St. Bosco feast day

Blue moon over Damascus Gate

It's the feast of St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesians. We celebrate him as a 3rd Order Franciscan which he was. The Salesians at their University held a solemn Mass presided by the Nuncio. I couldn't go as I had library duty. We're still short of a couple of workers who for some reason or other cannot make it to work. I've been running from one library to another covering for them ... which is a total of 4 kms in all. That is stressful physically and mentally. Then there were the meetings and contracts to resolve or confirm ... running in between lawyers and offices. I think I have done more running than anytime in my life. Good exercise.

Blue moon over the Mt. of Olives

Everyone is talking about the blue super moon. No one could miss it. It is so enormous. Many of us spent the early evening at about 5pm watching it come up from behind the Mt. of Olives. It was incredible. Yesterday it was hanging over Damascus Gate when I got home from work at 10pm. It was blue ... literally blue. We were expecting the eclipse but it was not too early for us and the moon wasn't up from behind the Mt. of Olives. However we did get a spectacular moon rise. Nice coincidence on St. Bosco's feast day.

Yesterday an American consular delegation was attacked by palestinians in Bethlehem during a convention. Well knowing how the arabs feel about Trump's declaration about Jerusalem, the delegation should not have even considered going there. It was foolhardy.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/palestinians-disrupt-u-s-business-delegation-in-west-bank-1.5772168

Arbor Day

My potted anemones in bloom

Tu B'Shvat is Arbor Day for the jews ... the new year of the trees. It started this evening and will end tomorrow evening. That's practically the beginning of Spring. The trees are bursting with buds ... new leaves and many start with blossoms instead of leaves. Another sure sign that Spring has come is the blossoming of the ubiquitous red anemones. They're an incredible sight from far away ... especially in the fields and deserts that suddenly bloom overnight after the rains. The Chinese New Year which heralds the Spring is in 2 weeks time ... well I guess because it's heavy snow in the Far East so Spring comes a little later.

White rice dinner

Usually Arbor Day is celebrated with walks in the nature reserves and picnics in the parks ... enjoying the blossoms. But the dark grey rain clouds and cold - it was 6 degrees today - was very discouraging. So it's partying indoors tonight ... or in the pubs.

Well in this gloomy cold evening I just wanted so much to eat some hot white rice ... but I don't want to wash up in the icy cold water ... so the alternative was to go out and buy it. A good 2km walk to the Sushia mini-restaurant at the corner of Hillel Street. But it was well worth it. Nice hot white rice with some fried beef. Well I guess it was some sort of comfort food as I really needed something to fill up after a very stressful day. The library fire alarm broke down and was wailing all morning. The students who were studying for the exams were disturbed and the profs were obviously angry and of course I had to solve the problem ... like the elevator breaking down as well. It was a mad rush looking up for contracts and guarantees and countless phone calls ... while trying to calm the students and profs. Well most of it is solved and this evening I really deserved this hot dinner ... eaten alone in my office with no one to disturb me.

Back to the mass deportation of african asylum seekers, nobody wants to do the job so the govt. is on a big recruitment drive to hire anyone to do it. It's like bounty hunting.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Interior-Ministry-to-pay-civilians-9000-bonus-to-deport-African-refugees-540110

Even the lawmakers got into a fight at the parliament (Knesset) over the deportation issue.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-s-interior-minister-third-country-will-accept-african-asylum-s-1.5769852

And we're getting a warning of a major water crisis this year despite the rain we had last week.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/israel-is-getting-closer-to-a-severe-water-crisis-1.5769555

Grey and gloomy

New Gate: re-pavement work

It's almost the end of January. Time flies. In a couple of weeks it will be Lent. And the fasts and abstinences will start .... well we actually abstain on Wednesdays and Fridays all through the year anyway. The weather seems to fit well with the Lent atmosphere. It's been grey and gloomy all day. Drizzle all day as well. Many people are feeling sick ... headaches, nausea and general listlessness. That's probably because the air pressure has changed ... it's very low pressure now and that affects the body. Nevertheless work continues ... and everyone tries their best under such conditions. New Gate was closed because work was underway to repave the road. But the workers were lethargic.

Municipality Square: no more palms

What a shock for many of us ... the beautiful palm trees at Municipality Square were all chopped off overnight. They had been cordoned off for over a month now. And then they're gone. Apparently there's a beetle that's becoming a plague to palm trees throughout Israel, killing the trees from the core. The trees then collapse and people walking below are injured. The palm plantations in Jericho are in danger of being closed down because of this plague. It's quite a crisis in the agricultural sector and scientists are looking for a means to stop these pests.

An Israeli jew has been arrested for a sting of attacks on arabs ... the latest being a car ramming. Well it's a good sign that at least the police are arresting israelis. It'll help to show that justice is practiced. But whether he will be charged and whether he will serve time is another matter.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israeli-settler-suspected-of-targeting-palestinians-in-attacks-1.5770538

Tomorrow is the jewish New Year of Trees (Arbor Day) or Tu B'Shvat. I doubt there'll be picnics in the park if this gloomy weather continues.

