All Hallowed's Eve

Storm clouds in
the morning

Yes it's Halloween again ... meaning nothing here in the Holy Land. It's a thoroughly American thing and local christians here have no interest in dressing up as ghosts and ghouls. It'll only become an excuse for muslims and jews to accuse christians of devil worship. And God knows we've had our fair share of persecution ... we don't need to import foreign excuses for jews and muslims to persecute us further.

The weather is much cooler ... as predicted. And since we switched back to solar time from daylight saving last Sunday, our sunsets are a lot earlier. By 4.30pm it already gets dark and cold. Winter is upon us. I dislike the cold and winter is definitely not my favourite season. And summer flew past so quickly I don't even have time to regret no enjoying it. The sun and summer weather is almost gone and I have yet to spend a good 24 hours in Jaffa to relax. Life is not fair.

Sunshine in the afternoon

For 2 nights now I've had excruciating pain on my right back. I must have hurt it while moving dozens of enormous flower pots on Saturday. Enormous means enormous ... ancient pottery from Italy so big an adult can easily get inside it. I think I might have torn a muscle. It's so pain it makes me vomit and I get dizzy and I have no appetite to eat. I could not sleep and every movement sends sharp pain all through my right back and my right arm becomes numb. Last night I got Alberto our indonesian student to apply Tokuhon plaster on my back and the pain has reduced about 20%. Tonight I must try Tiger Balm plaster. Why must all bad thing happen to me?

There is this strange and worrisome news that Israel is going to demolish buildings inside the Wall separating Palestine from Israel. Now this means Israel is going to cross the border into Palestine and destroying palestinian houses there. This is outrageous to say the least. Can one country enter another country to destroy its houses because they were built without its permission. Scratch your head and read that again. It's like American troops entering Mexico to destroy mexican houses because it does have have American permission to build. My head is whirling.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.819121

Maybe all this is a bad Halloween nightmare.

"Pled guilty"??????????

Dark clouds and wet streets at
Herod's Gate

This morning it drizzled for many hours. Wasn't too heavy but it did wet the ground significantly and people were wearing woollen jumpers and hoodies. Tourists of course were prepare with raincoats and umbrellas ... which no local would ever use. Apparently in the north it rained quite heavily and caused flooding in several cities. I had to go out to do an errand this morning and found the streets very slippery. Dark heavy clouds hung overhead and the drizzle at times could have counted as rain. I went in and out through Herod's Gate because it is less of a hill, unlike Damascus Gate, and therefore less slippery steps to navigate. And I was surprised on y way back that there were armed soldiers perching on the turret of Herod's Gate. Lucky there was no lightening. Anyway the forecast for the coming week is winter weather. Temperatures will plunge and rain will continue to pour in the north. If we're lucky, we might get more drizzle in Jerusalem.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/israel-prepares-for-winter-as-heavy-rain-and-floods-strike-the-north-32066

Half moon over
the City Walls

One thing has been irking me for the past year and now I have to let it out: the English language in newspapers are appalling. Over and over again, from USA to Singapore, I read "shuttered" as the past tense of "shut". Today in HaAretz, the headlines was "pled guilty". That broke the camel's back. I must have my word on this: The past tense of "plead" is "pleaded", not "pled"; the past tense of "oblige" is "obliged", not "obligated"; the past tense of "shut" is "shut", not "shuttered". Don't tell me the English language is evolving .... no it is not!! It is devolving!!!!!

The Defense Minister has called for all terrorists' homes to be razed to the ground. Well it is actually in action. But jewish terrorists who kill arabs do not receive the same punishment. I wonder why.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-calls-for-razing-homes-of-terrorists-who-wound-israelis/

Yesterday the ultra-orthodox waged war on soccer fans coming home from a match. The ultra-orthodox also clashed with conservative and progressive jews who held a Sabbath celebration ... obviously not according to the ultra-orthodox standards. And the ultra-orthodox attacked shopkeepers who opened shop on the Sabbath. Watch the video:
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5035108,00.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ultra-orthodox-protesters-soccer-fans-clash-in-jerusalem/

Sunday again

Great food donated from "Mian"

It didn't drizzle today but it was below 20 degrees most of the time. Only at noon was the temp above 20 degrees. Right now it's 16 degrees ... and I need the heater to be on.

Despite the cold, some poor families in the Old City got some hot food. Mian restaurant had overcooked lunch for a chinese group of tourists ... so there was a lot of leftovers. Billy the owner called me to collect the food as he didn't want them to go to waste. I went there in the evening and brought home 4 large ice-cream containers of food. I carried them to M. Teresa's sisters convent and they distributed it to the poor. It was nice of Billy and his wife Linda to think of the poor.

Then the whole day was spent working on my paper. Never ending job. Only other great thing was bumping into some real good jewish buddies in the street: the usual security guys whom I've not seen for some time .... David Cohen, Matan, Gete, Englanoff, Tobaly and the gang.

Drizzle

Jaffa Street in the drizzle

The forecasted rain today didn't come ... well almost. It drizzled all morning. And at times quite heavy. But nobody minded. Everyone was bare-headed and enjoyed the rare weather. The temperature has fallen though and everyone is out with hoodies and thick jackets. The nights go down to 12 degrees. But with the drizzle means the roads get very slippery and today I almost slipped twice. It's a scary experience. Luckily it's the Sabbath so there are very few cars on the streets and so no major accidents took place. I hope this little drizzle had helped put out the forest fire in Ein Kerem. It might at least slowed down the fire when the trees are wet.

