Weekend soon

More almond blooms

The weather continued to be warm but it rained last night. That washed away the dust from the air and I felt much better as I didn't have a coughing fit. I could breathe freely and walk a distance without wheezing. Let's hope this holds up for the rest of the week. I'm not taking extra medication for my wheezing.

Work continues and today it was drama ... the library fire alarm sounded 3 times. I was out and the fire alarm automatically sends a message to my phone. I had to call the workers to go check. It turned out it was the elevator workers fixing the elevator doors and welding the frames. That set off the fire alarm. Thank goodness it wasn't a fire.

The Palestinian govt. and the President had resigned in order to prepare for a general election ... It's a frightening thought when there's no govt .... Palestine is already quite lawless with a govt. Imagine without one ..... Let's just hope tomorrow will not find our borders reeling in violence now that there's no govt, to control the situation.

Also the tension on the northern border is brewing. Honestly we don't want a war but israel has a right to defend its borders if Syria tries anything funny.

Internally Tel Aviv was blocked by massive demonstration by ethiopic jews. They have been discriminated by white jews and racially profiled by police. Enough is enough and they took to the streets in the thousands. Scuffles broke out and the police arrested 11 ethiopians. That's classic implosion.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5455682,00.html

Almond blossoms

Sunny morning

The weather has turned bright and shiny again ... but still very cold. I saw almond trees flowering ... which is a good sign. It means Spring is round the corner. And it is!!! The Chinese New Year is next week ... the first day of Spring. Always trust the almond blossoms. In hebrew they're called shaked meaning "wakeful/watchful" because it awaits Spring. It's the first plant to flower even before Spring comes .... usually on the last week of winter when snow is still around.

Almond blossoms

Yesterday and today have been extremely busy. One good news ... I think. I don't have to change my medication. To lessen my wheezing when I go out, I must wear a face mask. Then I must be careful about what I eat. I need to monitor my food to see if I have developed new allergies.

The day before 2 synagogues were vandalised. One in Jerusalem had it's Torah scrolls destroyed. Within 24 hours 3 arabs were arrested. Police say it wasn't a hate crime but an attempted robbery. Now when jews burnt our churches, no one has been arrested and it's past 7 years now. Double standards. Up in the north, a 2nd synagogue had water filled into it. The rabbi and community say it's an attack by ultra-orthodox jews. Another case of jewish implosion. The ultra-orthodox hate all non ultra-orthodox jews, deeming them heretics and even justified to be killed. So they attack conservative, reform and progressive synagogues. Hate for one's neighbour is a big thing around here.   https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Break-in-at-Jerusalem-synagogue-579025?fbclid=IwAR3-VZI1tpgPNKJLkciUr6ISgRwQ84BFLJJmocS9Mdmx_lh5e90ppz0QP8M
and
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Second-synagogue-vandalized-in-Netanya-579087?fbclid=IwAR19BGutBacv1Q_S2gOFw84WhDohq2-OR5UxbAAqct1K04XZoWY5Byk3D30

Winter is back

Hail in the Suq

It was sunny but very cold this morning .... then cloudy, and it drizzled .... then it showered heavily and started to hail. Unbelievable .... all in 3 hours. People in the open were running for cover as ice balls came hurling down, striking everyone and everything. The noise of the hail striking the zinc roofs and glass panes was very loud. Many had the secret wish that the hail would continue for another few hours ... so snow would form. Fat hopes. There was snow up in the Golan Heights though and the ski resorts are packed.

I was caught in the cold and hailstorm. Wasn't prepared for this sudden change in weather. Now I'm staying in my room with heaters on and dry clothes and hot water to drink. I don't want to be ill again. As it is, I have great difficult even in climbing a flight of steps. I wheeze and suffocate as air fails to enter my lungs. My chest and heart hurt very much. It's moments like that that I feel like giving up and just die.

Armenian church

I managed this morning to visit the Armenian Orthodox cathedral and join in morning prayers. It was a nice change from my routine. Then it was a visit to the doctor but because of the crowd, I couldn't wait so I guess I'll go back tomorrow. Too many people are getting sick.

Yesterday was Robert Burns day ... I don't really find him interesting but a colleague of mine who studied english lit. in Uni. enjoys his poetry very much. There's been lots of fb posts on Burns ... but still I don't resonate with his works.

The killing of an innocent arab farmer tending his olive trees is raising tensions. Non of the jewish settler suspects have been held or questioned. They seem to go against the law with impunity.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/germany-says-palestinian-mans-killers-must-be-held-to-account/

And an arab youth was arrested at Damascus Gate for carrying a knife ...  https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/17-year-old-arrested-at-Damascus-Gate-armed-with-knife-578800

Allegra feastday

Blessed Gabriele Allegra

This morning I didn't have to concelebrate the community Mass at 7am. Instead I was asked to celebrate Sunday Mass for 2 groups of filipino pilgrims that both did not have priests with them. There were about 60 persons in all, all squeezed in our tiny chapel. They had 2 operatic singers who led in the Our Father and Communion song. It was wonderful. Today is also the feast day of Blessed Gabriele Allegra. He was the main mover of translating the Bible into Chinese. He was also a professor of Scripture here in our Jerusalem university. I hear another miracle has been confirmed so his canonisation will be soon.