Winter is ending

The first almond
blossoms

It's Sunday again. Today I had to preside the liturgy at the Armenian Catholic church at the 3rd Station. The congregation was a little larger than usual ... about 20 people. Several pilgrims and the rest are local armenians. It's not a very big community of armenian catholics but many have gone to other churches because there has been no resident armenian priest for a very long time. We had an armenian franciscan, Fr. Talatinian, who helped out on Sundays for many years but he died at the age of 103 several years ago. Since then an armenian priest comes occasionally from Rome to celebrate the major feast days. For the rest of the year it's up to 2 of us to preside the liturgy ... and I am the only one who knows a little armenian to do parts of the Mass in that language.

Kitten on a sill

3 degrees again last night and this morning. Even people from eastern Europe say it's cold. AT noon it was 10 degrees and should feel a lot more warmer ... but because the sun is shaded by dark rain clouds, it feels as cold as 3 degrees. The ground is also wet. I saw a kitten sitting way up a windowsill  of a pharmacy to stay dry. Not exactly a cat on a hot tin roof ... rather a kitten on a cold wet sill.

I saw the first almond blossoms just outside the Old City ... in the abandoned lot below Notre Dame Centre. That's a sure sign Spring is coming ... the almond tree always blossoms in the last weeks of winter and the Joshua tree blossoms in the first weeks of Spring.

Not everything is so cheery though. We've had 2 "price tag" (revenge) attacks by jews on arab property south of Jerusalem. It's a frightening escalation of confrontational violence, tit-for-tat attacks which we saw as starters to an intifada.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Jerusalem-hit-with-second-Price-Tag-attack-in-2-weeks-539965

So the cold will continue for the next few days. The Municipality has issued guidelines to follow in case of bad weather. That's very helpful as many foreigners and locals don't know what to do or who to contact. They also have guidelines in case of earthquakes.  http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=435596&utm_content=buffer09b3b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Am already dreading having to wake up at 3am for class in 2 degree weather. I'll be frozen. Can I have a better start to the week?

Feast of Allegra

At our chapel today

It was cold this morning .... 3 degrees and the highest it got was 9 degrees just for a few hours at noon. Drizzled all day. But the wind is the main culprit ... it was freezing cold. No snow though. It seems the cold will continue through the weekend.

Today we celebrated the feast of Blessed Gabriele Allegra ... on the 27th instead of the 26th because it clashed with the feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus. I had to very quickly arrange the altar by myself as Sr. Philomena fell and fractured her leg and is in hospital. Srs. Ancita and Clara were therefore taking her place in the kitchen and no one was there to help me in the sacristy. Kept it simple and everyone liked it. We're minimalists here ... so the simpler the better. Mass was celebrated as usual and the chinese priests and sisters all came to join in despite the cold and rain at 6.30am. After Mass we had the veneration of the relic. Everyone was satisfied and happy that it went well.

Being Sabbath, there's not much news coming out locally. However I've been receiving news of the situation in Damascus which is getting bad. The rebels have been targeting churches and monasteries ... bombing as many as they can. The sisters who were distributing food to the people hiding in the ruins were shot at. No one was hurt. The Greek Catholic bishop also escaped unhurt when his residence was bombed. The war there is far from over.

Today is World Holocaust Day. We remember all those killed unjustly and cruelly. Besides the 6 million jews, there were also gypsies, christians, africans and other minorities who were killed. And we don't seem to learn from history as war rages all around our region. We say "Never Again" but when will we actually act on it?

No snow

Cold, wet and windy at Damascus Gate

Once again the morning began bright and sunny though very very cold. It was only 3 degrees. And it hovered around there for the rest of the day. The dark storm clouds continued to blow past us toward Jordan because the winds were too strong. So we didn't get any snow ... though it rained heavily at times. Tel Aviv was and is flooded by the storm. It's in the coastal lowlands so it gets rain and flooded easily. Jerusalem is high up in the mountains so we rarely get both. Videos of inundated buses in Tel Aviv are going viral. The drainage system there is able to cope with this sudden burst of rain. Too many years of drought has made people forget what winter is, so it comes as a shock to the system. There is snow though in Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights. Now that's what winter used to be like 25 years ago. Well I for one am happy it didn't snow. I dread having to shovel it from the terraces. It's backbreaking work and I do it all by myself.     http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/watch-northern-israel-painted-white-with-snow-33926

Palm Plaza today

Meantime exams have started at our school today while almost all the other schools have just completed their exams and are closing for the semester break. We're always 3 weeks behind all other schools because we start the school year later than others. That makes synchronizing timetables and teaching schedules with other schools quite a problem. Let's hope there'll be some changes soon.

Tomorrow we'll celebrate the memorial fo Blessed Gabriel Allegra. It'll be our usual conventual Mass and I doubt the other chinese religious will come because of the cold and rain.

Conversion of Paul

Deceptive sunny morning today

The storm has arrived as forecast ... though the morning gave us the bluff. It was sunny though cold. But after noon, the dark clouds gathered and the winds picked up speed and by 6pm heavy rain bashed down on us. There was even hail which caused a dreadful noise as they pelted the zinc awnings all along the streets. I had just finished confessions and eucharistic adoration at M. Teresa's convent when I found out I wasn't prepared for the weather. I only had a hoodie jacket which was not woollen and a beanie. I was really cold and the nuns lent me an umbrella to keep at least the upper body dry. From the knees down I was soaking wet when I got home. By the way, I got a little surprise at the door of the convent when I arrived.

