. I was too tired as it is.

Anyway I managed to get to school and the students had their exam. Going home at 12.30pm was smooth. The Marathon had ended and the roads were opened. But having reached Damascus Gate at 1.30pm I found myself stuck outside the Old City as thousands of muslims were coming out from noon prayers. I had to wait for 20 minutes before the crowd lessened enough for me to squeeze against the current. Harrowing.

Anyway all this tension and problems had made me very tired. But thank God the new medication worked well and I don't have an attack of asthma.

Ides of March

Palm plaza ... freezing cold

Yesterday was the Ides of March ... the day Julius Caesar was murdered. The weather here was unbelievably cold. Daytime was about 12 degrees and the night was 5 degrees. Winter just didn't want to go away. The wind was extremely strong and very cold. Walking home after work was a torture. I had a down-jacket plus a woolen jacket on. I still felt the cold. I think Holy Week will be the same ... every year it rains.

Cafe Cafe at Jaffa Gate

I was told that Cafe Cafe had reopened but inside the Old City at Jaffa Gate. It is a cafe chain like Roladin and Aroma here in Israel, except that Cafe Cafe had only one outlet at Mamilla Mall which closed. With the proliferation of 5 shekel cafes like Cofix which sells everything at only 5 shekels, most of these cafes have closed as people no longer can afford to eat in these places. So just to see if it was true, I went to Jaffa Gate to check it out while on my way home from work last night. And there it was, next to the Christian Information Centre. But it was really tiny: 3 tables for 2 inside and 3 tables for 3 outside. And you have to squeeze through to get to the counter. Well it's nice to know Cafe Cafe has reopened but let's see how long it will last. The economy is killing everyone and Cafe Cafe would have to rely on tourists to stay alive.

Soldiers have tightened their control of the Old City today. Multiple stop-and-search of arabs at every street corner. It's humiliating. Yesterday evening an attempted car-ramming took place south of the Old City ... the female driver was shot dead I think. no one else was hurt. With the on-going infighting in the Palestinian government, and same thing in the Israeli government ... things have stalled, tensions are rising. Trump's ambiguity is being interpreted to the advantage of both sides. There is so much confusion and the people are feeling restless.

Healthwise I've had no asthma attacks so far. That's really good considering I usually have 10 or more attacks a day. However I still very confused and moments of memory lost. Maybe it's the lack of magnesium or potassium again. I'll have to get it checked.

Lenten pilgrimage Mass

Full moon seen at
Municipality Square

The weather is unbelievable. After noon it simply was freezing cold. The thermometer said 12 degrees but no one believed it. It felt like zero degrees. All the winter clothing came right out again. The night was equally cold. Thee was a slight drizzle but it was less cloudy than the previous night. The full moon shone clearly in the sky and was spectacular when viewed from various spots in the City.  I managed to take a few photos while on my way home from the doctor's. It was a late appointment and by the time it was over, it was already 8pm.

Anyway the new medication is working perfectly. I have not had an asthma attack for a week now, and I can walk 2 km without being breathless and needing to stop and rest. However I still feel fatigue ... not having energy to do much work. Everything has slowed down a lot as I can no longer do things at my normal speed.

Wild mustard
growing by
the street

Well as in Lent for the past centuries here in the Holyland, every Wednesday has a pilgrimage Mass in one of the sanctuaries commemorating the Passion. Today it's Dominus Flevit chapel on the Mt. of Olives. Next week it's in Gethsemane, then the Flagellation Chapel, then the Condemnation chapel and on Holy Wednesday it's back to the Flagellation chapel again. The Passion according to St. John is sung in 4 parts and the Mass lasts for well over 2 hours. I have to work till 5pm so I won't be able to go.

