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