Holy Saturday

Removing the Crown of Thorns on
Mt. Calvary

The very cold weather continued all night as many people gathered into the Holy Sepulchre at 8pm to  celebrate the Funeral Service. It's a very long service ... over 2 hours. It's dotted with readings from the Scriptures at various junctions in the Holy Sepulchre ... read in different languages, and a very long sermon on arabic for the local christians. This service used to be the ancient Mystagogy where the bishop instructed the candidates of baptism with catechism.

Custos anointing the body of Christ

Then the statue of the Crucified is brought up to Mt. Calvary where each instrument of the crucifixion is removed and carried by acolytes away. The body is then brought down from the cross and carries in a shroud to the Stone of Unction where the Custos anoints it with myrrh, nard and frankincense. These were blessed in Bethany on Holy Tuesday. The body is then carried into the Tomb and laid inside together with a ciborium of the Eucharist. Then silent adoration starts all night outside the Tomb till this morning when the Easter Vigil was celebrated.

Easter Candle is blessed

Yes it sounds strange but only in Jerusalem is the Easter Vigil celebrated in the morning. The Apostolic Administrator (we don't have a Patriarch) presided the solemn liturgy. The fire, Easter Candle and Water were blessed in front of the Tomb. The resurrection was then announced in front of the Tomb. It was very significant ... in fact it can only happen here. Everything in the liturgy takes on a deeper meaning when performed here in front of the Tomb where the Resurrection actually happened 2000 years ago.

Holy Water is blessed

Well we've been hearing one comment throughout this week's liturgies ... there was not enough space. Too many clergy have participated so the laity have no place. The benefit of course is for the laity to experience the fullness of the liturgy. Unfortunately this week, most of the laity could not see much of it because the clergy surrounded the altar and blocked the view.

The rest of us who didn't join in the Holy Sepulchre liturgy will be celebrating it in our own communities in the various languages.

On a national level, with the enormous boom of christian tourists in the Holy Land, a jewish right wing minister was perturbed that the country's jewish character was being shadowed so he's pushing for the State to "jewify" the country with jewish signs and symbols in all public places. His sene of security or lack of ... is very deep seated.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/upset-with-israel-s-muslim-christian-look-minister-aims-for-change-1.5962107

The deaths of 16 gazans during yesterday's protests against Israel is turning into an international affair. Well videos showing arab rioters shot in the back is not going to help Israel. But to be fair, the Gazans were not ""peaceful" and sending children to the frontline is against all rules of warfare. Hamas must be condemned for that.

Good Friday

Hollywood on Via Dolorosa

It's Good Friday and the weather was as suitable as it could get: grey skies, drizzle, cold gusty winds. It was miserable weather. But that did not deter the crowds. By 7am hundreds of pilgrims and tourists were crowding into our courtyard. By 8am the police moved in to block off the street with metal barriers. I had to quickly get out of the Old City to the Garden of Gethsemane because I had an appointment there. I was only worried I couldn't come home if the entire road is closed off. All the alleys in our Quarter have been blocked off. Car entry is limited tor residents of the Quarter only.

Flagellation chapel
on Good Friday

I spent 2 hours in the hermitage of Gethsemane and then at 10am I came home. It was very cold and wet and walk uphill to St. Stephan's Gate was very slippery. The street had many police blockades. I managed to pass the first 2 but the further ones became very restrictive. Groups were stopped at the blockades but luckily the police allowed individuals to pass. The groups were stopped at each blocked in order to stagger the groups entry into the Way of the Cross so that overcrowding could be avoided. When a group left our church, the police allowed the next group to enter and the group in the blockade further down moved up in turn.

As usual Hollywood had to creep into the solemn feast of the Lord's Passion. Characters dressed up and re-enacting the carrying of the Cross. Only problem was the police were not impressed. These characters (all american) had to stop at all the blockades and wait their turn.

Well the Jewish Passover also began today. That's why security is so tight. It;s also the start of the March of Return. The palestinians are marching to all the Israeli borders demanding a right to return to their properties and land that are being occupied by Israelis since the 1948 and 1968 wars. The Israeli army was on high alert at all the border checkpoints. Thousands of arabs swarmed the border. 8 arabs were shot dead at the Gaza border and many injured when the Israeli army fired. This is just the beginning ... the protest will continue for a month, confronting Israel's 70th year of founding, Independence Day and the arab Nakba (catastrophe) Day. It'll only get worse.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5210347,00.html

After the Chief Rabbi of Israel compared africans to monkeys, there were protests from many quarters of Judaism. Now the Justice Ministry is considering action against the Chief Rabbi. Well we all know it's just talk ... no one dares act against the Chief Rabbi. It's a publicity stunt to satisfy the rest of society who were outraged by the remarks.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Watchdog-considers-action-after-chief-rabbi-compares-black-people-to-monkeys-547427

Maundy Thursday

Archbishop washes the feet of others

It's Maundy Thursday. Early in the morning int he Holy Sepulchre, the clergy gather with the bishops in front of the Empty Tomb to celebrate the blessing of the Chrism Oils. The priests will renew their promises to the Archbishop and express their common priesthood shared with the bishop. Then unlike all other churches around the world, here in the Holy Sepulchre, the Lord's Supper is also celebrated in the same liturgy. The Archbishop washed the feet of 12 priests. The rest of the world celebrates this in the evening.

I stayed at home instead of going to the liturgy. There are only a limited amount of places for the clergy so we usually let those visiting priests and students to participate. We celebrated the Lord's Supper at 5.30pm as many other chapels do. That's because at 7pm we have to go to the Garden of Gethsemani to spend time in adoration until midnight.

