Ice cream

The situation in Hong Kong is out of control. All sense and reason is lost. There is no turning back. What a pity. Here's a good and accurate article on the role of the Church and its future in view of this protest.  https://bitterwinter.org/hong-kong-protests-the-catholic-factor/?fbclid=IwAR12hh3S3s67nUCxpCN9Wv6NuWyX41hcoIKgh1uolEMYb-M6XH-t9sCApTQ

Spider

This morning while watering the flowers, I saw a small white spider breaking out from its old exoskeleton. New life. Made me think of Hong Kong and what it'll have to go through ... slough of the old and start anew.

Here we're in a quiet tense situation ... everyone is expecting Lebanon to bomb Israel but not on a large scale. It'll be a symbolic strike ... but no one can guarantee that there will be no casualties. It's a waiting game. The lull before a storm.

Ice cream seller

Police presence remains on high alert in and around the Old City. It's not very comfortable to be walking in the streets while half a dozen police and military police stare at you. It's quite intimidating. Only once ... this morning when I was coming back from the ethiopic Mass ... did a soldier smile and said "hi". I was shocked and surprise ... I did manage to say hi back but only after I had walked some distance away. By the way I love the ethiopic hymns and chants ... it's enchanting and mesmerising. The choir of 4 persons led in singing the Our Father, Santus and other parts of the Mass in ancient Geez. I want to record them the next time I celebrate Mass for them.

After lunch today I was out at our courtyard to send my old classmate Sr. Gabriella out and stopped to chat with some of the shop owners in front of poor house. The guy who sells homemade ice-cream "booza ruqeb"passed by and we bought a stick each. I had cherry flavour. Nice and refreshing in this hot humid weather.  

Hot and humid yet again

Enjoying the evening cool

I cannot repeat it enough .... the humidity is killing me. Today like yesterday has a 90% humidity. Walking outdoors is quite a toil. But once evening sets in, it cools down very much and the wind is refreshing, Lots of people come out to enjoy the change of weather after dinner. Hawkers who avoid the day heat come out to set up stalls. Mornings see a lot of dew on the ground ... and like I said previously ... everyone says it's unusual for this phenomenon to occur in August. Late October would be the norm.

But in the midst of this evening revelry, the police presence cannot be missed. With the tensions at our borders, Israeli security is not letting up on possible problems in and around the Old City ... the traditional flashpoint of violence and conflict. Yet despite all these, there is relative quiet because of the internal conflicts within Gaza and Syria. A blessing in disguise.

Harpist busker

My food poisoning bouts have ended and I am eating better these days. The docs have told me to avoid all red meats and if possible also white meats. That practically makes me a vegetarian. I do occasionally eat fish and chicken when I feel bored with vegetables. All in all I guess this new diet is good for me.  

I can't imagine summer vacation is almost over. I always felt I'm busier during the holidays than during the school term ... which is true. without students and profs around, we can do a lot more work. And of course there's supply work to do ... substituting priests who are on holidays. That means sometimes celebrating 2 or 3 Masses a day in various cities.

As I tire very easily nowadays, I've decided to cut back on my teaching schedule. I'll be cancelling several courses. I'm no longer able to juggle different classes at different institutes in one day. So expect a new schedule this coming new academic year.

Humid day

Typical arched street

The humidity today was unbelievably high. It was hot and sweaty ... I had to change clothes thrice going and coming back from work. It's not just being uncomfortable in the sweat ... it's the oppressive  atmosphere which makes one very tired easily. Everyone feels listless and unable to work. Everyone was indoors or inside cars that are air-conditioned. I was at Mian restaurant to collect chinese herbal soup that Linda had boiled ... and the restaurant was empty .... no one on a Thursday evening. Unheard of. Restaurants all along the road were empty of customers. Nobody was out in the streets. That was how dreadful the weather was today.

This morning as I walked to the Ivrea convent for Mass at 5.45am, the streets were wet with dew. This humidity is unusual at this time of the year ... the peak of summer. It should come only after October .... after the Feast of Tabernacles. The weather has changed so much.

I had lots of work to do this morning so by 1pm I was exhausted ... both by work and the weather. Tried to rest for half an hour before going to the MC sisters for weekly bible talk and confessions. Now it's evening and I thought of going out to walk and see the weekend happenings in the streets. There're usually night markets, buskers, concerts, light shows .... but I'm feeling too tired to go out.

The heat and humidity must be affecting the region as well because the sudden tension and talk of war all but disappeared from the news. I guess no one is in the mood to fight in this weather. Instead the spotlight is on the coming elections ... parties negotiating with other parties to form a coalition ... promises, compromises. I guess the locals all know by now its all pre-election rhetoric ... and after the elections things will remain the same ... with the ultra-orthodox wielding the greatest power even though its the smallest party.

Evening walk

Evening traffic

The sabre rattling in the northern border diminished substantially when Lebanon declared that it doesn't want a war with Israel .... however some form of military response was necessary to show that Israeli bombing of Beirut was not acceptable .... so a "calculated" attack ( meaning symbolic) will be launched. Israel is ready for it and has put the army and airforce on standby. Also in the south, Gaza is torn by internal struggles as 3 policemen were killed by bombs of rival islamic rebels. The Gaza govt has started mass arrests of its citizens believed to be linked these rival groups. With this internal struggle, Gaza has no time to engage Israel in a war. And all that works for us.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5576952,00.html?fbclid=IwAR02yFIITvZpuPWHDR0warqfaFCmxhuQEE9Ydhs8T27BmLw4Eeq9ZK8p7RU

Sunset at Ecce Homo

Last night I had to go visit a korean group guided by my former classmate from 30 yrs back. The wind was strong and cold ... and I walked out to the convent where they lived. It was very refreshing having the wind blow in my face ... I had locked myself in my room all afternoon because I had a terrible headache and nausea. So I slept for almost 6 hours. I had to stop at Palm Plaza to rest as I was too dizzy and nauseous. But meeting my classmate, a korean nun who's almost 80 yrs old, was great. She brought a lot of ginseng and korean seaweed, insisting that it's good for my health.

