Basilica reopened

Sunset yesterday

The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre reopened this morning at 4am. The traditional muslim key-holders from the Neseybeh and Al Goudia families opened the millennia old locks and inside the representatives of the Greek, Armenian and Franciscan communities waited for the sunlight to enter the building as the doors opened. The announcement to reopen the Basilica came yesterday evening through a joint communique of the 3 church leaders. It had not been an easy decision to close the Basilica indefinitely, knowing well that many pilgrims have travelled long distances and sacrificed a lot to come to the Holy Land. However without any other course to protection ... least of all the churches outside the Holy Land, the closure was the last resort. 15 years ago something more drastic was decided when all the churches - orthodox, catholic and protestant - closed all their doors for a week when israeli jews occupied the Crusader Tower next to the Holy Sepulchre. They had barricaded themselves in there and the churches protested by total closure. The govt. had no choice but to send police to forcibly evict the settlers and returned the Tower to the Greek Orthodox.    https://www.timesofisrael.com/church-of-holy-sepulchre-to-reopen-after-city-suspends-church-tax-collections/

Purim parade at Herod's Gate

After 2 days of closure, the PM and the Mayor of Jerusalem decided to suspend the 2 controversial bills: one to back tax all church properties and the other to expropriate land from the churches. Both agreed to set up committees to dialogue with the churches in order to resolve the matters. Well that should have been done long time ago ... instead the State chose to unilaterally impose the bills, sending tax collectors to harass churches and monasteries event with threats and forceful closures of gates and entrances. Only such a drastic step of closing Christianity's most holy site could bring attention to the authorities. But of course this is not a victory for the churches ... far from it. Local Israelis are now even more stirred up against christians and we're expecting physical and verbal assaults in the streets from the jews as they celebrate Purim tonight. Even the leftwing newspaper is accusing the churches of politicising this "petty financial dispute". Petty for them, 60 million dollars for us ... churches that have no income and survive on the meagre offerings of pilgrims.   https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-no-israel-didn-t-just-declare-and-revoke-a-holy-war-on-christianity-1.5863894

This evening the first Lenten pilgrimage Mass will be celebrated on Dominis Flevit chapel on the Mt. of Olives. It's to commemorate the Lord weeping as he saw Jerusalem from a distance, weeping over Jerusalem's rejecting of her messiah. Most of the friars will be there for the Mass but I still have class to teach. I'm feeling very drained under this course of medication, plus work in 2 libraries and teaching. I'm ready to call it quits and retire.

And talking about medication, the Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva is causing a storm in America because it's generic drug is being sold for US$18,275 for 100 pills. How could the poor and needy afford it?   http://www.jpost.com/Jpost-Tech/Business-and-Innovation/Outrage-as-Teva-charges-18275-for-generic-drug-in-US-543634

Basilica still closed

Pilgrims outside the Basilica

The Holy Sepulcher continues to be closed. It's not sure if the matter will be resolved but while pilgrims go home disappointed, local israelis are accusing the Mayor of Jerusalem and the Finance Ministry for creating a mess from a dispute among themselves, spilling it to the christian churches who have to pay the price. But there are also many Israelis who are jubilant that the churches are being taxed ... and their reasons range from economic to unbridled anti-christianity. There is no lack of hatred in this country. And the muslims are being afraid ... because they know if the churches fall to these demands, then they will be next. The good thing about them is that they will have all the arab States behind them so a huge uproar will be expected if Israel demands taxes from mosques.

Dew on the freesias

Meantime the anti-christian lobby here in Jerusalem are moaning their plight that taxes in Jerusalem are the highest in all the country. Rather than admit that it's due to the Finance Ministry not giving the Mayor a budget (which resulted in municipality strikes and uncollected garbage for a week), they blame it on christians who do not pay taxes on churches and other properties. It's an attempt to deflect attention away from the real issue and ... as usual ... put the blame on christians who are easy targets.

The day remains dark and gloomy ... like the atmosphere in our churches. It's 13 degrees outside but the wind is strong and cold despite the sun. It rained last night though and the air this morning was at least clean and crispy. Spring flowers are all blooming and the new leaves are appearing on trees. My little garden of 15 pots on the library roof is colorful with purple muscari and red / yellow freesias. Yesterday bumble bees were flying all around them. It's been a very long time since I've seen a bumble bee in our area. What we have are more honey bees from our apiaries down in the Garden of Gethsemani.

Meantime I'm weaning off prednisone. I still have another week of medication to go but the dosage is being reduced every 3 days. My hands and feet are swollen as a side effect, and my tummy is bloated. I still am insomniac, sleeping only 2 hours a night. And I am very confused and lethargic most of the time. I had planned to go to Jaffa today to get some fresh air but as usual work required me to stay back. One day I'll just pack my bags and run away where nobody can find me. Then I can rest in peace.

Holy Sepulchre closed in protest

Greek patriarch flanked by Franciscan
Custos and Armneian patriarch
addresses the media

The basilica of the Holy Sepulchre which contains Mt. Calvary and the Empty Tomb was closed to the public yesterday at noon for an indefinite period of time. This was decided the Greek and Armenian patriarchs with the Custos of the Holy Land and other christian leaders as a protest against the Israeli's onslaught on christian churches in the Holy Land. Extreme far right Minister has placed a bill to become law for the confiscation of church lands and property; another bill demands back-taxing all church properties not used for religious purposes, from 1948 onwards. The latter bill supports the former bill ... if you don't pay the back-taxes, your land will be confiscated.