Dies Academicus this morning

This morning I had to go to the Salesian university's Dies Academicus ... which is their sort of Speech Day. They invite some important person to deliver a keynote talk on a certain topic, and then the faculty presents it's honors to retired professors and introduce new books published. Despite the heavy drizzle a sizable audience turned up. I was lucky because our dean was going as well so he drove me along. But I came home early (in the middle of the talk!!!) because I had left the library unattended and there were several students and profs in there. So I rushed home (in the slippery roads, it was more like a waddle) to work back there.

In the afternoon the drizzle stoped and I had to clear up the courtyard from unwanted plants. There're huge vases which I cannot manage alone so I left those ... and threw away only the smaller ones that I could move. There're too many plants on the courtyard and it weighs down on the library and museum below ... causing leaks when it rains or snows. I guess I'll have to continue clearing the courtyard out tomorrow as well because once the rains begin, it'll be too late.

Forest fire

The Russian Ortho-
dox cathedral

It's Friday and almost the end of my turn as hebdomedarios. That's the week when I'm in charge of all the prayers including Mass for the community. It also includes clearing up the dinner table and washing the dishes. While it's a service to the community, it takes up alot of personal time and work usually gets backlogged during this week.

There's been a lot of noise just a few minutes ago outside in the streets. Went to the terrace to have a look and saw 3 arab grooms in 3 wedding cars ... and a dozen other entourage cars with youths running along side clapping and singing. It's the last weddings before winter ... and weddings will again resume in early summer before Ramadan or after Ramadan. Good luck to those grooms. The economy is so bad and the political situation is so shaky ... it's a risk to marry without without a permit to move around, get a job or even rent a room.

Defaced tourist
information on
Garden Tomb

Though I've passed it many times, I've never noticed how beautiful and imposing the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Trinity is. It's in the Russian Compound of the New City and many people walk pass it without looking up. Yet while monuments of christianity stand, anti-christianity continue. A new plaque that explains the protestant Garden Tomb (supposed tomb of Christ according to the protestants) to tourists was defaced. There is no reason why ... it's just a tourist piece of information. And the culprit could both be jewish or muslim as both use that road.

And right now there's a massive forest fire in the southwest of Jerusalem ... which is the forest near Ein Kerem where John the Baptist was born. Let's hope the rains predicted for tomorrow will fall and out it out as we've had a very dry year and the forests are tinder fodder.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/IN-PICTURES-Flames-threaten-Jerusalem-forest-508617

One good thing happened today, the firefighters from Israel, Palestine and Jordan held a joint drill to fight fires. No politics ... just save lives. That's good ... but what I want to know is ... how come the forest fire in Ein Kerem? Is the joint fire-fighting team battling this fire? No use holding a drill when a real live fire is just round the corner!!!    http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/world-news/the-israeli-connection/watch-israel-jordan-pa-in-joint-regional-disaster-exercise

Christian zionism is spreading as seen in last Sukkoth's celebrations. A lot of chinese. Well all I can say is if Israel is depending on that lot for constant support, they're backing the wrong house. Protestantism is fickle ... it depends on the charisma of the leaders. People flock to support famous pastors but once they die or retire or fall out of grace, the flock witch allegiance to another overnight. And many of these followers have only a shallow understanding of Zionism .... usually limited to a fascination of Judaism in it's outward expression like wearing phylacteries and prayer shawls. It's a theme-park experience that does not feed a stable spirituality.  http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/White-Evangelicals-Used-to-Dominate-Christian-Zionism-but-Not-Anymore-508621

Another day

How many security
cameras can you
find on this pole?

The weather is back to it's dreadful undecided self. Afternoon get very hot ... up to 26 degrees (and the weather station says it's hot enough to wear shorts); then in the evenings it drops to 12 degrees and is cold enough that you might need a heater at 4am when it gets the coldest. And of course the influenza wave is overtaking the country. Man people are sick with the flu ... in our house we have 5 down and some more to go. Luckily I've had my flu vaccination so I'm alright. Crossing my fingers that the vaccine will last for the next 3 weeks.

The arrests of several terrorists has prompted the Municipality to step up it's security measures around the Old City. There are now so many security cameras it's a wonder if they all actually work!!!

The jewish implosion continues as the majority of ultra-orthodox jews who do not agree with the violent demonstrations undertaken by the small Lithuanian sect against the police and general public, has decided to fight fire with fire. They've posted blogs and other social media, and printed posters .... of the culprits responsible for disrupting daily life and causing a nuisance in the ultra-orthodox world. They call for boycotts for their businesses and schools. Its is rare that the ultra-orthodox community is so split but it has finally caved in when the spirit of Torah study has been disturbed and other reputable rabbis and their synagogues have been attacked by these extremists for not supporting the demonstration. It's backfiring.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5033890,00.html

Meantime the High Court is deliberating today if shops in Tel Aviv should be closed on the Sabbath. This extremist ultra-orthodox have already controlled Jerusalem and enforcing it's strict jewish laws on everyone .... now they want to control Tel Aviv, the modern open tolerant city by the Mediterranean which hardly any ultra-orthodox living there. Well they tel avivians will put up a fight if the law goes through.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/High-Court-to-rule-today-if-Tel-Aviv-supermarkets-may-be-open-on-Shabbat-508454

And one bit of good news: Israel is heading the world in medical marijuana use and research. Now there's a study on it's effect on asthma. That will come as a big relief because we asthma sufferers are sick of steroids and cortisones that make us bloated and sick while keeping asthma under control. Medical marijuana will not have these side-effects.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-cannabis-guru-to-study-effect-of-weed-on-asthma/

Urgent prayers for persecuted christians

Just received a message from Syria : "Please pray for 22 Christian missionaries. They are waiting for the death sentence. Tomorrow afternoon, by Islamists in Afghanistan. Please send this message as soon as possible to your faithful and loyal friends so that they can spread to a wide range of people. So that may help stop the execution .. With love .. Share it ... 😡😢 "





The persecution of christians continue unabated ... and the world has closed its eyes and ears ... choosing to ease it's conscience by highlighting the plight of muslim rohingyas. Christian blood is cheap; christian lives don't matter ... until the terrorists come to your town and kill you. Too late for regrets.