The Custos washes the feet of boys

At 3pm the Custos and the friars gathered in the Last Supper Room to perform the Washing of Feet and pay Vespers.

But one strange event disrupted all our plans ... a storm brought out. Temperatures dropped drastically to 9 degrees and a very strong shower fell on Jerusalem. The wind was very gusty. Luckily I did not go to Gethsemani. I would have been sick by the drench and cold. The adoration is covered by live telecast so you can watch it on live broadcast.

Tomorrow we will be fasting the whole day. Rain is again predicted in the morning so the Way of the Cross will be a wet affair. Couple this with the start of the Jewish Passover and you can imagine what our street will look like. I dread it. My dream of escaping to Jaffa has been burned. I had to stay back home to work. Utter dread.

In a bizarre twist, Israeli police arrested a 3 yr old toddler for throwing stones. Read all about it.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-border-police-briefly-detain-three-year-old-palestinian-in-hebron-1.5957776

Then yesterday an extreme jewish group performed the slaughter of the Passover lamb along the staircase that once led to the Temple Mount. This is forbidden by jewish Law because there is no altar nor Temple for this sacrifice. The police are disturbed but they will not arrest anyone. The group even posted leaflets in arabic warning muslims not to come near this group or it's "sacrifice".  https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=441492

On a really good note, the Bar Ilan university has created an app to save allergy sufferers like me. It locates similar sufferers around you so when you get an attack but do not have an EpiPen available, the person closest will be alerted to share his//her EpiPen to save your life. I like this.   https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=441540

Holy Wednesday

The purple column in
the middle of flowers

As with tradition on Holy Wednesday, the column of the flagellation was venerated in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica. The purple "porphora" column is believed to be the place where Jesus was tied and flogged. It is now in 2 pieces ... one here in Jerusalem and the other half in Malta. Today's ritual followed the daily procession in the Holy Sepulchre, and there were specific hymns and prayers said in front of the column. Then people were allowed to climb up a 4 step ladder to reach the column and kiss it. Today the niche where the column is kept was filled with flowers.

Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday so there is no morning Mass. The clergy will join the bishops at the Holy Sepulchre for the Chrism Mass which is combined with the Lord's Supper in the morning. The other churches and chapels will conduct the Lord's Supper in the evening.

The Catholic Church has applied for 600 permits for catholics in Gaza to come out to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter but none have been granted because Israel has tightened the access. It's sad that christians have to pay the price of muslim violence in Israel.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5202025,00.html  and   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-age-limits-bar-gazan-christians-from-entering-israel-on-easter-1.5956171

The column

Tourists have continued to come ... a lot of americans. Germans and french tend to come as families and individuals instead of groups. Eastern cahotlccs have also been coming a lot ... ukrainians and romanian byzantine catholics. Soon the orthodox churches will also send pilgrims for their Holy Week next week. The jews have already arrived from overseas to celebrate the Passover. So you can imagine how crowded the Old City has become. One good thing this year is the Catholic and Orthodox calendars don't coincide so we have separate dates for Easter. That will ease the congestion in the Holy Sepulchre.

We've been getting news from the streets that Friday will be a violent day. Security is noticeably stepped up today when groups of military police walked up and down our street. Army chiefs have warned of an explosive situation.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-idf-chief-of-staff-warns-there-s-a-risk-of-an-escalation-this-year-1.5956331

And in a bizarre case, a jewish settler not only built an airstrip but also landed a private helicopter in an Israeli checkpoint in order to claim the piece of land at the Qalandya crossing with Palestine. He was arrested not because he was a danger and breaking military and security airspace but because the military was  afraid the arabs might stone him. Imagine if an arab flown a helicopter into the checkpoint ... he would ave been shot down immediately, no questions asked.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-settler-lands-helicopter-at-checkpoint-in-attempt-to-seize-it-1.5956163

Rain in the morning

Meantime this morning we all woke up to a surprise ... quite a heavy shower covered the country. It's the last rain for the year and we expect the drought to begin. It's a dreadful prospect and we hope some solution is found to solve the water shortage.

Holy Tuesday

The Custos blessing the myrrh

According to Mark's Gospel, Holy Tuesday is marked by Jesus' testy confrontation with the Sadduccees, scribes and Chief Priests of the Temple. After the final challenge regarding the paying of taxes, his opponents kept silence and planned to kill him. Today our pilgrimage Mass is at Gethsemani ... recalling the passion in the garden.

Yesterday in the Custody, we celebrated the Mass of the raising of Lazarus in Bethany. The Roman Church commemorates the miracle of raising Lazarus from the Dead on Holy Monday and Mass is celebrated next to his tomb. The Orthodox churches celebrate this feast on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. Lazarus continued to live after that miracle and went to Cyprus where he became the first bishop there, and his 2nd tomb is found there. Myrrh, nard and frankincense were blessed during our Mass and these will be used to anoint the statue of the dead Christ on Mt. Calvary on Good Friday.

Mounted Police at the tram tracks

Military police have stepped up its presence in and around the Old City. Mounted police have been policing the streets yesterday and will continue to be around till after Pesach. The jewish Passover (Pesach) falls on the same day as Good Friday ... a rare occurrence ... and therefore security is super tight. I really do hope not to be here during the Triduum because the stress of being blocked at every street and corner, and the noise will be too much for me. The Chinese restaurants will all be closed for the jewish Passover so I won't be able to go there and pass some time away from the Old City. Let's see if there's a way to get out and celebrate the Triduum in peace.

