Visitation Feast

Jews going home from the Wailing
Wall this morning

It's Shavuot today ... the jewish feast of the barley harvest. Most of the celebrations are outdoors in the fields ... with flowers, fruit and dances. This morning our street was closed to traffic as hundreds of Jews were going to the Wailing Wall for prayers. The muslim crowd by then had gone to sleep after a whole night's feasting. Police presence is still heavy but there's calm and no sign of tensions.    http://www.ynetnews.com/articlesnc/0,7340,L-4969502,00.html

Summer must really be here because the first Muslim call to prayer is at 3.15am - this is daylight saving so in real solar time it's actually 2.15am. The 2nd call which should be at the first rays of the sun is 4am (or 3am solar time), That is very early. Thank goodness for the new law that forbids the muezzins to yell over certain decibels. All the PA systems of the mosques have been toned down ... and I noticed even the morning canon for Ramadan is not fired ... until this morning.

Preparing the Marian altar in our
courtyard this morning

Today for us is the Feast of the Visitation. All the friars ... well most ... are in Ein Kerem for the feast. That's where the Sanctuary of the Visitation is. Solemn Mass was celebrated there in the morning and then in the evening we have solemn Vespers. And being the last day of May, the parish here in Jerusalem holds the annual Marian procession around the Christian Quarter, with bands playing and flower-girls throwing petals along the streets. It'll end in our courtyard of the Marian altar (makeshift) and then everyone goes to evening Mass to finish the Month of Mary.

This morning I happened to bump into an old friend whom I've not seen for almost a year. He said he was getting married next week and hoped I'd come to his wedding. That was very nice. He's Greek Orthodox but his fiancee is an Episcopalian from the US, so the wedding will take place at St. George's Anglican cathedral. Makes sense? no ... nothing does in this country. But we do it anyway.

Eve of Shavuot

My lilies in bloom

Horror of horrors ... the govt has actually approved a plan to build a cable car from the Rehavia neighborhood (south of Jerusalem's Old City) to the Wailing Wall. It's a circus!!! It's becoming a Disneyland!!! How can you justify building this 3 km long monstrosity over people's houses? How can you justify $55 million to be spent building it while thousands are homeless and hungry? How many tourists will actually use the cable car? I dread to think of the future of the City or the holiness of the sites when commercialism and tackiness takes precedence.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4968672,00.html

Tonight the jewish feast of Shavuot or Pentecost begins. Jews will go to the Wailing Wall by the thousands to study the Bible all night ... as is the custom of the feast. However it'll also be Ramadan when the muslims will be feasting all night. Military presence is super high ... to prevent any clashes at Damascus Gate down El Wad street and into the Wailing Wall. Let's hope nothing happens. It'll ruin both feasts for both peoples.   http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-bolsters-security-measures-ahead-of-Shavuot-holiday-494205

I had a tiring evening yesterday and came home at about 10.30pm. There was no food and I was very hungry so I drank some cold milk from the fridge. Suffered all night long from severe diarrhoea. And I mean severe .... the cramps were excruciating, and I was running to the toilet every half hour from 2am till now ... which makes it 16 hours. I am so exhausted I could not work today though I went to the office. My cure was drinking Coca-Cola ... as 2 doctors had separately advised many years ago. After half a litre of Coke, the cramps and diarrhoea stopped.

A great tragedy

Qattayef pancakes on sale

There's one thing that I am always thankful for ... everyday ... and that is having had the operation on my nose. I cannot imagine now how I could live for years with a deviated septum and abnormal nasal conchea that restricted my breathing by 70%. I remember the sleepless nights, breathing through the mouth; easily tired and difficulties in focussing attention because of lack of oxygen. Now 4 years after the operation, I can breathe normally again. Not once had I to breathe through my mouth ... it is really a new lease of life. So if you think you have nasal problems ... I'd say go get it done.

Making the pancakes

One bonus in Ramadan which makes up for the noisy nights that keep us awake, is qattayef. That's the pancake stuffed with either cheese or walnuts, drizzled with honey. I simply love them. I bought a kilo of the pancakes (not stuffed) from the numerous shops that pop up overnight in Ramadan. One kilo costs 14 shekels ... which is reasonable. I spread marmalade on it and eat it for breakfast ... but since one kilo was quite a lot, I shared it with some other students.
It's a little something different that makes the seasons a little more colorful.

News is coming out about the killing of the 28 Coptic christians in Egypt, most being children. They were asked one by one to renounce their christian faith but they refused so they were killed. These children are martyrs. The world, initially shocked by the news, has by now forgotten about them. As christians we must never let this be forgotten. They have sacrificed their lives for the faith.  https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/egyptian-children-refuse-to-renounce-christian-faith-killed-by-muslims

Some jewish rabbis are calling this worldwide persecution of christians as a genocide ... and are surprised that the rest of the Christian world remains oblivious to it. This is the greater tragedy. It shows the cracks in Christianity ... the lack of empathy and compassion, the lack of unity and brotherhood ... Christianity is fragmented, each part looking inwards to itself and its interest. The Body of Christ is broken.

Tensions

Studying while walking to school

Ramadan has begun very early this year. So early that the school year is not yet over and students are sitting for their exams. Pity them as they have to fast while studying and stressing for the next 2 weeks. I think most parents would mitigate the fast for their children. The weather is rather pleasant though ... a cool breeze blowing despite the heat. That would help people pass the day with less need for drinking water ... which is forbidden during the Ramadan Fast.

