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!!!!