This morning in the West Bank, Israeli police arrested 19 suspects for planning attacks.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/security-forces-arrest-17-terror-suspects-in-west-bank-31936

And more ultra-orthodox jewish demonstrations that are getting more violent and disrupting public transport. This time it was the Light Rail in Jerusalem. And more rabbis are calling these demonstrations to stop, that they disturb Torah study and Torah spirit. It's obvious this small Lithuanian group of extremists are causing division in the ultra-orthodox world ... but their rebellious rabbi is very influential and gets all the attention.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.818637

Olive harvesting with a 1000 yr old
tree

Today I was still utterly tired and frustrated and depressed. No mood to work or study. Had an early morning meeting with those 1st year students who didn't show last week for the orientation programme and then went off to my room to write my paper. The sisters were forcing me to eat as I had no appetite since yesterday. Then it was classes in the afternoon and I had to pretend I'm ok ... it's all so tiring. I just want to give up and disappear.

Carrying bags of olives

Anyway it's the olive picking season and a selected group of volunteers was organised to pick the olives from the 8 thousand-year old trees in the garden of Gethsemane. Pilgrims passing by were asking for the broken branches to bring home. I believe the olives will be crushed for their oil which will be blessed on Holy Thursday to become Holy Chrism.

Give up

Yummy lebanese fatteh

I had lunch at a local family's home last week. The grandparents escaped from Lebanon during the 1970s war and came to Israel and the next 2 generations were born and bred here in Israel. They're a simple family ... the youngest son Jack runs a small restaurant which I occasionally get a sandwich or spaghetti when I'm really hungry at work and have no time to go home to eat. Jack's wife made an incredibly delicious lebanese fatteh - fresh salad smothered in tehina and yoghurt under a layer of toasted breadcrumbs, and topped with a layer of minced beef. You need to taste it to understand what I mean. Utterly incredible!! I had 3 helpings. And after lunch Jack's wife wanted to pack the leftover fatteh for me to bring home but I said no. I have no fridge to store it so the yoghurt would go bad.

Baby Christopher
waiting for his
lunch

I was very exhausted today even at 8am. Everyone coming up to complain to me about elevators not working, WIFI not working etc etc ... and it's NOT my responsibility!!!!!! I am a librarian, not a technician or engineer!!!! It was all so frustrating. So I walked out ... didn't go to work. Just went for a very very long walk for 5 hours ... far far away. Just disappeared voluntarily.

Well actually I was already mentally exhausted yesterday. I kept thinking that yesterday (Monday) was Thursday. Went to class prepared for lessons and the students told me it's Monday class not Thursday ... got the subjects wrong. Went to meetings that didn't take place, made calls that were due in 4 days time instead. It was total absolute chaos. I knew my mind is no longer working. I'm mentally exhausted. And with little sleep as well. And then today with all the relentless complains.

I wish life was like a nice quiet lunch of delicious lebanese fatteh ... and hell with the rest of the world.

MC profession.

The weekend was very busy and I could not update the blg. My workers could not come to work so I had to substitute them in the library. Then I had several classes to teach at the same time so it was a juggling act. I hardly slept the past 3 days because of this overload of work.

3 MC brothers make their vows

Yesterday there was the perpetual profession of vows of 3 Missionaries of Charity contemplative brothers. I met them a few times and am a friend of their Formation Master Fr. John. He invited me to the Mass at Gethsemani Basilica and I rushed over there just a little before 4pm. There was a small crowd from Nazareth for the event. As the MC fathers' community is based in Nazareth, few people in Jerusalem know them therefore few showed up. The MC sisters form Jerusalem and Bethlehem came. The Archbishop and Bishop Marcuzzo - the emeritus suffragan of Nazareth came. As is typical of the MC spirituality, the celebration was simple .... but the speeches were long. After the Mass there was a reception inside the Garden of Gethsemani with light refreshments. But it was getting dark (6pm) so I rushed home which is actually an arduous climb up the Kidron Valley back to the Old City.

MC brothers prostrate
on the sacred rock
of Gethsemani

I was thoroughly exhausted by the whole day's activities and still we had a solemn dinner because one of our emeritus professors was returning to his country fro good. Some of our students prepared a barbecue dinner and there were speeches of thanks and it went for 2 hours almost till 10pm. I was too exhausted and though I was in charge of cleaning up the dining room, I just could not do it. My superior saw me yawning and asked if I was. I said I have class in the night and have to wake up at 3am. The superior told go straight to sleep and some other guys will do the cleaning for me. So I went off and slept ... well almost. When I'm too tired, I can't sleep immediately. It took a couple of hours before I actually slept.

This morning there's been a renewed alert for salmonella in fresh chicken eggs. We must be careful now when buying them from the markets.