One good news for the Triduum / Pesach ... public buses to Tel Aviv will be cut by 40%. Now that is fantastic. Except now I have to figure out if I have the time to go to Tel Aviv.  https://rejerusalem.com/cost-of-public-transport-from-jerusalem-to-tel-aviv-set-to-decrease/

Right now most jewish houses, restaurants and public places are cleaning out leaven. Blow-torches are used to burn out any trace of yeast on furniture and walls. Let's hope they'll have a good celebration this weekend  as we hope ours will too.

Holy Monday

Sunrise on Palm Sunday at Jaffa

Holy Monday. That means we have Mass at the 5th Station (Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross). It occurs only once a year and my community is responsible for the masses there. From 6am to 8.30am, every half hour, one of us presided at the Mass of Simon helping Jesus in various languages. This morning we had Masses in italian, Malayalam, German, Slovak. Local catholics came to join in.

Curry eggs today

Right now at 6pm there is a solemn Mass in Bethany, commemorating the rising of Lazarus which took place a few days before Jesus was crucified. The Orthodox churches celebrate on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, we do it on the Monday following Palm Sunday. Most of the guys have gone to Bethany so our house is quite quiet. The sisters are not cooking much due to the small number at home eating dinner ... which is good for me because I have some leftover curry which I brought home from Jaffa yesterday. I boiled some eggs and added into the curry and it's now a very tasty dish to go with white rice. The indian sisters will love this. I;ve been dying for some samba eggs but without samba balacan, I can't cook it. The Indian community in Jaffa however made this curry for Palm Sunday celebration and recooking it today was delicious.

It's only the 2nd day of Holy Week ... and already the signs of war are rumbling ... literally ... around us. Yesterday there were Israeli military jets flying overhead several times. This morning as well. Then we read in the newspapers that Israeli jets probably bombed Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. https://www.timesofisrael.com/reports-say-israeli-jets-hit-hezbollah-positions-along-syria-lebanon-border/

Gaza on the other hand was believed to have blasted missiles into Israel this morning and rocket alarms in the south of Jerusalem were wailing ... and people rushing to hide in bunkers. What a way to start Holy Week. Oh well ... for the jews it's the preparation for Passover. Fortunately the Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted ... only to find out that there was no missile attack but Hamas in Gaza practising military exercises. Nerves are getting frayed.    https://www.timesofisrael.com/iron-dome-intercepts-missile-from-gaza-as-sirens-wail-across-southern-israel/?utm_source=iron-dome-intercepts-missile-from-gaza-as-sirens-wail-across-southern-israel&utm_medium=desktop-browser&utm_campaign=desktop-notifications

 Meantime internally, the deportation of African asylum-seekers continues to draw extreme reactions.  On Saturday evening thousands of Israelis showed up to protest the forceful deportation. Last week 2 groups of opposing views clashed in Tel Aviv. The govt. doesn't seem to show any signs of backing down. Rightist pro-deportation groups have been threatening the left anti-deportation with violence and even death-threats.     https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5194269,00.html

Palm Sunday

Palm procession on Mt. of Olives

My morning started early ... 3am. I had to prepare my room then shower and celebrate Mass at 4am before leaving for Jaffa at 5am. It was my plan to get out of the City before the crowds block our streets and the roads around the Old City are closed off due to the Palm Procession. I had to do some chores there in our Jaffa monastery and Apolinario, our polish vicar there helped me out. Then there was the 9am Mass but since an english friar came to celebrate it, I decided to help out only in the sacristy. The Gospel was so long someone fainted and we had to call the ambulance. Other than that the Mass went on as usual. By lunch time I thought I'd better get home and rest otherwise I won;t be able to enter the Old City till 10pm.

Friars in procession

Once home we had an early lunch because most of the guys wanted to go up the Mt. of Olives to Bethpage where the Palm procession starts. The younger guys could climb the mountain in half an hour but I know it'll take me over an hour. Anyway with my heart problem I had already decided not to join in ... not even meeting the procession down in Gethsemane which I usually do every year. I stayed home and slept. I hear ... as was expected ... a huge crowd and though the Archbishop's contingent which is the last, left before 2.30pm, he only reached St. Anne's Church 3 hours later at 5.30pm. And the distance is only 1 km. I'm sharing some photos taken of the procession by one of our students.

Scouts bagpipe band

At 6.30pm I decided to go up to New Gate because the Catholic scouts will start their procession from St. Anne's Church up Suleiman street to New Gate. All traffic had been closed since 1pm. The noise of the drums and bagpipes sounded throughout Eastern Jerusalem as the 30+ scouts marching bands made their slow way uphill to New Gate. All were exhausted ... especially the small children no bigger than 7 years old. They made the procession from Bethpgae down to St. Anne's and now from St. Anne's to New Gate ... a total of over 3 kms. The sin was hot but the wind was cold. Many of the kids were thirsty, tired and cranky. Military police were everywhere to make sure no terrorists attacked the festivities. Thousands of Catholics from all over Israel and Palestine gathered in the streets to cheer the bands. It's the one day of the year when christians get to publicly show their faith in the muslim and jewish streets ... and get police protection.

Thousands gather at New Gate to
welcome the scouts

The roads were supposed to be reopened to traffic by 8pm but even at 9.45pm the roads were still closed. Crowds continued to mill around, carrying their huge palm branches, taking pictures. All in all it was a very festive day. Dreadfully noisy though. A procession that started at 1.30pm and ended at 9.45pm.

