Hallow's eve

Bar Mitzva boy with
Torah scroll

The tensions have toned down a lot today ... with less police presence. That's a great relief for all of us. And the weather has been very agreeable .... cool and sunny. Perfect day to be out. I visited the Western Wall today ... being Thursday the young jewish boys become men by celebrating their Bar Mitzva. It's very festive ... and I managed to witness at least 6 ceremonies going on at the Wall. The boys carried those huge Torah scrolls and read them publicly for once in their lives. That is the rite of passage ... to proclaim the Torah is to be an adult. Wealthier families could afford hiring drummers and horn-blowers to lead the procession ... others simply performed the ceremony in dignity with a public reading from a Torah book.

A little later I went to the Information Centre to book for a  Mass but all the churches in Jerusalem are fully booked. At the Centre there was an exhibition of "Women and Textiles" ... where richly embroidered liturgical vestments from the 17th century are shown. Very wonderful collection.

Western Wall prayer section

Meanwhile Gaza fired a rocket into Israel. No panic ... it was a minor incident. We're watching the northern border ... an israeli drone was shot down in southern Lebanon. Now that could become explosive. That's scary.   

Israeli embassies around the world have gone on strike. The financial budget for embassies have been stalled for a long time now and I guess the embassies are desperate. Anyway if you're expecting to collect a visa from the embassy in your country ... it'll take a while.

Anyway it's All Hallows' eve ... or halloween. That's the eve of All Saints day. It's a feast and we'll be having a solemn Mass. I'll need to rest early so I can keep up with tomorrow's celebrations.

Rain?

Empty street at
Damascus Gate

Someone's been hacking my blog. One day my viewers number 190+, another day 10+. The fluctuation is too big to be normal. But I'll still blog ... to let you into a bit of my daily life in the Holy Land and let you know that I'm still alive. When there're no updates for several days in a row ... then you'll have to start worrying.

There was another stabbing attack this morning. This time at Hebron and the attacker was a female. In winter time when people wear thick clothes, it's easier to hide weapons. I guess this is just be beginning of another wave of terrorism. We did have a relatively quiet summer though. Last night coming home at 8pm, the streets inside Herod's Gate where the last stabbing attack took place a couple of days ago, was totally deserted. It was eerie. People are avoiding that area as police security is extra tight around there. Nobody wants any trouble. Usually the place is packed with people, from shops filled with people buying fruit and meat ... to kids riding bicycles and youths smoking and chatting at corners. Last night the silence and emptiness reminded me of the war years, the curfews that were imposed. It wasn't a good feeling.

Grey skies today

The weather is very cool and today the sky is dark with rain clouds. It would be great if it rained. I do have to walk 1lm uphill to another school to teach though ... but rain is always welcome.

One great piece of news: Tel Aviv municipality has banned all plastic utensils in schools. What a great move! Hopefully other cities will follow the example. But I'm not counting on Jerusalem to do that. Jerusalem lives by its own rules.

My health is on a plateau now. Mostly stable. Even my right ankle has stopped hurting. It's only old age that's impeding normal work ... walking long distances, climbing stairs ... all have become very difficult. It's part of life, I guess.

Day after

Police stop and
search youths

The tension from yesterday's stabbing attack still lingers. Police are on heightened alert in and around the Old City. Arab youths - male and female - are stopped and searched any and everywhere. It makes freedom of movement alot more uncomfortable and scary. There's always a consequence which we living here have to pay ... from actions committed by people who live outside our City. We detest that ... believe me .. even the local muslims detest that. We don't want problems ... we just want to pass one day without trouble.

We'll just have to grit our teeth and tolerate the next few days.

Meantime the weather has really turned cold. Last night was 13 degrees and I had 2 heaters turned on. Soon I'll have to get my winter clothes out. I only wish it would rain more. We need to overcome this drought with a significant downpour.

I'm feeling much better ... much less coughing, no more pains in the joints, no more fever. But alot more other guys are very sick. They say it's a virus going wildly round. Well I'm glad I'm well over it and getting back to normal work routine.

Police at Damascus Gate

I just realized what a packed schedule I have in November. A visiting professor is sick and unable to teach at the African Missionaries' institute and I was asked to substitute in the mornings. In the afternoons a group of students and professors from the U. of S. Africa has requested a course of 2 weeks from me. Added to this are my usual english classes and Bible classes around the world. It's going to be a tough juggling act. And I will be very exhausted. I must organize my time and energy well so I won't tire myself.