And the war between ultra-orthodox Jews and the police continue as they've organized more demonstrations throughout the country to oppose compulsory military service. Today they plan to block Ben Gurion Airport. And yesterday in Tel Aviv a policeman closed down a portable ultra-orthodox prayer stand because the rabbi had no permit to place a table in the street. I think all these clashes and tit-for-tat will explode soon.  http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=430694&utm_content=buffer44636&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

But one leading rabbi denounced the ultra-orthodox demonstrations because the youths who're involved have also attacked non-ultra-orthodox jews and ultra-orthodox jews who do not share their beliefs. Some had previously charged into a rival synagogue and disturbed the service inside. The elderly and respected rabbi condemned them.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5031462,00.html

And now we receive dreadful news that escaping ISIS members slaughtered 128 innocent villages as revenge for the loss of various cities to the Syrian national army.

Dinner with the cardinal

Cardinal Sandri at dinner

Cardinal Sandri came for dinner last evening. There was a little hitch at the last minute because the jewish youths were marching down our Muslim Quarter .... they do this once every month ... very provocative. They want to show the arabs that East Jerusalem and the Muslim Quarter is Israeli. Well they were beginning their march down our road when the cardinal arrived from the other end of the road in his car. The police managed to get his car into our garage before any scuffle or spitting or vandalism took place.

Our indian sisters who cooked dinner got to see the cardinal after his speech to us. We had pizza (Thursday night) ... a simple dinner which I'm sure the cardinal appreciated. However I had a small allergic attack when there was something in the pizza that made me choke. Had to rush upstairs to get my medicine. After that I came back down to the refectory but I was quite sleepy due to the medication. So I went to sleep immediately after the cardinal left.

The big news today is the massive ultra-orthodox jewish demonstration against the country's compulsory military draft law. Central Jerusalem was blocked by thousands of protesters. Traffic came to a standstill. Police tried to push back the protesters and clashes broke out. It was bad.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5030817,00.html 

The lone female solider who fought off hundreds of spitting and kicking ultra-orthodox jews can be seen here   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.818101

Then today, the new moon, jewish women who wish to pray at the Wailing Wall but have been blocked by the rabbis, were joined by veteran soldiers who liberated the Wall 60 years ago. However police pushed back and clashed with the veterans, sending a elderly ex-commander in chief down to the floor.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/WATCH-Soldiers-who-liberated-Jerusalem-pushed-away-from-the-Western-Wall-507952

All everyone can say is: the minority ultra-orthodox have taken over the country. They have controlled the country and the govt allowed it. They control the govt.

Feast of Peter of Alcantara

Matt and the capital

The Cardinal will coming for dinner tonight. Well it's going to be a tight fit for me because I have classes from 2.30pm-4.30pm, then adoration and confessions from 4.30pm to 7pm. I will be very exhausted by then. I told the house that I might not be back home in time for dinner. Let's see how it'll work out. To say the least the events of the past 3 days have tired me out.

Our talented archaeological restorer Matt has been working on a couple of ancient capitals (the tops of columns), cleaning out 2000 years of dirt and patching cracks. After months of painstaking work ... and lots of jibes from us who laugh at him ... he finally completed the task. And what a surprise I got! What I thought to be 2 capitals turned out to one ... one was the top of the other! Now it makes sense how the 2 fitted together. It belonged to one of King Herod's palaces near Bethlehem. Good work, Matt!!!

8 European countries are demanding Israel to pay for the demolition of school structures which they erected in Palestine for arab village children. Israel claims the structures are illegal even though the land is in Palestine. Israel claims juridical control over these parts of Palestine. Of course Israel will not pay. There will be some angry spats especially in the UN but Israel has already decided to withdraw from UN agencies so dialogue is now not even possible.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/In-a-first-EU-member-states-demand-Israel-pay-them-back-for-demolished-W-Bank-structures-507814

And what is this I read? An article claiming that chinese herbal medicine causes liver cancer. Some people are saying it's fake news and tactics of western pharmaceutical companies trying to kill off chinese medicine.  http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/health/across-asia-liver-cancer-is-linked-to-herbal-remedies-study-9322508?view=DEFAULT

Buddy wants to read

The weather has suddenly shot up again. Last night was hot enough for me to turn on the small portable aircon. I could even wear a T-shirt in the morning without feeling cold. In the afternoon it was hot. Tel Aviv was 30 degrees! But I think it will flop back to cold weather during the weekend. It might even rain on Monday. Let's hope so. I really want it to rain. The drought this year is awful. The earth is parched and plants and animals are dying. Today is the feast of St. Peter of Alcantara, our very austere and mystical spanish franciscan. Maybe he can work a miracle and send us rain.

Custodians reconfirmed

Night repair work at
Damascus Gate

It's the 2nd day of our 800th anniversary celebrations. There was Mass at 8am then a series of conferences that lasted the whole day. I didn't join in any because I had a meeting with our new students at 8am then a meeting then I wanted to finish my article. Locked myself in the room and wrote 2 pages before starting class. By then my brain was dead and I was awfully sleepy and dizzy. I had hardly slept all night because the Municipality began road works again along our street as well as at Damascus Gate. They did several sections along our road and now they're doing the other parts. The pneumatic jackhammers make so much noise it's impossible to sleep. And the workers talk very loudly. It was a terrible night ... and it's going to last another couple of weeks. But one good side is they're also repairing the broken, slippery and worn-out stones of the ramp at Damascus Gate. I've fallen down there twice already. They are really a hazard. So all night the workers dug out the old stones and re-paved it with new striated ones. I don't mind that because it's 200 meters away and I can't hear it.