As the school year begins, already a storm has stirred in the Israeli teacup. A school book teaching jewish kids about freedom and democracy spoke about freedom to choose to travel on Sabbath ... and the book was immediately recalled. The ultra-orthodox will have nothing of that ... all travel is forbidden and they're making sure everyone else is going to obey the law.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-schoolbook-recalled-for-reference-to-traveling-on-sabbath-1.7761528?fbclid=IwAR0smBG9UvZ20G9iAVTDQDqZQXF0YWNsqpKgOM2-QIU0cIQLnb3dZu8QkZM

And the super-hyped move of the US embassy to Jerusalem just fizzled out .... no one notices it anymore, totally forgotten and no one talks about it .... until today. The embassy wants to build a massive 15 foot wall around it's property for security ... but it will block the magnificent view of the Dead Sea for the high class residents of that neighbourhood. They've now gathering to stop that wall. So instead of the rave the US and Israeli PM thought about the move ... they've got enemies now. And they're not arabs.

Jitters

Sunrise seen from Herod's Gate

The Amazon is not the only place burning. Greece is also scourged by mountain fires .... and here in the Holy Land we too have massive forest fires. The daytime heat is overwhelming and very dry ... perfect for dry kindle to catch fire. However the nights are cold and humid ... so a heavy fall of dew could put out the forest fires.

And a different type of fire is building up at our northern and southern borders. Lebanon's leaders are whipping up rhetoric to start a war because of the alleged drone attack by Israel in Beirut. Syria too is silently gathering the army at the border. Israel yesterday had already mobilised the army to the border. It won't be a conventional war as promises of an all drone attack is being tossed around in the newspapers. It's star wars in real life. An it'll be very scary. Read these articles:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-armies-of-drones-are-being-set-up-all-over-the-world-and-israel-isn-t-prepared-1.7758575? fbclid=IwAR1X4833zWRZNu6ciOSI65fbLGl9_Lyz1bzoTPsYDg5zpLd-PhMSyo1I7yY
and
https://www.timesofisrael.com/troops-in-north-gird-for-possible-reprisal-attack-after-hezbollah-threat/?fbclid=IwAR2-GX6hFkJLSr71dJGBDVcJipqnVchEIEyye8QLjpfpHoe27oi3Q3RAQWc
and
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-believes-nasrallah-s-threats-over-lebanon-strikes-braces-for-retaliation-1.7758770?fbclid=IwAR2SBqhRO8QuHekRuivGINI9N_fTh44DUX-Ud1chHU-q8OYebOLvih6XUBQ
and
https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Netanyahu-calls-for-intl-community-to-act-as-tensions-near-boiling-point-599787?fbclid=IwAR1CmhGO2V2-pLzW-i8pVAEAnGqJVeGHNQl6rMuxCVCztWnjK3AW30S4kG0

Boy carries bread
trays

Last Sunday the Greek Orthodox celebrated the sleeping/dormition of the Virgin Mary. They held their early 5am procession of the silver icon of the dead Mary form the HolySepulchre down to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in the Kidron Valley. This morning there was another solemn procession down to the Tomb but I'm not sure why. The bells of the Holy Sepulchre were clanging from 5am while the noisy crowd made its way pass our house.

School may have started for most students ... but not all are so fortunate. Poorer families need their children to work. The cost of living here is very high and many families are in debt regarding rent, school fees, electric and water bills. You can help a child attend school by sponsoring them.

Back to school

Off to school

Tensions are high as Israel bombed Gaza after the enclave fired missiles into Israel 4 times yesterday .... sending a summer concert into chaos and panic. The PM has ordered fuel supplies to gaza be cut in half as punishment. That's bad news for hospitals and schools and other emergency institutions. Israel does not shy from collective punishment. All these plus the expected retaliation from Syria, Lebanon and Iraq for the other days' bombings .... it's not at all what we want in summer.

By the way the drone that exploded in Lebanon was not israeli but iranian ... as photos prove. Yet lebanese reports are hitching on this fake news to blow hate against Israel and whip up a war. The real fear is not so much Lebanon's threat of an attack but rather that Iran is capable of high-tech drone killers and is exporting them to neighbouring states. This is our greatest fear ... and it was the aim of the other day's bombing in Iraq by Israel because the target was a drone centre.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/netanyahu-slashes-gaza-fuel-imports-in-half-after-fourth-rocket-attack-this-month-1.7740939?fbclid=IwAR2hGzE69daQhmlcucZ5FmciejIx_W5H7JDCdaxLni9k5N75UtxN7nZaMxE