Events in neighboring Lebanon is troubling ... now that the PM is resigning, it'll leave a political vacuum which hardline islamist might take advantage. Not good news for us.

Terror attaempt

Crowds gathering in front of police
station

I could hear police and ambulance sirens blaring at 3.45pm from my office. But I didn't go out till an hour later. People were telling of the chaos in the streets ... police blocking roads, cars crashing into one another, tram crashing into cars ... well nothing of that when I went out of my office on the way home. But the roads were all closed and the traffic jam was unbelievable. Something serious must have happened. Police at every corner ... anyone looking below 25 yrs old were stopped and checked. 4 mounted police paced up and down Damascus Gate. Crowds walked quickly to avoid the police or any clash.

Police at Damascus Gate roundabout

I walked down Herod's Gate and there were crowds gathering around the police station. No chants or protests ... just crowds waiting for something to happen. And there were lots and lots of police there. Inside Herod's Gate, another large group of police stopped and checked every youth, male or female, going in or out. It was very tense. No one spoke in a loud voice as they usually do in my neighbourhood. Just scurrying to avoid being stopped by the police. I asked some locals I know, what happened and there were many versions of the story. Apparently an arab youth on a bicycle tried to stab a police at Bab Hutta (near St. Anne's Church). He was shot by the police. A rapid search led to the arrest of 2 other youths believed to be collaborators. Well the hunt continues and I believe in the night the police will be raiding homes. Very tense.  https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Stabbing-attack-in-the-Old-City-in-Jerusalem-Report-606077

The storm yesterday has led to a profusion of flying ants along the coastal cities. Newspapers are talking about an invasion. Well here in Jerusalem I've not see flying ants since 30 years back ... that's how dry it's been. Give me rain! Give me flying ants! Our poor geckos are starving!!   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5614708,00.html

After the storm

Tel Aviv lightening (photo by N.B.
from Facebook

The medicine came with a bang ... but on in Jerusalem. Gaza was struck early and remains in a state of emergency. A couple of hours later Tel Aviv was hit. Lots of spectacular thunder and lightning over the city and heavy rain. There's a lot of photos of the electric storm on social media and I've included one photo downloaded from FB.

Our guys in Jaffa sent messages to say the storm was tremendous.  But like I predicted, the medicine travels only on flatland. It could not climb the western mountains where Jerusalem is situated ... so we had only very dark skies and drizzle. Still it was good that some water was falling because it cleaned the skies and the thirsty ground soaked every drop after 8 months of hot dry weather.

My ankle is hurting so much I'm limping today. My cough is still around but not as bad as last week. I'm off the antibiotics so that's good. People have been saying that I was very bloated and swollen in the face and hands when I took the antibiotics.

News is flashing that ISIS leader in Syria was killed. I don't know what consequences that would entail ... so let's hope it will not be negative for the surrounding region, such as revenge attacks on christians and other minorities.

Safra Square today

One positive thing yesterday was a phone call from my former student now in India. He was recounting his work and I was very proud of him. Later in the night another student in Puerto Rico messaged me as well. It was good to chat with him too. It seemed only a short time ago when they were my students studying my courses and writing their theses ... now they're ordained and leaders in their own institutions.  

This morning I decided to take a long walk around the New City with our filipino and armenian students. It was a good break from all the work and preparation for exams. The weather was cool and there were lots of people in streets. The after-storm effect was great for Jerusalem though I imagine in Gaza and other coastal cities, it's a day cleaning up the debris that the storm had wrecked.

Medicane

Dark sky at 8am

A rare and strange meteorological phenomenon is forming to the west .... a mediterranean hurricane known as a medicane. It's whipping up winds of up to 70km per hour and will bring heavy rains. People in the central and south of the country are warned of possible flooding, electric shortages ... so they have to stock up on food and water. Gaza has already declared a state of emergency. All roads in the southern desert are closed.  Here in Jerusalem the sky is very dark but it's only drizzling. We expect the medicane to strike at 2pm but it might also not happen because jerusalem is high up in the mountains and hurricanes cannot travel uphill. It'll probably skirt around our mountains. Still I think it's a great experience if it does come. I've put all my flowerpots on the ground so they don't get blown down and smashed.