Eve of Palm Sunday

Very strong winds today

The weather has gone absolutely crazy ... from over 25 degrees yesterday to 11 degrees today. There was a very strong hamsin wind blowing from the southern desert bringing in lots of sand ... but at the same time winds from the west brought in black clouds. It started drizzling by 8am and then rain at 9am albeit briefly. Then the temperature began to drop ... and continues even now. Suddenly winter clothes are brought out again and we're back to winter. Then towards noon very gusty winds began to strike. Everything was blown everywhere. Well all I can say is if this continues tomorrow, the Palm procession from Betphage to Jerusalem will be a disaster. In fact that's what everyone is talking about today ... what the weather will be like tomorrow.

Anyway I've been very fatigued ... easily tired from anything. I have been sleeping a little more than usual ... like 4 hours a day now. I have dreadful headaches every morning and stomach pains which feel like ulcers. And my throat is very dry all the time. I think it could be the diabetes. The sisters in the kitchen have been watching my diet to make sure I eat nothing too sweet or oily. I'll skip the Palm procession tomorrow. Even going to meet the procession at Gethsemani which I usually do every year. I'm not up to it. I need to rest. I just saw the catholic youths putting up huge palms at New Gate to celebrate Palm Sunday. For the past 2 years we could only put up palms because the ultra-orthodox jews accused us of idolatry by putting up a banner of the Pope, or the Vatican flag or a picture of Christ riding on a donkey into Jerusalem.

Decorating New Gate with palms

Meantime, the High Court has declared it illegal for gender segregation on public transport ... something that the ultra-orthodox jews have been trying to enforce in Jerusalem. Now that it's illegal, the ultra-orthodox are "persuading" women to "voluntarily" move to the back of all public transport. Let's see how "voluntary" means ... without verbal harassment, spitting and other usual methods of coercion.

And there's a video going viral here ... a public bus in Tel Aviv with chairs and handles all wrapped in foil and cling-wrap so as not to be contaminated by leaven. The Feast of Unleaven Bread forbids the presence of leaven in everything. There are specialists ultra-orthodox jews who actually clean your house or restaurant or office from all leaven .... burning with blow-torches.

Of palms and Daylight Saving

My palm

Jerusalem is today official on the red alert for terrorism. Palm Sunday is in 2 days time and literally thousands of pilgrims have poured into the Old City. On Good Friday, the jews will celebrate Passover so it gets even more crowded. On our Easter Sunday the Orthodox churches celebrate Palm Sunday while the jewish Passover enters the 2nd day. Fear of terrorists attacking during these very crowded feast days are very real and everyone must be careful.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5188385,00.html

I bought a palm for Palm Sunday. The old vendor who comes once a year to weave these palms and sell them in the street, I saw him seating at the corner near the Holy Sepulchre. He had woven several already so I bought one from him. It costs 30 shekels. I then went to M. Teresa's convent for adoration and confession but the sisters there hinted that they wanted one so i gave it to them. This morning I passed by the street again and the vendor was still there. He had woven even more ... and the loose leaves he made into crosses. I bought another one and he gave me a cross as a gift. I stuck the cross on my door but the palm remains on my altar till Sunday.

A first ... an airline has actually flown into Israel over Saudi Arabia. Since the foundation of the State of Israel, all flights to and from Israel are banned over muslim and arabic airspace. But this thawing of relationship between Israel and Saudi has seen this first ever flight route which cuts flight hours by 3 hours.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-world-first-air-india-crosses-saudi-airspace-to-israel/

Bread and cakes

Taking about time ... we switched to Daylight Saving last midnight. But many of us forgot. My computers had automatically switched I thought it was a mistake ... I thought Daylight Saving will start tonight midnight. Luckily I went down to the bakery to buy bread and saw the other guys already going down to the chapel for Mass. Well there were others who slept through and still others who came late for work and school.

Now we'll have to get used to this new timetable for a couple of days till the body gets used to it. Meantime it's Friday in Lent ... which means lentil soup. I've avoided eating all Fridays in Lent but today I decided to do real penance and ate a bowl of lentil soup. I utterly dislike it. Luckily the sisters of M. Teresa baked some bread and cakes and gave them to me ... with a jar of blueberry jam. So I'll eat that for evening to break the fast.

Of books and walls

Fr. Custos with Mr. Hazboun and
the sisters

M. Teresa's letters, published as "Come be my Light" in english has finally be published in arabic. The sisters of the Middle East region asked the Custody for help in its publication and the Custos made me responsible for it. I am happy it has finally seen the light of day. This morning we had a thanksgiving Mass at the sisters' Jerusalem convent and the book was officially launched for public consumption. Mr Hazboun corrected the first draft and he also came for the Mass. Bishop Salim proof-read the text and our printing press designed the overall book. I had to oversee the whole process and now I must start marketing it through parish visits, phone calls and bookshops. I will be very tired this Holy Week.

Praying at the
Toilet Wall

There's a photo going viral in the Internet and it's an asian couple laying hands on a stone wall in deep prayer. One might think it's the Wailing Wall but the stones are too modern. On closer look you'll realise that it's the wall of the toilet adjacent to the Wailing Wall!!!! Now that's what happens you have unqualified tourist guides. Embarrassing!!! Jews are having a good laugh at christians today ... and I would too.