Surprise welcome
at the convent door

It's presently 6 degrees and will fall to 4 by midnight. Tomorrow it will drop to 2 degrees and we're expecting snow. I probably won't go to work at the other library as I don't feel like walking through the sludge. And I'm just hoping the strong winds will not blow down our jasmine and bougainvillea creepers. They're 2 storeys high and cling to the retaining wall in the courtyard. News just in: the heavy downpour has flooded many part of central Israel as its drainage system is not capable of handling so much rain. Snow has fallen not only on Mt. Harmon but also in the lower regions.

Meantime today is the feast of St. Paul's conversion. Personally I feel it's more the conversion of Ananias than Paul. We have 2 students called Paul - one from Africa and one from India. So for lunch we had 2 cakes which they cut after the main dish. One of the cakes was chocolate (with no nuts) so I took a piece and enjoyed it very much.

Here are some pictures of the Palestinian strike yesterday. I wonder if tomorrow the palestinians will riot ... in the storm. I doubt so. The weather is a prime element in the dynamics of violence.   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/In-pictures-Palestinians-protest-Pences-visit-with-closed-shops-empty-streets-539537

And the news is now showing Trump threatening the palestinians to talk peace with Israel or he will cut off financial aid. How very disgusting ... he thinks money can buy everything ... even people's dignity and freedom. He is the epitome of crass capitalism and materialism ... where the american god is money. Mark my words ... the day will come when life will teach him a lesson he will live to regret.

Winter Hot Pot

Hotpot at Mian

The skies turned very grey and the winds are picking up in speed. The forecast is sleet, graupel and snow on Friday ... and it certainly looks like it from today's weather turnaround that snow will come. I only hope it lasts for a day or two ... and not too heavy. I don't want to shovel snow from the roof. It drizzled all night and for the past 2 nights I've forgotten to turn on my heaters. Woke up just after midnight shivering and wondering why it's so cold. My memory is going fast. I think it's the lack of potassium and magnesium again that's causing my lost of memory and inability to focus. Or it's early dementia and I'll walk out one day and don't know my way home again.

Last night the owners of Mian restaurant, Billy and Linda, invited me over for a winter hotpot. It was very nice and fitting for a cold wet winter's night. We ate and chatted until 11pm. The food was as traditional as it could be ... being in Israel we can't get every original ingredient. But it was delicious.

Lentil soup today

The Chinese New Year is in 3 weeks time ... and we asians here in Jerusalem are few. But we hope we can meet up at least for the Reunion Dinner and perhaps a thanksgiving Mass. We'll have to synchronise our timetables so that on Feb. 15, we'll be all free to meet.

For your information, it's Wednesday today. That means abstinence ... which instead of saying no meat, it's more of "lentil and fish" day. Today the cook put fettuccine in the lentil soup. I ate none of it. But I was so hungry I ate a piece of fish ... which I usually never do because it's never ever fully cooked - the centre is always raw. Well I got sick after that. It's definitely a day of penance ... which as you know is twice a week for us - Wednesdays and Fridays. Lentils and fettuccine will definitely not be in the Reunion Dinner menu.

The forced repatriation of refugees saga continues as newspaper comment how a State like Israel, founded by jewish refugees, can expel other refugees ... forgetting it's own past and principles.  http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-state-founded-by-refugees-does-not-expel-refugees/

And a big uproar today after the american VP's visit to the Wailing Wall. Some reporters were segregated from the men, and put in the women's part of the plaza separated by a low wall. The women journalists were infuriated and there's been a barrage of condemnation and even a lawsuit against the ultra-orthodox monopoly over the Wall.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/female-journalists-kept-from-male-colleagues-at-pence-s-kotel-visit-1.5762141

To my students of the Book of Revelation .. apologies I couldn't find a good video on the book. I'll continue searching.

Tuesday drizzle

Half dozen police at Jaffa Gate

So the American VP visited the Wailing Wall this morning. I had to pass by our bookshop at Jaffa Gate and saw the numerous military police at almost every 10 meters. Crowds of tourists were weaving between local jews and security. Many ultra-orthodox jews were not bothered by this visit and only wanted to get to the Wailing Wall through the shortcuts. Other political minded jews were carrying posters to welcome and thank the VP.

The arabs on the other hand had called for a protest strike. In reality many arab shopkeepers are against it as they will lose their income for the day. Yesterday when they received orders to shut down today, many complained. Strikes don't hurt the Israelis ... it hurts the people who are shutting down. Sometimes these leaders don't use their brains. It only makes their own people turn against them.

2 soldiers guarding
David Street entrance

Well the weather has turned very cold and cloudy. And drizzle started by late evening. The storm is coming. Everyone is dreading the cold ... though they really hope it would snow. Some of my final year students want so much to see snow for the last time in Jerusalem before they graduate and return to their own countries. And our indian sisters who have never seen snow before also want to see it. The oldest among them, Sr. Philomena, fell this morning after breakfast as it was very cold and slippery.