It's the first day of school for many students in Palestine. it should be noted that there is no unity in the opening and closing of the academic year ... each school decides on its own. But majority have decided the new school year should begin within this week or next. Some israeli schools also start the new year this week. Almost immediately a contentious issue came to a head ... religious schools wanted to impose sex segregation but parents are fighting it. It was brought to court and the decision overthrew the segregation rule.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5575817,00.html?fbclid=IwAR21hGNTIh4xZFEIAPQ64fOoyPbXBYrgGrR3ul1F6nAn0WRoROBFnwYqCog

Just in case you think all the kids are busy going back to school ... a group of ultra-orthodox youths who don't attend regular school ... out of boredom, set fire to 70 spots in forests around the country. All for fun. In any case this is arson and if committed by an arab, it's not just jail term but also destruction of his house. But being ultra-orthodox jews ... we can expect only a slap in the wrist. After all the all powerful rabbis will be protecting these culprits.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/preteens-suspected-of-setting-70-fires-around-beit-shemesh/?fbclid=IwAR15wPSurO5fGe4NAZu5Nq3bNy2FPHrh7J0waH_2HrZ8Aq1-k4kkdObHWXw

Well sex segregation has been imposed in many aspects of life ... now that the ultra-orthodox hold a lot of power under the current government. Concerts, buses, beaches, trains ... everything is game. Secular jews are fighting this and nearly always it's brought to court. One example was yesterday when the court inf Haifa banned a men-only concert for ultra-orthodox.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/judge-shuts-down-men-only-concert-in-haifa/?fbclid=IwAR0U9s29o7jqV4H9W0KetvC5AKIegW4-YATWzcISZyrhDpNwPjTOwukYSAE

Weekend

Tensions have reached a new high when news report that Israel has been bombing Iranian military targets inside Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Of course all this was done with the tacit agreement of US and Russia. In fact both countries have come out to say Israel has a right to protect itself. Well we're just waiting for the consequence now ... not that it will start a war. Like I said in the previous post ... an all out regional war is unlikely. But skirmishes are enough to jolt our relatively peaceful lives and cause lots of inconveniences such as curfews, road blocks and work strikes.

Chapel at Netanya

Yesterday evening I had to travel to Netanya, a city by the Mediterranean Sea 102km away form Jerusalem for Mass ... technically it should take only 1 hr 20 mins to get there. But it doesn't take into consideration the walk to the bus stop, waiting for the bus to be full, traffic jams along the way, then a change of bus at Tel Aviv station, another wait, then another walk from the station to the chapel. Reality is a 3 hr journey. A nightmare especially when I need to use the toilet because of my IBS. Anyway I came home at 11pm .... that's 40 mins earlier than the previous night when I came home from Herzliya. It's been an exhausting 2 days ... celebrating Masses all over the country because of shortage of priests.

Night market at Musrara

The walk home at night brings me pass the Musrara night market. Quite an event each weekend as jews, christians and muslims come to buy fruit and veggies at a whole sale price. Well this coexistence will come to an end when regional wars spill into our country.

Crazy weekend

Filipinas selling
food

Yesterday was a busy tiring day. I made the 2.5 hour journey to Herzliya for Mass. The worst part was walking 1km uphill to the minibus terminal in the killer heat. Halfway walking there ... I just wanted to go home again. The ride took an hour and the driver cheated me of 11 shekels as I was already so tired and confused by the heat. Once in Jerusalem I had to wait for someone to pick me up to Herzliya. The Central Bus Terminal area was packed with people of all sorts. Filipinas selling home-made cakes and food .... korean christians shouting "Jesus saves" in the middle of the road ... it was chaos compared to Jerusalem where everything stops because its the Sabbath. Anyway the police came to question the koreans and then did a walkabout to check for illegals along the streets.

Police question
korean evangelists 

The car came to pick me up after half an hour .... Mass was celebrated to a crowd of 50+ persons and then I asked to go home immediately instead of staying for dinner. I was too tired and to travel another 2.5 hrs would kill me. Last week I got home at 11.40pm. So the driver sped through the highway and brought me back to Tel Aviv in a record 12 minutes (good thing we didn't get killed) ... there was a half hour wait for the minibus to fill up and then it raced back to Jerusalem. The driver was nice and instead of dropping everyone at the terminal, he drove a couple of us all the way down to Damascus Gate ... saving us a cold, long walk. Then it was another 1km walk to my house. Reached home at 11pm ... 40 minutes earlier than last week. Got to bed immediately because I had to wake up at 4am and prepare to go to Mass at the Ivrea Convent at 6am ... then a 4km run west to Ratisbon Monastery for Mass at 8am with the Ethiopians. Once ended, I had to rush south 1km to meet a convent of franciscan sisters to preach them a monthly retreat. Now it's 12pm ... finished. It's now a mad rush back home 1km away because a group is coming to see me. Then at 4pm it's a 100km ride to Netanya for Mass. Summer holiday????  I haven't had a day's rest this summer ... and my left ankle is swollen.

There was a dreadful terrorist attack by a natural pool which jews use as a ritual bath. Somebody threw an explosive that killed a girl and injured 2 in the family. It's a terrible attack and execerbates the already tense situation in the northern and southern borders. I somehow haven't seen any report saying the terrorist(s) is/are arabs .... but it's taken for granted. Borders are closing and block-stop-and-checks are taking place everywhere throughout the country. The Old City is packed with police ... and you can be sure that by this evening the perpetrators will be caught. The funny thing is the jewish perpetrators who burn and vandalise our churches and christian properties are still not caught after 6 years.