The Nuseibeh family lock the doors
of the Basilica during Press conference

But the situation is much more complicated than that. In fact several factors, quite separate from each other, have converged to target the churches. The Church has always been an easy target for zionist and rightwing Israelis ... but this time this have gone too far. The Haaretz analysis of the situation is probably the best article so far. Read it carefully to understand the real reasons behind the persecution.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-church-of-holy-sepulchre-crisis-israel-burns-its-bridges-with-the-christian-world-1.5848160

Banner at the
Basilica door

In summary of the above article: the Jerusalem mayor and the Finance Ministry have been at odds regarding the budget such that the latter stopped paying the former's municipality workers ... a shortage of cash could be solved by taxing the churches. Then separately, the sale or rent of Church lands has been the only source of income for all the churches in the Holy Land ... and such sales were never governed by any state legislature as it's private property. When private developers stepped in to build luxurious apartments, prices shot up and things got out of hand. Also the 99 yr hold is soon ending and the lands revert back to the churches. But the Israeli residents of these apartments don't want to leave the premises and are pushing for State confiscation of the land so they can continue to live in Church land.

The question of back-taxing involves land tax, water tax, electricity tax which amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars ... which no Church is able to pay. All Churches in the Holy Land have been exempted from taxes since the Ottoman dynasty and respected by all the countries involved. Now Israel recapitulates and demands taxes. The strange thing is they're not taxing mosques. They know a world war would start if they did. But christians are always an easy target because the wider Church is not the least interested in the Mother Church, and their meek pacifist stance makes them perfect targets.

By closing the Basilica, and eventually all churches in the Holy Land, tourism will be affected ... and the economy will fall. It's the only means the Churches have in protecting themselves.

Read the following articles and be informed. AND BE INVOLVED. YOUR MOTHER CHURCH IS BEING TARGETED. YOUR SILENCE WILL CONDEMN YOU.

http://www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=779&id_n=46135
https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-holy-sepulchre-shuttered-bill-allowing-seizure-of-church-lands-shelved/
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Church-of-the-Holy-Sepulcher-closes-in-protest-of-new-policies-543558

Prayed for you

Procession around the Empty Tomb

Last night I did go to the Lenten Vigil after all. Thanks to the chinese sisters who wanted to participate. I had to accompany them from their hotel and back because it was very late and East jerusalem is dangerous especially for women walking in the dark unpoliced streets.

The vigil began at 11.40pm with the entrance of the Custos with the retinue of friars. It started with 2 psalms and then a Scripture reading followed by a sermon by Pope St. Leo. Then 3 more canticles were sung before everyone made a procession around the Empty Tomb recalling the Resurrection (It's the vigil of Sunday and every Sunday in the Holy Sepulchre it's the celebration of the Resurrection). The Gospel was carried by the Custos and incensed by 2 deacons. It was brought inside the Tomb and a prayer was said inside before the Custos brought it out again. Then everyone went back to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament for the intercessions and blessing.

Prayer before the
Empty Tomb

It was well attended last night. The Benedictine abbot and some of his monks from the Dormition Abbey came, the Dominican superior came and most religious congregations had representatives. The franciscan sacristan was very kind when he was informed that a group of chinese sisters were coming so he reserved 2 benches inside the chapel for them. Anyway when every ended it was already 1.30am. I then had to accompany the sisters back to their hotel in East Jerusalem which is over 1 km away. When we reached the hotel it was already 2am. Then I had to walk home which is another km away. But just as I rounded the corner to the main road ... the empty road came a lone car that stopped next to me. It was my neighbour. He was going out to buy cigarettes and offered to drive me home. Wow ... saved me a long walk in the dark lifeless street. But first we went to buy his cigarettes and I bought bread for breakfast. He dropped me off right in front of my door. Needless to say, I was very happy. I was utterly exhausted and hungry. Ate the bread with some leftover sausages I found in our fridge, and went to sleep. I got up at 5am to prepare for Mass ... which means I slept only one and a half hour. So in 3 days I slept a total of about 5 hours. I am utterly drained ... but this prednisone is really destroying my life.

Sitting at any place
available to pray

Anyway I prayed for you all during the Vigil ... all the living and dead. It is such a privileged experience to make this Vigil.

Yesterday when the Sabbath ended, some 20,000 protesters gathered in Tel Aviv to protest the forced deportation of asylum seekers. I'm not sure how this struggle will go as the govt. is adamant to deport all illegal foreigners who may be suffering persecution in their own countries. Of course there are also economic refugees among them.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/over-10-000-israelis-protests-deportation-of-african-asylum-seekers-1.5846472

The ultra-orthodox jews yesterday had to face a crisis. Their leader and mentor, an elderly rabbi died. He was the leading rabbi to call for the protests and fight against compulsory military draft which had led the country into standstills and strikes and even violence. Now everyone is anxiously waiting to see who the successor will be.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/shmuel-auerbach-leader-of-anti-draft-ultra-orthodox-group-dies-aged-86/

And here's an interesting read from an interview of 2 isreali doctors who studied abroad and returned. They noted that they found Israelis hate more and have become more isolated.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/holylandings/.premium-israelis-have-changed-they-hate-more-and-are-more-insular-1.5843275

Lenten Vigil

The chinese sisters in pilgrimage

There is a sudden influx of tourists and pilgrims this week. Well "influx" is an understatement ... it's a tsunami. Our chapels and the Via Dolorosa are so packed, groups have to wait to get inside our courtyard ... let alone the chapels. I find it such a hassle to squeeze among these groups to get in or out of our house... as pilgrims and tourists are utterly and absolutely oblivious to the needs of others. They block the streets, take pictures, chit chat, drink and eat ... and make our lives so difficult because we have no place to walk. And the crowds will get bigger now that the Orthodox Lent has begun today. I dread it. I should move to Jaffa to stay during Lent. It will reduce my blood pressure.