Meantime the internal struggle between govt. and people continue regarding the forceful deportation of african asylum seekers. Police refuse to go catch the illegal immigrants so the govt. is advertising for bounty hunters who will be paid for their job. Rabbis and academics have come out against it as against the Torah and common morality ... since the jews themselves were once persecuted. Now airplane pilots have announced they will not fly these captured immigrants out of Israel. Let's see who will win. And now Holocaust survivors have come out in support of these asylum seekers ... claiming they will hide them in their homes just like others had done for them during the Holocaust. Touching.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/holocaust-survivors-say-theyll-harbor-asylum-seekers-to-stymie-deportations/

And the ultra-orthodox vs the rest of the jews' no-work Sabbath Law drags on ...  and the city of Ashdod seems to be the Waterloo of this battle. If Ashdod falls, all the other cities will also fall to this religious coercion (to quote them) by the ultra-orthodox. Like I said ... the only ones who stand to win are the arabs who open their shops on the Sabbath. And you know what ... it might just be a good thing because jews will then get to meet arabs and mutual understanding can happen and old prejudices and hatreds might just disappear.

Stormy weather is back

The fountain ball is totally missing

The temp. keeps falling though the sun is up and bright. Forecaste is rain from tomorrow till the weekend and winds will be very cold. I wish I could stay indoor and hibernate. It'll certainly be great for the plants but I don't fancy going out in the cold and rain to work for the next 5 days.

As predicted by yours truly ... the beautiful fountains at Palm Plaza could not withstand the destruction of arab youths ... who destroy whatever only for the sake of destroying. What a awful pity. Look at the photo below to see what it should be ... the fountain ball is totally missing.

Rubber piggies ... oink oink

Just a little something funny I saw yesterday when I was out on a chore ... passing by Iran's potshot I saw lots of toys for dogs but one caught my eye: plastic piggies that oink when you squeeze it. It was so funny I kept squeezing it and everyone there was laughing. Even the owners Eran and Chaim were laughing. It was fun ... something I should do when the rains come tomorrow, buy a rubber piggy to keep the cold and wet away.

The American VP arrived last night and today made a speech at the Knesset that upset the arabs again. Police are ready for riots and clashes. The VP who is an evangelical christian, pandered to the american evangelical lobby by supporting the Israeli position - the evangelicals believe this will bring about the coming of the Messiah - something which even orthodox jews reject (the messiah will come at his own time, no one can force him to come). Anyway many roads were closed to due the VP's movements around the New City. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Sunny Sunday

Damascus Gate
fountain 

Everyone agreed that today was a lovely sunny day despite the cold 7 degrees. People were out and about. Life seemed to be back to normal. I had to rush off after breakfast as I had a couple of emergency meetings - a student who's family member died and another who is sick. I think the exams exacerbated their anxieties and made things worse for them mentally. Since I was out I decided to do a couple of chores as well. Came home just in time for lunch. And it was the best lunch I had for some time ... because usually on Sundays the cook makes things that I cannot eat. Today we had plain spaghetti and beef steak (instead of pork chops), and the asst, cook baked a chocolate cake and a banana cake with no nuts (for once). It was perfect and everyone was remarking it was my day ... food that I'm not allergic to.

Way of the Cross
at midnight

The newspaper have lots of photos of people who are flocking to Mt. Harmon to play with the snow. That's a real winter scene. Back here in Jerusalem it was nice to see the lights and fountain at Damascus Gate turned on again. In fact the weather was so nice I saw pilgrims making the Way of the Cross at almost midnight.

Meantime the American VP has arrived in Jordan to try restart peace talks. Like an impossible dream now that Trump has already declared Jerusalem as Israel's capital hence closing all possibility that Palestine can have Jerusalem also as its capital. The King of Jordan insisted to the VP that Jerusalem must become the Palestinian capital. And actually this can (and probably will) be resolved when Israel extends the borders of Jerusalem to include arab villages such as Abu Dis. Once Abu Dis becomes part of Jerusalem, then Israel will concede Abu Dis to the palestinians to become their capital since it is technically Jerusalem. Smart move. I think the egyptians and jordanians are in favour of this move.

Meantime the implosion continues as the city of Ashdod and a leader of the coalition govt. vowed to fight the ultra-orthodox enforcement of no-work Sabbaths. They see it as a fight for democracy against theocracy.  The leftwing newspaper is declaring that the minority ultra-orthodox is turning the democratic State into a theocratic caliphate.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5073587,00.html  and   https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/editorial/wake-up-before-darkness-descends-1.5748192

And ultra-orthodox zionists (different form the pure religious) entered the Al Aqsa compound and started praying which is not allowed by the Israeli-Jordanian agreement; as well as entry forbidden by the Chef Rabbis. That caused a lot of tensions with the muslims and police got into scuffles to remove the group out. That doesn't help in calming the situation which is already very tense here in Jerusalem.  http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=436552&utm_content=buffera6dde&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Weekend

Cloudy morning that turned sunny

It was a beautiful day today, the sun was shining after a rather cloudy sunrise but the wind remains very cold. The temperature hovered around 6 degrees. I had a conference/workshop to attend so I was busy all morning. It was quite interesting and I did learn a little something. That's because I had no chance to fall asleep ... the Custos was sitting behind me.

Beautiful bare tree

The weather will keep on being sunny till Tuesday when another storm will whip up. Further news today about the wreckage the storm wrought during the last 2 days. There are videos of huge waves crashing over the beaches in Tel Aviv onto the street and buildings along the coast. Scary. It was like the videos of last year's typhoon in Hong Kong and Macau.  And we're now told that winds were as strong as 120 km p hr. The desert landscape has changed because of rivers of water washing away sand, stone and boulders. Several cities had their electricity cut and many highways were flooded. I guess we'll see a repeat performance next Tuesday. 