2pm came and went ... there was no hurricane in Jerusalem though Egypt and Gaza was battered. The sky is very dark and the drizzle is heavy but not hurricane level. Still it's lovely to hear the pattering of raindrops ... and the dry thirsty ground is soaking in the water. I took advantage of this perfect weather to plant the numerous Calla lily bulbs that I dug up from an old pot. Managed to plant the margarita daisies from the MC sisters in a huge flat pot. That's quite a lot of work in the drizzle while I'm still coughing from my bronchitis, though I'm getting better.

Public pigeons eating before the storm

This storm was quite something in the southern border ... but nothing like the political storm right now. The elected candidates cannot form a new govt and everyone dreads having to go back to the polls .... for the 3rd time. It's very bad because it shows instability in the leadership and govt ... thus opening the country to outside attacks. The military now must be on its toes and exercise judicious execution of its role now that the political entities are deadlocked and impotent. This is what I call implosion at its worst.

I'm going to sleep early ... enjoying the rain and cool weather. It's a rare treat.

Weekend again

Autumn leaves

Autumn is always short here. A couple of weeks and then winter starts. The trees are losing their leaves ... some are already half bare. Creepers change colour ... deep red. Amazing. Our passionfruit has suddenly produced 12 fruit ... but it will not last because temp. have dropped and other neighbouring passionfruit vines have already died.

Yes temp. have dropped quite a lot. Early this morning at 4am (it's the coldest part of the day) it was so cold I had use a blanket to keep warm. In fact I even had to turn on the heater for an hour. I can imagine what it will be like in December and January when it rains and snows. This afternoon we had a sudden shower and it stopped just as suddenly. News reports are warning of a fierce storm tomorrow. Warnings about flooding and falling debris have been published. I wonder if I should go out tomorrow morning because I must preach a retreat. we'll play by ear. Right now the sky is red ... a sure sign that rain will come.

Cloudy cold sunset

My day was filled with work in the morning, class at midday and then more work in the afternoon proof-editing articles. It takes a lot of concentration because I need to understand what is being written before correcting the text. It's not merely grammatical mistakes but a correction of style. By 5pm my mind was blocked. Too tired. Guess I'll go to sleep early.

The weekly Gaza protest at the border had been quite tranquil the past weeks ... till today. Reports say 77 have been injured by Israeli fire. Well a strong rainstorm will certainly deter any protest and keep everyone home ... what politics and military cannot do, Mother Nature can and will.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-israeli-army-wounds-50-confronting-weekly-gaza-border-protest-1.8026955?fbclid=IwAR30iK2MhbI_4A8AfSnuNDDu3zFfo54FAs_prZvpZN97_rYh5kPeq9JcKAk

Meantime army chiefs are warning of a precarious northern border which could lead to war.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-chief-unveils-plan-for-massive-overhaul-of-israeli-military/?fbclid=IwAR27L6PKQ-YQS3H-5mnOl7xpkxmuATvvrxyqLci3yh2eb-zh3rURr2hIHBE

My

Update

Students photographing 

It was a very busy 2 days yesterday and today. Yesterday was class morning and afternoon ... and today it's class again in the afternoon. It can be very exhausting when you have to concentrate on students who don't seem to understand the material. Students nowadays don't take notes. They record my talks and photograph whatever I write on the whiteboard. Technology. I avoid giving printed notes to my students as I want them to listen attentively. But with smartphones doing all the job, I guess I'll have to change methodology.

Crowds around the Empty Tomb

This morning I made a visit to the Holy Sepulchre. A visiting prof wanted to know more so I brought him around the basilica. It was a nice visit .... leisurely and informative. There were crowds there but not as much as the previous weeks. The tourist boom will turn up near Christmas time.

Unease is spreading around the country as Israel gathers anti-missile batteries and discuss plans for a drone attack from Iran. The threat is real but we're not sure how eventual it will be.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5611722,00.html?fbclid=IwAR2ImuxDhhIiboBpYL_Oozk62FP8taDh3CJFVyRI_yRRTE0HiOZN2KYr8Mg

And the power of the rabbis are incontestable .... here's a report on the holiday of Simhat Torah when no work is allowed. A city was left in the darkness when an electric cable snapped. The residents had no food, lights or aircon because the repairmen couldn't come to repair it ... because the City's rabbi forbade any work to be done.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5611265,00.html?fbclid=IwAR0eKA-6La7D25P_g-Pvp1f1uBcVWVbrLDjTRGSQRTD-jp1GxT_wB8c887M