The rest of the morning was spent cleaning my room. I didn't have lunch as I still feel quite ill from the wheezing and coughing. The air pollution is bad, high in desert dust. I must stay indoors with doors and windows closed. Each time I go out, even to our terrace garden, I start wheezing and having difficulty in breathing. I have never felt so weak for such a long time as these few weeks.

Walking the dog and cat

I had a wonderful surprise this morning while going to the supermarket to get some necessities this morning. The wife of the Greek Orthodox priest was walking her dog and cat. The dog was on a leash and the cat was running beside the dog. A very cute sight.

A piece of news coming in. Jewish settler terrorists have shot dead an arab tending his olive trees. More and more violence against arabs and their property are being reported. But little is done to protect the arabs. The settlers have license to carry guns.  https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-palestinian-shot-dead-while-tilling-his-olive-orchard-in-terrorized-village-1.6874514?fbclid=IwAR1l0v9Wowp5l1x36sSTdGQFxH0iO7rTA_3Ixpv-e7NcBe1jzSh4TtPg5J0

Ana other dreadful news that no one is reporting: 85 thousand children below 5 yrs have died of starvation in Yemen in 3 months. How can the world ignore this? The following article is in italian.   https://www.lastampa.it/2018/11/21/esteri/la-strage-silenziosa-della-fame-in-yemen-morti-mila-bimbi-in-anni-sotto-i-anni-AZGx4nl9eSfQbIaUCW1CGI/pagina.html?fbclid=IwAR1jRocOT0TBTY0LvYuZekAYKN7rvr9JhK_UqtrKoeOuXjXKqN7OhmsWe5I

Saturday sunshine

Sunrise today

Had a busy day today with preaching a morning retreat and then meeting a former student to instruct him on a  project, then rushing home to correct an article before confessions with the nuns. I was hoping for a less hectic day but work is work. The weather was warm ... up to 20 degrees at noon. Still the wind was chilly. Spring flowers are opening everywhere ... narcissus, anemones, ranunculus and of course the scented almond flowers. Lovely to be outdoors and stroll in the park, smelling the strong floral perfumes. Before long the hot summer months will be on us. I rather like that ... it means summer vacation is coming.

Today was not too quiet. There were the weekly clashes at the Gaza border. But today jewish settlers tried to destroy arab olive plantations and when the arabs came out to protect their property, the settlers shot and killed one arab. At least that's what the Israeli army says.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-said-killed-others-hurt-in-clashes-with-settlers-soldiers/

Anti-christian jewish protestor

Today is also the last day of the Christian Unity Prayer week. Different denominations have been hosting the ecumenical prayer meetings all week. However yesterday at the Last Supper Room where the prayer was conducted, jews gathered to protest, saying christian worship is idolatry and directly below is the Tomb of David which is defiled by such idolatry. Of course the police did nothing to stop those jewish protestors. If it were christians protesting jews, it would have been called antisemitic and everyone arrested. Contrary to what the PM is telling the rest of the world, christians are being persecuted in Israel ... not in the measure of Syria or Iraq, but nonetheless vicious and bigoted by jews themselves. And for everyone's information, the empty box dropped with cloth is NOT the tomb of David ... and any and every archeologist and historian will testify to that. It was a lie to prevent muslims from destroying the Last Supper Room because muslims also revere David. But the lie was taken as truth by the ultra-orthodox jews who today defend this room as sacred.

In this line, leftwing newspapers are calling out the jewish public for keeping silence when jewish terrorists kill or destroy non-Jewish lives and property. But if an arab committed the same things to jews, there would be uproar and outrage ... collective punishments, destruction of arab homes, withdrawal of citizenship and expulsion to the West Bank. This is the case of the jewish minors arrested for killing an arab woman. Rabbis and ministers rushed to protect and exonerate these suspects, one rabbi going as far as to call for more killings of arabs.   https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Where-is-the-National-Religious-outrage-about-Jewish-terror-578600?fbclid=IwAR2nH_Rqp5MVm5Bjk0_EEkuEML4jTtb6WL-ZwYM0UtCDwhcfnDhmoewRMhY

Tense Friday

Pigeons at Musrara this morning

It's Friday and it was tense. There were riots and protests at the Gaza border in the south. I guess security was afraid it might have spilled into the City so there were more police patrols and stop checks.I had gone to Tel Aviv for a checkup to see if I needed to change my medicine as my asthma was weakening me. It appears that there's a virus going around affecting the respiratory system in many people and also there is much desert dust in the air ... so my asthma attacks are caused by exterior causes which can be controlled if I wear a mask or just stay indoors. I did realise these few weeks that if I stayed indoors I stopped coughing and gasping for air. And I'm trying my best to avoid large crowds. I don't want to catch any ailments.

Healthy sea breeze at Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv was warm but people still dressed in pullovers. In the shadows, it can get quite cold but under the sun, a T-shirt would have sufficed. The air is much better there, no desert dust or city pollution. The sea breeze is constantly blowing the pollution away. And the waves were quite high and strong. I felt better going there and only had one coughing spasm. I needed the fresh air so much to clear my lungs. If only I had more free time to come here and rest and recuperate. Last summer I barely had a vacation ... with the 2 operations and weekly checkups.