Yesterday saw a really bizarre tragedy when an elderly disgruntled patient threw flammable liquid at a nurse and set her on fire. She died. Several others were injured. Newspapers are calling it "Hollywood" dimension. But the fact remains that patients attacking healthcare workers have risen at an alarming rate. Today healthcare workers and teachers (who suffer an equal amount of violence) have gone on strike to draw attention to this situation. Israelis are becoming more violent to their kind than ever before. Yesterday also saw a viral video of an ultra-orthodox woman hitting and slapping a bus-driver, who much to his credit never hit back. Yes it is becoming a very violent society today.   http://www.timesofisrael.com/health-and-social-workers-teachers-stop-work-to-protest-violence/

And the newspapers are also highlighting the ultra-orthodox celebration of Purim last Sunday by hanging an effigy of an Israeli soldier on the main road. Their hatred for the military and compulsory military service had led to riots many times before. But this time it looks like incitement.   http://www.timesofisrael.com/ultra-orthodox-jews-hang-soldier-effigies-in-draft-protest/

And ofc course the joke of the day is Kellyanne Conways assertion that microwaves are used as spyware. Everyone here is laughing.

The day after ...

Wild lupins growing in
Mamilla cemetery 

Yesterday's attack on the 2 policemen near our house has had consequences. The security presence in the Old City has stepped up. More blocks and checkpoints along the streets in the eastern part of the City. I have a feeling tourists will stop coming. Utterly miserable.

There's a sad piece of news about a disabled Palestinian boy who was shot by Israeli soldiers and then brought for interrogation. Imagine if it was an Israeli child.  Then the family was told to prove that the boy is an amputee.  It breaks your heart.  http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.776535  and  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.776180

Syria continues to be in the news ... the plight of the local population is beyond belief. A news article on the deaf people in Syria shows the appalling situation. being deaf, they cannot hear the sirens or gunfire and bombs. They need to be led by others to run to shelter. Worse when soldiers or enemies call out to stop them, they cannot hear and continue walking ... they shot as a result.

The amazing pink
tree 

The weather continues to play havoc with us. It was bright and warm this morning ... in contrast to yesterdays cold and wet weather. Then suddenly by noon it changed again ... the skies were gloomy and it started drizzling. I guess only the flowers are enjoying this weather. Yesterday while taking a shortcut home through the Mamilla cemetery, I noticed wild lupins growing! Incredible. I know they grow profusely in the north near the Golan Heights where it's cool and wet. But here in Jerusalem where it's usually hot and dry, to see lupins growing is a wonder. And there's this amazing pink tree in Damascus Gate Park. You can't miss it. It stands out in sharp contrast to the green trees and grass.

Well I'm seriously considering ending my career as a teacher. It's been over 25 years now, and I no longer have the energy to continue with the demands. My heart is not as strong and my health in general has slowed me down a lot. It takes double the amount of time and effort to do what I used to do 10 years back. Maybe it's time to retire. Time to enjoy smelling the roses and watching the sunsets.

Terrorist attack

This morning we woke up to gunshots fired close by ... well I was awake by then ... and I heard it too. Two gunshots. A terrorist had entered the guard post at Lions' Gate (200 meters away) and stabbed 2 police. He was shot dead immediately. Let's hope this is not what summer will be like. We are tired of violence, tired of road closures, tired of stop-and-search checks. We just want to live normal lives.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/military/terror-attack-in-jerusalem-2-police-officers-injured-27202

Another news hitting the headlines - the Rajah Bomoh in Malaysia - a muslim sorcerer - has been casting spells and fighting spiritual warfare against North Korea. People here are squeamish about these things ... it seems to contradict Islam.
 http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-shaman-raja-bomoh-performs-another-ritual-over-kim-jong-nams-death?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&xtor=CS1-10#link_time=1489414456

Purim party at Safra Square

And Purim continues ... today it is celebrated in Jerusalem. Today is the actual date. Sweet parties were everywhere even though it's not a national holiday. Offices remained opened although schools were closed. Crowds were packing the City centre ... bands were playing and performers were entertaining at every street corner. Safra Square ... which is the Municipality Plaza ... held a party but security were there to check everyone before entering. There were bubble blowers ... and soap buckets were placed throughout the garden so children (and adults) could make bubbles. A band was playing at the entrance of the Plaza. There were dancers, stilt-walkers and all sorts of other stuff. And last night ... well the music went on and on ... so loud that we in East Jerusalem could hear it even till 5am.

Damascus Gate last night

The weather however was still cold and drizzly though. The full moon was hidden behind storm clouds. But it did not dampen the Purim partying. There was a lot of drinking as well ... today the streets were littered with broken bottles and vomit. Even today at 5pm when I walked home from school, there was a young man on his hands and feet in the middle of the street, vomiting. His companion was standing next to him holding a bottle of alcohol. Dreadful.