Meanwhile it was a very poignant gesture that the Tel Aviv municipality lighted up the Municipality Building with the Egyptian flag to remember the Coptic Christians killed the day before. A jewish State honoring martyred christians .... so where is Paris? London? Brussels? European countries that are so quick to fly each other's or America's flags in each terror attack ... christian european countries ... who now do not publicly express solidarity when it's the Middle East and/or christian. This was the topic at lunch today ... european friars expressing disappointment over this hypocrisy.     http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4968091,00.html

Also in Tel Aviv on the same night, 15,000 Israelis marched to support a 2 State solution ... Trump wants to restart this dead-ended solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Not that I think it'll work but it's good to see Israelis with hope.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.792194    A very brave move when we see the sad situation as reported today that palestinian farmers  are not allowed to travel or work in their own land while israelis and tourists can do so freely.  http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-1.792096   Yesterday siarteli settlers attacked a palestinian farmer, leaving him bleeding from the head ... and the soldiers merely dispersed the settlers instead of making arrests or protecting the farmer from the attack.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.792260

Border Police at prep talk before
entering the Old City

And as if the racial - religious divide is not tense enough, today the Chief Rabbi advised male soldiers to take off their glasses and bury their faces in a prayer book when women are singing in their presence. The internal conflict within judaism, and the growing power of ultra-orthodoxism over other forms of judaism is causing a deep rift in Israeli society.    http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/jewish_news.php?Itemid=26177

Well the roll of bad news seems to flow in as Ramadan and the summer holidays begin. We could certainly not do with more tensions. We're tired of it. But it's the minority that lights the fuse and the rest of us have to suffer the consequences.

Ramadan begins

Damascus Gate with all the lights

At about 8.30pm last night 7 shots from the cannon announced the start of Ramadan. Even before that, thousands of muslims had been entering the Old City toward the Al Aqsa Mosque ... all dressed up ... in anticipation of the cannon shots. When it sounded, some streets were still not prepared with decorative lights and people were rushing about with ladders trying to attach bulbs to the electric wires about the streets. Shops and temporary stalls were opened till midnight, doing big business as people bought lots of stuff to celebrate Ramadan. Muslims feasts till 3am then as the first rays of sunlight shine across the Mt of Olives, the cannon sounds again to announce the beginning of the fast.  People then go to sleep ... and the streets are lovely, peaceful and quiet. At least for the next 30 days.

Israel has decided to relax its border restrictions and allow muslims from Palestine and Gaza to come to Jerusalem to pray during Ramadan. It's a big risk ... but if Israel keeps it's security intel closely monitored, there should not be a problem. By making the muslims happy, chances for violence clashes are diminished. And considering that the arab hunger-strikers in Israeli prisons are a main cause that catalyses arab violence .... this move to relax entry to Jerusalem is a smart move. This morning we read that the hunger strike is off because Israeli Prison services have compromised and allowed them one more extra visit per month. Smart move again. Give concessions to avoid greater catastrophe.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-ease-access-for-palestinians-during-ramadan/   and   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Palestinian-prisoners-hunger-strike-ends-after-marathon-negotiations-494037

Palms lighted up in the Plaza

The murder of 28 Coptic christians, mostly children, is still shocking all of us. All major muslim powers have condemned it ... even Qatar and Hamas. But it's all lip-service. Coupled with this is ISIS kidnap of a priest and his congregation in Mindanao, Philippines. Something drastic and decisive must be done. Maybe it'll take an unconventional and unpolitically-correct Duterte and Trump to solve this problem once and for all.

1st night of Ramadan?

Giotto exhibition at the Custody Hall

It's Friday and thousands of muslims came into the Al Aqsa Mosque because it's the last Friday before Ramadan. We expect the canon to be fired this evening to announce the start of Ramadan ... but everything depends on the sighting of the new moon. If it's not visible, Ramadan then will be postponed to tomorrow night. The lights however have been decorating the muslim East Jerusalem for several nights now. Well despite the heavy military presence, nothing violent happened.

And ISIS had to celebrate Ramadan by killing over 23 Coptic Christians in Egypt while they were on their way to visit a desert monastery. It is despicable. How can one claim to make penance and repent in Ramadan by killing others. It contradicts the very nature of the feast.

The friars in the Holy Land are celebrating 800 years of presence this Pentecost. It's a long history marked with lots of tragedy and heroism ... in order to protect the holy places of christianity, many were slaughtered by muslims. For the celebrations that will last for 3 years, there is an exhibition of Giotto the medieval painter of St. Francis who decorated with frescoes the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.

Ascension Day

Yesterday's Jerusalem Day or Unification Day saw some violence at Damascus Gate. Our Muslim Quarter was locked down with Lions Gate, Herod's Gate and Damascus Gate all closed. We had to stay indoors to avoid being attacked  or abused by the thousands of Israeli jews marched through our neighbourhood. This year there were more marchers than in previous years mainly because it's the 50th anniversary of the event. Scuffles brought out at Damascus Gate when pro-arab protesters were forcibly removed by police. One had her arm broken.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.791844   and   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4966908,00.html

Vine leaves on sale

Today things are calm again ... at least on the surface. Police presence is still high and groups of Israeli students continue to enter the Muslim Quarter chanting nationalistic slogans. Muslims stayed out of the way ... there is an air of a curfew almost. By sunset most of the arab kids felt safe to come to the streets again. Tourists too came back to make the Way of the Cross. A small semblance of normality. Bedouin women returned to sell their fruit and vegetables at Damascus Gate. Most however were wary of the soldiers walking past them every few minutes. I noticed most were selling vine leaves instead of other vegetables and fruit. Perhaps because vine leaves are a lot cheaper so if they get destroyed by soldiers or marching students, it would not be a great lost.