GuangZhou youth group at Bible class

Among the countless groups are many chinese Catholic groups. Yesterday I met 6 sisters ... a very small group ... from TaiYuan. They're the first lot of sisters to make the final profession of vows as their congregation was founded only in 1997. They're called the Chinese Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. Gave them a talk and tonight I will accompany them to the Vigil and probably for Mass after that. That means reaching home at 2.30am. I'll be exhausted. There have been many other catholic groups coming as well. Despite my illness I have been running around the City in the evenings giving them talks. One was a youth group from GuangZhou and we had a Bible conference. And as Lent continues, more such group talks are lining up. I work all day and and nights as well now ... practically 16 to 18 hours a day.

And yes it was another night of insomnia. Last night I slept only half an hour. The night before it was 2 hours. The medication is wrecking my life. It solved my allergic reaction but it created another mess in my life. Veins in my hands are bursting, fingers are swollen, I get confused and disoriented. I lose my appetite but my students here constantly check me to make sure I eat something otherwise I faint. They're good guys.

Well as I said earlier, tonight I'll go for the Lenten Vigil which starts at 11.40pm and ends around 1am, followed by Mass on Mt. Calvary till about 2.30am. I shall be praying for you all there.

Drizzling weekend

Drizzling all day

The weather has changed from sunny to grey gloomy skies again. It even started drizzling. I spent some time planting seeds and replanting the daisies as I needed some fresh air. It drizzled but the cold 12 degree won was refreshing. It takes my mind off the swelling and nausea side-effects of prednisone. I just realised I'm taking 60mg each day ... which is a pretty high dosage as I'm usually put on 40 or 30mg. It's double dosage. That's why it's making me really sick. It messes with my head.

East Jerusalem traffic

I can't do much in my physical and psychological state, so I stay mostly at home trying to read and write. I can't really rest as I've become insomniac because of the medicine. I thought of going out for a long walk ... but it's drizzling. but maybe I will. I just need fresh air. The weekend has started and traffic is winding down so a walk through the western part of Jerusalem (jewish) will be calm and tranquil. The eastern arab part is bustling with thousands of muslim worshippers coming in to Al Aqsa Mosque from throughout the country. It's the Friday muslim day pf prayer. I shall avoid that place if I do decided to get out.

The Archbishop visited the chinese
sisters on New Year day

Being Friday in Lent, the 3pm Way of the Cross will take place even in the rain. We have a sudden influx of pilgrims and tourists. Protestant televangelists have organised mega-trips with literally hundreds of followers divided into groups of 50s under a local guide to visit the Old City. They cause major traffic jams in our streets and are very noisy. Though the shop keepers adore them for the money they spend, the rest of us find them bothersome. We prefer more peace and quiet in our streets.

Tensions are rising since yesterday. An israeli military raid to arrest terrorists in Jericho led to the death of an arab. A security video going viral shows the guy shot dead point blank by a soldier when he tried to attack the soldier with a chair or table. Then other soldiers came and beat him dead. Autopsy confirmed he died of beating. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5126057,00.html

Coupled to this was the attack of jewish settlers against an arab shepherd, killing several of his sheep. This is terrible because the sheep are the only livelihood of these bedouin arabs. I wonder if any justice will be served. You cannot generalise and say the arabs are violent terroists who do not want peace and again and again we have cases of jewish settlers attacking and destroying arab properties, unprovoked attacks on arabs causing physical harm.   https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-west-bank-shepherd-says-masked-israelis-attacked-him-killed-his-sheep-1.5843470

And the Justice Minister made a speech claiming Israel must maintain a jewish majority in the State, even if it means overriding human rights of other races. Scary. In any other country this would have caused an uproar, locally if not worldwide.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/justice-minister-israel-s-jewish-majority-trumps-than-human-rights-1.5811106

On the other hand, Israel is willing to grant 20,000 work permits to palestinians to enter Israel to work. A nice dose of sugar to quieten the rising tensions. Let's hope this will include some of our workers who till now cannot come out to work in our institutes.   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israel-to-issue-20000-more-work-permits-to-Palestinians-543368

Meantime the ultra-orthodox threaten the coalition govt. if the compulsory military draft is not changed for ultra-orthodox youth.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-fresh-coalition-crisis-religious-party-places-ultimatum-over-army-exemptions/

Last sahlab this winter

Gloomy gray skies

Newspapers are running articles for Purim events. Yes Purim is next week ... March 1 and 2, It's when kids (and more adults) dress in costumes and the "hamantaschen" cookies are baked and eaten. But more about that when Purim comes round. Well let's hope the feast will enjoy bright sunny weather because these few days the skies continue to be grey and gloomy.

My allergic wheezing and breathlessness is over but I still must continue with my course of prednisone. Already the swelling of fingers has started and the depression as well. Luckily one of our indian sisters is a professional nurse and she's monitoring my situation so I don't get too depressed which is one of the usual side-effects of prednisone. I had a couple of visits from my students yesterday when they heard I was sick. One of the bought me a cup of sahlab ... the turkish winter beverage made from orchid root. I like it. It's topped with cinnamon but I don't take the crushed nuts. It was the 2nd cup I've had this winter/Spring ... and the shops will soon stop selling it as summer approaches.