Another day

Street at dawn

Though autumn official starts on 23 Sept, it already feels like it's arrived. The mornings are chilly like I've said in previous posts. And this morning there were some guys actually wearing hoodie jackets. The rest wearing T-shirts were slightly shivering as it was 18 degrees and the wind was damp. The sun rises alot later now ... like 5.10am (4.10am solar time) and the walk to the Ivrea convent is quite dark ... though the streets are peopled with muslim pilgrims mainly from Indonesia going back to their hotels after sunrise prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque.

So the MCs celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary today. The rest of the Church celebrates the queenship of Mary. There's no biblical basis for this feast and it was established only in 1955 but it's cultic practice goes back to the early centuries of the Church down through the Middle Ages. It's based on theological reasons mainly her maternity to Christ and Christ as King.

Makloubeh lunch

The Custos' secretary made makloubeh for lunch today and shared some with me ... very nice. I've had food poisoning 3 times this last 2 weeks because I've been eating leftovers from the fridge ... vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. Frightening. Now a little fresh food is comforting. Makloubeh is "upside down" ... the meat, veggies and rice are cooked in a deep pot and then turned upside down to be served. It's a very common palestinian family dish.

It's been a day of border tensions as Israel bombed several military bases in Iraq and also Gaza after Gaza bombed Israel twice. Then the tentacles spread as talk of Israeli imminent attacks in Yemen. The common denominator os all this is of course Iran who's working behind these satellites. Still summer is almost over and all the saber rattling has come to nothing ... so all these sound and fury will be blown away by the autumn winds. Thank goodness for us all.

Last day of Triduum

Marian statue at
MC convent

It's the 3rd day of the Triduum for the Missionaries of Charity (M. Teresa). I preached my 3rd conference with them ... which I thought was very good. The topic is based on Chapter 4 of their Constitutions which is about the spirit of their society. And the feast day which they celebrate tomorrow is not Mary Queen of Heaven but the Immaculate Heart of Mary ... which the rest of the Church celebrates in June. It's a privilege M. Teresa asked for. The Immaculate Heart is the patron of their society.

And to repeat my warning ... my Facebook and Messenger has been hacked ... so if you receive any message from me ... well it's not from me.

Lots of police everywhere today ... and security helicopters flying overhead. We haven't heard of any imminent attacks but I'm sure the police did. It made us a little nervous as they rushed up and down our street all day. I have to find out why.

My back hurts a lot today ... and can hardly get up or sit down ... the hip on the right side is sore. Must be all the lifting and moving of boxes. I'm to all for that stuff. And my left index finger is swollen with osteoporosis. Result of years of cortezones for my asthma. I'll have to live with that for the rest of my life.

Of foxes and Facebook

Scavenging fox

It's Tuesday and usually in summer, I go to Bethlehem to give the MC sisters (Mother Teresa) a talk in the morning. Today however there was no need as it's the triduum for the feast day of the MC society. Each community in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nablus and Gaza have their own preachers on these 3 days. Their feast day is on August 22nd which is Thursday this year.

My Facebook page has been hacked for the past week. Messages and photos have been sent from my FB messenger address to people which I have never sent. Now someone removed my photos of foxes on the Mt. of Olives .... I have to repost the photos again.

Yes talking about foxes ... these shy nocturnal creatures are showing up at daytime ... and not just one but whole packs. Something must be disturbing them so that they're coming out scavenging in garbage dumps and killing small livestock. It could be the drought and heat ... or as the rabbis say ... it's a sign that the Messiah is coming.

Well my wallet that was missing for the past 2 months ... I finally found them. But I lost my passport this morning after going out to several places. Panic. Luckily someone remembered seeing me putting it in my bag ... so after searching it for the 3rd time, I found it. My memory is hopeless now. I guess my eyesight is going as well.

I guess I'll rest early tonight ... summer slows down the old and sick.

Tense

Mounted police at the Waldorf-Astoria
hotel

There's been a rash of stabbings and stabbing attempts this last week. Several days ago about 300 m from my house a policeman was stabbed by 2 teenagers. Today an attempt was made in the city of Hadera by the Mediterranean Sea. Now police presence is heightened in and around the Old City. The Mounted Police is almost everyday making its rounds. The horses are enormous and just one kick from it will kill you. When I have to walk pass such a horse, I always make sure to walk in front of it. An unexpected back-kick will definitely end my life.

The hot summer sun continues to beat down on us but the nights are cool and mornings are so humid there is dew on the ground. My early morning walk at 5.45am to the Ivrea convent for Mass is quite chilly and I might have to wear a light hoodie jumper tomorrow.

Walked to work this morning but coming home at 12pm was too much ... I was giddy and nauseous. Had to rest for several hours and skipped lunch as I felt I'd vomit everything out. And my left ankle continues to hurt badly.

News is out that there might be a rebellion in Palestine as people are becoming impatient with the corrupt government. Well definitely something has to e done to change the decades long festering wound in palestine. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5571576,00.html
But at the same time, Gaza is seen as a volcano waiting to erupt. Definitely not good news for the arab states nor Israel. https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Palestinian-factions-warn-Gaza-is-a-boiling-volcano-599071

Makloubeh and Msahan ....

Sabbath .... dead city

It's Sunday ... and I was determined not to work today. So I got up late ... 5.30am to be exact. I usually wake at 4am everyday. So this morning I slept in. Mass was at 7am and then the Armenian Mass was at 11am because the armenians celebrate the Assumption today. I watered the courtyard and terrace plants as they were withering .... no one water them for 3 days. Then it was slow cleaning my room. I had more time to play with Buddy and JJ ... and they enjoyed my being with them. JJ is especially playful ... to the point of being a nuisance. Buddy is more mature ... 3 yrs old ... and calmly sits on my shoulder all day.