Northern Israel suffered an earthquake yesterday. People were rattled and scared. The govt has warned again of a coming massive earthquake which is long overdue. That reminds me I have to repack my earthquake kit and replenish my medicines, water and emergency stuff.  https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Residents-of-Israel-reported-tremors-and-explosions-possible-earthquake-578586?fbclid=IwAR23isHPTua03_4rdmj9CgGQioTVc-3_sg0DdbCDm2sGsgYkJXevwwsx7EM

A polish Benedictine nun on the Mt. of Olives has died. Nothing remarkable except she was born a jew and as a child was on the run from Nazi killers till she came to Israel and became a nun. Polish and local newspapers carry articles about her amazing life.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-the-holocaust-survivor-who-chose-jesus-1.6872407?fbclid=IwAR2cDGN9Gxi7QZOqk6Gg9Fh2VRkSoZ4vuDAeGEgsWjIGQBvcDHgAYNIcKzM

Jewish settlers have again chopped dow arab olive trees .... it's a crime as olive trees take decades to grow and is the basis of life for the arabs ... providing oil, fruit and wood. Yet as the newspaper reports, the perpetrators will be protected by the rabbis who control political and public opinion.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-the-sadists-who-destroyed-a-decades-old-palestinian-olive-grove-can-rest-easy-1.6870077?fbclid=IwAR0GLsow3Uducs0XJIxWRqaSEJhwBMnEhfBMmo4bQIFJ6hZII6NTkZgWV_Y

Stromata

Sun behind Damascus Gate

The weather continues to be sunny but cold ... but not as cold as last week. Last night was 7 degrees and daytime was 14 degrees. Quite bearable. I wear a T-shirt and a warmer and a thick hoodie. It's quite enough.

This evening I met with one of my former students ... an ethiopic seminarian who left last year. Still faithful, he serves as acolyte in the ethiopic rite and helps translate the sermons if the priest is not able to speak amharic (like me). But he is not paid and is working part-time. This evening I saw how few clothes he had ... not enough for this winter. He was very cold. And he had only one pair of shoes. And he hadn't eaten. He has become so thin. I brought him to Arab Fried Chicken and gave him dinner. Then brought him home and gave him 3 of my thickest winter coats. And 2 pairs of very good shoes to withstand the wet and cold. Now I'll see if I can find him a job. He's a bright fellow. And what struck me was how christian and kind he was ... he never spoke one negative word against the church or community. Instead he thanked them for the 4 years of education he had from the seminary.

Busloads of muslim pilgrims

Our northern border is gearing up for a Syrian attack. Threats were made by the syrian rep. at the UN and Russia has warned Israel from any more bombings in Damascus. Israel has been covertly bombing Syria's military depots the last year ... mostly Iranian weapons and personnel. Last week several iranian technicians were killed by the bombing. They vow retaliation. And we're taking these threats seriously. War is no fun.

Sadly Trump's cutting of UNHCR aid to Palestinian refugees in Israel means many will have no food, medicine and even school and jobs. It holds hostage the Palestinians till they agree to accept his peace plan. It will be a two State plan but Israel will hold the upper hand.   https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/with-the-loss-of-u-s-aid-palestinian-dreams-of-peace-move-even-farther-away-1.6866397?fbclid=IwAR11wFvvmaxRZsYq50pJicgzpDeptUaD8DFSG1VZ8VyBi0D2iOuEZIsN74Q

Full moon

Warm sunshine today

It's already midweek and January 2019 is almost over. The weather has warmed up a little ... 14 degrees at noon. Winter is over and Spring has come. The Lunar New Year is in 2 weeks' time. Time is flying real fast.

Much as I wanted to rest, there were errands to run, This morning I had to go to the stationary's to get lots of stuff for the 2 libraries. Then it was the usual meeting with lawyers and banks for simple payments of books and magazines. Then a quick rush back home for class, missing lunch. I only had lunch after class at 3.30pm. Then it was checking on the work of the librarians before correcting homework. Am feeling utterly overworked and tired. Everyone I meet say I look haggard and exhausted. I am. I need a break.

Full moon

Last night I saw the full moon over Damascus Gate. It was an amazing sight ... but being winter, the moon rises a lot higher than at summer, I could only take a photo of it from a long way off in order to capture the Gate as well.

On the surface, life goes on and all seems to be calm. But up north tensions have reached a climax when today Russia lost patience with Israel's bombing of Syria and warned Israel to stop ... otherwise ...... That is a pretty scary threat. Down south at Gaza, Israel has withheld Qatari financial aid because a Gazan sniper had shot an Israeli soldier yesterday. This will lead to more tensions and violence.

Meantime racism is still alive here. A local hospital bus will not allow arabs and jews to sit in the same bus to this hospital. Before arriving, arabs are required to leave the bus and only jews will be driven in. Arabs are also not allowed to enter the same entrance of the hospital with jews. This is appalling.

Collapse

Chinese group at 1st Station of Cross

It's Monday and it's still cold. Noontime was only 6 degrees. Still groups especially asian groups coming to visit. As usual I had class at 4am which means I have to wake up at 3am to prepare. Then it was work right through. One of our workers didn't show up so I had to substitute her to open he library and stay at reception until the others arrived. Then it was a rush up to the other library. I had several meetings ... but halfway up the hill in the alleys, my asthma became so bad I almost collapsed and blacked out. Luckily I was near the Spanish sisters' convent and a spanish friar had just finished Mass there and came out from the front door. He saw me and quickly carried me into the convent where the sisters gave me hot water to drink. After 15 minutes I felt better. The spanish friar then accompanied me up to the other monastery and told me not to go home immediately but wait several hours till I felt stronger.