Winter usually strips trees bare but with the storm, absolutely all leaves were blown off. Many trees lay totally bare and are amazing beautiful especially when the Municipality put lights under them. There is an iconic tree at Damascus Gate which everyone notices for it's stark beauty every winter. 

And a storm of a different kind: the Chief Rabbi of Israel openly supported the army chaplain rabbi against women serving in the army. Now the Minister of Defense has ordered the army to ban the Chief Rabbi from army events. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-bans-top-rabbis-from-idf-events-over-anti-women-comments/

We read of a report that an Indonesian christian was whipped because he sold alcohol. Such intolerance in Indonesia ... which has a track record of muslim fanaticism. Christian persecution is everywhere ... but nobody bats an eyelid. It's sickening.  https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/indonesian-christian-whipped-for-selling-sharia-banned-booze-9877576?cid=FBcna

Storm again

Palms trees bent by the wind

What a storm we had yesterday evening. And to lasted till mid-afternoon today. Winds up to 100km per hour. We only got warning yesterday afternoon when the winds were already quite forceful. I guess it was too late for many people. 15 were injured. 4 seriously. Trees fell, roads were flooded, and the cold was dreadful. The rain was very heavy at times and we had hailstones several times yesterday and today. Last night it was 3 degrees and the windows were pelted by the rain, creating a sound that we have no heard for a long long time. Mt. Hermon in the north is snowed over. The Lake of Galilee rose by 1 cm. Rivers in the desert overflowed and many parts of the desert were inundated. By 8pm when I was on my way home, the streets were deserted. Everyone was rushing home to stay warm and dry. The usual crowds on a Thursday night at Suleiman street in front of Damascus Gate were gone. Shops closed and only a few cars were speeding along the road.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/15-hurt-4-seriously-in-accidents-linked-to-stormy-weather/

Solemn Street deserte

I decided not to go to work in the other library as the weather was really bad. But suddenly the sun came up so I decided to go anyway. On my way up the skies turned dark and hail began to hit down really hard. I had to run through the alleys which provided more shade than the main road.

As the weather gets back to normal this evening, we're warned that Tuesday will suffer another storm. This time I'll be ready. Yesterday our flower pots were blown down. I'll have to anchor them down this weekend.

Apparently the bombings in Damascus last week were targeted at churches and monasteries. I bet you never even found this on your news.  http://www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=779&id_n=34415

And in the midst of the storm, a terrorist car-rammed an israeli soldier near the Baptismal site of Christ in Jericho. It's not a good sign. Tensions are rising again as the PM announced the US will move its embassy as soon as this year. Later Trump announced that it's not true. Slap in the face.

Anemones bloom

My 1st anemones in bloom

It's Thursday ... the week has come to an end. Another Sabbat begins on Friday sunset ... and who knows which shops and restaurants are left who dare to open and defy the ultra-orthodox jews. I guess I'll stick to shopping in the arab East Jerusalem side ... if anything is open there on Fridays. On the jewish western side there will be demonstrations by secular jews against the strict enforcement of the no-work-allowed law of the Sabbath, and counter-protests by the ultra-orthodox jews.

Deserted streets

The cold is still with us ... and as many say ... it's normal. After all it's winter. And the rain is a constant drizzle. The combination of cold and rain has forced the bulbs to flower earlier than usual. My first anemones are in full bloom and the freesias have their buds out. That adds a lovely colour to an otherwise gray gloomy atmosphere. Even the hyacinths are their buds pushing out of the soil. I'm sure the tulips would too. They need a cold shock to start the budding process. That's why many people put their tulip bulbs in the fridge before planting them ... to shock them into flowering.

Well the cold and rain has the reverse effect on people. By sunset the streets and alleys of the Old City are deserted. People stay indoors to stay warm and dry. To tell the truth, I prefer summer ... though hot and dry, the streets are alive. There are concerts and events almost every evening.

There's been some brouhaha over the Israeli military appointing a woman to be squadron commander. The army chief lauded the move but the army chaplain rabbi condemned it (the ultra-orthodox are against women serving with men ... they believe in total segregation). Now the PM lauded the move ... but chances are he'll change his tune when the rabbis threaten him. It'll not be the first time he gives in to the rabbis.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/military/netanyahu-is-proud-of-female-squadron-commander-appointment-33742

And on the other side of the pendulum, the chairman of the council of jewish settlements has declared that checkpoints should be removed that control arab movement. Arabs should be free to move and get along with their daily routine. Now that's revolutionary. But watch for the rightwing response tomorrow.   http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/west-bank-jewish-leader-theres-no-room-for-checkpoints-33737

Another wet day

Trading in the rain

As forecaste, drizzle came after 7.30am and through to late afternoon. It wasn't so bad and we do need the rain. However the ground is very slippery and deters anyone from going out unless it's necessary. Hoodies and raincoats are everywhere ... and tourists use umbrellas. Bedouin brave the drizzle to sell their vegetables as they have nowhere else to go.  The several days of rain has brought up strong and juicy veggies ... but if this goes on for another week, the veggies will cost more because water-rot will set in.