Yesterday;s sahlab

The day before there was an explosion in a pub in the New City. The oven exploded ... but immediately people jumped to conclusion as said it was a terrorist attack. The police and to announce that it was a gas leak. Then within 12 hours another gas leak in the southern suburb of Jerusalem. The  ground floor carpark was blown off and the 3 storey building almost collapsed. 2 elderly residents were wounded and 1 died. Again the police said it was an accident but diehard rightists are flaming the fires of hatred by insisting it's a terrorist attack. Opportunists of fear and hatred.

And the saga of the corruption probe into the PM makes a dramatic turn when now it's been revealed that aides have offered the judge the post of AG if she closed the case on the PM's wife. No one is shocked here. And it would come to nothing as long as the ultra-orthodox rabbis stand behind the PM. The real power lies with the ultra-orthodox rabbis.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5122753,00.html

The dreadful bombing of eastern Ghouta in Syria is terrible. Hundreds have died including children ... casualties because the govt. forces are driving out the rebels who control Ghouta. There are churches and christian schools in that area. Let's hope the rest of the population are safe.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/100-dead-in-syria-s-heaviest-one-day-death-toll-in-3-years-1.5828694

Still sick

3 years ago today ... the snow storm

I am feeling better than yesterday. Prednisone always works quickly for me  ... first round is 60mg. Makes me sick with nausea, dizziness and fatigue but it stops the asthma attacks immediately. Problem is once I'm on it, I have to wean it off for a period of 15 days. Then the swollen feet and hands and face begin. For the moment I'm thankful the severe reaction has lessen considerably but not totally. I still have pain and pressure on my chest and walking or climbing stairs is still very tiring. There'll be time enough later to cry over the side-effects that I hate. I get nightmares just thinking about it. If doctors prescribe prednisone to you, make sure it's the last hope medication and you urgently need it to keep alive. Otherwise I'll say keep it as far away as possible.

It occurred to me while I was resting in bed this morning that today Feb. 20th exactly 3 years ago there was the great snow storm in the Holy Land. I remember going out at 5am to see Damascus Gate and the park when no one has yet trampled over the 1 foot-high snow. It was amazing ... like a fairyland ... all white and blue. I can never forget that experience ... alone in the very silent, cold park  with trees crystallised in ice ... it is utterly awesome.

Mottled sky this morning

Though I wish I could rest today, there is always that someone who is absolutely oblivious to the needs of others and demand immediate action. So I had to walk 1km up to the other library to get a job done ... but I had to stop several times on the way. And after 15 mins of work, I had to come home. Luckily someone was passing down Damascus Gate so I hitched a ride. I realise now how decrepit illness and age can reduce a person.

There was an interesting article about fasting that I read yesterday. It says that fasting can trigger stem cell regeneration and fights cancer. Not sure if it's all true but that's an incentive to fast during Lent.   http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/scientists-discover-fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-fights-cancer.html?utm_source=JERF&utm_content=9487-YEZ5

And another plus for Israel ... research here on the medical use of marijuana has shown it reduces pain which will be very helpful for the elderly and those suffering from arthritis and other illness. Medical marijuana is legal here in Israel and it has helped thousands of sufferers. This is a very enlightened approached to medical science.   http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=438801&utm_content=buffer9c5f1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Meantime the implosion of jewish society ... more exactly the ultra-orthodox against everyone else continues to escalate. A well-known and reputable Canadian rabbi of one of the largest jewish communities in the world was blacklisted by the Chief Rabbinate (100% ultra-orthodox) in Israel; meaning he cannot legally perform jewish rites, personally flew into Israel to find out why. He was not met by the Chief Rabbinate but only a commission looking into the decisions of the Chief Rabbinate. All he got was only an apology but no assurance that his name will be removed from the blacklist. This implosion will reaching worldwide jewry ... and the repercussions will be felt not just religiously but socially and politically. Red lines are being drawn and financial threats are becoming a reality.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-blacklisted-orthodox-rabbi-accuses-israel-s-rabbinate-of-blasphemy-1.5828591?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter   and   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5122047,00.html

Sick

Some of my students last night

Last night I felt a tightness round my chest and thought it could've been the cold but this morning I am utterly breathless and fatigued. There was no loud wheezing like an asthma attack but all the other symptoms point to it. As I walked uphill to my other library later at 8.30am I realised I could not walk very far as I felt very faint and my breathing was very shallow and chest very tight. So I returned and went to my usual arab doctor. He checked me out and said it's severe asthma ... an allergic reaction to something. Well I couldn't think of anything as I drank half a cup of coffee only this morning. So it wasn't something I ate. The doc said it cold be something in the air as we've had a bad sandstorm a few days ago and some pollen or stuff would still be floating in the air ... or dust from the many renovation works along the street. Despite the rain, people make house renovations in winter because the building materials and workmen are cheaper. In summer prices rise.

Anyway I asked the doc why it didn't feel like a normal asthma attack like before and he explained that the seratide I am now taking has suppressed many of the symptoms so my asthma attack now is not like before. Anyway he gave me an injection and put me back on my dreaded enemy ... prednisone. The doc said there is no other choice as my asthma is very bad. So today I start my 2 week course of prednisone.

Musrari in bloom

Last night my level 2 english language students asked me to bring them to a chinese dinner ... and practice their english skills there. Ah Ling of Mandarin restaurant is now cooking alone in the kitchen  as her cooks returned to China. There were 2 groups of tourists eating dinner and I thought Ah Ling would not be able to cook my group's dinner as well so I told her to simply give us what the other groups are having. That would save her from cooking extra. The students were delighted in learning about Chinese New Year, the traditions and eating chinese food. It was a nice evening. And my asthma allergy did not come from dinner because it usually starts within 10 minutes from eating the allergen, not after one night.