Anemones from my garden

I didn't have much time to rest as I had a lot of meetings with our lawyers and finance dept. It's unbelievable. I counted the number of hours spent waiting for people, waiting for bureaucracy, waiting for banks to answer phonecalls ..... from 10.30am to 4pm sharp with no lunch or toilet break. It is a nightmare!!!!! I felt so weak and sick by 4pm I walked home hoping to sleep ... only to find out we have a house chapter (meeting) at 7pm. Let it be on record ... today I would have worked 18 hours flat while very sick.

Things have escalated very quickly at our northern border. israel once again bombed a syrian target and Syria is preparing to attack Israel. Russia, the godfather of Syria, is not amused with Israel's incursion into Syrian territory. Anything can happen now.

And the other big news is the super blood wolf moon eclipse yesterday. It's all over the newspapers but I didn't see it. Too tired. Hope i'll sleep immediately after the chapter.

Arbor Day

Sunrise over the City today

Today is Tu b'Shvat ... arbor day in Israel and also the beginning of Spring. Almonds trees have begun blossoming, anemones also opening their buds. Some people spend the day planting trees while others like school children are taught about ecology and the flora and fauna of Israel. It's amazing how a little education can change the ecological landscape. A case in point: the wild anemones were once plucked by locals to near extinction. Then a programme was launched to educate children about preserving these anemones, and in turn the children spoke about it to their parents. Plucking stopped and the wild anemones today are flourishing as ever.

Lots of cake

The weather is still cold but sunny. There is something in the air that is causing me to cough severely. It started last week with the severe sandstorm which unfortunately I had to face when going out twice to work. It caused a severe coughing spasm ... and I was just recovering from the bronchitis ... and it has persisted till today. When I'm indoors I'm quite all right. But once outdoors I started coughing. It might be the desert dust/sand still in the air.

This morning I had to run an errand in East Jerusalem. I passed by Natalie's Cakeshop run by my friend and stopped to say hi. He has a lot of cakes now in the shop. I was tempted to buy some home but realising it won't help my coughing, I passed it off. Maybe when I'm better, I'll come back.

The situation in our northern border is worsening. After Israel's bombing of Syria's arms depot in Damascus last week ... today Syria fired missiles into Israel's northern border. Israel's defines shield managed to down the missile before it landed.

Israel on the otherhand is making headway in restoring or initiating rapport with muslim states. Most Arabian Gulf states and north African states have or are ready to recognise Israel. This will isolate the Palestinian Authorities and weaken their position as less muslim support will be garnered.

Weekend

sunrise today

Friday was very busy ... only because I thought Thursday was Wednesday and got all my work schedule wrong. Had to recuperate the meetings and jobs on Friday. The weather was awfully cold so after 2pm I went home to stay in my room and get other things done on the computer. At 4pm it was confessions and adoration and bible conference with the MC nuns till 7pm. Immediately had to rush off to thank my volunteers from Milan with an arab dinner. I was exhausted when I returned home.

Seafood soup on a cold day

This morning was class with library work; then room cleaning before meeting several families in need. Then Ah Ling of Mandarin Restaurant called me over. She prepared a fantastic seafood soup ... the chef said it's to strengthen my constitution as I'm still coughing and wheezing and listless. The chef is a new one, from Tel Aviv's Peking Duck restaurant  ... so the food is fantastic. She also fried some noodles and didn't charge me anything. That's very kind of her.

Meantime the weekend - in our case it's Friday and Saturday -  was very tense in and around the Old City. I guess the police are afraid of arab retaliation because an arab terrorist's house had just been demolished. Some leftwing newspapers are questioning why arab terrorists are treated this way but jewish terrorists never have their houses demolished.

Let's hope there'll be no escalation in the violence. Tomorrow will be the jewish arbor day or Tu Bshvat. It marks the beginning of Spring and the first blossoms - the almonds - should be out now.

Snow!!!

Our sisters in the
snow

Well I was wrong ... it did snow last night. The hail storm preceding the snow was heavy. And there was lot of thunder and lightening. My students at Ratisbonne messaged me saying it's snowing up at their place. They're living in higher and larger grounds so the snow usually starts there and remain on the cold ground for a longer period. Here in the packed Old City, the heat from the narrow streets and overcrowded houses melt the snow even before it reaches us. Anyway by 11pm it snowed lightly here for us. Our sisters were out in the courtyard playing with snowballs. Our seminarians further uphill at New Gate were out in the streets. For many, it's their first time seeing snow. Lots of pictures flooded social media. In many parts of Jerusalem, the snow was quite heavy. Bethlehem's roads were covered in snow.  But all ended by 2am when heavy rains and winds melted the snow. This morning remained very cold ... barely a couple of degrees above zero ... but no snow.

Burnt substation

During the night we lost electricity 3 times. We're lucky. Further uphill in the Christian Quarter, the electric substation blew up and burnt. The residents there have not had electricity since midnight last night. No heating, no lights ... it's awful. Municipality workers were trying to repair or replace the burnt equipment but I doubt they managed to do much. I walked passed the substation this morning and it was all black from the fire. Let's hope electricity is restored soon. The old and sick living there cannot survive this cold without heating. Even the healthy are finding it difficult to withstand this cold.