Today we received a copy of the Pope's letter to our Custody in the Holy Land. In it he thanked the friars for their sacrifice and service in situations that are dangerous ... all through 800 years. As such he reconfirmed the mandate issued by Pope Clement in 1341 to make the Franciscans as custodians of the Holy Land.

There was an attempted stabbing south of Jerusalem at the infamous Gush Etzion injunction where very many stabbings and car crashes took place. It's the boundary between Palestine and Israel and is a well known hotspot for trouble. The terrorist was shot and wounded.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-man-shot-after-running-at-soldiers-with-knife-in-west-bank/

The same ramp in
the morning: all
re-paved.

Yesterday a video went viral in Israel: it showed hundreds of ultra-orthodox jewish men taunting and attacking a female soldier who was trying to protect a car and its driver from the mob. They spat at her, hit her and kicked her and she fought back. It was pretty cowardly actually but that's the ultra-orthodox men. They are against military conscription and much more against women in the army. Most of Israelis are very angry at this treatment because they sacrifice their children to the army to protect the country ... to protect the ultra-orthodox and this is how they are thanked. Israeli society is imploding.

And one of the archeological mysteries of the Old City has been revealed. For 2 years Israeli archeologists have secretly dug beside the Wailing Wall and have discovered the Roman period Odeon (music hall) that everyone knew existed but could not find it. From ancient sources we are told that King Herod built a theatre, an odeon and a hippodrome (for horse-racing) in Jerusalem but no one knows where. Now at least we know where the Odeon is. Amazing.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/massive-section-of-western-wall-and-roman-theater-uncovered-after-1700-years/

800th anniversary

Cardinal Sandri flanked by the
Franciscan Minister General (L)
and the Custos (R)

Our 3 day celebration of the 8th centenary in the Holy Land inaugurated yesterday. Our Minister General from Rome came with his Vicar. Also Cardinal Sandri who is Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches ... the Holy Land falls under his jurisdiction. Yesterday evening he gave the opening speech which was mainly recalling the sacrifices we made these 800 years in keeping the holy sites in christian hands. Many died protecting these places ... even in the past years where our friars have been killed and kidnapped in Syria. It was a happy yet sad recollection of our dangerous situation. The Pope sent a letter which was read to all. He recalled his visit to the Holy Land 2 years ago and how he had an unplanned lunch with us at St. Saviour Monastery and how he enjoyed our presence. A series of conference and a small exhibition of objects from the Crusader period was organised in conjunction with this 3 day celebration. Our oldest illuminated manuscript was also on display ... a gift from John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and father of Henry IV in the late 1300s. Needless to say I was stressed trying to make sure the manuscript was not damaged by curious hands and humidity. And it is very heavy ... it needs 2 men to carry it. The covers are iron-cast and it's 1 meter tall.

The Franciscan Minister General
flanked by the Custos (L) and the
Vice-Custos (R)

At the conference today were VIPs ... the Greek and Armenian patriarchs, top representatives from the Coptic, Russian, Lutheran and other churches; ambassadors from Italy, France, Spain, Belgium among others; govt. reps from Israel and Palestine. It was an audience to see and be seen with.

Yesterday we had solemn vespers and the Franciscan Minister General officially opened the celebrations. The 3 days of celebration here in Jerusalem is just the start of a 3 year long celebration for the entire Franciscan Order. Well there're a couple of events in the coming months that I'm involved in organising ... exhibitions mainly and 2 conferences in which I have to deliver the closing speech ... so I will be very busy. 

Feast of St. Teresa of Avila

Lunch with the indian sisters

Suffice to say the weekend was one endless string of work lasting 72 hours ... and its not quite finished yet. The highlight was Sunday when the Indian sisters officially established their new convent here in Jerusalem (behind our house). Their provincial and one councillor arrived for the occasion ... and their other community in Nazareth also came to join in. We had a special Mass at 11am to welcome them and then a "grand" lunch (rice and stroganoff) that followed. The 3 new sisters of this new community come from Hyderabad (that's where they make the best briyani rice so I hope they'll make some for me) but speak english and some italian so that's helpful. This afternoon I have to bring them to visit the Archbishop.

And this morning the 8th centenary celebrations of the franciscan presence in the Holy Land was inaugurated. The Minister General came from Rome for the occasion. The 3 day celebration will include a series of talks and exhibitions ... and it's just the start of a year long worldwide celebration. The Holy Land is always known as the Pearl of the Missions for the franciscans. More about this tomorrow.

We had a rude shock this morning when ISIS in Sinai fired 2 missiles into southern Israel. It's the usual time when the weather gets cold that wars begin ... it's more bearable than under the relentless summer sun.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/middle-east/israeli-palestinian-relations/idf-two-rockets-launched-from-sinai-into-israel-31739

There were disturbances up on the Mt. of Olives last night. Arab youths were throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli police. One guy burnt his hands while throwing a Molotov cocktail and the Israeli Police treated him before arresting him. Humanitarian act.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/east-jerusalem-man-arrested-for-attempted-molotov-cocktail-attack/

Mass at Pater Noster
Carmelite Monastery

Well today is also the feast of St. Teresa of Avila. There was a solemn celebration at the Carmelite Monastery of Pater Noster on the Mt. of Olives. It's all french speaking so most of the dominican friars and White Fathers were in attendance. The franciscans are italian speaking but we do have a few french and canadian friars with us. However our 800th anniversary inauguration also took place at the same time so none of them could go to the Carmelite Monastery for the Mass.