Church leaders in Jerusalem have united a presented a letter demanding the Jerusalem Municipality to retract statements threatening to collect retro-active taxes from church properties.  http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-02/church-in-jerusalem-taxation.html

Police have arrested some Israelis for attacking an arab bus driver. That's a good move ... it doesn't guarantee a charge will be made but at least it is a start.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-israelis-suspected-of-assaulting-arab-bus-driver/

Meantime Israel continues to bombard Gaza, hitting military targets and destroying tunnels. Though pre-emptive in nature, it serves to unite the Gazans in anger.  Tensions will be higher than before.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-strikes-gaza-tunnels-after-renewed-rocket-fire/

And jewish rightwing extremists attacked jewish left-wingers in the West Bank. Talk about implosion.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-settlers-filmed-throwing-stones-at-left-wing-activists-in-west-bank-1.5808502

Storm again

Chinese sisters'
oratory

The Lenten rigours have begun. Last night at 20 to midnight the friars and many local religious gathered in the Holy Sepulchre to pray the vigil office of the 1st Sunday of Lent which ends with a procession around the Empty Tomb. It's quite impressive if you're not sleepy at that hour. The prayers end at about 1.15am and then Mass begins immediately on Mt. Calvary. This midnight vigil will take place every Saturday night. Hope I'll be able to go to one and pray for you all.

By the way the Chinese sisters send their New Year greetings to you all, and thank you all for your kindness. They pray for you all daily and offer a Mass for your intentions once a month. Their little oratory ... not a chapel as there is no space for an altar ... was blessed with a gift of a tabernacle and stand from M. Teresa's sisters. In the picture on the bottom right floor there is a white sheet of paper. It contains all your names and the sisters offer it up in their daily prayers. The oratory is so small only 3 sisters can enter it at any one time.

Dark gloomy day

Yesterday afternoon saw dark gloomy skies with a very strong cold wind ... with a little drizzle. But in Tel Aviv and the rest of the country, the daytime storm was extremely heavy, causing lots of floods. Roads to the Dead Sea were closed. A tourist bus in the Negev desert was stuck in the flood and the tourists had to be saved.  In Rishon leZion and Tel Aviv there was hail carpeting the roads and fields like snow. The whole country experienced extreme weather conditions except Jerusalem.

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5117745,00.html
and  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Ukrainian-tour-bus-rescued-from-flash-flood-in-Judean-Desert-542863

But by evening the rains returned and by midnight the storm burst. Just like the night before there was an electrical storm and the rains were very heavy. Some of the guys in my house on their way to the Holy Sepulchre ran home soaking wet. They never quite made it to the basilica.

Down south in the country, missile alarms had sounded twice, sending people to hide in bunkers but there were no missiles from Gaza. Israel bombed many targets in Gaza anyway ... a pre-emptive strike as Israel is expecting a war from Gaza soon. http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/BREAKING-18-Hamas-targets-struck-by-the-IDF-Saturday-night-542898

Amazing

Amazing double rainbow this morning

What an incredible electrical storm last nights. It rained very heard with lots of thunder and lightening from midnight onwards but by 2pm it stopped. At 3am the electrical storm restarted and was much more violent. Lightening struck every 20 seconds. It was amazing to see the sky ... and the whole City lighted up by these flashes. And it rained very hard again till 4.30am. All that celestial noise kept me awake ... and fascinated by the phenomenon that we have not seen over over a decade. What a way to start the New Year ... literally with a bang.

Then this morning ... 4 degrees with gusty cold winds and very grey skies ... an amazing sight stopped the City. A full double rainbow stretched across the entire City. It was utterly awesome. Photos have been flying all over the local social networks. If anyone missed it in the skies, he surely would have seen it in the pics.

Olive trees being blown sideways

The day continued to be very grey and cold. At 3.30pm it was only 5 degrees. And the wind is very gusty and very very cold. More rain and lightening predicted for midnight. I guess I'll be awake again. The thunder is simply too loud for me to sleep.

Happy New Year

New Year altar

So the Lunar New Year started here on a very cold morning. The sun's shining brightly but it didn't help the cold. But it felt right ... just like Chinese New Year should feel ... with thick coats and scarves and vapours each time you breathe or talk.

The  Arhcbishop paid a visit to the Chinese Sisters at 5pm and he greeted them on the occasion of the New Year. It was a very nice gesture. Then at 7pm the chinese speaking community of religious in Jerusalem met for the Reunion Dinner at the chapel of Sts. Simeon and Anna. It's a little chapel in the New City ... in fact right in the heart of the City's Mall. There were about 10 of us. Mass was in mandarin and it finished in 40 mins. As Ss. Simeon and Anna is a chapel for the hebrew speaking catholic community and in their Mass they use unleaven Matza of the jewish Passover.

Reunion Dinner 2018

After Mass we walked 50 meters down the road to Mandarin Restaurant where we ate the Reunion Dinner. There was another chinese family from Wen Zhou eating there and 2 chinese couples in at the other end of the restaurant. Dinner was simple: noodles, chicken, soup and toufu. It was the company that was important as all of us are lone students. We ate slowly and chatted till past 11pm then we had to get home. The weather outside was even colder and damp ... even a slight drizzle.

Home cooked lunch at the convent

This morning Mass was as usual. I had to open and work in the library till late morning then I went off to work in the other library. All the other workers in the libraries told me to take a day off. And I really wanted to so with the 4 hours left in the day, I went to the Chinese Sisters' convent for lunch. It was home cooked and very simple ... all vegetarian as is traditional for the first day of the New Year. The convent is now exactly 2 years old since its foundation. And the Archbishop yesterday praised the sisters for their handwork and contribution to the diocese.