Since midnight at the top of the Mt. of Olives, catholics and orthodox were gathering to celebrating the Ascension of the Lord. The Crusader chapel - today a mosque - which belonged to the franciscans, was decked up and vigils was sung till 1am. Then for every half hour, Mass was celebrated in various languages. The Orthodox (Greeks, Armenians, Copts and Syriacs) who have no claim over the chapel, celebrated their liturgies in the surrounding garden.

Damascus Gate today

It was one of the rare days that I do not have any work on both libraries. I had planned to go to Jaffa where there is a food fest. Today is the last day. Stalls featuring food from all over the world are lined up all along the park and beach. However I realised I had adoration and confessions at 4pm with the M. Teresa sisters ... so I had to cancel my day off. The food fest opens only at 6pm and ends at 11pm.

Veil or no veil

Ramadan lights at Herod's Gate

Thus the controversy begins. Newspapers both local and international are commenting with photos of Melanie Trump wearing a black veil in the audience with the Pope. In fact she and her daughter and senior aide Hope Hicks all wore traditional protocol black with veils ... and they didn't do it in Saudi Arabia where it is mandatory ... and also at the Wailing Wall (Ivanka Trump did wear a hat at the Wall because she's a jewish convert). Many newspapers of course noted that Melania was a Catholic so it's not surprising she opted for the traditional protocol as all former First Ladies have done.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4536884/Melania-Ivanka-wear-black-veils-meet-Pope.html

Today newspapers are having a good laugh at Trump and his gaffs in Israel. Besides many others, he said "lasting peach" instead of "lasting peace", and "Great Wall" instead of "Western Wall". Both left wing and rightwing newspapers are roasting him because because he said nothing about the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem (as he had promised).   http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.791455

Lights at Palm
Plaza

Here in Jerusalem, tensions are very very high as Israelis celebrate Jerusalem Day or Unification Day. By noon the main roads leading to the Old City were barricaded. Hundreds of young jewish men have already congregated in pockets near the City Gates with their rabbis. Now at 6pm security helicopters are flying overhead while thousands of israelis are marching into the Old City ad especially the Muslim Quarter ... to show that they have conquered it from the arabs (or liberated it as the israelis see it). They wave huge flags, sing nationalistic songs and chant slogans, vandalise non-jewish property with graffiti ... and no one stops them because it is their land. I just hope they don't destroy the Ramadan lights that were put up last night.

Tomorrow is Ascension Day. Tonight there will be vigils at the chapel of the Ascension on the Mt. of Olives and then there will be Mass every half hour till 5.30am when the Archbishop comes to preside at the solemn Mass. Let's hope this will not be disrupted by extremist nationalist israelis who might be marching around tonight. Already the sisters of M. Teresa have been spat upon by jews yesterday inside Damascus Gate.

Tuesday

Damascus Gate lighted up

So Trump finally left. After a day of lockdowns in and out of the Old City, some semblance of normality is back. Believe not many people were happy with all the closures and delays in traffic. In our Muslim Quarter, the guys had to set up the lights for Ramadan which begins on Friday evening. But because of the lockdown, they could only work after sunset. I noticed it's a lot simpler than previous years ... perhaps because of the arab hunger strikers in Israeli jails. This hunger strike will be a flashpoint for violence, as it was back in the 2nd Intifada. It's not a good sign. Israeli should start defusing this powdering because it becomes a catalyst for further violence.    http://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalems-old-city-deserted-on-lockdown-for-trump-visit/

Anyway here is an article on Trump's visit to the Holy Sepulcher ... not a very optimistic view.    http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/In-the-desolate-Old-City-hope-for-Trump-is-tepid-493587

And to stoke more fire, yesterday Jewish settlers attacked Palestinians but soldiers did nothing. It's this kind of stuff that fans violence because the arabs feel themselves defenseless. When you corner a house, it will bite even the largest cat just in order to survive. Learn from nature, Israel.     http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.790883

Not all was as quiet as Jerusalem yesterday. In the Palestinian Territories, there were riots and clashes with Israeli forces. Many were demonstrating against Trump visiting the Western Wall ... which no Head of State of any country has ever done ... because it's an implicit recognition of Israel's occupation of the West Bank. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/riots-erupt-in-west-bank-as-trumps-israel-visit-kicks-off-28629

Nice dinner at
Mian

Several evenings ago, Billy from Main Restaurant called to say he bought fresh fish and was steaming some. He asked me to go over for dinner. It was very nice. The steamed fish was not on the menu, and neither was the dumpling dry noodles. It tasted very good. However the prices are rising every week. From a 45 shekel plate of noodles the price is now over 65 shekels. I'm not going there if I can avoid it.

Well Jerusalem Day begins tonight. Israel is celebrating its 50th anniversary of conquering the eastern half of Jerusalem and all the lands on the West Bank by driving away a few million arabs from their homes. Israeli is celebrating it was "unification" of the City but the arabs mourn it as a lost of their land. I fear the clashes tomorrow at Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter will be worse than previous years.