More ultra-orthodox jewish demonstrations disrupting traffic and normal life ... this time in the ultra-orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv. This time police arrested ring leaders ... calling the organisers"radical extremists". That is quite a challenge since this Lithuanian community is numerically small but immense in influence: it's rabbis are revered in Judaism as ultimate experts in Halachic Law and they live to ripe old ages of over 100 years. Looks like the ultra-orthodox and the rest of Israel are set for more clashes this summer.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5189005,00.html

And talking about Halachic Law ... an orthodox rabbi has said (not declared) that genetically cloned pork can be eaten by jews ... even eaten with milk. Well you can be are he's not from that Lithuanian ultra-orthodox community and he might have to face their wrath.  https://www.jta.org/2018/03/22/news-opinion/rabbi-says-meat-genetically-cloned-pig-eaten-jews-including-milk

Mother's Day

It's very hot today. 20 degrees. Still locals wear light sweaters as we know well under the shade or a cold breeze will easily make us sick. Tourists are easily recognisable .... they're in T-shirts and worse ... the female tourists are all dressed for the beach with extremely short shorts and barely anything above. It's disgusting ... because we're in the holiest City in the world, the sanctuary of the 3 monotheistic religions ... and the closest beach is 70 km away. This lack of respect for the local culture and religious sentiments are a constant source of tension.

Today the arabs celebrate Mother's Day. It coincides with the first day of Summer since last night was the Equinox. The palestinians are mostly too poor and only the western educated ones celebrate it as they have the economic means. For the other women, it's work as usual. Nothing special ... another day, another struggle.

The Condemnation chapel behind
the arch and plants

Today we have the 5th pilgrimage Mass. It's in our Chapel of the Condemnation. It's a 7th century byzantine chapel that was destroyed and rebuilt only 100 years ago. It's really small and has no windows so the Mass with incense and a huge crowd will be quite a trial. I cannot participate because I only finish work at 5pm and then there is more work at the other library till maybe 9pm.

Everyone here is having a great laugh at the news that some americas mistook the Malaysian flag for an american flag "desecrated with ISIS symbols". Utterly laughable. The "most powerful nation int he world" doesn't seem to have the brightest minds ... not even normal minds. Must be their education system ... but then again who is the Secretary of Education? Someone said it's easier for Malaysia to change it's flag than to educate americans ... at least in Kansas.   http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-flag-mistaken-for-american-flag-with-isis-symbols-leads-to-kansas-lawsuit?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&xtor=CS1-10

Haredim protest last night

Yesterday evening the ultra-orthodox jews (haredim) again demonstrated rather violently in the streets against compulsory drafting to the army. Trash was strewn across a major road and set on fire. Traffic lights were knocked over. All transport in that area stopped, and even pedestrians could not get across. Local residents are extremely angry but the govt. will do nothing about these disruptions because they fear the political power of these ultra-orthodox groups.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5183785,00.html 

This Friday the Jewish Passover begins, and the palestinians have called for a massive civil disobedience movement. No violence, no attacks ... just total disobedience with people divided according to their clans and tribes. As the newspaper says ... Israel is not prepared for this. They are well prepared for violence. But if it's non-violent civil disobedience the military doesn't know how to deal with it. And this perhaps is the greatest weapon of the Palestinians yet unleashed.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-palestinians-new-doomsday-weapon-has-israel-scared-to-death-1.5930920

St. Joseph feast

Echiums in bloom

The weather is still wavering between Spring and Summer. Daytime could go as high as 25 degrees now and nights are back to 9 degrees. Summer flowers though are out ... the amazing huge spikes of echiums and classic acanthus flowers. Spring flowers which are mostly bulbs are dying off quickly in this heat. Yesterday's feast of St. Joseph was beautifully celebrated because of the good weather and lots of beautiful summer flowers in church.

The heat should be good for me. My asthma usually lessens in summer but some allergies are heightened. I need to be careful.

Echium closeup

I just received a phone call from Damascus from the St. Vincent de Paul hospital telling me they are being bombarded everyday. The situation is bad. She said the priest comes everyday to bless and bury the dead. Let's pray for the poor suffering people in Syria.

It's midweek in the jewish calendar ... and the jewish passover will soon begin. It actually coincides with our Holy Week and ends on Good Friday so we can expect not only huge crowds but also huge military presence in the Old City. I guess like previous years, barriers will be set up to block roads leading to the Holy Sepulchre. How inconvenient.

Meantime police are bracing for violence as the Jewish Passover nears. After that it's Israel's 70th anniversary of its founding. And the arabs will commemorate Nakba Day ... the day they lost their land to Israelis. We pray and hope nothing will happen.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/security-forces-gear-up-for-violent-passover-palestinian-march-of-return/   and    https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5180086,00.html

Since the death of the archeologist yesterday by a terrorist stabbing, jewish revenge has begun. Destruction and vandalism of arab properties last night has been recorded. Chances of a quiet week next week sounds remote.   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Anti-Arab-Price-Tag-graffiti-found-in-Jerusalem-following-deadly-attack-545447

And one news upsetting some people is the soldier sentenced for shooting dead a wounded arab terrorist has his jail time cut by a third. While right-wingers will be happy, the rest of the country sees another case of partiality in the judicial system.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/hebron-shooter-azaria-to-be-freed-in-may-after-sentence-reduction/

The Chief Rabbi did it again ... he and his father the previous Chief Rabbi had made on many occasions remarks and decorations on non-jews that if it were said anywhere else in the world, would have ended them immediately in court. But of course we're in Israel and they are the rulers here. This time he equated a "negro" with a "monkey" born of 2 white parents.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5182424,00.html

My brother the priest

Sunset at Ben
Yehuda Mall

The victim of the terrorist stabbing yesterday died of his wounds late last night. It's so horrible. My security friends were passing me messages regarding his name ... but I recognised him when I saw his photo on the newspapers this morning. A 32 yr old father of 4, an archeologist whom I've seen many times walking down El Wad street on the way home ... tall, bespectacled.