After lunch I walked to Independence Park with a seminarian and we plucked branches of almond blossoms. They look so much like cherry blossoms and smell just as sweet. I had them arranged at my little altar in my room with some oranges. That feels a little more like the Lunar New Year.

Happy and Holy New Year to you all and thanks for all your generous support and help that make my mission here possible.

New Year's Eve

Sunset on the Rooster Year

It's the eve of the Lunar New Year. While the rest of Asia is celebrating the last day of the Year of the Rooster, here in Jerusalem there're only a handful of asians who will be festive. I think we number no more than 50 and the majority are students at the university. But I'll bet you the chinese restaurants will be packed with asians especially the tourists. As with every year for the past decade, I'm organizing a Reunion dinner for the chinese religious community. I've invited the religious from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Korea and Indonesia ... a total of 10. But I doubt everyone will be able to come. But before that we'll be celebrating Mass at the Chapel of Sts. Simeon and Anna in the New City.

The Iron pergola

The weather has been very cold again and though it's not likely to rain again (unlike a couple of days ago) it just might just dampen the Reunion Dinner.

And talking about dampen, there is this ugly iron-cast pergola at Damascus Gate for the Israeli security. There was nothing there and suddenly this morning it was there. In less than 10 hours a 2 story iron pergola was constructed. And it spoils the view of the most beautiful Gate in the Old City. The iron just does not go with the old yellow stones of the City wall. And it obstructs the panoramic view of thuebridge leading into the gate and it just totally mars the turrets and towers. It's such a shame that the architects have not put more consideration into preserving the spirit and aesthetics of this ancient beauty.

Well it's now time for class and then Bible Class, Adoration and Confessions at the M. Teresa's convent ... then a mad rush to Sts. Simeon and Anna for Mass and the Reunion Dinner.

Ash Wednesday

Noodles to end my 27 hr fast

Another Ash Wednesday. I'm responsible for the liturgy this week so this morning I had to preside the Mass. It took some preparation yesterday for the liturgy to go smoothly and this morning it well better than expected. I preached a 5 line sermon ... the shortest that I've given and it was effective. Everyone appreciated it ... in fact I think I heard some sighs of relief. Some people here can preach 20 minutes of nothing ... and we're terrified of it. A group of italian pilgrims came to join in the Mass so our chapel was packed. Most of our community was also present. Because of the crowd I had to ask another concelebrant to help with the distribution of the ashes. Anyway everything went fine.

Almond blossoms at
Damascus Gate

Most of us fasted today. I ate my last meal yesterday at 3pm and today I only had half a cup of coffee at breakfast and another half cup at 2pm. By 6pm, 27 hours without food I was still not feeling hungry though I was a little faint. I happened to pass by Mandarin restaurant and went to say Happy New Year to Ah Ling the manager. She said there was leftover noodles and insisted I took them home to eat. So my fasting ended after 27 hours. Others who ate dinner last night will end their fast at midnight. We take fasting seriously here.

Well Lent has begun so the Lenten rigours are in force. On Saturday midnight we'll have to go to the Holy Sepulchre for the Office of Readings and procession around the Empty Tomb. It'll end around 2pm and most of us will come home for a few hours sleep before celebrating Sunday Mass at 7am.

The onslaught of ultra-orthodox jews on other jewish denominations continue. One town's rabbi says mixed gender swimming pools are worse than incest. Another rabbi from another place called the reformed liturgy as rites for dogs.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/go-hold-bar-mitzvahs-for-dogs-orthodox-lawmaker-tells-reform-jews/
and
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-mixed-gender-swimming-makes-waves-in-kiryat-arba-1.5821287

On a different happy note, the first ever Israeli diplomats attended a UN Conference in muslim Malaysia. A nice thaw in relations.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-israeli-diplomats-attend-un-conference-in-malaysia/

Fat Tuesday

Cold wet day

It actually rained and drizzled alternately all day ... actually it already started last night. The temperature has dropped again. From 20 degrees yesterday, it's now 9 degrees. The wind is gusty and cold, carrying rains at an angle so using umbrellas is useless. You get soaked from the sideways rains. It was so strong the rains came through the exhaust fan in my toilet, rain falling down the wall and the flooding the floor. It's the second time it's happened this year. But just as suddenly as the gusty shower came, it suddenly stops and a gentle drizzle takes over. Then when you least expect it, the shower comes back on.

Today is Fat Tuesday or in french Mardi Gras. We're trying to consume all the week's leftover meat today so they are not left over during Lent when we abstain from meat. It would be a waste to throw it away. I've been bringing soup and rice and other foods that were left over, to the poor all week. In this cold weather, some soup and rice would keep the poor warm.

Umbrellas everywhere

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and I'm presiding at Mass. Hope I won't make any mistakes with the ashes.

The local newspaper has made an important observation which escaped me ... that for the first time Iran and Israel are facing off each other directly in the tensions in the Golan this week. Another article says there's escalation of tensions and Israel must prepare for war. Let's hope and prayer nothing results ... that summer will be peaceful and no one has to suffer.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/after-years-of-covert-proxy-wars-iran-shifts-to-direct-contact-1.5810960   and   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Escalation-on-the-northern-front-Israel-must-prepare-for-war-542388

In the palestinian territories, though there has been a series of vandalism  against arab properties this whole week. More such acts are reported today. No one was been caught yet.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/cars-vandalized-daubed-with-hebrew-graffiti-in-east-jerusalem-neighborhood/

Fun before Fast

Dusty gray skies today

The weather is turning cool again. The nights linger around 16 degrees which is quite comfortable, and daytime goes up to 20 degrees. However today the sky is an awful yellow ... a sandstorm from the desert. It's a bit too early for this type of winds called "hamsiin" or 50 (hence the name pentecost) as it should start only after Easter and before Pentecost ... the 50 day period. I had sand in my eyes and mouth as I went out to the New City this morning after Mass at the Armenian parish.