The visit

Shops closed today

So Trump finally arrived. It's a pretty hectic schedule ... visiting the Holy Sepulcher and the Wailing Wall at 3.15pm just after he arrived from the airport at 12.30pm and made the courtesy call to the Israeli President's residence. The visit to the Holy Sepulcher was not covered by the news as reporters and cameramen were not allowed into the Basilica ... it was a private moment of prayer for Trump and his wife. There was an awkward moment at the airport when Trump was led to greet some of the senior Israeli officials. According to the govt. spokesperson, some officials were not invited to be on the front row but they managed to squeeze their way in and refused to move when Foreign Ministry officials shooed them off. And one even took a selfie with Trump and posted it on his social media page with the caption "Dumb and Dumber". The PM who was standing next to Trump twice grabbed the arm of the renegade official to stop him from taking the selfie and this was caught by all the news reporters. Embarrassing.

Trump speaks to the Custos

This morning all arab shops were closed. The saying is that the arabs are on strike ... but the reality is it's a security lockdown. Shops in and out of the Old City were shut the whole day. And there was an unspoken curfew in the streets of the Muslim Quarter. Our area was deathly quiet. The Christian Quarter especially the area around the Holy Sepulcher was locked down by 7am this morning. And so were most of the roads around Trump's hotel leading up to the PM's residence. That's about 1 km apart.

Meantime there were clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers at the Qalandya and Qalqiya crossings ... the border between Israel and Palestine north of Jerusalem. And just now there was a stabbing at Abu Dis village south of Jerusalem. I'm afraid tomorrow Trump's visit to Bethlehem would be met with protests by Palestinians. He has already cancelled a visit to the Church of the Nativity because of some posters in front of the plaza.

For the rest of us ... we just hope this visit is over as quickly as possible. Exams are held up because of road blocks and locked down neighborhoods. We don't feel safe as snipers are seen on many rooftops.

The eve of the visit

Remains of the 18th
century train station

The weather has gone utterly crazy. Last night was so cold everyone had to wear winter clothes again. I had my thickest winter jacket on. Nature just can't make up its mind whether we're in winter or summer. What e fear most is getting sick. There's been a virus going around for several months now. It's like a gastric flu but it takes 3 weeks or more to get over it. I'm certainly trying to avoid that.

Yesterday some of my students called to meet me. They're overstressed with exams and needed to get some fresh air ... so I thought a good long walk would help them. We started from New Gate and walked over one km to the Zion Hotel which is on the outskirts of southern Jerusalem, in the village of Abu Tor. Because of the security closures around Trump's hotel, we had to take a very long route to get there. From Zion Hotel I brought them to Bible Hill to see the Bronze Age tombs where the oldest biblical verse was discovered. Then it was another 1 km walk to the Germany Colony to see the lovely 18th century houses. Then there was a stop at the old train station build in the early 1800s by the Ottomans. It's been converted to an amusement park with lots of restaurants. And it opens even on the Sabbath. We had an ice cream!! Then it was a visit to the 1st century tombs of Herod's family. Problem was it's behind the hotel where Trump will live so it's been cordoned off. There were few people in the park, so we managed to cross the metal barriers and went down to the tombs. Luckily no security guys appeared to stop us.

Parade of friars at the Mall

On the way home, we saw a parade of 35 franciscan friars ... all seminarians ... walking pass the Mamilla Mall back to St. Saviour monastery. They were at the Capuchin Monastery 1.5 km away for a retreat. Anyway the sight of so many friars in the street wowed the locals and many stopped to take photos. Of course there were the extremist nationalists who shouted curses and spat at them as well.

And Trump's visit is facing crises ... many ministers have chosen not to participate in the airport welcome. The PM was furious and ordered them to attend.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.790646

Security tightens

Teddy Kollack Park surrounded by
a fence of tarpaulin. King David
Hotel is the building on the left

The City is shutdown or blocked in various neighbourhoods ... 3 days before Trump comes to visit. The whole hill and park behind Trump's hotel has been surrounded with white tarpaulin ... even down in Teddy Kolleck Park which is 800 m away. Everyone is dreading the road closures on Monday and Tuesday. Several of our monasteries next to the hotel and the PM's house were even told to evacuate the buildings for 2 days. Of course we refused. How ridiculous that residents have to move out just because a State guest decided to live next door. Anyway security helicopters have been flying overhead all day and hundreds of diplomatic - security cars are cruising the roads around the hotel.

I had a difficult time getting to meet a friend who brought me some medicine from America. Her hotel is at Abu Tor, I could have taken a shortcut through the park below King David Hotel to get there but because the entire hill has been closed off, I had to take a long detour down the old Bethlehem Road, down the valley to Sultan's Pool and then up the hill of Ketef Hinnom. It was an exhausting walk ... and the return was no better. I only got home almost at midnight. Being the Sabbath, there were no taxis as well.

Diners and merry-makers enjoy the
weekend despite the closures

Yet despite the lockdown and closures, people try to live life as usual. East Jerusalem of course is not the least bothered by this visit ... and the western side doesn't seem to pay much attention to it either. I noticed one thing: the American flag is occasionally flown along the streets where Trump will travel. This is very strange as flags of the visiting head-of-state usually alternates with the Israeli flag .... even the Vatican flag. It seems that Israel is not very happy with Trump's visit.