Stromata

Kids' concert at Zion Square

Yesterday was the last day of Sukkoth. As soon as the feast ended at sunset, a new feast immediately began: Simhat Torah "joy of the Torah". its a celebration of the start of a new cycle of Torah study beginning with Genesis 1:1. It's a very joyful feast and jews dance and sing while carrying the Torah scrolls. Our streets were closed off to traffic due to the massive crowds of jews going to the Wailing Wall to celebrate the feast last night. I went out to see the celebrations but the crowds were so big and security was so super tight I couldn't even get pass the 3rd Station. So I decided to go out of the Old City instead and enjoyed the breeze at Damascus Gate. It was just as crowded there ... but there was more space to mill around. Music and concerts were everywhere in the New City. Young and old were enjoying themselves.

I had a tiring day though ... beginning with class at 4am and then presiding at the conventual Mass. At 8am I had to prevent the Library's use and rules to the new students, then a hurry to the other library to help out as only one worker was at work. At 10am another class till 12pm, then a mad rush back home to the university library because there were no workers during the lunch break. The evening walk was a good break and the cool winter wind was a great help.

Bus to Bethlehem

This morning I had to leave early for Bethlehem to bring food and medicine to the MC sisters serving the poor in the area. After a bible conference and Mass, I rushed back home to preside at lunch prayers. By then my fever returned and my wheezing became very bad. Everyone told me to rest instead of going back to work. So I did. I really feel sick. The course of antibiotics ended last night but it doesn't seem to work.

News these 2 days is all about the massive protests in Lebanon and Catalan. Now it's in Bolivia and Chile. Everyone could not help but see a connection with these and Hong Kong. An Al Jazeera discussion panal attributed social media in emboldening these other countries after the example seen in Hong Kong. Well ... if only charity and tolerance can spread just as easily.

Of flowers and booths

Bouquets in our
chapel today

It was a lovely Sunday morning ... a rare event. Though it's my turn to lead prayers, presided at community Mass and serve at table, it started off well because no one came for Mass this morning except our 3 sisters, 1 seminarian and 2 religious from Ecce Homo convent. That's because at 5pm today there's a golden jubilee celebration and everyone is going for that. Celebrating Sunday Mass for 5 people means I can preach easily without the tension of having to preach in front of professors and dottorandi. And I celebrate always in english and not italian. I kept the homily nice and short in my typical style ... 5 points in 5 phrases. The sisters sang hymns in english and we finished Mass happy and refreshed. I didn't have to celebrate the armenian Mass today.

Booths along Jaffa street

The weather was very pleasant and the seminarian and one of our students, a filipino priest, wanted to go and check out guitars and harps and asked me to accompany them. I loved to ... but I first had to go to the florist to order 7 bouquets of flowers for our chapel for the golden jubilee Mass. It costs over 500 shekels and I had to pick them up at 3.30pm. Then crossing 2.5km from East Jerusalem to West Jerusalem, I met up with the other two and walked another good 1.5km to the music shop. They made their enquiries and tried out a few instruments. They are very good guitarists. But they didn't buy any though. Instead we walked down Ben Yehuda Mall and had brunch at New Deli which is a sandwich place. It was a nice occasion to relax and chat and we all felt good. That's what Sunday should be. Along the way we saw lot and lots of sukkoth (booths or huts) on the streets. Each restaurant and eatery has one. That's because jews for the 8 days of the feast of Sukkoth (Tabernacles is the usual name but it's a very odd term. It actually means booths or huts), jews must eat their meals in them.

In the afternoon I had to go with our doorman's son riding on his tuk-tuk (golf cart) to collect the 7 bouquets of flowers. 3 of them were quite large and 4 were very small for the 4 side altars. I was rather pleased that the florist did a good job. But riding on a golf cart on the main road with 3 boxes of flowers and one on my lap, going down and up the Kidron Valley was not at all fun.

I on the other hand am getting better. I had a fever attack during Mass but only that one time. My cough is less violent and on the whole I feel much better than yesterday. Maybe a work-less, relaxed Sunday with good company is what I need to get well.