The govt.'s response will be sift and relentless. Destruction of the terrorist's house, his family will be homeless and will not have permits to enter Israel. These young killers don't think of the consequences of their acts on their families. The entire village will be collectively punished. And we in the Old City ... our movements are more restricted by security barriers, arbitrary closures of streets and City Gates, passport checks .... we don't want this. Nobody wants this. We just want a normal life. But I think it's way passed that. Everyone is talking about a war this summer. The jews will certainly take revenge, the arabs will continue their senseless violence ... and we will be caught in the middle. Collateral damage.

This morning I and my security friends were messaging each other again ... telling each other to be careful. We never know who will be next. That makes our friendship even more stronger. We watch each other's backs. I bumped into another friend at Ben Yehuda Mall who was once working in security ... a small guy, religious jew with kippah and uncut locks on both sides of the head and wears the tassels. Usually these guys hate christians and spit at us ... but not him ... we're good friends. We hugged and he introduced me to his wife as "my brother the priest". He told me to be careful and I said the same to him. We respect each other, knowing full well our religious differences ... not trying to convert each other ... just accepting our differences and knowing deep inside we're all humans. That's the mystery of this Land ... where differences can lead to murder and killings ... while it can also unite. It's all in the eye of the beholder ... or mind ... or heart.

Stabbing near home

Tourists and locals blocked at
Jaffa Gate

There was a serious stabbing near the 5th Station about 70 meters from my house. I was on my way out to do a chore that I had forgotten in the morning ... and just at the 3rd Station I saw a couple of my security friends running toward the 5th Station, shouting and with guns in their hands. Soldiers at the 3rd Station joined them and they ran down to Bab el Hadid (Iron Gate, one of the entrances to the Al Aqsa Mosque). Then soon more soldiers from Damascus Gate came running with pistols and automatic rifles poised. It was frightening even though I've seen it lots of times here.

Knowing that they will soon close down the City Gates I ran up to Damascus Gate but was too late. The soldiers had begun blocking the Gate with metal barriers and would not allow anyone to go in or get out. Knowing that New Gate will also be closed, I ran to Jaffa Gate 1km uphill, hoping it will be opened. When I got there it was packed with tourists and locals ... all blocked. The ancient iron gates were closed and the road was blocked with metal barriers. Literally thousands of people were on both sides waiting to get in or go out.

Jaffa Gate closed

It was only after 45 mins that the barriers were removed and we were able to exit. I was terribly perturbed as I heard from the news it was a security guy. It could be one of my friends. I walked to the closest park where I sat down and started calling all my friends to ask if it was one of our guys. I was going crazy with anxiety. No one could tell me ... I guess there was a gag. Some had their phones turned off. Finally one told me it was a police man. I was relieved ... in a way, that it wasn't on of my friends. But the news began to report that it was a security guard. Well it's over 3 hours after that attack now and no one can tell me who it is. My best friend wrote to give me the name ... which I don't recognise, so I think it;s not one of our friends. It's been so traumatic. I'm lucky I didn't get an asthma attack.

Now on analysing the situation, I've figured out this attack is new in one tactic: it's a lot closer to the Wailing Wall, a lot deeper into the Old City. Most attacks took place at the City Gates or closer to it. Today's attack was deep in the Suq (market) where space is tight and the street very narrow. Many people could have been hurt when the police fired and killed the 28 yr old attacker from Nablus (Samaria).

It's been all too upsetting today. If anything, this could signal the start of a violent summer.

4th Lenten Vigil

Very hot sunrise at 7am

So there were clashes yesterday after all. The news came late. Most of the violence occurred at the border towns with Israel including one car ramming that seriously injured 2 Israeli soldiers. Well if this is what is happening .... we can imagine what it will be like when the US and Guatamalan embassies move to Jerusalem in a few weeks time. And that will occur at the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel. Lots of rightwing Israelis will also be up in arms. I just hate to think what will happen when the 2 groups cross paths.    http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/BREAKING-Clashes-across-the-West-Bank-IDF-soldiers-injured-545287

Today is the 4th Saturday of Lent and the Vigil will take place as usual at 11.40pm at the Holy Sepulcher. If I feel well, I shall go tonight. But the thought of coming home in the cold (it'll be 9 degrees but feels like 4) scares me. I've just recovered from my awful illness and I don't want to fall sick again. Day time weather is great ... very sunny though all locals still wear jumpers and hoodies. You can spot a tourist a mile away because he/she will be in T-shorts and shorts. Weird people. That's what you wear at the beach in Tel Aviv ... NOT in the Old City where every corner is a mosque, church or synagogue. It's so inappropriate. The Old City is noting more than a theme park for these tourists.

The upper fountain
is again broken

And talking about visitors, the Old City is cramped with tourists. Literally thousands upon thousands.  It's so crowded, groups have to line out in the streets to get into our courtyard. It's utter chaos because each group starts the Way fo the Cross in their own language very loudly ... and a cacophony rises with lots of pushing and shoving ... tourist guides yelling at each other and arab merchants shouting out their cheap wares. Honestly I think I should go to Jaffa next week ... because it will get a 100 times worse when the orthodox come as well.

And no surprises ... 5 days ago the upper fountain at Palm Plaza was repaired after it was totally damages by vandals ... is again damaged and not functioning. I predicted it a week ago ... and I was right.