There has bee more demonstrations and clashes between palestinians and Israeli soldiers. And just a few minutes ago, Israeli students have been marching and chanting nationalistic slogans ... very provocative as the country will soon celebrate the conquest of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, forcing many arabs got become refugees. Israel calls it the "unification" of Jerusalem but the arabs see it otherwise.

A wonderful news we received ... The diocese of Aleppo was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions. Now Our Lady must protect Aleppo and her christians who have suffered so much.  http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/sign-of-hope-in-syria-aleppo-consecrated-to-our-lady-of-fatima-30148/

Extraordinary week ahead

Summer fruit on sale

My students are very patient with me. I'm been falling asleep in class for the past 2 weeks now ... it's afternoon class at 2.30pm and usually I'm on my feet. But the fatigue has been so heavy I've literally fallen asleep .... My students keep quiet and allow me to wake up before continuing with class. The heat makes me drowsy, and I've been hardly sleeping at night because of work and study. This week is also my turn as hebdomedarius (in charge of prayers) so I have to add another responsibility to my busy schedule. I really look forward to summer holidays when I can take a couple of days (yes only a couple of days while others have 3 months) away from work. I'll spend it sleeping.

Seen at a T-shirt
shop in Jerusalem

It's just occurred to me how tense and extraordinarily horrendous next week will be. Monday and Tuesday there is a City lockdown because of Trump's visit; Wednesday is Jerusalem Day (when Israelis captured East Jerusalem and the West Bank, thus "uniting" Jerusalem) so our Muslim Quarter is locked down; Thursday is Ascension Day (Mt. of Olives lockdown) and Friday is the beginning of Ramadan. It's potential for a flashpoint that would ignite into violence. If only I can get out of Jerusalem next week.

And this violence is ore than expected since today a jewish settler shot and killed a palestinian during a riot when he felt his life was in danger. No doubt the palestinians will seek revenge in the coming weeks.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-kills-palestinian-injures-journalist-in-west-bank-riot-reports/

And the heatwave continues ... plus a sandstorm hitting the southern sea resort of Eilat. The heat was also one of the main reasons why I couldn't sleep last night. I think it's time to set up the mobile aircon unit. My room is the 2nd hottest in the house during summer.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/WATCH-Sandstorms-cover-Eilat-in-southern-Israel-492126

Continuing heatwave

Boxes of toys arrive at
Damascus Gate

The City is buzzing with security swipes in preparation of Trump's visit on Monday and Tuesday. Police are noticeable more int eh streets and US security personnel have already arrived and swiped Damascus Gate and El Wad street that leads to the Wailing Wall where Trump will visit. Most of our students are worried that if the roads are closed, they cannot go to the exams. He will visit the Holy Sepulchre and Bethlehem's Basilica of the Nativity. But the lockdowns and road closures .... it'll be a nightmare for us living here.

Meantime despite the restrictions, people try to continue life as usual. Last night enormous boxes (taller than a man) containing toys were transported into Damascus Gate. It's for the Ramadan Bazaar which takes place every year in and outside of Damascus Gate every night during the 40 days of Ramadan. This Friday is the last Friday before Ramadan so there'll be lots of feasting before the fasting.

In the continuing war that the ultra-orthodox jews are waging against everyone who is not in their sect, they have now targeted other jews from using hotels on the Sabbath. Many religious jews go to live in hotels during the Sabbath because they do not have to break the Law of no-work eg. cooking, cleaning etc. But now conservative, reformed and orthodox jews may be barred from using hotels because managements are afraid the ultra-orthodox who control the kosher certification of hotels, may withdraw the kosher license hence practically shutting down the hotel. Now the conservative jews are going to sue the ultra-orthodox for discrimination. What an implosion.   http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-hotels-preventing-non-orthodox-guests-from-prayer-tv-probe/

Enormous rose blooms at
Ratisbonne monastery

Roses throughout Jerusalem were blooming very well. Enormous blooms. However the heat is killing them all. What a pity. This evening there's luckily a cool breeze so it's nicer to sleep outdoors than indoors. Indoors feel like an oven. The heat collects in the stone walls and roofs, so when it's evening it releases its heat. Utterly stifling. I have to sit out in the terrace just to cool down a little.

One bit of awful news: a muslim stabbed a priest at the altar in Mexico City. The greatest persecution ever suffered is the persecution of Christians ... a fact nobody wants to admit. It's a shame.   https://www.jihadwatch.org/2017/05/mexico-muslim-stabs-priest-at-the-altar-of-mexico-citys-metropolitan-cathedral

Day after ...

Fresh pipa from the
tree

Nakba Day yesterday passed rather tranquilly here in Jerusalem. There was a small scuffle at Damascus Gate and it was closed for about an hour. Other than that, jerusalem was rather calm. But in the Territories there were violent clashes with Israeli soldiers. It looks like Nakba Day is slowly losing its effect on Jerusalemites who really prefer to live in peace ... and let life go on as usual.    http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Palestinians-mark-annual-Nakba-Day-490767   and   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Clashes-break-out-in-West-Bank-over-Nakba-Day-demonstrations-490798

Why aren't more christians coming to the Holy Land? A local newspaper interviewed various people to find out why. Well some opinions are quite relevant: poor inflater ... not enough public toilets, visa problems, insistence on local guides instead of religious guides.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.789449

Keropok

Meantime the weather continues to be blazing hot. I dread having to walk up to work each morning as it gets up to 34 degrees even by 10am. I get a terrible headache when I arrive in my office. The nights are equally stifling ... 28 degrees. Most of the flowers are whithered and most fruit are ripening before their time. Right now loquats or pipa (called askedinya in arabic) are prolific as the heat ripens the tart pulp of these delicate fruit. I had some freshly picked from the garden of Ratisbonne monastery this morning. Very nice to eat in the hot weather.