On the homefront, reports are coming in that Jewish extremist settlers have attacked Israeli soldiers.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5610159,00.html?fbclid=IwAR0oDEJKZFwUJ26CyUWmCJHI1u4DZcrYsZEm9tFXEBqpv6-2PYaVneASWSc

Weekend

Grapes for harvesting

What a week of protests! News from Hong Kong has practically died out in the media ... but massive demonstrations in Lebanon and Catalonia are grabbing the news. Locally we're nervous when there's a regime change in Lebanon ... any instability there could have ramifications here in Israel. And yes ... even locally we've had our share of rowdy crowds. 2 days back a huge riot brought out when ultra-orthodox youths began attacking police ... apparently some were under the influence of alcohol while celebrating the Sukkoth feast. They blocked the main roads and attacked arabs and even the police who came to control the situation.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-hundreds-of-ultra-orthodox-teens-attack-palestinians-in-jerusalem-1.8003161?fbclid=IwAR3m_fh81Gawuq3Uc-A3h_T4vOZ_Yp_MP6n7wVtRUwym0GEbqfMAfKUIiPI
and
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Violent-clashes-between-Haredi-youth-and-police-in-Jerusalem-604909?fbclid=IwAR2ASDAnybxWeQmIPKUoAhSYKs10dnjJyTrj0Nbsm3x4b-EAyseXENPi19A

It's the olive harvest now and news reports say extremist settlers have attacked arabs and jewish rabbis who helped in harvesting the olives. It does spoil the meaning of Sukkoth, just violence.  https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Palestinians-Rabbis-attacked-allegedly-by-Jewish-extremists-in-Burin-604859?fbclid=IwAR1h038jvWQ4MvlEi9KulQ30Q8t8mSO-O226otdZg6R_tRqGLppB41OlNVA

Beggars on Friday

My health is getting better with the medication. The fever only came twice today but I'm still coughing badly. And my sprained back still hurts. But I've survived the week. Today being Saturday and eve of the final day of Sukkoth, police presence was heightened in and around the Old City. I didn't go out all day as the doc told me to avoid crowds. But after dinner I needed some fresh air so I walked to the bakery to buy bread for tomorrow's breakfast ... and the there was a cool breeze blowing. Lovely autumn weather. Now if only it would rain.

Sunsets and roses

Sunrise today

The weekend has begun. The Sabbat siren just sounded. It will be a long weekend because when Sabbat ends tomorrow night, the last day of Sukkoth begins. It's a solemn day so no work is allowed for 24 hrs. That means Sunday is like Sabbat ... everything closed. Things should get back to normal by Monday but that is another feast day ... Simchat Torah. Shops will reopen but most people won't as it's a very happy feast and people will want to extend their long weekend.

Daisies & roses

Me? I plan to rest as I recover from my bronchitis. The antibiotics are quite strong. Makes me very sleepy. I was working today till noon then I had to rush back home to deal with the other library because we have a new volunteer and everyone else wasn't working. I had to be trainer.

Work ended at 5pm and I am mentally exhausted ... not to mention very sleepy as the antibiotic is working hard. My fever has gone down for most of the time, but my cough is still very bad. It chokes me and makes me blackout. So I look forward to going to bed where I feel safe.  If I do blackout, I won't fall and break my head on the stairs or bookshelves.

The weather has changed. Very chilly at nights and lots of dew in the mornings. That's great for autumn flowers. The roses and the margaritas in the MC convent are flourishing profusely. It makes autumn very memorable ... the sights and smells of the garden.

On the homefront, the nation is still trying to grasp the consequences of Trump's pullout from Syria. The fear of Russia and Iran's rise in the US vacuum is a reality and everyone in our region needs to start planning for alternative policies. Scary.

Crowds and fests

Packed street at noon

It's the 4th day of Sukkoth .. and the annual Jerusalem March took place at 8am with thousands of protestant christians participating. They believe they must come for Sukkoth because the prophet Zechariah in 14:16 said that all the pagans will come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Sukkoth and then the Messiah will come. All major roads in the City were closed for this march ... and this year it was more of a festival than a religious march mainly  because the ultra-orthodox jews oppose this march claiming it's christianizing their jewish feast. The govt on the other hand wants the tourist money so it's gone ahead with the parade. I had to go and pick up some leftover food from Mian restaurant and at the Jaffa Street crossroads, there was a huge crowd of people milling around. It was after the parade.