In a bizarre twist to the "MacJesus" exhibit - a Ronald MacDonald figure crucified on a cross, made by a Finnish artist - that drew riots and protests by christians and the Assembly of Bishops and the Minister of Culture calling the exhibit to be removed but which the museum refused - the artist himself now called for his work to be removed. He said he was not informed of this exhibition and did not have his permission. The object is in fact been borrowed from another museum without the artist's knowledge. The latest news I hear is that the museum has relented and will remove it. Well seeing is believing.

Hail storm

Very cold, wet and dark before
the hail

I am still skeptical it'll snow this evening. It's 3.30pm now the sky has gone very dark and the wind is typhoon-force and extremely cold. It's practically 2 degrees now ... and the drizzle is slashing the air. But there's simply not enough precipitation for even hail to fall ... and that's a pre-requisite for snow. Anyway like I said yesterday, the forecast snow is the biggest talk about town ... no one is talking about Brexit or Trump or anything else.

Hail in my pots

Well now I take back my words. Suddenly a hail storm has broken. Very strong winds and heavy hail. My window was pelted so loudly Buddy and Chilli were petrified and were flying round the room screeching in fear. The boys are now hiding in the toilet where there's a heater and its dark .... they feel safe there. In Tel Aviv the winds were so strong, shop glass doors and windows were broken. We'll see how much damage was caused throughout the country tomorrow morning. So well maybe we might have snow later in the night. But being dark, I doubt I'll be able to see it unless I actually go out. Wow there's lightening and thunder right now. Reminds me of 28 years back ... when winters were really winters.

Hail on chairs

My dreadful cold 3 days ago is gone and the asthma has gone. The air is a lot cleaner with the strong winds blowing away the desert sands. But now I have a cold sore. Luckily I quickly bought medicine to apply to prevent it from blooming. Trying to nip in the bud. Still it's unsightly. Good thing it's a storm so I don't have to go out to work and show myself. I've got a fever too ... people are dressed in layers of coats and when they see me in 2 medium hoodies, they think I'm mad ... till they shake my hands and feel how hot I am.

One frightening news : with the US pulling out its troops from Syria, the threat of Iran to Israel has grown. Now Israel has voiced the possibility of invading Iran in a preventive strike. Well of course there're lots of rhetoric in the region ... but still this has been the most outspoken threat yet.  https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-may-need-to-invade-Iran-says-strategic-report-577590?fbclid=IwAR12uaf4ogItIkofADmLeyUABFTSmRgKMU0d4WMjhW-sHaUXE8pECpLjJ60

Snow tomorrow?

Very sunny today

The weather continues to be very cold but it was very sunny and bright today. Forecast of snow in Jerusalem tomorrow ... I am skeptical. Not a drop of drizzle today. It usually requires a day of rain and hail before snow precipitates. But still it's a land of miracles so it just might snow ... against all odds.

Even though the nights are not as cold as last week (6 degrees instead of 3 degrees), it feels so much colder. My 2 heater-fans aren't enough and I've waken up the last 2 nights shivering and covering up with 2 blankets. In fact the cold has kept me awake most of the night. Yesterday's sandstorm that triggered my asthma has subsided though I still have a dry cough. Breathing today is a lot easier. Maybe tomorrow's "snow" will clear the air and make it cleaner for breathing.

Sunrise today ... snow unlikely

Today I did minimal work ... settling bills and payments as usual but staying indoors at home most of the time. That helped a lot. I spent most of my time working out a project ... that took a lot of brain storming. I'll probably be stuck in this for the next days till the weekend.

Yesterday there was a report from the leftwing newspaper saying in the last 3 years the Israeli military courts have fined arabs up to $16 million. Good for Israel's coffers but are they justified and were Israelis treated the same way?  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-in-three-years-israeli-military-courts-have-fined-palestinians-16-million-1.6830009?fbclid=IwAR2sxjyW0HA_HnYP71UGWhvRNoZme_CfrBWbQ5PxfwvpQo9PZYiqQPDiO2E

Beggar at Damascus Gate

While Brexit is the big news in Europe and Trump's Wall and the govt. shutdown in America, both are not bothering us locally. We worry about the war in Syria, our northern border with Lebanon and the southern border with Gaza. We don't want trouble ... it's hard enough to live day by day. This morning on my way to work I saw the arab beggar in the middle of Damascus Gate plaza ... despite the cold. That's tough. The women beggars stay inside the Old City streets to keep warm.

Dust storm and asthma

Conference on ancient travelogues

An utterly dismal day today as desert sands were blown by strong winds into our country ... so bad that people were told to stay indoors. I unfortunately had to go to work twice and do an errand in the New City. Simply breathing in was impossible. Again and again I was suffocating. But once I was indoors it was alright. What a trial. I won't want to go out again this evening though I was invited for a dinner with several visiting professors who had given a conference earlier in the afternoon. It was on ancient travelogues kept in our Custody library.

Kaya and bun

Well on a happy note, despite the cold and dreadful sandstorm ... I had kaya for breakfast. Haven't had it for decades. Yesterday I specially bought a submarine bun to go with it. `Was so happy eating it with a cup of hot coffee. It was a little consolation on a Monday morning because I have to wake up at 3am for class.