And talking about food ... Al our Indonesian student had some friends bring over keropok from Indonesia. Haven't eaten those for a very long time. All the other foreign students didn't like it ... so Al and I had a good time eating it.

Trump's visit to Jerusalem is the talk about town ... but we'll keep that for tomorrow.

Nakba Day

Apparent calm at Damascus Gate

Today is Nakba Day but everything is extraordinarily quiet in the streets. There are more soldiers than usual but there doesn't seem to be any riots or disturbances. It was also very quiet last year. Thank goodness. But then again it's too early to say ... anything can happen between now and tonight. I'm sure I don't want to be caught in the middle of a riot on my way home tonight.

We have been warned by the newspapers to prepare for major road closures around Jerusalem and even lockdowns in the Old City as Trump is expected to come. How awful. 10,000 police will be deployed for security in the City. Trump will fly in with 30 transport planes carrying 900 personnel and 14 limousines as well as his own bullet-proof windows to be installed in his hotel ... the King David just round the corner from the Old City. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/10000-police-assigned-to-secure-Trumps-stay-490740

Meantime ultra-orthodox jews continue their war against secular jews by stoning a bus hired by the seculars to carry people around town in Tel Aviv. Buses do not work on the Sabbath but secular jews decided to privately hire some buses to do circular trips for those who need to travel about. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4961557,00.html

Full moon over Damascus Gate

The heatwave continues to beat down on us. Last night I could not sleep due to the heat ... not the first time. Walking about the terrace is fine because there's a slight cool breeze in the nights ... and there's also the full moon shining very brightly. I hope this heat will not affect students who are having their exams these few weeks. I can't imagine students sitting in class ... and stuffy and sweaty ... writing their exams. It's difficult to concentrate. Yesterday several pilgrims even felt ill and fainted.

Another hot day ...

Ice cream cone at
11pm

It's a flaming heatwave ... this morning at 10am it was already 34 degrees. I thought of going to the supermarket but when I reached Damascus Gate I turned back. It is so hot I get a headache when I go out. These few nights I have been working late. Go home around 11pm. I avoid going to work during the day as I would get quite sick from the heat. The other night it was so hot when I returned home, I decided to buy an ice cream cone to cool off. The arab grocery opens till midnight and there were may youths buying ice cream as well. It was nice to eat something cool in this heatwave. However I had to scrap off the nuts at the top first .... don't want to risk an allergic attack. This afternoon for dessert after lunch, we had ice cream too. How nice!

The jewish feast of Lag Ba Omer is causing some confusion. This is a minor jewish feast which celebrates the death of rabbi Bar Yochai in Northern Galilee who imparted many wisdom teachings to the jews. Bonfires are lit to celebrate their "enlightenment" by Bar Yochai ... but personally I think it originated from the burning of the straw and chaff of the wheat harvest in Passover. Families go on outings and barbecues. Well this year it falls on Sunday (today) which means it actually began at sunset yesterday. However yesterday was a Sabbath so there was the fear that some bonfires might be lit a little too early thus breaking the Sabbath Law of not kindling a fire. The ultra-orthodox therefore asked the govt to postpone the feast to Monday so that there would be a 24 hour break between Sabbath and the feast. The govt did so by allowing schools to be closed on Monday ... but then the ultra-orthodox reversed their decision and decided to celebrate the feast on Sunday. Most people are now confused especially parents who are left with kids at home while they go to work.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4961450,00.html

Bedouin women carrying wares on
their heads

I've had another spell of this dizziness and half-sleep sensation again this morning after Mass. It really felt like anaesthesia ... a short space of time between getting the injection and actually losing consciousness ... it's that in-between world. It's so weird. Maybe its the heatwave and exhaustion playing on me. The bedouin women are a lot stronger than I am. Saw a couple of old ladies carrying heavy loads on their heads as they walked down Damascus Gate stairs ... in this heatwave. I wonder what their secret is.

Stabbing near home

Our street littered with stones, bottles
and garbage after the riot

While we were having lunch today, just 100 meters from our gate a Jordanian tourist stabbed an Israeli soldier. He entered Israel 2 days ago as a tourist and he did this. This is crazy. Early there were clashes in Nablus (Samaria) and one arab youth was shot dead by Israeli soldiers.  Last night as I came home late from work, there was a minor riot in our street: arab youths throwing garbage, stones and bottles at police who chased them. The street was quiet by then when I came home but there were lots of police in the street and signs of the violence was all too obvious. All these seem to prepare for Monday's Nakba Day .... I'm expecting some violence.  
 http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.788844

There's a touching story in the italian news about our Iraqi friar who was almost decapitated by ISIS by the killer could not cut his throat. He was released and returned to the Holy Land ... recounting the story to us, saying that he carried a relic of our Palestine saint Alphonsine Ghattas and was praying to her for protection when the killer raised the knife over his throat. The article is in italian.  https://it.aleteia.org/2017/05/12/jihadista-non-riuscire-uccidere-frate-francescano/