Makloubeh for lunch

Yesterday as our cook was away for her son's wedding, the wife of our doorman offered to cook lunch. It was a banquet!!! A huge tray of makloubeh (rice with lamb), stuffed vegetables and vine leaves (kusa and waraq dawali), msahan (chicken on thick flat bread) with a dessert of knaffeh (steamed cheese in syrup). It was an incredible meal and we all enjoyed. These foods are quintessentially palestinian and takes hours if not days (stuffed vine leaves need 2 days) to prepare and cook.

The rest of the day was spent tidying some stuff on my table ... while playing with the 2 birds. I had eaten too much of the good food, so I've decided to skip dinner. I thought of going to walk my daily 4km but I'm feeling very lazy so I'll probably go to sleep early. Anyway my left ankle is swollen after the past 2 days of walking so I need to rest it. It's wrapped in bandages now.

At our southern border, some gazans were killed when the protests served as undercover for infiltrators attempting to enter Israel. Gaza also fired rockets into Israel for the 2nd night running.  The PM has hinted he might launch a war on Gaza. And that will serve him in the coming elections .... for sure. Meantime the Jerusalem Municipality has approved govt. plans to expand jewish settlements in arab lands. That is a flashpoint that could ignite more violence.

Assumption et al

Measure for Measure in the park

The past 2 days had been so full of activities I couldn't update the blog. Between moments of getting ill and vomiting, there was the usual work to do ... yes even on Assumption Day (Thursday) when everything in the diocese closes down for a day. The muslim installers of the elevator came to work ... so I had no choice but to stay with them in the library. It was multi-tasking as I tried to do other things while watching the elevator work. Then yesterday I had to cook lunch for my community as our cook was off for her son's wedding. The community to east chinese food so I cooked  fried noodles, with pan chow, and steamed dumplings, and steamed fish. I guess they must have liked it as the food was finished.

Great summer event

I immediately after lunch I had to rush off to Herzliya, a city 90 km away, to celebrate Mass because of a shortage of priests in summer. It was a very long ride and by the time mass ended, it was 9pm. Coming home meant hitching a ride to Tel Aviv, and then switching to a bus to get back to Jerusalem.  Once in Jerusalem I must walk 2 km home. Reached home at 11.40pm. Dead exhausted but I had only 4 hours sleep because at 6am today I had another Mass at the sister's convent. From there I had to walk very quickly 4km to get to the Ratisbon chapel because at 8am I had another Mass with the Ethiopic community. I am thoroughly exhausted to the point of breaking down.  Well it doesn't end there because in the evening it's a 110km ride to another city to celebrate the evening Mass then rush back again because tomorrow morning I have the Armenian Mass.

Yesterday over 5000 gazan protestors gathered at the border ... but as far as we know ,,, no one was injured. But in the Old Cityof Jerusalem we had a stabbing ... 1 Israeli police injured but the 2 teenage arab attackers were shot. One killed. Police presence was markedly heightened after that. Even the mounted police were deployed. It's very tense out in our streets.

One good thing these past 2 busy days was watching Shakespeare's Measure for Measure in the park. Performed by a local theatre group free-of-charge ... the Acts and scenes move around various parts of Bloomfield Park. Very relaxed. People brought their chairs and cushions, food and drinks ... and had a great time. I certainly did. The play lasted 2.5 hours and the sun was just setting when it ended. The director had smartly utilized the fading sun as a backdrop for the final scene ... amazing light between the pine trees with the majestic King David Hotel serving as the palace of the Duke of Vienna. If not for that fantastic event, I would have had the energy to do what I did.

Full moon

Full moon last night

Everyday going to work is becoming harder and harder. Maybe it's the scorching summer heat. Maybe it's old age. What used to be a 7 minute walk 1 km away has now turned to a 25 min ordeal .... panting and gasping. Mind you I haven't had an asthma attack like I used to, for many months now. It's the phlegm that's choking my airwaves when I have to exert to walk uphill. Nowadays I have to plan very careful where and when I go to places and give myself a good half hour leeway.

It's the last day of Eid al Adha ... thank goodness. Tomorrow the shops will reopen so we can go and buy daily necessities. The moon is full and another phase of lunar festivities is over. We now wait for the next full moon when the jewish feasts of New Year, Atonement and Booths will be celebrated. The Chinese will celebrate the Mooncake festival at the same time. And muslims will have their New Year. Let's see if the peace will hold up.

At the nursery

This morning I had to go to the nursery to buy bags of soil and it was nice to see so many flowering plants despite the intense heat. My night-flowering jasmine is dying ... not sure why ... could be the heat. So I bought a myrtle bush to replace it. But I cannot transplant them immediately because the heat will kill them both. Perhaps I can do it tomorrow morning or evening when it's alot cooler.

A census has shown that majority of jews want buses and public transport to be running on the Sabbath. That's a hopeful sign ... though the minority ultra-orthodox community that had imposed the no-work rule will still carry the day.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/most-israeli-jews-back-public-buses-on-shabbat-and-egalitarian-prayer-at-kotel/?fbclid=IwAR3pMuIvvxmRsjLBnyd1dgdpu8QievUIfH4kkQNAFO0SNsyASDfaly8u6Mk

On the national front ... no news of violence or clashes at the borders. Its too hot to fight.