International Food fest

I'm still not feeling well but the antibiotics have started kicking in. My temp fell by late afternoon and also the headache. But I'm still coughing badly and wheezing. It's definitely a virus going around as I'm not the only one with these symptoms. I really hope I'll get better tomorrow. It feels so miserable to be so sick in bed all day.

The China and Far East stalls

Despite losing my voice I gave a conference to the MC sisters and then confession but left immediately because I had a backlog of 3 days' work. Having done some after an hour, I decided to get some fresh air .... only to find there's an international food and beer fest along the western City wall. It was very crowded. And it wasn't anything to rave over .... mediocre fast food. But it's a nice change of cuisine for the Sukkoth festival for many locals. I enjoyed the lights and the fresh air ... my lungs cleared up a bit. Now it's back to bed because tomorrow it'll be a heavy day.

Priestly blessing

Baby & dad at the
blessing

Today is the 3rd day of Sukkoth ... and the annual Priestly Blessing took place at the Wialing Wall with thousands of jews and tourists in attendance. Security was tight ... even a helicopter was circling overhead while the blessing was given. Around me were families, old and young ... seculars and religious. The whole range of israeli society was there ... united not by ideology or politics or even religious denominations ... but all united by the ancient tribe of priests (levitical tribe) who gave the blessing everyday in the Temple 2000 years ago. It's the blessing of Aaron taught by God ... given only by the priestly families. Without the temple, the priests no longer have a job of sacrificing and playing music and lighting the lamps ... so nowadays the only priestly exercise they do is give the blessing. And I make it a point to participate every year. Remembered all of you at the blessing.

Waving the 4 species
of plants

Those who could afford, carried the 4 species of plants dictated by the Torah for this feast. It's the palm frond, the myrtle, the willow and the etrog (citron). It's very expensive nowadays and many families cannot afford it. The jews would hold them together and shake them at the 4 directions of the earth as well as up and down. It's not biblical but a rabbinic tradition. They call it "waving" the 4 species though technically it's shaking them.

Yes ... even though I'm still very sick today, I made it to the Wailing Wall for the blessing. There was a new dad with a very small baby ... like 2 or 3 months ... all wrapped up under the father's prayer shawl. It was a very tender image. And it was the 1st blessing the baby received from the priests.

I went to the doc's after the blessing ... and he insisted on antibiotics which I'm reluctant to take. Anyway I gave in because last night the fever was very high and the pain was terrible ... I couldn't sleep. I've been drinking lots of water and milk to cool my throat. Now I'm on paracetamol to control the fever and pain, and antibiotics to clear my lungs. That means lots of sleep as the medicine make me drowsy.

Lightning storm

Rain!!

What a show it was yesterday night! At 11pm the sky over Jerusalem flashed with hundreds of lightning for an hour. And the thunder was loud. I was woken up by the celestial show and could not sleep as it was so unexpected and incredible. This morning there were so many amazing pictures of the lightening storm on social media. And being the first day of Sukkot, there were some jews who slept in those wooden huts but had to go back to the safety of their homes others they might be struck by lightning.  https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sukkah-sleepers-soaked-by-thunderstorms-throughout-Israel-604672?fbclid=IwAR1depDOlqk5H7LQgZlchn4EeLyf3yWJuP9YQTx7z9F6mQXsL9RRaGoD24w

Rain on lemon trees and passionfruit

Right now a heavy rainstorm just started. It feels so good to hear rain pattering on the window again. It's such a rarity for us in these past 15 years of drought. News coming in says it'll rain for only 1 hr and then it'll be clear again. I'll enjoy this one hour. Raindrops trickling down my windowpane .... incredible. The plants in the courtyard are all bathed in the rain. The ground smells musty as the rain soak into the hot dry stones.

My bronchitis is not improving. My cough is worse and sore throat is so painful. My head is so painful. And my fever has not subsided. And my joints are aching as well. I don't want to take antibiotics. Just drinking lots of water. People are saying it's a virus going around ... and it's true many people are sick for the past 3 weeks. I've spent the whole day in bed. The body is aching too much to move around. So I'll stay in bed and enjoy the rain.

Sick

Schindler's tomb

It's Monday ... meaning I have to be up at 3am (solar time) to prepare for class. I was running a fever and having a dreadful cough. The fever continue all afternoon. By 4pm I went to see the doc round the corner from the 5th Station. He said it's bronchitis and I need an extra dose of Seretide besides the daily dosage I use; then antibiotics for a week ... plus an injection. It shouldn't really hurt ... except that he's an old man with beginning Parkinsons. His shaking hands and the syringe become quite a frightening and painful experience. I'm hoping to rest and sleep today.