Newspapers around the world are also carrying news praising the filipino community in Israel that takes care of the elderly jews. It's the "invisible" community that does the work in Israel which is never appreciated. Even local newspapers write about it.  https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/03/magazine/israels-invisible-filipino-work-force.html?_r=0&referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.algemeiner.com%2F2017%2F05%2F08%2Ffor-new-york-times-story-of-filipino-workers-in-israel-is-all-about-the-occupation%2F

Full moon in between the palms

This morning I had to celebrate Mass inside the Empty Tomb. Prayed for you all in there. The  it was work all morning till my body couldn't take it any more and I fell into a strange sleep ... very light-headed, very confused, like I was drugged. All I know was twice Buddy flew and sat on my shoulder as if to guard me. I was floating in and out of consciousness ... and Buddy just sat quietly on my shoulder till I woke up twice. Then he flew back to his perch. Still am asking myself what happened ... was I drugged? It was so strange. Or maybe I was so tired my body just switched off. Or maybe it's the full moon and a touch of lunacy ....

Tense Friday

My little garden

Tension rising in the Old City and perhaps also in East Jerusalem as Nakba Day approaches. At lunch time when I was waiting for M. Teresa's sisters to come collect some things, soldiers were running down our road towards Herod's Gate. Apparently they saw someone carrying a knife. I'm sure the borders will be closed with Palestine and our Muslim Quarter will be under heavy police surveillance or even lockdown. I don't look forward to Monday which is Nakba Day.

The weather continues to be hot although today we had a nice cool wind blowing. I had to water the plants more than usual because the heat has dried out the sol very quickly and most of the lovely flowers have wilted. Luckily my early summer flowers are protected by an awning. I have amaryllis, chincherinchees and nasturtiums blooming beautifully.

There was a great advert on the Internet for groups to visit a couple of arab villages during Ramadan ... to see how the muslims cook and celebrate when the sun sets. I'd love to join in one of these tours. But it takes 7 hours in all and with my IBS I'm not sure if I can control myself. But it would sure be great if I could. Too bad the State is clamping down on arab identity. Apparently arabic is no longer one of the official languages of Israel. It's not nice to speak arabic in public anymore. It's part of Israel's "nation building" program which apparently does not include non-jews.    http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.788635  and  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.788288

April saw the largest jump in tourists in Israel's history since foundation of the State: 350,000 raking in 6 billion shekels in just one month.  https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/144811-170509-tourism-in-israel-breaks-record-increases-by-40-in-april

Wonton noodles

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful gifts and greetings and medicines. And the wonton noodles was great!!! I've been having these cravings for asian food ... so much. Probably it's the summer holidays soon and everyone will be going home to eat their own food ... and I'll be alone again here ... left out.

Heatwave continues

2 ancient olives trees transplanted
at Damascus Gate roundabout

The heat continues to scorch the earth ... and us. 36 degrees or more. Nights are mostly sleepless because of the heat as well. I wonder if the 2 ancient olive trees will survive. They have been transplanted onto the Damascus Gate roundabout 2 days ago ... probably to provide shade for the israeli soldiers who keep watch there of the volatile situation at Damascus Gate. By the look of the trunks, the trees are easily several hundred years old. But this heatwave will kill the roots if they are not constantly watered. If the heatwave doesn't kill them, the arab youths will. They destroy everything for the sake of destroying. There is no culture of appreciating the land and its products. Most of the trees and flowers planted in the area have been stomped, uprooted, snapped simply because they are there. It's a very destructive culture.

Lights in the New City

News of the annual Jerusalem Festival of Lights is out. It will start on the 29th of June ... after Ramadan. That makes sense as after a month of fasting, the people will be ready to celebrate the festival. I hope the heatwave will not return then ... it would make walking through the crowded streets of the Old City quite impossible. Lights have already been put up or are still being put up in the New City - meaning the jewish side of town. They are very pretty. Though they are a month early for the festival, they put the people into a holiday mood ... which will soon start for school children. I think there are many other events this summer for the locals but I'm not keeping track. I'm too busy with my work.

Again ... I mistook Wednesday (yesterday) for Thursday. Went for meetings that did not exist, waited for appointments that were meant for today ... I am just so confused. Someone said that I should just go home and sleep ... it's obviously what I need because it could be one of the causes of my lost of memory or mental confusion. Last night I slept only 3 hours. Was awake from the heat and lots of worries over work and other responsibilities. I can't wait for the school holidays to start. This year I really want to rest. No summer projects please.

Heatwave

Moon over Damascus Gate

It's a scorching 34 degrees right now. Summer just crashed into us. It's so strange because yesterday was still a little cool. Last night I had to sleep with the windows opened ... it was so hot I could not sleep; and many others couldn't sleep s well ... as I heard from them this morning. And the mosquitoes are also swarming now. And last night there was this strange phenomenon of the rising moon over Damascus Gate even while the sun was shining. It was 7pm but being summer the sun sets quite late.

Strawberries in
season

The sudden heatwave means that the Spring fruit would be short-lived ... especially the strawberries. In fact I think most of the fruit will not mature well in this scorching dry heat. Mint and chives on sale in the morning become wilted after 2 hours. Hawkers have to continue sprinkling water over them. Some hawkers are smart and sell only in the evenings when the sun casts long shadows over the City Walls .... it's a lot cooler that way. I noticed that these street hawkers stay open till almost midnight. I guess they cater for the ultra-orthodox jews who walk up and down that way to the Wailing Wall to pray.