School kids dressed for Carnival

Ash Wednesday is approaching fast, but so is the Lunar New Year. Wednesday will be a full fasting day but Friday we asians will be exempted because of the New Year. Yesterday we saw many school children from our chaotic schools dressed up in costumes for Carnival (carne meaning meat) which takes place before the fast of Ash Wednesday. It's the last days you can eat meat before 40 days of abstinence. The europeans also call it Mardi Gras or Martedi di Grasso (Fat Tuesday) when they stuff themselves with good food and then start the fast on Wednesday. It's the fun before the fast.

Yesterday's bombing of Iranian targets in Syria by Israel as a consequence of Iran's drone flying into Israeli airspace was really a major scare. Even the airport was closed for one hour for fear of syrian missiles might hit commercial airplanes.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-gurion-airport-briefly-halts-flights-due-to-northern-conflagration/

The Israeli Air Defense is geared up for war at the Syrian border.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Preparing-for-war-in-the-north-Israel-boosts-air-defense-542284

Meantime Gaza which supports the Iranians, may also be gearing up for war with Israel. Faced with a north and a south attack, the Israeli army needs clear strategies to stop both prongs.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Hamas-raises-alert-level-following-Syria-confrontation-542270

Well ... a war in Lent. Perfect timing.

War looming?

Jaffa parishioners at Mass in the
Holy Sepulchre

This morning was a very early start to work. 5.30am I was at the Missionaries of Charity convent for Mass. one of the sisters is celebrating her patron saint's feast day and also the community has to go early to Tel Aviv where they care for the drug addicts, homeless and prostitutes. These people appreciate the sisters' visit once a week. Anyway after Mass I had to rush to the Holy Sepulchre for another Mass at 7am in the Empty Tomb. It's the monthly Mass when the parishioners from our Jaffa Parish come. After Mass I teach them some Bible lessons before they go to visit some other shrines.

Now I'm back home to clean my room for the Chinese New Year ... a lot of Spring cleaning. If I have time I might make some small changes in my room. But not today because I have 2 hours to work before I start another class at 4pm. I work throughout the weekends as well so you see, I have no days off. It's 7 days a week. Merciless schedule. I am utterly exhausted and there is no one 24 hrs when I can recuperate. Maybe I should just go on strike.

Tensions are rising at our northern border with Syria. Missiles misfired from Syria into Israel has occurred many times and Isrel usually fires warning shots to remind the shooters (not sure if they're rebels, government or ISIS) that Israel is on the alert ... but this morning it was direct encounter. A syrian drone flew into Israeli airspace and Israeli fighter jets shot it down ... then sent the jets into Syria to bomb Iranian bases there on a very large scale. The Syrians responded by firing anti-aircraft missiles ... downing one helicopter at least. The pilots ejected and were rescued by Israeli ground troops. Remember that Damascus is only 60 mins away from our border. Tensions are rising and this afternoon we'll see if things get worse. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/middle-east/israel-and-the-middle-east/syria-fires-at-israeli-fighter-jets-after-israel-downs-iranian-drone-34500

While external war is looming in the north, the internal war among jews continue. This time we hear of the ultra-orthodox jews who are so absolute in sex segregation they would erase women standing among men in their newspaper photos. They did that with politicians and now we hear they erased even the women Holocaust survivors who stood among men to have their photo taken. These survivors are venerated in Israeli society but the ultra-orthodox do not think so. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haredi-newspaper-censors-photos-of-women-holocaust-survivors-1.5770715

What a Sabbath .... so much tensions and uncertainties. There is no rest ... not for the mind and heart.

Blossoms

Almond tree blooming at
New Gate

Another weekend has begun. I will be terribly exhausted with work even though I'd love a quiet relaxing 24 hrs. I think I'll have to preside the Armenian Mass again this Sunday.

The weather is still warm and the almonds and Judas trees continue to bloom. Utterly amazing ... the pinks and deep violet flowers on bare branches. I noticed even the hazel and oaks are flowering their long spindly bunches of dull yellow petals.

Thee's the alarming news that the cash-strapped govt. has got the high Court's ok to claim taxes from the churches in the Holy Land. Strange that mosques and synagogues are not covered. From the Catholic Church alone it wants to claim 11 million shekels.  I think this is from back-taxing. The Anglicans must pay about 7 million and the Armenians 2 million. And very strangely the Greek Orthodox Church which is the largest private land owner in Israel pays only half a million. Something smells here ... if you consider my past posts regarding the Greeks selling large tracks of land to jews. http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=437596#.Wnbct9zO3aE.facebook

The american army is here and a very large scale drill with the Israeli army is underway to simulate a massive missile attack. That makes us all nervous here ... if indeed a war is imminent.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-troops-arrive-for-drill-simulating-massive-missile-attack-on-israel/

Almost weekend

The tea man

Yesterday was a very busy day. I had no time to update the blog but I'm still alive. You see, the purpose of the blog isn't simply to inform you of life here in the Holy Land ... actually it's a track on whether I'm alive or not. If it's not updated for some time ... that means you can come to my funeral.