Stromata

Sunrise at Damascus Gate

Yesterday ended quite badly as Sukkoth was winding up. A large group of jewish youths ran amok in the Muslim Quarter, attacking arabs, vandalizing property including shops and cars and motorbikes ... and only 20 soldiers were sent to control the situation. No one was arrested ... the youths were simply escorted out of the Old City through Damascus Gate. If this were done by arabs on jewish property, there would be hoards of soldiers making arrests. Somehow the spirit of Yom Kippur and Sukkoth hasn't got deep down enough into the heart. It makes Judaism as much a farce as muslims who attack in the name of their religion. No difference. But different consequences.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.816890

And an other dreadful piece of news ... ISIS which has escaped Aleppo and Raqqa in these few days ... have gathered near the northern Israeli border to establishing a training camp. Sounds bad ... but actually it is right under the nose of Israeli and its radar ... so in a way it's good. We can keep a close eye on their movements.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/middle-east/israel-and-the-middle-east/isis-establishes-camp-near-israeli-border-31665

And a slap in the face for the ultra-orthodox who pressured the Municipality of Jerusalem to cancel the Science Festival .... the festival organizers have decided to go ahead by planning an alternative festival without govt. or Municipality support.  http://www.jpost.com/jerusalem/Liberal-groups-to-hold-alternative-Space-Week-in-Jerusalem-507107

Student in the
library

School is in full swing and work in the library is now back to its busy routine. In between the 2 libraries that I run, I have classes on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday ... approx. 10 hours a week. That is exhausting and I still haven't got my summer vacation. I must fight for it ... but it's a losing battle. I can't cancel all the classes.

I twisted my ankle yesterday. Not serious but it makes walking terribly inconvenient especially when you have to climb up all the stairs 1km to work. And the weather is crazy ... it gets so cold at night ... below 15 degrees but daytime is hot. Lucky I got my flu shot so I won't have to worry about catching the flu. What I need is to catch some sleep.

Last day of Sukkoth

David's Street closed off

This evening the jewish feast of Tabernacles comes to an end. By noon traffic trickled to a minimum, the trams and buses stopped working, roads were blocked off to prevent traffic. Even streets in the Old City were blocked off. Pedestrian traffic were channeled one way from Jaffa Gate to the Wailing Wall and David's street is exit only to Jaffa Gate. This caused a lot of inconvenience and confusion as many christian tourists wanted to go to the Holy Sepulchre through David's Street only to find it closed. Police told them to take the long detour going to the Wailing Wall with the jews then turning back to the Suq (market) to get to the Holy Sepulchre. Actually there is a shorter route through the Greek or Latin patriarchates but the alleys are bit too difficult to explain to tourists.

Sunrise today

Yesterday thousands of zionitst protestants walked the annual Jerusalem March. The chinese contingent was quite big ... chinese dressed in strange chinese-inspired costumes, carrying chinese flags and even men carrying a replica of the Ark of the Convenant. It's all a carnival or these theologically lacking protestants; their knowledge of Judaism is superficial and based on outward expressions. And orthodox jews frown on these parades because they consider the protestants making a mockery of their religion ... and worse ... a threat because they believe these protestants are here to convert their faithful to christianity. So while these protestants marchers revel and dance thinking they are supporting and are appreciated by the jews, in reality the rabbis are trying to block this parade every year.

Well I've been very busy with some editing work. Managed to finish the last one now ... while everyone else is eating dinner. I'm too tired to eat anything. In fact I ate nothing since yesterday night. I had a cup of lemon honey this morning and that's it. Maybe I should sleep now. Too tired for anything else. Sukkoth after all is over.

Cold

The Armenian building all lit up

I went to the doctor today. It's a small clinic just behind the 5th Station of the Cross. And it's cheap ... the doc caters for the poor muslims living around that Quarter. I've been going to him for a couple of years now ... rather than going to our catholic hospitals and doctors. I know I'll get 1st class treatment and service at our medical institutions .... and that's why I don't want to go there. The poorest people will never have this access ... and I decided I have to live with the poor, like the poor: to line up for medical services which are not the best. But I get the necessary medical attention so that's enough for me. Anyway the doc (he's an old man) says it's time for my flu shot as the weather is changing. I get one shot in Spring and one in Autumn ... and he always reminds me because he knows my resistance is low. So I got a jab ... and some medicine ... all for 50 shekels.

2 sukkah (booths) in the street

Yesterdays sudden storm has brought the temp. down. For the last 2 nights I had my small heater on because it got really cold: 15 degrees and lower. It got so cold Buddy flew to my bed and slept under my blanket. My winter clothes are all out ... hoodies, shoes, jackets, raincoat. Winter is in ... and somehow I'm liking it. By the way, yesterday's rain made the Sea of Galilee rise by 1cm ... which is quite a big deal. But we're still 6cm below the red line so let's hope more rain will come. However many of the jewish sukkah or booths are washed down. They were meant to protect against dew and drizzle, not rain.

Meantime the Greek Orthodox Church is heating up with clashes and tensions between the Greek clergy and the arab faithful over the sale of church land and properties. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.816240

And a shocking bit of news for Sukkot ... some jews have been re-enacting the water sacrifice which took place 2000 years ago when there was the Temple and Altar. Strictly speaking it cannot be done until the Temple and Altar were rebuild. But an extremist group ash been secretly doing it for the past several years and they have done it again yesterday. This ritual is not simply a purification but a plea for rain.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.816271

Rain

Rain!!!!