Exams are in the air. Some of my students are already in the midst of it. Others will start exams in 2 weeks. That usually means the library will be full. And everyone will have to share books as they all want the same book at the same time.
Some of my students will leave in 2 weeks ... those in the final year. I should meet them immediately after the exams because they fly out very soon for their ordinations. Over 20 years of graduates I've taught .... 20 years of ordinations. You know, when these guys get ordained, you hear them after the Mass thanking their parents, their bishops and religious communities ... but no one ever thanks their teachers. That's our work ... background people. Our satisfaction is to see them be faithful pastors doing their mission loyally ... that we did our part in forming them.

Stabbing attack

Police standing over the site of the
attack

Yesterday a 16 yr old arab girl was shot and seriously wounded after allegedly brandishing a large knife in an attempt to stab some soldiers at Damascus Gate. It was around 7pm and I was about to go out to the other office to pick up 140 books. The City Gate was closed and I couldn't go out. Another guy from our house went out jogging and was just half a minute prior to the attack. As he turned off Damascus Gate to start his run, there were gunshots behind him and he saw the girl collapse. That shook him up and he vowed never to go out jogging again.

Well after an hour the Gate was re-opened and I managed to get to my office. 140 books are heavy and I realized I couldn't carry them alone so I called a seminarian from the White Fathers to come and help.  Luckily he's a big strong chap so he carried all 140 books by himself and brought them back to my house.

Red Bottlebrush tree and white
7 sisters roses at the Park

Just had a call from a good friend Sarah, an Israeli doctor at Hadassah Hospital. Haven't heard from her for some 2 years now. She called inviting me to her neighborhood that's organizing an ecumenical prayer breakfast which of course I'd love to go and help. But first she remembered my 2 moles on my face which she noticed 2 years ago and insisted I go to get it checked because it looked like melanoma. I didn't go of course so she called now to insist that I get it done. She even offered to pay my transport and medical fee ... and she arranged the head of department (dermatology) to see me. So I guess I really should go, but I'd pay for everything my self. It's not right to accept her offer as she's done so much already to arrange for this checkup.

The weather has warmed up quite a lot and the forecast is hot hot hot this week. I dread having to climb up the hill to work in this weather. I still feel giddy and this weather is not helping.

Good Shepherd Sunday

My ear infection has improved a lot. Didn't take any medicine or alternative medicine. I was told t try putting a garlic into my ear ... among many other remedies. I did stay in bed (almost) for 2 days as I was pretty giddy. But in the evenings when I felt better (on both days) I went back to the office 1 km uphill to get some work done.

Barbecue  lunch at the Park

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday and the filipino community that meets for Mass at the Rosary Sisters is dedicated to this patron. They invited me for Mass but I had to celebrate the Armenian Mass at the 3rd Station so I went to their barbecue lunch at Independence Park instead. Most of the group members were there as well as the Salesian fathers and seminarians who take charge of the liturgy for them. 2 franciscan sisters of the Immaculate Conception living nearby at Terra Sancta College also came ... they're filipinas who occasionally come to help the community. Fr. David Neuhaus the Vicar General for migrant communities presided at their Mass and also came for the lunch. It was a lovely sunny day and the change of atmosphere from the Old City was very welcome. Many of my Salesian students were there too.

In a major move against municipality requests, the PM has made moves to grant powers to the Social Affairs Minister to close down business that open on the Sabbath. Many see this as the PM trying to please the ultra-orthodox political parties. The power of the ultra-orthodox have become stronger by each year, but this has upset many other Israelis who consider their lifestyle restricted by a minority's ideology.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4957892,00.html

Chinese Sand Pear in Jerusalem

I had a lovely surprise 2 days ago when the chins sisters gave me a chinese sand pear. I had been thinking for several months now of asking some groups coming up to the Holyland to bring some sand pears ... I really missed eating them. The sisters told me a certain shop in Musrara was selling them ... but it was very expensive. I think it cost US$3 for one. Well I enjoyed eating the juicy slightly sweet fruit after many many years. I was thinking if I had more I could boil soup which would help me stop my coughing and phlegm. Now in Israel we have locally grown lychees, starfruit and guava. We even have frozen durians at the asian grocery. really nice.

Ear infection

New Gate re-illuminated

Thanks to Auntie Yvonne I had 2 of the best chiffon cakes I've eaten in years. It was very nice and light. And thanks  to everyone else for their gifts. Appreciate that. Several days back I met a large group of 160 Singaporeans who came with Pastor Prince. All they could talk to me about was Singaporean food. Nostalgia.

My ear infection is hurting me very much. Though the pain in the nights are much less ... because I've learnt not to move my head when I sleep ... daytime is much more difficult. I get very dixxc and am not very stable on my feet. And the pain is bad. If I lie down, it feels like I'm floating. I guess I should go to the hospital but the walk there, and the heat, and the cost ... I think it's better to rest at home.

It's official: this year is a drought year. Water levels have dropped drastically and now the govt has declared a drought year so taxes on water will rise and maybe there might even be cuts in water supply.    http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4957372,00.html

Comboni sisters with bedouins

There's a catholic news floating in the Internet about 2 Comboni sisters running a school for bedouin children in the south of Israel. Very brave. The bedouins are badly neglected in the fields of education and medicine. And because they are spread throughout the desert region it is difficult to gather them all together. So to solve the space divide, the 2 sisters open 7 schools throughout the desert. Very inspiring story. The article is in italian though.  http://www.chiediloaloro.it/storie/2017/suor-agnese/