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/