It rained this morning!! The skies were quite dark like yesterday but today it actually started to drizzle and then rain. In Jerusalem it rained for only a couple of hours ... not very heavy ... a regular shower in your part of the world. But in the central plains and up north, there was heavy rain with thunder and lightening. It causes flooding in many cities and electrical outages. It is so good!!! Strange today it but we had a long decade of drought and this rain is so welcome. Children 7 or 8 years old can't remember what rain is. The school opposite our house was chaos as children ran out into the quadrangle and shouted and played in the rain. Most people - jew and arab alike - walked bare-headed in the rain ... it's a blessing. Only tourists carried umbrellas and cursed the rain. They have no idea what a drought is.

Via Dolorosa in
the rain

I was out doing a chore at Salahaddin Street when it started to drizzle. Pedestrians were all looking up into the dark sky and many were saying it will rain. No one hurried, no one rushed into the covered walkways. Everyone walked out in the street and let the drizzle fall on their faces. When I reach home it started to rain. It was good to hear the flattering of rain on the rooftops and stone pavements. It's something we haven't heard for years. We all hope it will continue to rain for the next weeks and months. What a cool relief. The parched earth was soaking up every drop of rain.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5026325,00.html

Yesterday tens of thousands of arab and jewish women marched through the streets of Jerusalem after 2 weeks of walking from the north. They mostly suffered personal lost in the arab-israeli conflict, and they included orthodox religious women from both religions. They demand a peace deal that so far has eluded us for the past 10 years. They as mothers, don't want their children to die in mindless racial and religious violence anymore. https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-of-israeli-palestinian-women-march-for-peace/

Today was a major disappointment for many Israelis because the ultra-orthodox jews have succeeded in blocking the Space Week festival in Jerusalem, citing participants and/or venues as impure. There were supposed to be talks and exhibitions in various sites around the City. But the extremist minority has flexed its power and the majority just cowered in silence. Religion trumped science this time.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Space-Week-events-in-Jerusalem-cancelled-due-to-haredi-pressure-506872

Priestly Blessing

Waving the 4 species
at the Wailing Wall
this morning

It's the day of the Priestly Blessing ... called Birkat Kohanim in hebrew ... at the Wailing Wall this morning. I have only missed it once 4 years ago when I was sick. It takes place on the 3rd day of Succoth and all the jewish priests come to bless the nation with Aaron's blessing. The Wailing Wall plaza was packed with people ... as many gentiles as there were jews. Many have come to see this ancient ritual that goes back 2000 years when the temple was still standing. The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD and so the priests no longer have a job except to give the blessing.

I woke up at 3am to prepare for this trip (the Wailing Wall is about 600 meters from my house). After doing all I needed to do - answering emails and messages, tidying the bed, shower etc... I celebrated Mass at 5am. Then it was doing some work till 8.15am when my students sent me a message saying they were on their way to the Wall. So I quickly went out to join them.

A father lays hands on his
sons while the priests bless
the people

At the Wall over a dozen of my students were waiting ... and there was a big crowd at the plaza. I did some explanations of the ritual and answered their questions. Then I encouraged them to take photos with the local jews praying with their 4 species (palm frond, cigars, myrtle and willow)as my students were afraid they might offend the jews. I told them that they were more than happy to have their photos taken ... which is true. Many posed for photos! According to the prophet Zachariah, pagans from all over the world will come to Jerusalem and celebrate the feast of Succoth with the jews. For this reason the jews are tolerant in allowing non-jews like us to join them at the Wailing Wall and take their pictures and pray with them.

It was an extraordinary experience ... the blessing being the only remaining institution of the Temple since its destruction 1930 years ago. It was like going back in time. This was the blessing Jesus gave his disciples as he ascended into heaven (see Luke 24). I promised my jewish friends who are working today that I'll go get the blessing for them ... and also for all of you. Hope the coming year will be filled with good things from God to all of you.

O.L. of the Rosary

Palms at Municipality Square

It's Sabbath (Saturday) in Chol HaMoed (the interim days between the 1st and last day of Sukkoth). That means the jews do not take the 4 species of plants and wave them while praying. Apparently it is considered work to wave them ... and on the Sabbath you are not allowed to work. The roads are quiet at the western side of Jerusalem ... but crowds of jews continue to walk to the Wailing Wall for prayers. Tomorrow morning roads in and around Jaffa Gate will be closed because the jewish priests will be giving their blessing at 9.30am and again at 10.30am at the Wailing Wall. Tens of thousands are expected to come from all over the country to join in this unique event. Though there is no more Temple and hence priests have no jobs (that's why rabbis are the religious leaders today, not priests) ... the only thing the priestly tribe (those surnamed Cohen) can do today is give the blessing.

Full moon over
Damascus Gate

I've been very busy working all day and didn't have a chance to go out except for a short while to buy some flowers for Our Lady's altar in our church. It's the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The roses I bought were not very fresh but they were still very beautiful: orange and beige coloured ones. They cost 3 shekels each ... which is cheap ... so I bought 10. Problem was during lunch Is aw them on our dining room instead of the chapel. It's our Dean's feast day - his name is Rosario ... so the indian sisters put the vase of roses on the dining room for the occasion. I think by now the vase should be in the chapel.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's Priestly Blessing at the Wailing Wall. I've told my students to attend and experience it. That means I'll need to wake up early. But I have a lot of work to do as well so I'll have to sleep late.