Adventure or nightmare

Damascus Gate at night

Depending on how you see it ... I either had a fantastic advantage or a nightmare at Bethlehem checkpoint this morning. I was at the MC convent in Bethlehem this morning to celebrate Mass and give a bible talk ... but going home and waiting for the 231 bus to bring me back to Jerusalem  turned out to be a futile task because the buses were not running. I forgot it's the 3rd day of Eid al Adha and muslims still don't work. There was another well-dressed arab waiting for the bus ... a non-Bethlehemite for sure as he asked me of the bus was running. Funny thing was he started speaking to me in arabic ... as if he expected me to know the language. We waited for a quarter of an hour and then a passing girl told us we must go to the checkpoint because no buses are running.

The guy and I shared a taxi and we reached the Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint. It was filled with hundreds of arabs and tourists, pushing and shoving to get through 2 narrow turnstiles. Tempers flared. A spanish woman lost her 2 daughters next to me. It was chaos. I was really sick of it ... suffocating in the crowd. Then I thought to myself ... this is how every arab has to go through every single day as they pass into Israel to work. That's their daily trauma ... and I am experiencing it for only once today. It was quite an adventure .... not pleasant but very real.

Once I passed the security check ... x-ray machines and body checks which I had to pass 3 times because my belt was still on and it triggered the alarm ... it was the Immigration check. Usually the Israeli immigration soldiers allow tourists to pass in a separate line without checks ... but today all had to line up with local arabs. I had to show my visa twice before she let me go.

And once out into the Israeli side ... it was a big sigh of relief .... into the sunshine and into a bus back to Jerusalem. Adventure or nightmare? a matter of choice. But enough of action for one morning. I'm exhausted ... need to rest.

Calm again

Thanks for the chasubles

Yesterday's violent clashes subsided at late afternoon. Streets were quiet and police forces pulled back out of the Old City. Life hopefully has returned to normal .... until another occasion for both races and religions to clash.

As it's only the 2nd day of Eid al Adha, many muslims shops continue to close. The Muslim Quarter is unusually empty of people in the morning ... but by evening the crowds come back out in the cool, and hawkers in the streets make brisk business. Vendors sell fruit, toys, food ... the usual stuff of an arab feast. Loud music is blared throughout. Cigarette and nargileh smoke cloud the air. The festivities go on till way pass 2am. Then all is silent again till the next day of celebrations.

Ethiopic catholics after Mass

Thanks for all the gifts: chasubles, food, mooncakes, clothes that groups have brought over. They're a big help and greatly appreciated. Not having a vacation for over the past 13 years, little gifts in summer sort of compensate for it. It makes the 3 long hot months a little more bearable. Otherwise I'm just working as usual, perhaps sleep a little longer (that means 4 hours) and give more bible talks and masses for nuns in Bethlehem and other regions. I also have to celebrate the Geez Rite Mass for the Ethiopic and Eritrean catholics in Jerusalem on Saturdays; and the Armenian Catholic Mass for the Armenian catholics on Sundays.

The civil war in Hong Kong has reached a point of no-return. When the airport has to cancel flights and flight crew go on strike, street and train traffic at a standstill ..... lawyers marching in protest ... the only and ultimate institution that puts the nail into the coffin is the financial sector. If financiers start to pull out investments, the stock market go on strike ... then it is game over. God forbid it will ever happen. If only everyone can come to their senses. The future is not worth throwing away over present ideals. There will be no turning back.

Violent clashes

Muslim protestors in the Al Aqsa
compound

The whole night was filled with prayers sung over the PA system of the Al Aqsa mosque. Thousands of crowds swarmed the streets as shops and hawker-stalls opened all night for muslims celebrating Eid al Adha ... the sacrifice of Ishmael by Abraham (not Isaac). However jews were also going by he thousands to the Western Wall to pray and lament because it's the feast of Tisha B'Av or the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples. That's where the trouble begins. The place of Ishmael's sacrifice is on a rock which the Dome of the Rock now encompasses .... but the jewish Temple was built over the same spot before the muslims came to build the mosque. As expected, this morning we saw violent clashes from jews and muslims over the same site. From the terrace of our house I could see the running battle inside the Mosque compound

Extremist jews pro-
voking muslims

At 7.30am we could already hear muslims chanting inside the Al Aqsa compound as well as in our street. Thousands had blocked our street chanting against jewish groups entering the Mosque precincts. Israeli police used stun grenades to disperse the muslim crowds ... but just as soon as they disperse, they re-gather to protest. Violence broke out inside the Mosque compound and in our street extremist jewish youths provoked muslims and clashes broke out. Riot police were rushing up and down our street while I took photos ... in between my israeli security friends. Things were really dangerous and at one point we had to even close our church doors. All shops and churches along our street (the Way of the Cross) were closed for security. Only we opened. Roads around the Old City were closed and traffic not allowed to go through. Everyone had to walk. Only the Light Rail train was working. But police and security were on super alert ... and rightly so.