Anyway it drizzled a little during the day but which didn't help in washing away the sand from the air. There was a storm in the central parts of the country which caused flooding and snow blizzards up in the north. 2 persons died. Wednesday forecast is snow in Jerusalem. I doubt if it will .... and if it does, it'll be very light. It'll be an adventure for the 1st year students but I for one dislike it because I have to shovel the terrace, It's backbreaking ... and no one helps me.     https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5446522,00.html?fbclid=IwAR261UZAtojJyuuvqebWDgVJbj_ciq8xXm3C7_BNJucm3Rd3d4xJzQGpFpU
and
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5241033,00.html?utm_source=Taboola_internal&fbclid=IwAR2P40F8nME2kUs7JbjKy5LqEww7PToZwgOhTDZlwlgPzKnUKlxPpm4VcfY

Tensions have been building up in the Old City. Muslims and Israeli police clashed in the Al Aqsa mosque when a jewish policeman wearing a skullcap was stopped by muslim guards from entering the compound. I saw police rushing past our house to get into the Mosque compound but didn't know why till I read the news online.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5446595,00.html?fbclid=IwAR0jOPd4OcfUFdJNTHa7-9GNLjFkMYN9hdiY1AUN9UTOUFPQL8_UPKwAi_s

Mass in the Tomb

Mass inside the Empty Tomb

It was a difficult moment this morning when I found out I had to celebrate Mass at the Ivrea convent at 6am but another Mass at 7am in the Holy Sepulchre for the filipino community from Jaffa. It's one and a half kms apart ... and I only have 15 mins to get from one place to another. Luckily at the last minute I found our Indonesian student who was able to go to the Ivrea convent so I could go to the Holy Sepulchre in time.

The weather was still cold and the sky dark when I walked out to the Holy Sepulchre. My student Pushpa who is now a deacon came to help me. We started Mass without the filipino group because they were late and in the Empty Tomb, Mass is restricted only within that half hour. Anyway I prayed for you all. The group arrived only at offertory time.

Altar piece of the Empty Tomb

Consternation this morning as reports flow in saying Israel bombed Damascus again. Many military depots were destroyed. We're not sure if there will be retaliation ... we're all just waiting tonight to see what will happen. But down south there were also riots at the Gaza border with one arab killed. I'm surprised they rioted in this bitter cold. They must be really desperate ... or Hamas must be twisting their arms to do it. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5445112,00.html?fbclid=IwAR3NlE3OfOY9HJT9YqiJ3JtX9K0-qz5aWnDzVxg7IbGy7QjV0FGl6-ZmETE

Meantime Israel opened a road only for israelis. Arabs must use the old road. Cries of apartheid are heard on the left wing and foreign press. Well this isn't the first and it won't be the last road to be built.  https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-apartheid-on-the-roads-1.6829222?fbclid=IwAR3rCFOVkN96wNLwMbzBmLimnXbq6DTnVESuMEic-0dPD7ENpwTHnBgFiCo

In the northern city of Haifa there were riots and scuffles with police as christians protested against an exhibit at the Haifa Museum depicting Ronald MacDonald crucified on a cross. Even the controversial rightwing Ministrer of Culture called for the exhibit to be removed ... but the Museum will not budge. If it were a figure of Muhammad, you can be sure a war would have started and the museum would have shut down that exhibition. And if it were jewish ... the organisers of the exhibition would be in jail for antisemitism.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-christians-in-violent-clash-with-police-in-haifa-over-mcjesus-sculpture/

And finally epic apocalypse ... the sacred Mosque in Mecca was swarmed by a plague of locusts. You should see the photos.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/meccas-grand-mosque-plagued-by-swarm-of-locusts/?fbclid=IwAR27AbRUDZ3ZiLqlYBF1R96SBiCJA9zYlS2m7X47MEZbPkrfEo3IxBE6M5Q

Cold but sunny

Muslim crowds to the mosque

Yesterday was a very hectic day. The prof and his team from Milan had arrived to prepare for a conference and an exhibition on some of our ancient books so I had to get the logistics right ... room, food, booking of conference room etc... Then there were the payments to make which means going back and forth from our Finance Dept. to the relevant institute. We couldn't do anything online as our server was down. The rains always interfere with the Old City's electric and telephone lines.

Later I had a short "guiding" job at the Hill of Evil Counsel just south of the Old City. And immediately after that at 4pm there was confessions, eucharistic adoration and vespers at the MC convent. By the time I reached home it was past 7pm. I went straight to sleep ...

View of Jerusalem from Mt. of
Evil Counsel

This morning I was out early to go to the Ivrea convent for Mass at 5.30am. The rains have stopped but it's still very cold ... about 3 degrees. I had a very bad asthma attacked when I reached Damascus Gate. Thought I'd pass out. Anyway I finished the Mass, came home to work in the library, then off to the other library with meetings and payments and orders of books. It was pretty rushed as I wanted to go home before lunch ... mainly to avoid the Friday muslim crowd  that passes my way home. My timing was bad ... when I reached the 3rd Station there were hundreds of muslims coming down the street. I had to squeeze through 20 meters of road with them before breaking off to the east to get home.

The debate around town is the arrest of several jewish extremist youths suspected of killing an arab woman. Protests have been taking place in cities and social media that jews should not be treated like that. But tacitly it's saying it's alright to treat arab suspects that way. There is a clear double standards in law. It's frightening how one can claim that rule of law governs this country.