Yesterday afternoon lots of school children marched through Tel Aviv in support of the African asylum seekers who are being forcefully deported by the govt. And Israeli lawyers have added their voices urging the govt. not to deport these refugees.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5172387,00.html

Weekend again

My 2,300 yr old bowl

The weekend has begun. Daytime weather is great .... about 20 degrees and sunny. But nights are chilly and goes down to 9 degrees. However I spent all day in the library due to the shortage of staff. But on a positive note I was very happy our antiquities restorer Mateusz managed to beautifully repair my hellenistic bowl. I knocked it off my book shelf while cleaning and it broke into 4 pieces. Mates managed to cover the lost parts with clay and glued the other sections together. Thanks Mateusz!!!

I finished my course of antibiotic cocktail today. Now I'll stick to a detox diet to flush out all the chemicals. The prednisone course ended on Sunday so I could sleep better. I can breathe better now and no chest pains, though I tend to black out when I cough out phlegm.

Holy Week is next week and the jewish Passover falls on Palm Sunday. I can't imagine the crowd control in the Old City during that time. Maybe I should go to Jaffa for Holy Week to get away from the chaos.

Today however, Palestinian leaders have called for a day of rage today after noon time muslim prayers. It was to protest the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the US embassy move. Nothing happened in the Old City and we have no news of clashes at the borders or in the Territories. The people are tired of violence. They just want to live normal lives.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-call-for-fresh-day-of-rage-to-mark-us-jerusalem-recognition/

Almost weekend

Spring figs budding
but inedible

Tonight is the last night of the Old City music festival. I guess it will be super packed with visitors. A prof wants to go out after dinner for an ice cream and asked me along .... but I'm not too keen. I'm exhausted from a whole day's work and lessons. Am too tired to walk uphill 2km for an ice cream. Sleep is the best alternative.

I just left the convent of M.Teresa's sisters and was thinking of walking down to East Jerusalem to buy some dinner at Arab Fried Chicken but decided not to. So turning to the right to get home I aw police blocking off the road. The rightwing yeshiva students must be marching through the Muslim Quarter tonight ... they do it once a month under heavy police protection. Very noisy, rowdy and provocative ... vandalising non-Jewish property along the way but no one is ever caught or charged. All our roads are blocked, residents must stay indoors and only these jewish students are allowed to march through our streets. I rushed home as soon as I could before the streets are totally closed. The marchers would harass and spit at christians ... and we cannot protest as the law protects only Israelis. Right now as I right, the marchers are passing under my window ... blaring loud music, singing at the top of their voices ... and stopping in front of the 4 churches along Via Dolorosa to spit and harass with noise pollution. Well the important thing is I'm home save while the marchers are outside causing disruptions.

Several days back I passed by a fig tree in bud. There were lots of immature figs and these are inedible. They will fall in a few weeks but this guarantees that in August there will be sweet luscious summer fruit. I look forward to that.

Though I love summer a lot more than winter, yesterday we received bad news. Due to global warming, summers will be twice as hot and lasts twice as long. In other words, no more winters. Now that is a bit too much. I won't be able to survive 8 months of summer. I need to move out.  http://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Study-Global-warming-to-nearly-double-length-of-Israeli-summer-by-2100-545093

And in a shocking (for the rest of us) move, the lawyers of soldiers charged for killing an unarmed 16 yr old arab argued that their clients be freed because soldiers are rarely charged for such acts. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-weighing-plea-deal-for-soldiers-who-killed-palestinian-1.5905960

Old City festival of music

Arabic traditional musicians

Last night I went to see the music festival "Sounds of the Old City" which is spread throughout various corners of the Old City. It was crowded. Very crowded. So much so that by 9pm the police had to close off Jaffa Gate because there was simply no space to walk. No one could even get out of it ... people in front of me were turned back. When I managed to get to the barrier I saw the guard was an arab so I spoke arabic to him and he let me out. Other israelis were not happy ... but that's the privilege of knowing another language!!

Concert at Jaffa Gate was packed

The festival was a lot smaller than previous years. It sued to have 3 routes, one to the Christian Quarter, another to the Jewish Quarter and the 3rd to the Armenian Quarter. This year it was reduced to one route that passed through all 3 Quarters and even through the Suq (covered market) of the Muslim Quarter. In the Armenian Quarter the performances were more light and Sound show than just Sound show. Projectors flashed images while music was played through amplifiers ... it was mainly nostalgic traditional music from times past.

Light & sound show
at Armenian Quarter

One thing noticeable about this year's performances was the number of arabic artists. They made up almost half of the festival sites and noticeably these performances were packed with local arabs who usually shy away from Israeli festivals. It's good that the Municipality had made this change ... it's become inclusive and the arbs do not feel left out or bitter that it's an Israeli cultural conquest of the Old City. It made them belong. The Israelis on the other hand had 2 huge concerts - one at Jaffa Gate and the other at Hurva Square. Thousands literally packed the areas so much so that ... as I said earlier ... the police had to close off Jaffa Gate as there was no space to move.

I was very tired actually after work and still feeling sick ... but the fresh cool air at 14 degrees was good for me. I needed the break so I took this slow walk around, enjoying the music. I have lost my appetite these few days because my stomach is burning ... maybe I have ulcers due to the medication. But I did enjoy the evening out. Maybe I'll go out again this evening for another walk at the festival.

Nazareth, not to be outdone by Jerusalem, organized its own Old City festival. And like in previous years, the muslims in our Quarter organized an afternoon of fun at Damascus Gate. Clowns and people in costumes entertained the children. There was face-painting and spontaneous dancing and singing. It's not much but for the arabs and especially the children who will not participate in the Old City music festival, this is a great alternative.