The weather has been very pleasant as Spring weather should be. In the midst of my rushing from one place to another, I noticed the arab tea seller at Damascus Gate, with his umbrella up and him dressed in his turkish costume carrying his huge container of tea and selling cups of it to passersby. That is a sure sign Summer is on it's way ... if not already here. The usual tea he sells is common tea but you can add fresh mint or sage leaves for the aroma. But in mid-summer when it gets really hot, he sells cold traditional drinks like almond juice, date juice and lemon juice. Well by now he's an annual icon for summer and tourists never fail to stop and take photos of him ... or with him.

Security tower is
almost complete

Newspapers are reporting of the spreading control of the ultra-orthodox jews in certain cities and towns. In the beautiful city of Bet Shemesh, the ultra-orthodox have published and distributed a code of conduct in public places. That includes segregation of males and females in buses and even at work, if things were to be passed between one sex to another, the thing has to be left on a table to be picked up, males and females cannot sit together or joke,  etc... Sounds almost like the muslim Taliban. The City council is afraid of these ultra-orthodox but fear also a backlash from the rest of Israel so it tries to ride on the fence. All I can say is that this will all implode. As it is, the 2 security towers built at Damascus Gate is causing great unhappiness among the arabs as they are symbols of israeli surveillance over them. The towers are almost completed and the soldiers are ready to be stationed there.     https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-west-bank-settlement-issues-modesty-code-for-municipal-workers-1.5793397

Meantime the israeli army has said it will not be taking control over the arab East Jerusalem areas though the media has said otherwise. That should at least allay some tensions and violence.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israel-Police-IDF-wont-take-over-east-Jerusalem-enforcement-540909

It's almost the weekend, the weather is great ... let's hope nothing will happen to spoil this moment.

Flowers in bloom

Crocuses in bloom

The weather has gone very warm ... up to 19 degrees. But the sky remains cloudy and dark. At times it seemed it would rain ... but nothing happened. Most of the almond trees have blossomed and so are the Judas trees. Other early Spring flowers are also in bloom especially crocuses. They usually open a day before it rains and is known as the rain forecaster. Anemones are also in bloom. They are those lovely red flowers that spring up in the wilderness and sidewalks.

And as the weather warms ... so does the violence. They seem to go hand-in-hand. Yesterday I mentioned the arab leaders in Gaza and the Israeli army leaders have both sounded out the imminence of a war. Today the Israeli Defense Minister contradicted them and said no war is in sight. At the same time the Israeli Navy leaders claim it's on high alert because Hamas' marine warfare has reached a very sophisticated level that poses a major threat to Israel.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israels-Navy-concerned-about-increased-Hamas-threat-under-the-water-540727

And WHO has announced that Gaza will run out of fuel in 10 days ... the crisis will erupt into violence since the people have nothing else to lose.  http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/WHO-official-Without-supplements-Gaza-to-run-out-of-fuel-within-ten-days-540742

Re-paving New Gate

We'll just try to stay out of trouble's way. It's easier in the western part of the City but we here in the eastern part are right in the heart of any violence or clashes. Let's hope for the best that nothing happens. Meantime life goes on ... and I saw the road works - actually re-pavement - at New Gate are almost complete. The workers have begun paving the final stage of the road, i.e. several meters inside New Gate, under the gate and several metres outside the Gate where it reaches the light rail tracks. It will look very nice until the cars and trucks start to enter and destroy everything. I give it 2 weeks ... before the stones get broken and potholes begin to appear. Everyone here thinks so too.

Drama

Accident ...
road closed

What a dramatic 24 hours. A car rammed into some people in front of Damascus Gate and at first everyone thought it was a terrorist attack. Police were swarming the place, the main road was closed off, the traffic jam behind was unbelievable. I just happened to be at Damascus Gate at that moment. I thought it would result in bigger violence. Thank goodness it was quickly determined that it was only an accident.

Well you can't balme us because not only is Hamas in Gaza warning of an impending war, this morning even the Israeli arm forces are warning the same thing because Gaza is collapsing from lack of basic essentials. The situation is so bad things will come to a head.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-military-chief-gaza-on-verge-of-collapse-bringing-war-closer-1.5788886

The old train station

Then there's a a video going viral ... it shows a robbery in broad daylight in Nazareth. While a driver was unloading boxes of cigarettes for a shop when 2 masked men held him up and stole thousands of shekels worth of cigarettes. It's frightening as they carried guns.

Then 2 hours ago the new flashed that an israeli rabbi was stabbed to death in the central bus station of the town of Ariel. The assailant is still on the loose. There's going to be a huge manhunt tonight and all the neighbouring villages will be raided. We're not told if the assailant is jewish or arab though the police fond his ID in the backpack he left behind. More tensions will rise. It all seems to be a self-fulfilling prophecy ... a war is imminent.

Old rail tracks

Well yesterday was a busy day. I had to end work quickly at midday to join a group of students because one of them who is sick will be leaving for home. Then at 4pm I had to bring 2 other students to visit the Iron Age tombs on Bible Hill and then the Byzantine ruins of the Hill of Evil Counsel. Being winter, it got dark by 5pm. We ended our excursion at the old train station which is now converted into an entertainment park with lots of pubs and restaurants. It's really a delightful place ... a family playground with carousels, game corners and lovely lights. The old rail tracks are still preserved and the old wooden station is also well preserved, integrated with modern architecture and reused as shops and restaurants. It's a really good work of conservation that pays itself. Self-sustaining conservation.

It was a nice end to an otherwise upsetting day of violence.