Rumour is rift that Friday will see snow. It's a Facebook post that went viral and everyone believes it. Of course there'll not be snow. It takes 2 days of heavy rain and hail before any snow can form. And frankly I don't look forward to it as I must shovel snow from the roof of the library. It's backbreaking work and I do it alone. However our indian sisters are hoping it would snow as they've never seen it before. I told them it's no fun. If they want to see snow, then they must be prepared to shovel snow with me.

Bread vendor in
the rain

Well with the drizzle and slippery streets, I decided not to go to work in the other library because I need to rush back for class at 1.30pm and that guarantees at least one fall along the road. Instead I concentrated on work here at home. And there's a lot. My head gets dizzy from all that plus translation work and caring for the sisters' courtyard. Maybe this evening I'll go for a walk to clear the head.

A secret tape was released to newspapers regarding secret talks by ultra-orthodox ministers of parliament, planning to enforce the Sabbath Law of no work in all sectors of jewish life; even to the extent of hiring thousands of non-jewish inspectors to supervise the enforcement of the law. Frightening for secular jews who want to eat in a restaurant or go to the cinema.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/politics/israeli-ultra-orthodox-mks-plan-to-enforce-sabbath-observance-33702

Then there was the report that an israeli soldier was accused of inciting "price-tag" attacks on arabs after the murder of a rabbi last week. This does not sound good as war is looming over the country. Then again it is doubtful if he will ever be charged.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5071957,00.html

And fearing that Pro-Zionist Evangelical christians are slowly disinterested in Israel, there is a call to re-ignite these evangelicals to support Israel. After all, Trump got his support from the older generation of evangelicals that pushed for the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and to move the embassy.  All I can say is: it's zionist manipulation of christianity. To quote the article: "We need to actively invest in the next generation of Christian leaders to provide them with the tools to better understand the intersection between their faith, its foundations in the Holy Land and support for the modern State of Israel."  https://passagesisrael.org/story/fighting-back-against-apathy-towards-israel-among-evangelical-christian-youth/

St. Berard & companions

3 of the 5 kittens in the garden

The stray cat that lives in our courtyard somewhere has given birth. It's not the first cat to do that and neither will it be the last. But this one was a little different ... she has 5 kittens instead of the usual 3 than we 've seen in all these years. And though the cat is black with streaks of orange, her babies are 3 black, one orange and one white. And they're quite cute. However I dislike cats as the hairs provoke an asthma attack. With the cold and rainy weather, these poor kittens should be hiding under the Porter's room. Yet they're fat and fuzzy and very playful. I think the pilgrims have been feeding them.

Another day with very cloudy skies and drizzle. It didn't feel as cold although it was only 9 degrees. In fact this whole week the temp. will fluctuate between 4 degrees to 9 degrees. And it will rain again on Friday. That will be very nice as the rain is still needed. And it is winter after all.

Rain clouds this morning

Today we celebrated the feast day of St. Berard & companions ... our franciscan protomartyrs. That means they were our first martyrs in the Order. They were preaching in a mosque in muslim Spain and was arrested and sent to Morocco where they were beheaded. Their deaths had such an impact on the franciscans that they decided to open more missions in muslim countries especially in the Holy Land. And St. Anthony of Padua, who was an augustinian monk, was so inspired by the protomartyrs that he left the Augustinian Order and became a Franciscan friar.

There was a terror plot at Joseph's Tomb in Samaria. Joseph as in the 12 sons of Jacob, He died in Egypt but his body was brought back to the Promised and buried in what today is Samaria. Many jews go there to pray and apparently an arab had plotted to cause massive injuries. Thank goodness it was thwarted. But it another sign that things are not right ... that violence is building up and this summer might after all end up in a war that all the analysts have been warning.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/terror-attack-foiled-at-josephs-tomb-33712

The forceful repatriation of african illegal immigrants is dividing Israeli society. Hardline right-wingers want them all out. Religious and left-wingers say it's not Israeli nor in keeping with Judaism which has a tenet in protecting the unfortunate.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jewish-groups-tell-pm-forcibly-deporting-africans-betrays-jewish-values/

The situation in Gaza is getting so bad a warning is out that a humanitarian crisis is about to happen if aid does not enter the Strip. No electricity or water ... not enough medicine or food .... but today Israel has permitted Gaza to have 3G internet service. Note that the rest of Israel is on 4G. Well good ... so it seems ... if 3G is more important than electricity, water, food and medicine.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/palestinians-finally-to-get-3g-in-west-bank-after-israel-lifts-ban-1.5730677

Another day of rain

The night market under tents

It rained again today after a sunny morning that lasted only a few hours. The dark rain clouds blew into Jerusalem and the wind was cold. I think the highest temp. we had today was 9 degrees ... but like the local weather forecast says "I feels like 4 degrees".

Last night coming home in the rain ... and some hailstones as well ... I saw the night market opened inside Damascus Gate. Most of the vendors were finding shade in the awnings of shops but one had a tent spread over his veggies. Very creative. Needless to say I arrived home soaking wet. Luckily I didn't catch a cold. Some guys in our house are quite sick from the weather ... coughing, fever and aches in the joints. Yesterday while the sun was out in mid-morning, I went to the Supersol Supermarket 2 kms away. I used to accompany a professor there every Sunday but he has since retired and returned to Sicily. I've hardly been back there since. I was surprised to see the changes they made in the supermarket ... much more spacious and a lot more goods. However I wanted Coleslaw dressing and nowhere in Jerusalem can it be found.