Snow and rain

Rain at Damascus Gate

What a storm last night!! And it continues to rain even now at noon time. The sky is grey and cloudy and it is freezing cold. 3 degrees. However the Metereological Station says there'll be no snow in Jerusalem .... it's there's snow blizzard up north in Galilee. The streets in the Old City are very slippery and yesterday on my way home I nearly fell twice. It's dangerous walking in the streets now and much as I want to stay at home, there was work to do in the other library ... payments, bookings etc. for my volunteers coming this year. Logistic work is very demanding. It means going from one office to another, printing documents, and with this rain ... it makes the job much more difficult.

I have class this afternoon and then Mass at the Ivrea convent at 5pm. Not looking forward to going out in this rain but there're responsibilities to fulfil. My bronchitis is much better but I've caught a cold with running nose and fever. Everyone at home calls me the perpetual sick man ... if it's not one thing, it's another.

1st AFC of the year

AFC dinner last night

The weather continues to plummet .... snow blizzards in the north, heavy showers in the central plains ... and here in Jerusalem it's like 3 degrees at noon time. It'll get colder tomorrow. And I don't look forward to it. I might just stay indoors all day.

Last night during the distribution of our protector saints, we were having dinner at the same time. It was a great dinner except it was all pork and I don't eat pork. Well not absolutely ... sometimes (rarely) I eat bacon or ham but definitely not pork chops and such. So I was pretty hungry by 9pm. Luckily I had a hunch dinner would be pork (which is very expensive because pork is not kosher in this country and difficult to buy) so I bought an AFC pack (Arab Fried Chicken)  of 2 chicken pieces, chips, bun, coleslaw and garlic mayonnaise with a can of coke (all for 35 shekels). That was my first AFC this year. Yummy.

Flags in the gusty winds

This morning I cleared up the Christmas decorations from our refectory (= dining room) ... alone ... like I set it up a alone last week. It was minimalistic ... the decorations ... very simple but nice. And clearing up was easy. Then I had to travel to Bethlehem and transport 11 bags of clothes and daily items to the MC sisters. The cold is affecting many poor families who can't afford heating or clothes or food to keep warm.   

The traffic in and out of Bethlehem is heavy because tour groups are still coming to visit during this Christmas season. But soon this will trickle as the cold and dark envelope us in a few weeks and we enter the depths of winter. Then the low season of tourism hits us ... and the Chinese New Year comes.

Protector Saint

My 2019 card

Tonight we received our protector saints for 2019. It's usually done on the feast of Epiphany over a game of tombola / bingo and prizes are won, then we are given our patron saints and virtue to inculcate and soul to pray for. Nowadays we have done away with the tomb/bingo and the money used to buy the prizes are given to the poor instead. We all receive a small simple gift ( a cross) and our cards are read out to the community.

My protector saint for 2019 is St. James of the Marches, a franciscan saint whose feast day is November 28. My virtue to inculcate is discretion. The departed soul that I must pray for is Fr. Polycarp Angelisanti, our roman friar who guided many pilgrim groups when I was a student here 28 years ago.

Freezing cold walk to say Mass

The weather has turned so cold with snow storms in the north and even blizzards. The central plains were flooded with heavy rain and Tel Aviv was covered in hail stones. Only Jerusalem didn't have any rain though it is freezing cold ... 2 degrees this morning. The winds are gusty and the sun peeked out from the clouds once in a while. Everyone is wrapped in layers of wool and for the most part, stayed at home. Some shops didn't even open. I had to celebrate Mass at the Convent of Ivrea in an arab village 1km away from the Old City at 5pm. The sky was already dark and the icy winds cut through the air. People were huddling along shop walls and scampering quickly to their destinations. The walk home after Mass was even colder. I couldn't wait to rush home and stay in my heated room.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5442503,00.html?fbclid=IwAR0SEKYtm2cx_kMESbrCh3DWJDxHdXTSP4urs87tllxct6eawpI0MlGXYdQ

Epiphany

Cold and cloudy day

There is a monstrous cold wind blowing outside ... and it's gusty like a storm. The temp report says it's 9 degrees but it actually feels like 3 degrees. Freezing! Everyone is in thick clothing and scampering in the streets. It's too cold to walk. 

I guess it's right for Epiphany to be this cold ... or orthodox Christmas. I heard there was a clash at the entrance of the Basilica  of the Nativity. Arab orthodox christians were protesting against the Greek Orthodox Patriarch as he entered the Basilica because he was selling church property to jews. Palestinian police came to his rescue and beat up the arabs. Don't know the outcome. Will be waiting for updates.

Pastries at Roladin Cafe are
so tempting

On such a cold and gusty day like today ... nothing is better than staying indoors drinking a hot drink and eating lots of pastries. I really like that. This morning our cook baked potato and cheese burekas (puff pastries) which were a great treat for Epiphany. Our sisters as usual boil eggs for Sunday morning. And there's Christmas Panettone and Pan d'Oro which we all love to eat ... bread with dried fruit or bread with icing. We're so lucky to have all these ... when I think of the christians in Iraq or Syria ... I feel guilty. I wish I could do more for them. Luckily this morning a group of protestant pilgrims came to meet me and donated money and clothes and food to the poor ... 7 sacks in all. I hope to bring them Bethlehem or Nablus one day this week.   

