Light Festival

Damascus Gate illuminated

Time flies ... I've been so busy I've had no time to update the blog. And today is Saturday. Time flies. This week I'm celebrating 2 Masses each day and reciting Vespers twice. Then as hebdom I have to lead all prayers before and after meals, prepare the dining table, serve the meals and do the washing up. Well I took a break on Thursday night because I really wanted to see the Festival of Lights as I was feeling strong enough to do the walk.

Damascus Gate

This year the festival is big ... 32 events compares to last year's 10. The traditional 3 routes were reopened: covering the green route that runs through the Muslim Quarter, the red route that runs through the Christian Quarter and the blue route that runs along the walls of the Armenian and Jewish Quarters. I only managed to do the red and green routes as the crowds were overwhelming and the climbing up and down of the Old City steps tired me out. But the lights were fantastic. As usual Damascus Gate held a spectacular show covering the entire facade. At Jaffa Gate there were illuminated stilt walkers and near New Gate there were jugglers. And there were many more interactive events allowing people to join in actively in the show.

Illuminated great white shark

There was a green screen event where people can be filmed live on the City wall acting out the history of Jerusalem. In the dark mysterious Cave of Zedekiah, there were old scientific apparatuses reworked to modern interactive machines. Some flashed lights when you clap or stomp your feet. Others active when you move or talk. The cave became another world of weird shapes and colours. I guess I'll have to go see the blue route one of these nights.

Back to daytime and it's nonstop work. I'm losing a lot of my memory maybe due to fatigue. Can't find my wallet and all the important contents. Forgot people's names when I meet them. Go to places and forget why I went there.

Here's an interesting article by a top Talmud scholar who thinks it's christians who "invented" judaism. Worth a read.  https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-how-christians-invented-judaism-according-to-a-top-talmud-scholar-1.7417536?fbclid=IwAR36Yx1z-5BgT1Wi_Y51s_eWnwoPmlltyeyrU87Ce9Vz8BupuTImk3JxhiE