Purim

Zombies overrun Tel Aviv

Today Tel Aviv and all the cities of the world celebrated Purim. Tomorrow Jerusalem celebrates the feast. Why one day difference? Jerusalem is the norm ... it sets the time when feasts begin and end. But because cities around the world have time difference with Jerusalem, they may make a mistake and start the feast a minute or an hour late, thus nullifying the legitimacy of the feast. So to play safe, they celebrate one day ahead of Jerusalem.

Tel Aviv yesterday night had it's Purim Zombie Walk. People dressed up as zombies marched through the streets frightening people ... and the zombies were in the hundreds literally. It was the largest Zombie Walk in the country. Frankly I don't think it's kosher to dress as a living dead. Funny the rabbis are not complaining. Anyway all the checkpoints are closed, meaning palestinians cannot enter Israel for 3 days while the country celebrates Purim.

Not everyone is having fun on Purim though. Read this disturbing article.  http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.776535

Sadly more people died in Damascus' terror attack yesterday.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/middle-east/the-arab-world/damascus-more-than-40-murdered-in-terror-attack-27171

Bizarre sunset

Anyway the weather turned bizarre today ... a sandstorm. The sky was gloomy and yellow filled with desert sand blown into the City by very strong cold winds. My lips were constantly filled with fine sand. The sun was masked by the sand clouds ... and the whole scene was simply surreal. Just look at the photo. Well anyway Purim the past few years always experienced bad weather. This year was totally freaky.

Anyway last night I didn't go to the Holy Sepulchre for the Midnight Office of Readings. I was too tired and slept till 12.30am ... which was too late. I celebrated Mass at the 3rd Station of the Cross instead and prayed for all of you.

Thanks to Auntie Yvonne, Irene, Cecilia, Theresa and Philip Tong, the Chabot family, Janet Cheng and Theresa Ng for your gifts. And the chiffon cake was perfectly delicious!!!!

2nd Saturday of Lent

Aspergil and other liturgical things
used at the Solemn Entrance

It's Saturday ... and the Lenten rigours are in full swing. 2pm the Apostolic Administrator (instead of a patriarch) will enter the Holy Sepulchre with his entourage. The Franciscans in the Holy Sepulchre will be there to receive him and accompany him to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The daily procession then begins, with prayers and incense at all the altars inside the basilica. I had to celebrate Mass at the Holy Sepulchre this morning and noticed all the paraphernalia prepared in the sacristy for the Solemn Entrance. There was a processional Cross over 2 meters tall made entirely of Mother-of-Pearl. There were silver aspergils as well.

Immediately after Mass I had class - I have class everyday day of the week - and after that I had to rush home to see how the library is doing. Luckily our librarian-in-probation had returned so he opened the library and managed the reception till I got home. So it's been a long day starting at 4am. I am exhausted.

The rightwing newspaper Jerusalem Post has been covering the restoration work of the Holy Sepulchre all week. Strange as rightwing newspapers usually dislike christians .... the minimum they'd do is ignore the news, at worst they attack. So a couple of articles about the history and restoration and the eventual inauguration of the Holy Sepulchre is very surprising.  http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Restoring-Christianitys-Holy-of-Holies-481171

Just before the
electrical storm

The Sabbath is almost over ... just a few more minutes and the jews will celebrate the end of the weekend. Then it's party time ... at around 9pm people in costumes will be wandering out in the streets of West Jerusalem. I don't think it'll rain ... unlike yesterday night which saw some spectacular electric storm. Lots of lightening and thunder and very strong winds ... but just a drizzle. It was enough to keep people indoors ... the lightening were very threatening.

If the weather doesn't worsen, I might go to the Holy Sepulchre for midnight prayers and the procession around the Empty Tomb. Will pray for you all. If I don't make it for some reason or other, then I'll be at the 3rd Station for Mass tomorrow morning to pray for you.