So why was I out in such a volatile neighbourhood? Well firstly at 4.30am I had to go to the 24 hr bakery to buy bread. It's the feast of St. Clare and it's nice to eat fresh bread on a feast day instead of stale, frozen 4 day old bread. Then at 9am I had to send one of our students to the train station as he was leaving for the airport to go home. Being afraid of the massive jewish and muslim crowds at Damascus Gate and the violence that explodes every now and then ... he asked me to accompany him. It was on my way home alone that the clashes broke out on my street. First hand eye-witness ... original photos!

https://www.timesofisrael.com/clashes-break-out-on-temple-mount-between-muslim-protesters-israel-police/?fbclid=IwAR0Spx8OoUs32CmStfGBd5aMqo0W0S4YxYP9RtGQ8VXeuCRtNKIDsLi5nAY

Well there were violence also at the Gaza border as gazan infiltrators tried to enter Israel. What a Sunday! So much aggression, hatred, anger and violence ... what would St. Clare say?

National Day

Watching the Parade

I spent the last several days on retreat. It was really good ... the topic was very interesting : jewish feasts in the Gospel of John. Lots of material to meditate and apply. There was no pressure or dateline ... everything was free-timing and that was very good for me. I found it very relaxing and stress-free ... which is what I needed. All in all the retreat was a success. The chinese sisters and priests also joined me ... but not for the entire length of days.

My retreat ended with Eucharistic Adoration at 6am and then Mass yesterday. Then I went to join some Singaporean friends to celebrate Singapore's National Day. We had home cooked char siu, chicken rice and satay while watching live the Parade streamed on the Internet. I must admit it was the first parade I've watched in 30 years ... and I could hardly recognise the city as shown on the screen. Things have changed so much. And the patriotism is palpable. And the hiphop culture was very strange to me ... like why should Singapore youths need to follow America? On the other hand, the many flashbacks on the history of Singapore was very good. It was the 200th anniversary of the "discovery" of the island by Stanford Raffles. It's such a colonial patronising term - "discover". Singapore was always there ... occupied by the portuguese in the 16th century and then the dutch before the british came. There was no need to discover Singapore.

Homecooked singaporean food

Back to Israel ... we're expecting some major clashes tonight and tomorrow. The jews celebrate Tisha B'Av this evening till tomorrow ... which commemorates the destruction of the jewish Temples in the 9th century BC and the 1st century AD on the same day. The jews try to enter the account Temple site which today is the golden Dome of the Rock mosque ... and muslims resent that. On Sunday evening the muslims commemorate Eid al Adha of the sacrifice of Ishmael (instead of Isaac in the jewish/christian tradition). But fearing the jews will enter en masse into the Mosque, the Grand Musfti of jerusalem was called all mosques in Jerusalem to be closed on Tesha B'A and brought forward the Eid al Adha to coincide with Tisha B'Av so the muslims will fill the mosque and prevent any jew from entering. It is unprecedented that a muslim feast be moved not according to a religious command but a political one. Well ... the streets are filled with police and barricades are being set up all over. Let's see what'll happen.

Cooler weather

Millstone and olive press at Neot
Kedumim

This morning was very strange weatherwise. It was chilly and the sky was covered with rain clouds. Some drops of drizzle even fell. And the westerly wind was chilly as well. I went off to the Ivrea convent for Mass at 5.45am and I thought it felt very much like late early winter. Well summer is definitely sliding to autumn as sunrise is now 4.25am ... only a month ago it was 3.40am (2.40am solar time).

Grinding wheat for flour

The chinese-speaking religious asked me to organize a retreat-study session. We studied the jewish feasts and its significance in John's gospel for 3 days. Then we visited Neot Kedumim - the biblical garden 2.5 hectares large. It has all the biblical plants and the guided tour is interactive. We could pluck the fruit and flowers growing on the branches ... eat them or grind them to make spices. Learning about cisterns and olive presses and winepress and threshing floors taught us about life in biblical times. But more importantly we learned about the fruit and plants linked to the various jewish feasts. That supplemented our study. It was very enlightening. And the cool weather was a great help.

My food poisoning episode is over. But I'm eating less than usual as I've lost my appetite after the food poisoning. I still have a fever but I'm not sure why. The chinese sisters have been cooking food for me since I had the poisoning. Plain simple noodles to settle the stomach. That was a great help to recovery.

The hot weather has resulted in lots of mosquitoes and insects that bite. Many people can't sleep in peace because of this. I have to spray insecticide before I sleep otherwise the mosquitoes will keep me awake.

Transfiguration feast

Fight inside Damascus Gate

Spent the whole day recovering yesterday. Food poisoning is no fun. Alot of vomiting and diarrhea for 14 hrs. And I blacked out once ... crashed into a side table. Legs were really weak and wobbly. By night time ie 10pm I felt better enough to go home.

Just my luck as I entered Damascus Gate, there was a big fight going on. 2 arab shopkeepers joined by their supporters in a fistfight/ Israeli soldiers ... about 10 of them ... rushed in to separate the groups but they became the targets of both groups. The area was getting more crowded by the minute as tourists were also passing through. Then the soldiers charged at the arab youths surrounding the fight ... everyone ran down the steps. As I wasn't feeling well, I was hugging by the wall but in the stampede was pushed down. It was not a lucky day at all.

Bus to Bethlehem

Today I'm feeling better but my stomach and throat hurt. I've eaten very little and mostly only liquids to stay hydrated. Though I'm very hungry ... I have no appetite. The thought of eating makes me nauseous again. And yes I drank coca-cola ... the perfect cure for diarrhea. I had to celebrate the Mass at the Ivrea convent at 6am and then rushed off to Bethlehem to celebrate another Mass for the MC sisters. Gave them an hour's bible conference before the Mass. It's been a long time since I took the bus there and things  have changed in a year. The price is still the same ... 6.80 shekels ... but the tickets are computerized and not those colored printed papers torn from stubs. The bus-stop in Bethlehem has moved some 30 meters down to the John Paul II center instead of the Ephrata School for the Deaf. And the buses left on time ... even when half full. I rather enjoyed that. And at the Israeli checkpoint, local arabs no longer need to get off the bus for permit checks. The soldiers come onboard and checked everyone ... arab or foreigner alike. That was another good surprise.