Of sirens and Sounds

The upper fountain at Palm Plaza
is repaired

The Sounds of the Old City annual festival started last night. It was quite noisy ... we could hear it even from our Quarter ... the only Quarter where the festival is not passing though. In fact all festivals in the Old City bypass our Quarter because of fear of violence. While it's such a pity our area is never part of any municipal festivities, on the other hand it's a blessing because our streets are not blocked by crowds, blaring music do not disturb is till midnight and we can live our lives without strangers constantly poking their heads into doors and windows. In fact yesterday there was a movement by Old City residents to sign a protest topping more festivals from being organised in the Old City as it is too disruptive for those living there.   https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=440297#.WqZPpllnQ98.facebook

Sirens sounded throughout the country at 11am warning of a rocket or missile attack. But it was just a drill. Israelis at work and in school had to head for the closest shelter. And of course the arab side of the population just went on as if nothing happened. And all this drill just seems to point to Israel's readiness for war this summer.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5162805,00.html

Confound this with an attempted assassination of the Palestinian PM while on a visit to Gaza. The rival Hamas govt. there is accused of plating a roadside bomb to blow up his convoy. Several security staff were wounded but the PM escaped. This summer will probably see more tensions between Hamas and the Palestinian governing Fatah party. The war scenario is getting more colourful.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5162044,00.html

On a brighter side, the Egged Bus company monopoly of bus routes in the Judah region where we live - that's the southern half of the country. Now with some competition, bus prices might be lowered and services would be more efficient. https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=440291#.WqZJ-by5YMA.facebook

Hebrew uni. students at our library

As usual it was a busy day ... extra busy now that I am one short of personnel. Despite my arrhythmia I have to walk up and down the City to do my various work. We've been hosting students from the Hebrew University who are studying medieval music. They have assignments that focus on our oldest Crusader period hymnals. That means moving the 12kg books back and forth from our archives and requires 2 people to carry each book. They're bound in covers of wood and bronze. They were commissioned by King Henry IV of England in memory of his father John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster to be used by the franciscans at the Holy Sepulcher in the 13th century. It's world famous and has been in exhibition in New York's Met. Museum, Paris' Louvre etc...

Of sunrise and sickness

Amazing sunrise today

My heart still hurts ... and at times sharp pains. I'm sure I'll get a stroke or heart attack soon ... because the amount of work I have to do. I'm actually supposed to be resting but due to the sudden transfer of my personnel by higher authorities without any warning, I'm left with less than a skeleton crew .... literally only one guy who is learning on the job. I am at wits end as now I have to do the job of 5 people. And to top it all, it's Monday .... class at 4am.  I prefer to get a heart attack and die.

Cold, empty street last night

The weather has been playing games again ... during the day it gets to 18 degrees and you can actually wear a T-shirt. But by 5pm it gets cold and during the night it goes down to 12  degrees. It's quite bearable .... but I find it extremely annoying because in Tel Aviv it's 25 degrees and people there are having summer while we're still at the tail end of winter. But the sunrise these few mornings are spectacular because of the dry crisp air. From the vapors of the Dead Sea, the sunlight takes on a strange hue of violet and blue.

The ongoing saga of forceful repatriation of african asylum seekers takes a new twists as jews from kibbutz and communes begin sheltering them. Amazing.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5157685,00.html

And the govt seems more divided and poised for a snap election because the ultra-orthodox will bring the coalition govt. down if the military draft law is not changed; while the zionist parties vow never to give in to the ultra-orthodox. The PM is struggling to keep his coalition in place but everyone expects the govt. to crash and a snap election be called in the coming months.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-vows-no-compromise-on-idf-bill-as-netanyahu-tries-to-save-coalition/

Let's see what happens next.

4th Sunday of Lent

Precious limes

I didn't go to the Vigils last night. I fell asleep and when I woke up it was already 1.30am. However I couldn't sleep as m stomach was burning from the medicine's side-effects. So I did some reading and dozed on and off for several minutes till 4am when I started cleaning the room and preparing for Mass. After Mass it was cleaning again ... it takes a lot of time not because the room is big ( it isn't) but because of my sickness I cannot do anything quick. I must take my time otherwise the heart will give out.

I've been losing my appetite as well and today several of my students came to visit me. They remarked that I've lost weight these 2 weeks. I won't be surprised as I have to wear a belt now to hold up my pants. However I have a great desire for limes. They're almost impossible to find here. I managed to buy 2 form the asian grocery and since then there has been none on sale. And calamansi ... I'm dying for those but they're non-existent here. So here's my wish list for those who are coming up to Israel and are thinking of bringing something over for me: I want fresh limes and calamansi ... and pei tan (century eggs) and fresh rambutans and mangosteens. So much for the moment.

Protests continue today ... this time the southern cities' citizens marched against the ultra-orthodox's push to close all shops during the Sabbath. The moderate and secular jews want the freedom to choose, not a law to be imposed.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/hundreds-of-secular-israelis-protest-enforcement-of-shabbat-laws-1.5889246

Meantime arabs living in East Jerusalem, fearing that the jew will take over their neighborhoods and expelling the arabs out, are all rushing to the Interior Ministry to register themselves or trying to get Israeli citizenship in order to loose their properties. They're expecting a big advancement of the israelis into their land when the US and Guatamelan embassies move into Jerusalem in May ... emboldening extreme right-wingers to expels forcefully arabs from the eastern part of Jerusalem.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-palestinians-despair-of-wait-times-at-gov-t-office-in-east-jerusalem-1.5887607