Purim weekend

Kids in costume

Purim is on Monday. But the school kids are already in costume and parading in the streets today. The Sabbath begins tonight so they cannot celebrate till tomorrow evening. Adults join in as well in the costume parade. So what has all this masquerading to do with Purim as found in the Book of Esther? After the decree to kill the jews in Persia was enacted, Queen Esther pleaded for her people's safety and the King allowed the jews to escape by whatever means. The jews therefore wore costumes, masqueraded in masks so that they cannot be identified as jews. So to this day jews wear costumes and pretend to be someone else during the feast. Purim however is not a national holiday because it is not a feast established by God. It was established by jewish tradition. So offices and shops will open on Monday.

Today we have no news regarding the burning of the Ascension Chapel. The police are probably doing their investigations. These yearly attacks on christian churches and institutes have never seen justice. No one has ever been charged.

Night market

Yesterday was really a hard day as I had so many things happening ... a last minute exhibition in which ambassadors and jewish dignitaries attended, class, eucharistic adoration with confessions (2 hours), work in both libraries, visiting tourist groups in the evenings. I finished work after 9pm. By the time I got home it was almost 11pm. I was exhausted. Damascus Gate was quiet but hawkers were still around selling veggies and fruit. Being Thursday night, the muslims begin their weekend and food is an essential part of the weekend family feast.

This morning I got up very dizzy and light-headed. Probably didn't sleep enough. But I had to open the library and then walk 2 km uphill to teach in school. School ended at 12.30pm but I couldn't go home because the thousands of muslims, having finished prayers at the Al Aqsa, were coming out of the Old City. There's no way you can push your way through to get into the City. So i waited outside Damascus Gate for 20 mins and when the crowds got thinner, I pushed my way back ... a good 200 metres against the current. Now it's work till probably 9pm tonight.

Ascension Chapel burnt

Dusk at Jaffa street
but you can't see the
swallows: they're
too tiny in the pic

It's Friday and definitely it must be summer. Because the swallows have returned. Yesterday as I was going to see my doc, I saw flocks of swallows covering the sky at Jaffa Street junction. Well, Spring was fun though notoriously short here in Israel. A couple of weeks and its gone. And it really felt like summer today ... 21 degrees. Still people continue to wear hoodies and pullover because any sudden switch in the temp. would lead to a nasty cold or flu.

The sudden hot weather has led to fruit ripening before their time. Strawberries are at its peak right now. They're everywhere ... 10 shekels per kilo. Mandarins and oranges and kumquats are also plentiful. And the flowers are really blossoming. Tulips in the parks are all in flower. Almonds are beginning to loose their flowers and leaves have grown in its place. The shocking pink of Judas Tree flowers are also falling.

A statement from the different church leaders have just been released: the inauguration of the renovated Tomb of Christ will take place on March 22. It'll quite an event ... though we don't expect many pilgrim groups to join in. Though this week has seen a sudden boom in tourists, we expect it to dwindle as Easter and the jewish Passover near. The crowds in the Old City will be unimaginable. I don't wish to stay around at that time.

My anemones in
full bloom

My asthma has practically stopped since the change in medicine (fingers crossed). I feel much better because I don't suffocate anymore, and no chest pains and dizziness and nausea. But one thing remains: my memory is going. For the past 2 weeks I have confused the days, going to school only to find out I have no class because it's the wrong day; forgetting where I put my specs and keys and books (today I actually had to go back to the library 3 times because I kept forgetting something) .... I forget people's names, I forget appointments and meetings, I forget where I'm going and what I'm doing. It's frightening.

One major news shocking us all : the Chapel o the Ascension on the Mt. of Olives was set on fire. Luckily it's a stone edifice ... a small octagonal Crusader building. Inside was all blackened because of the fire ... which according to the police, was set purposely on fire. No accident here. We wonder if the police will catch the culprits.

Of Status Quo ladders and Sushi-doughnuts

The Status Quo
ladder 

There has been a sudden surge in tourist numbers these few days. The street at our place is packed with foreigners ... both western and asian. I guess it's because it's the low season so things are cheaper. Soon Easter will be celebrated by both western and eastern churches (this year the julian and gregorian calendars coincide) so lots of pilgrims will be coming. I know that all religious hostels are fully booked by now.

