Full moon

Full moon over the
City

It's the last day of Eid al Adha and most shops have already closed early. 4 days of revelry is taking its toll and people are ready for normal life again. The full moon is out and most people are out in the parks and plazas enjoying it before school begins and offices open up again.

Today we celebrated the memorial of St. Moses. What? Yes for us here, as with all the Orthodox Churches, the Old Testament personages are also saints. Our monastery on Mt. Nebo where Moses died, celebrates it as a feast day. We also have St. Elijah, St. David etc....

As the school year begins, a new group of chinese religious have arrived to study courses at various institutes. A priest - once my student - is here for a sabbatical, as also an FMM sister; and a seminarian who will study theology in preparation for the priesthood. Nice group. We met up just now at the Chinese sisters' convent over a simple dinner, to get to know each other. Here's wishing them all the best in their studies and an enjoying stay in the Holy Land.

Newspapers are all reporting that Israel's army is undertaking a massive war drill never seen in the past 2 decades. It's a warning to the north (Lebanon) that Israel is ready to fight if provoked. A very clear message.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/IDF-holds-largest-exercise-in-20-years-to-fend-off-Hezbollah-threat-504188

And if you still didn't realise, Israel has been in a state of emergency since it's founding in 1948. The govt is considering extending this state of emergency as the State is still being undermined by enemies. While its true that muslim extremists have been causing conflict these past 2 years, I still say the biggest threat to Israel is from within - from the extremist jews and ultra-orthodox jews who do not recognise the State.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/politics/israel-to-extend-state-of-emergency-due-to-terrorism-30834

Enormous Neapolitan Mastiff
seen in Jaffa

And example of this internal strife and division came up in today's newspapers reporting that ultra-orthodox schools are measuring girls' hair to keep modesty, and will cut off any girl's hair if it's considered too long. Also parents of students are expected to keep a dress code in accordance with these ultra-orthodox rules otherwise their children will be kicked out of school. This has caused an uproar even in ultra-orthodox circles. Apparently these extreme rules are enforced by the minority Lithuanian ultra-orthodox who have always been the leading interpreters of jewish law. I wonder what Moses would say to all this ... since it was he who brought the Law down from Mt. Sinai.

And a joke that's going around town ... Israel is helping China open up a winery. So now even kosher wine is made-in-China. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/1.810435