Friday

Full moon over the
streets of Jerusalem

The asian Mid-Autumn Festival is always celebrated on the jewish feast of Succoth. They fall on the same full moon. And it is amazing how bright the moon was last night. I managed to get some early sleep because the search light aimed at our house was finally switched off. No more blazing lights shining in our eyes when we tried to sleep. By 1am I was awake ... I guess I had enough sleep. Took a walk out on our terrace and saw the huge moon above. Utterly mesmerizing. It was so amazing I decided to take a walk out in the City.  It was quite chilly ... only 15 degrees. But jews were busy walking to and from the Wailing Wall and muslims were going to the Mosque ... and soldiers were everywhere. It was as busy as daytime even though it was only 3am. The only difference is moonlight instead of sunlight. Outside Damascus Gate I was fixed on the moon above. It was so bright the whole City was lit up. It was incredible.

But once morning came, work started. It's the first day of school and there was lots to do in the library ... displaying the new arrivals, preparing the sale of course textbooks, photocopying handouts ... That was all 5 hours in the morning. Relentless. Then it was a very quick lunch. It's Friday ... penance and abstinence. That means lentil broth and fish. I had a little lentil broth though I dislike it very much. Some of us don't eat the fish .. Tilapia ... because it's rarely cooked in the middle. Always raw. Fish here are all deep frozen because of kosher laws ... that makes cooking them very difficult.

Anyway it was a short lunch because I had school and had to rush 1km uphill to New Gate. Then it was rushing to write some lesson notes in 40 minutes, but was interrupted by a prof. and a student who cannot understand that the library is closed today. Insisted on searching for books. It was an awful moment. Anyway class ended at 5pm, then it as doing some of my own homework and then it's off to work with a group at 7.30pm (no dinner) till probably 9pm. Long day. But I would still like to see again the moon tonight.

Inauguration Day

2 ultra-orthodox
jews walking home
from the Wailing Wall

It's the first day of Sukkoth and the City is dead quiet. While shops, offices and transport have all stopped and some roads closed, thousands of jews are coming to and from the Wailing Wall for prayers. Men carry the 4 species which they use to shake when they pray during Sukkoth. They are the palm frond, the citrus, the myrtle and the willow. They all symbolise something but if you ask any jew, they'll give you different interpretations. Well today all work is forbidden, which includes taking photos so I couldn't snap a shot at them. Will try tomorrow. The next few days will be back to normal, meaning work is allowed. But it also will see even more jews taking the train and buses to come to the Wailing Wall ... hence it will be a lot more crowded.

And needless to say, security is super tight. Police are every corner in and out of the City. It can get very tense. There was a TV reporter interviewing an orthodox jew at Damascus Gate and an arab was cursing at them. The cameraman filmed him as well.

The borders with Palestine have been closed and it's making life difficult for the palestinians who come to Israel to work. 11 days without work is a big loss financially.  https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.815637

Inauguration Mass

For us it's the Inauguration Day of the new academic year. Our university and the Salesian University jointly officiate this event. There were over a hundred and twenty students, not counting the professors, staff and others. And the deans of both institutes are newly elected. There was a lot of introductions and presentations. After the Mass there was the usual refreshments where greetings were exchanged and small talk engaged. I had several things to do in the meantime, like having a brief meeting with the Salesian dean regarding my courses. Then there was meeting up with my past and present students ... many asking to take photos with me as they have not seen me for some time.

Then I had a meeting with a student and then it was off to do a couple of chores before rushing back home for the lunch to celebrate the opening of the school year. This evening I have adoration and confessions till 7pm. Thursdays are pretty tight for me ... I hope I get to sleep early. The police have placed a very very bright search light directed at our house. No one can sleep with the light shining through our windows.

Feast of St. Francis

Relic of St. Francis on
display 

Succot has began. Orthodox jews dressed in their finest are walking briskly to the Wailing Wall to pray. From now till tomorrow evening no work is allowed. No public transport, no shops or offices opened, the City comes to a standstill .... like 5 days ago for Yom Kippur. and on the last day of Succoth which is next Thursday, again another no-work day. No wonder the jews call this month the High Holy Days or Days of Awe. When everything shuts down ... things can get really awesome. Between the 1st and last days, road traffic will be strictly regulated - some will be closed, because tens of thousands will be flocking to the Wailing Wall for prayers ... some for purely religious motives, others for political ... and it's the political ones that will cause riots and clashes with muslims every year.

And the borders with Palestine will be closed for 11 days until the jewish feast is well over. This is the first time a closure of this length of time is imposed. Usually it's a couple of days. Israel is not taking any chances ... what with ISIS already in our borders. We can never be too careful. Better safe than sorry.

The Maria Bambina sisters in
audience with the Archbishop

For us today it's the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. 10 of us opted to celebrate the Mass in our house with the neighbouring nuns and laity in attendance. Others went for the solemn Mass at St. Saviour's Church. The huge neo-gothic Church was packed with people. On the left of the sanctuary was a temporary altar with the statue and relic of St. Francis on display and veneration. Now that is awesome!

Our new Indian sisters were not sure what to do on this feast day ... to arrange the altar and prepare the dining room. The polish nuns left for good. Now we have the Maria Bambina sisters who run a large hospital in Nazareth. They're sending 3 sisters to come work in our kitchen and sacristy. But being new I had to teach them what to do. Was busy all morning doing that. Earlier this week I had to bring them to visit the Apostolic Administrator and then get their community registered with the Diocesan Office in Jerusalem.