I managed to spend a few minutes at the Holy Sepulcher yesterday morning. I wanted to see the cleaned dome of the Empty Tomb  and also to pray for you all. The Status Quo ladder was up across the entrance as at every Lent. Nobody remembers why it was there hundreds of years ago but because of the Status Quo law, the ladder is brought out every Lent by the Franciscans and remains there till Easter.

Outside church circles, the news of the country are picking up tempo after a lackluster weekend. Following Trump's travel ban, Israel has now approved a travel ban on critics of the State. That means activists and objectors of Israel's policies especially regarding the settlements in Palestine will be refused entry to the country. http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.775743

Alarming news is also cited in all newspapers - the level of the Sea of Galilee is at the lowest in a century. The drought has reached its peak and there will be no water for us this year. Desalination plants will not be able to provide the needs of the people. Farmers have warned that their crops will die hence prices of food will rise. I think in summer all the religious leaders will be asking their followers to fast and pray for rain. We've been doing that several times now this decade.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4931746,00.html

And horror of horrors ... there's a fad in Tel Aviv of sushi-doughnuts sold at a swanky Japanese restaurant. Just take a look at the pic. It looks disgusting. Still locals here are clamoring for more of it.   https://happyintlv.net/item/sushi-donuts-tel-aviv-kosher/

Dove and nest at
St. Saviour
monastery

On a positive note, the Hebrew University at Jerusalem made a brave step by recognizing the credits and matriculation results (called tawjihi in arabic) of students from arabic and palestinian schools. The students no longer have to sit for an entrance exam to apply for a place at the Hebrew University.  Fantastic. I don't believe in academic boycott, which many western academic institutions are supporting and practicing against Israel. Education is the means of change ... by boycotting Israeli universities and activities, it perpetuates isolationism which leads to narrow mind-mindedness. Students should be challenged to think beyond their circles and accept the views, sometimes opposing, of others.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-hebrew-university-to-accept-palestinian-authority-test-scores/

 And on the lighter side  I had a surprise when I saw a dove that built a nest over the head of the Virgin Mary (a tiled fresco on the wall of our cloister at St. Savior Monastery). The fresco is the Annunciation and the angel Gabriel is announcing the motherhood of Mary "... the Holy Spirit will over-shadow you and you shall bear a son ...". Couldn't resist photographing it. had a good laugh.

Sahlab and Hamantaschen

Close up of the clean dome above
the Empty Tomb

Surprise ... but the beautiful blue and white marble on the of the Empty Tomb is not a reconstruction but the ORIGINAL that was covered by centuries of dust and grime. I went to see it this morning for my self. It is amazing. It's marble. And with the morning sun shining through the "navel" above, the Tomb looked incredible. One thing surprising though is the golden cross above it, It wasn't there in the photos I saw last week. Found out the Greek Orthodox and secretly put it up at midnight without consulting the other churches. The Armenian Orthodox are furious ... since this act would mean an exclusive claim to the Tomb by the Greeks. The Franciscans have no comment. As long as our rights are not breached, the Greeks can do what they want.

Sahlab and Haman's
ears

I'm feeling much better with the change of medication. I still tire out easily when I walk distances but I don't have the chest pains, dizziness and breathlessness. In fact I have not had an asthma attack so far, and fainting spells have also gone. The thing the docs insist is that I must not be stressed. What?? With the number of work and classes I'm teaching .... everyone is saying how could anyone with my health problems take on so much. I don't know ... but my body and mind are breaking down. Luckily my students at Ratisbonne are very kind. All 41 of them. They bring me water, cookies during class ... offer to accompany me home after class ... to drive me home (it's 2 kms away from my home). Well I prefer to walk home ... only thing is I have only half an hour to get home because I must close the university library at 5pm and I never make it back on time. It takes me at least one hour to walk 2 km.

Yesterday after class, I decided to take a detour and go to Rimon Cafe at Hillel Street for a sahlab. A student decided to accompany me. We had a cup of sahlab ... probably the last as Spring has started and this winter beverage will no longer be sold. We also had some "Haman's Ears" ("hamantaschen" in german/yiddish) ... triangular cookies stuffed with dates or poppy-seeds or nowadays with chocolate, toffee and anything else imaginable. It's the typical cookie eaten during the feast of Purim which is next Monday. The villain Haman has his ears memorialized as cookies.