One headlines in local news is the arrest of jewish terrorists suspected of killing an arab woman. A 5th suspect was arrested but it drew riots and protests from jews. Apparently jewish terrorists are not terrorists and should not be arrested. Only other races are terrorists.   https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Shin-Bet-arrests-fifth-minor-suspected-of-participation-in-Jewish-terror-576423?fbclid=IwAR1GUTEUdRRKTdckSDjIls3JinT-KoEgOWVQF50K8WBWJOiifiRLmkPOeTo

And the Justice Minister encouraged the mother of one of these suspects ... apparently the Minister also thinks it's ok to be a jewish terrorist ... https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-stay-strong-israeli-justice-minister-calls-mother-of-jewish-terror-suspect-1.6807695?fbclid=IwAR3oAZcMi-I4kvuy1zRw9yLDpC3Nyc2FXGZ6n_-uQMmg8bNi8Xj0vc9xqLE

Double Christmas

Armenian Orthodox
Patriarch today

Christmas seems to be soon over with the Feast of Epiphany tomorrow. But not entirely because tomorrow the Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas. So schools close for 2 weeks so that the 2 Christmasses can be celebrated equally and without discrimination. But non-christians get confused by the 2 Christmasses. It's because the Western churches use the Gregorian Calendar and the Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar which is about 10 days late.

The Armenian Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of St. James the Just, first bishop of Jerusalem and brother of the Lord. Their cathedral is built over the tomb of St. James - he is not one of the apostles, namely James the brother of John  or James Thaddeus but the relative of Jesus who took over the leadership of the Church in Jerusalem as mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.

This week I was inundated with curry. I had this urge for curry so I cooked some chicken curry ... Singaporean style. Then Bro. Leo cooked some indian style curry with ghee rice and gave them to me. Then the day after, Mian restaurant gave me thai style curry with rice. So I've been curries everyday all week. Too much of a good thing.

Curry and ghee rice

Some bad news for Palestinians and non-Jewish landowners ... the Israeli Army confiscates swarths of land in order to use them for military practice. It's not like there's not enough land .... there are thousands of dunks of desert in the south but the plan seems to be that after military use, the land would be converted to jewish settlements. https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-idf-exiles-palestinian-families-from-their-homes-to-train-in-their-fields-1.6807086?fbclid=IwAR3o4s7QaJp5I0IiD0QW7t8SkFPUM0IHWnPAk9tzipzmQokdgYpnXB_ohkc

And the Jewish implosion continuous as state-funded religious schools refuse to accept black jewish children. It's pure flat racism ... and if it occurred in any other school, it would be anti-semitism. But it's jewish schools so it's ok ... well keep watching this spot, because there'll be protests from the black jewish community soon.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5440141,00.html?fbclid=IwAR2QKAwEw1HrVUF0JhNfDveaw7OKNBjUNDUkcTQi-BhzgmbtPRolzFMxAgA

Op. cancelled

Monster dog on
board the bus

Yesterday I left early at 5am to the hospital in Tel Aviv for my surgery. Had been fasting since the previous night. But once in the medical room the doc tested me and said I still have bronchitis so they won't risk giving me anaesthesia. So now my operation is postponed to March 12. The agony of having to wait again.

Anyway the weather was extremely cold ... even in Tel Aviv. It was the first time I've seen Tel Avivians dressed in woollen jackets, hoodies and boots ... exactly how Jerusalemites wear in winter. Jerusalem is usually 5 degrees colder than Tel Aviv. And there was a huge Ridgeback-Mastiff cross dog in the minibus going to Tel Aviv which I took. It was a monster dog and a couple of muslim men got off the bus as they were afraid of the dog. Actually it was very friendly. We were stroking it and joking with its owner. The dog practically slept all the way to Tel Aviv .... and it was free of charge too!

Tel Avivians dressed
for winter

I came home just after lunch time and ate some leftover food from the fridge. Had the worse case of diarrhoea ever. So I had to rest a couple of hours before I went for adoration and confessions at the MC sisters convent. Then I had a long talk with the MC provincial who reported the situation in Gaza, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. It was horrific. The christian communities are under so much hardship. It's credible how they kept their faith despite all the murderous persecution.

I had a very good sleep despite the extreme cold. Then it was back to work ... first the university library then the General Library ... with lots of bills to be paid, rushing from the Finance Dept. to the Printery and then a meeting with the Custos. Good Bro. Leo cooked rice and curry for me so at noontime I brought the packed food home and ate it. No fears of diarrhoea this time.

I'll have to organise some work this afternoon and hopefully I had go to sleep early. Winter is hibernation time ... I like it.

Sahlab season

My 1st sahlab this winter

The weather has been bene fantabulous today .... hahahaha that's a new word I learned today. Pretty fun to use it. The weather remains around 10 degrees but the sun is shining and wind is still cold. But what made it feel so specially winter was my first sahlab this season. That's the traditional turkish winter drink made from orchid root, milk, rose syrup and cinnamon. It was nice to drink this warm delicious beverage on a cold day like today.

It must be cold because Buddy and Chilli snuggle under my pillow when I go out. Caught them several times when I came back to my room and saw they climbing out from under the pillows and flying back to their perch. Poor boys ... for Chilli it's his first winter.

Sun breaking through the clouds

The 2nd day of 2019 ... work has resumed slowly. Students return to the library to prepare for the exams. The tempo is slowly picking up again after the Christmas celebrations. For some students this will be their final semester before to their countries for ordination. Another generation of students graduate, another generation of new students will start their adventure. The cycle continues, the wheel continues to turn.

I am due for another operation tomorrow. It shouldn't be anything major but still I have a bad feeling about. The last time the anesthesia was playing with my breathing and heart ... it did not feel good.