It's Transfiguration Day ... and there was a solemn Mass up at the Mount of the Transfiguration. I saw the live broadcast online ... it was quite crowded with local religious and local christians. I no longer have the energy or health to travel so far and remain for such a long Mass. But it's a big celebration in the middle of summer ... which is nice. Otherwise

Sick

Very sick today ... vomitting, diarrhea, headache ... I think it's food poisoning. Must be the leftovers I ate ... I usually eat leftovers as my meal times are very inconsistent. Am still sick now ... got to go vomit.

New ordination

Empty street on Sabbath

Yesterday one of my students was ordained in India. There were many concelebrating priests and laity. A very big affair. In 2 weeks another will be ordained in Puerto Rico. 3 others had already been ordained in July ... in Albania and Sri Lanka. They are the last of my students whom I taught full-time. With over 20 years of students passing through my hands and getting ordained ... it's time for retirement. Age and sickness have caught up.

This morning was eerily chilly ... and very humid. Rain clouds floated pass toward Jordan and dew covered most of the ground. You could smell the dampness in the air. But the hot dry sun came in the late morning and it became another hot day. Lucky for the cool morning because I had to walk 2km to celebrate Mass for the Ethiopians. I love their singing .... it's a mournful chant which is very melodious. I like to learn it ... maybe I'll get someone to teach me.

Another deserted street

The walk to and from the chapel where Ethiopic Mass was celebrated was really surreal. It's Sabbath so there were no cars and very very people and no dogs or even cats or rats in the streets. It's surreal .... the silence except for the wild parakeets screeching their heads off. It's been quite some time since I walked in the jewish side of town on a Sabbath and it was quite relaxing and stress free with all that silence ... except for a drunk arab who was bleeding from the head and 5 emergency attendants were surrounding him.

News-wise there's nothing significant .... it's a rather quite weekend. We'll just wait for the feast of the Transfiguration to come so we can get busy over something.

Porziuncola feast

Demolition work at Damascus Gate

Today is a big feast day for us ... the Porziuncola or "Little Portion" - the tiny chapel of St. Mary of the Angels where St. Francis rebuilt and treasured. It's the only chapel that St. Francis allowed the friars to keep ... despite the stringent vow of poverty. It's been such a special chapel that popes down the centuries have granted a special plenary indulgence to those who come to pray in it. And this indulgence can be gained multiple times during the day of the feast. That's special.

Nonetheless work goes on ... feast day or not. Was back and forth from both libraries twice in the fiery heat of the sun. One thing good was there was a cool breeze blowing in the morning and that made walking outdoors alot easier and bearable. At least once I reach my workplace I get to enter indoors. I was wondering how the demolition crew could work in the heat .... they've demolished the stepped garden on the eastern side of Damascus Gate. I see they've flattened it out and paved cement to create a walkway. The dust and heat over there is terrible.

Buddy reads a book

Between work I've had more free time than on usual school days ... so I spend more time with Buddy my conure parakeet and JJ my white cockatiel. It's a great time bonding with them and they love to play and play and play. In fact I can't do any work when I'm with them. They're my best companions. Today being a feast day I spent a little more time with them. It was fun.

That aside, it's Friday and the usual Friday protest at the Gaza border took place. Reports say 6000 were there protesting against the Israeli soldiers on the other side of the border. Then internally within Israel, another implosion occurred when ultra-orthodox jews attack conservative or other progressive jews praying at the Western Wall. It happens every full moon when they gather there to pay to start a new month.

Yesterday Jordan closed down the sanctuary of the Tomb of Aaron because jews from Israel came to pray there. I really don't see why they can't pray there if they are not there to claim the place.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/jordan-closes-holy-site-to-visitors-after-jewish-group-prays-without-permission/

Liguori feast

Char-grilled chicken

Today is the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists. I presided at the memorial Mass and then it was back to work. This morning I had to bring cooked food to the M. Teresa's sisters in Bethlehem. There were lots of uneaten dinner servings in the 2 largest monasteries in Jerusalem because due to poor communication, most of the guys had gone to Bethany for lunch. So instead of wasting food, I was asked to bring it to the poor in Bethlehem. That was when I decided to buy the iconic char-grilled whole chicken which I hadn't eaten in a year. It's a dying arab cuisine as only one stall in Bethlehem makes and sells it. I bought 2 so I could share it with our sisters and workers. We don't get this in Jerusalem. And everyone loved it.

Then it was back home to do some work before going to the M. Teresa's convent in Jerusalem for a conference, eucharistic adoration and confessions. It's my weekly responsibility ... and it takes about 2.5 hours each Thursday evening. Tomorrow will be our solemnity of St. Mary of the Angels so I guess I'll be singing most parts of the Mass. Maybe I should take a day off tomorrow.

A sudden spike of tensions at the southern border when an early morning attack by Gazans injured israeli soldiers. Then up in the northern border come reports that Israel bombed the town of  Quneitra where 2000 yrs ago St. Paul encountered the Risen Lord. It's quite a jittery day as no one knows where its all leading us.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5561730,00.html  and  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5561904,00.html