Supersol supermarket

This evening we had a doctoral defense. The candidate did a very thorough work, investigating literature from early Judaism to 5th century Church Fathers. He used to come everyday to the library and research his thesis. Very hardworking. I hope he had a good mark. Yes it's time for exams. Good thing it's raining because the students are all staying at home to study. Keeps them focussed.

It's time for another meeting now. Hope it ends quickly so we can have dinner and go to sleep.

Rain all night

Damascus Gate roundabout all wet

It rained all night ... at times quite heavy. We were expecting it as it was forecast and we were looking forward to it. So it rained a little after 9pm. It didn't feel very cold in itself. It was the wind that was cold ... and it was very strong.

My right shoulder and neck was hurting quite much yesterday so I could hardly sleep. At 4.30am I decided to go to the bakery to buy fresh bread for breakfast. It's such a pity because our sisters had prepared a great breakfast of cheese, ham and eggs ... but we have only stale bread. So I went to the 24 hr bakery to buy arabic Kaik which is sesame bagel in a very odd shape. It was raining but I managed to walk there and back with no incident. The shops along Musrara are mostly opened for 24 hrs because workers from different shifts gather to eat and drink hot coffee. There were around some 50+ such workers ... those looking for day jobs in construction sites, who were huddled under pergolas and shop corners drinking their coffee and eating pitta bread with hummus. It's another world that few people get to see in the early morning hours. Some were older men, seasoned workers who need to feed their families ... others are young adults trying to make money to build a house and get married. It's unbelievable how hard some people have to work just to earn a few dollars a day.

My commission for 2018

Yesterday evening after dinner we received our commissions for 2018. Usually it's done after playing tombola but we've not played it for many years now. Instead everyone is given a present and a piece of paper which designates our protector saint for 2018. This year it's the Holy Name of Jesus (last year it was St. Ephrem the Syrian); then the virtue to inculcate is contrition, then a phrase of inspiration from the desert fathers and the deceased I must pray for Fr. Brancher.
It's a nice tradition to keep which many religious communities have abandoned. But our Custody continues with this tradition and it takes place on the same day for all our communities so we all are united in a way.

On a less happy note, jewish settlers were filmed destroying arab property ... over 100 olive trees ... with soldiers standing by doing nothing. It's dreadful and unjust.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/settlers-filmed-destroying-100-palestinian-olive-trees-as-idf-appears-to-look-on/

On the jewish side of the country, thousands of jews in the southern city of Ashdod protested against the ultra-orthodox push to force all shops to close on the Sabbath. The backlash will eventually spread to other cities.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5070433,00.html

And yesterday clashes continued in the Territories over Trump's declaration ... with 46 palestinians wounded. Doesn't look good. This will not fizzle out and if noting is done to turn the situation around, it will explode in summer.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.834551

Busy

Sabbath calm in Jerusalem

It's a shocking 16 degrees today ... so hot I'm wearing only a T-shirt. And then I read that Singapore is 22 degrees and people there are wearing winter clothes!!! Hahahahaha

Sabbath has come and Jerusalem is very quiet. Few cars in the streets, less people and all shops closed. This is the heart of the ultra-orthodox jews and they are determined to enforce the no-work Sabbath Law ... even throwing stones and attacking people who break it. In Jaffa / Tel Aviv instead where the ultra-orthodox have not yet made a stronghold, the city is alive and vibrant with weekend parties, night excursions and lots of fine dining. What a world apart ... 60 kms to be exact. Lucky for us in Jerusalem we have the arab eastern side of Jerusalem which does not observe the Sabbath. However being Friday evening, muslims do not open their shops as well. It's their day of prayer and rest. Well, you can't win.

Jaffa bustling
with weekenders

I've been very busy with many chinese catholic groups coming to make a pilgrimage. Been rushing from one site to another on foot to meet them (as they requested), present a short talk and welcome them in the name of the Custody or the Patriarchate, since no one else speaks mandarin here. It's great to meet people from all  parts of China but it is also very tiring. Yesterday evening I had to travel 10 kms to meet 2 groups in 2 different parts of Jerusalem. No choice but to go by taxi as I have only 15 mins to travel between them.

Everyone is saying that a war will soon break out: in the northern border with Lebanon and/or the south with Gaza. We have had relatively few violent incidents the last year but now with the almost daily missile attacks from Gaza and the coming of ISIS in the Syrian border and the Iranian Shiite forces in Lebanon, the army thinks the signs are pointing towards a war.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.834343

Well one of the tensions we've seen this week is the rioting and deaths of palestinians who are resisting Israeli army raids to arrest the killers of a jewish rabbi. And riots continue over Trump's declaration to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. 47 palestinians have been wounded today in clashes with israeli soldiers. While Jerusalem is very calm, the other towns in the Palestinian Territories are on fire with clashes.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/clashes-break-out-in-nablus-as-soldiers-search-for-rabbis-killers/    and    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.834551

Weekend begins

Mounted police on patrol

From 9 degrees this morning, the temp. has risen to 14 degrees now. Warm enough to remove one hoodie. but the pullover remains. I wonder what further surprise nature has in store for us here. One thing's for sure ... the warm weather has encouraged hundreds more muslims to come into the Old City for Friday prayers. That explains the rise of police and soldiers in and around the Old City. Even the mounted police are patrolling outside the City.

This morning I had to rush to the Patriarchate to meet a chinese group and help translate while they had an audience with the bishop.  I find myself more and more in demand for this translator job. It's usually chinese to italian or english and vice versa. But that means working at irregular hours and not getting paid a cent. I do it mainly for the chinese pilgrims who have come such a long way to see the oldest bishopric in the world ... indeed the place where the Church was born .

Today the jewish rightwing newspaper published a study that says 1 in 12 christians are persecuted in the world. hat makes christianity the most persecuted religion in the world. But on one talks about it. And the shameful thing is even christians themselves are not aware or care to be aware about it.   http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/1-in-12-Christians-worldwide-persecuted-report-shows-533453

Pork supermarket at Rishon le Zion

And the whole circus about the law forbidding food and grocery shops to open on Sabbat has taken a strange twist: the Minister who fought to have it passed, and even threatened to resign if it were not passed, now says he had nothing to do with it nor is he interested in enforcing it ... and worse, that the law is not necessary!!!!!! What a turnabout face!!! It seems he has caught Trump's virus of selective dementia. It's all about appeasing the ultra-orthodox groups. The whole political scene here is a circus. Well I guess selling pork then shouldn't be a problem if we go by the Interior Minister's turnabout memory.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/minister-says-he-wont-enforce-law-to-shut-mini-markets-on-shabbat/

Half day break

24 degrees in Tel Aviv/Jaffa today

A rare break today not from work but from Jerusalem. I was called to go help our Jaffa community this afternoon. I took advantage of a free car ride as the parish priest of Jaffa was in Jerusalem for a meeting. We drove to Jaffa at 2pm and much as I love to see the scene of the central plains in winter ... I fell asleep in the car because months of exhaustion crept up on me. When I woke up ... I found myself in Rishon leZion, a city 20 minutes from Tel Aviv. The parish priest needed to go to a non-kosher supermarket to get some groceries ... meaning he needed to buy pork. Imagine my surprise (or horror) to find the cold storage section filled with various parts of the pig ... from tail to ears. Pork is an absolute no-no for jews and muslims so there are very very few shop that sell pork and always at a very high price. In Rishon lesson there are few ultra-orthodox jews so such a supermarket is possible. If it were in Jerusalem, the ultra-orthodox would have burnt the place down.

10 degrees in Jerusalem at the
same time

Once I finished my job, I prepared to go home. It was a nice 4 hour break to get out of Jerusalem. I'm beginning to find it suffocating to live and work in there. I need to get far away for some fresh air. And coincidentally it was the superior of the Jaffa monastery's birthday. He asked me to stay for dinner and prepared a room for me to stay overnight but I couldn't. I have to meet the bishop in Jerusalem at 8am tomorrow and then confessions at 3.30pm. Too bad for me. I would have loved to stay overnight and get a very well deserved sleep with no worries.

Tel Aviv was warm and sunny ... 24 degrees. It was like summer. A T-shirt was enough. But after the 45 min. ride back to Jerusalem, I had to wear to hoodies to keep warm. Jerusalem was only 10 degrees. It's amazing how the weather can be so different in 2 places 60 km apart.

In the news, there's a shocking article of how rightwing groups coerce arabs into selling their property ... including blackmail and threats.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.833169

One positive news though is that the Syrian city of Raqa has seen the first Mass celebrated since it's liberation from ISIS control. The surviving christians celebrated Christmas in the bombed out church and lit candles ... there was little cheer but lots of thanksgiving.  

Meantime the Post Office has warned that letters and parcels will face major delays because they're changing their operating system which require several days closure of the entire postal system in Israel. Horrors.

Midweek

Sunrise this morning

You may not have read this in your news agencies, but here we've been under almost a daily barrage of rocket fire from Gaza. Almost all have fallen on empty plots of land and so far there are no injuries ... but it is scary to live in the neighbouring cities of Ashkalon and Ashdod. Some newspapers are saying there'll be a war in summer now that Hamas has stocked up enough arsenal to fire these rockets. Let's hope not.

5 years ago today

The skies are once again cloudy after a brief moment of sunshine. This morning the dew was so heavy we thought it rained last night. The sunrise was however spectacular... over the Dead Sea. We expect some in over the weekend ... which will be nice as long as it's not a storm like last week. 5 years ago on this day there was a massive snow fall. Here's a pic to remind you what it looked like at Damascus Gate.

This morning I noticed a rise in price presence. Even the mounted police are in the streets. I wonder why. It's only Wednesday and not many muslims from outside the City have come here.

Mounted Police on patrol today

Exams will soon start in our school. It has already start in some other schools. Lot of nervous students in the library .... usually you don't see them there at all. Students skipping prayers and meals just to squeeze an extra hour of revision. I have to invigilate 2 BA theses. That means a lot of reading.

There was a piece of disturbing news regarding the Israeli Welfare service, which by Law, will not help homeless people because they don't look dirty enough. How dreadful ... to force people to look undignified so as to receive some money or aid.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.833394

And the very high cost of living is given a study on ground zero. Even american slim (jewish migrants) find it unbelievable that things here cost double of that in America.  http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Milking-Israelis-for-what-theyre-worth-517331