Last week many jews came to our Catholic cemetery on Mt. Zion. They came to visit the tomb of Oscar Schindler ... of Schindler's List fame. Yes he's buried here in Jerusalem and he was a catholic. He died on Oct 9th 1974. Descendants of those he saved and one last survivor from his List came to pray and remember and thank Schindler. It was very moving. He was not a perfect man ... far from it ... but for that one courageous act in saving 1,200 jews, he is remembered as righteous and worthy of commemoration in jewish history.

And it's Sukkoth today. I've been only to work 1km away and not entered the jewish side of the City s I don't know what's happening. I just hope nothing serious will erupt in the following days.

Stromata

It's extremely worrying that the turkish attack into syria has led to the escape of ISIS prisoners. This is bad news as they will regroup and restart their oppression and violence. Meantime news is also coming in from syrian bishops saying turkey has bombed churches and christian houses. It is so terrible. The consequences will be dire for the surrounding region. Yesterday hundreds of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv against the turkish attack.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articlesrkish attack./0,7340,L-5606796,00.html?fbclid=IwAR3thZWq3meZ24hTCmPwhPflkOK0HjSDCIgV6-9uh1cIvznBeqWDPIw_t6E

Grotto of St. Joseph at MC convent

Sukkoth begins this evening ... the country will stop for 24 hrs. Only the arab towns and palestine will continue with daily life. The feast lasts for 8 days and while most shop reopen on the 3rd day till the 7th, there are many other services that close down totally. If we need anything, we'll have to go to East Jerusalem - the arab side of the City. On the 3rd day of Sukkoth, jewish priests will gather at the Wailing Wall to give the ancient blessing. It's quite an experience. I make it a point to attend.

5 or 6 new students have arrived and settling down in our house. Now it's introducing them to the house rules and obligations. It's difficult for some as being a university community, we're quite regulated and disciplined.

Here's a lovely photo of the grotto of St. Joseph at the MC convent. We're praying that St. Joseph the protector of families will protect our christians and other minorities in Syria from turkey and ISIS.

Worries

Bus to Bethlehem

Another busy day with Mass at 6am in the Holy Sepulchre followed by class and 2 more hours with students writing their thesis. Then a quick rush home to meet the chinese community. Accompanied them to make the Way of the Cross and ended at 4pm. Then accompanied 2 migrant workers cutting with them. It was good to get away from books for once and do some pastoral work with people.

,,, And chat with everyone was centered on if a war would break out... or an earthquake ... and what to do if it does. Not very uplifting talk but it seems to be bothering all of them. And of course everyone is talking also about Trump abandoning the Kurds. Armenian christians in Syria have been posting photos and news of Turkey's bombardment, killing many christians. It's horrific.

Well the border with Palestine ha been closed this afternoon in anticipation of tomorrow's start of Sukkoth. A lot of inconveniences for workers ... and us.  Buses and all transport to and from Palestine are stopped. Only tourist coaches can pass through. But that's not my worry. What I'm most worried is the possible violence that will break out between muslims and jews. The past 3 years were calm ... but we can't take that for granted.

Soto Ayam

It's Friday and what a hectic day it was. Having forgotten to prepare the weekly salary of our cleaning lady in the Central Library, I went to the office at 5am. Prepared the money in an envelope and then did some cataloguing before returning home at 7am. Then it was preparation for 2 meetings at 10am and 11am on emergency procedures should there be an earthquake, fire or missile attack. It's an annual drill I conduct in the university library every year for staff and students/profs alike.

Soto Ayam dinner

Immediately after that I accompanied an indonesian family that came for a visit. Did the Way of the Cross. At the final stations in the Holy Sepulchre we met 2 exchange singaporean students and they tagged along for the rest of the afternoon. At 5pm while still in the Basilica, got a call from the MC sisters asking where I was because I should have gone to their convent for confessions and adoration at 4.30pm. It was a mad rush to their convent and everything ended at 7pm. A total of 14 hours non-stop work. Am totally exhausted. My feet are swollen. And my sprained back was hurting. But it was fun to be in asian company again ... a lot of local jokes.

One consolation ... the indonesian family cooked soto ayam for me. It was delicious. It had homemade ketupat as well. I ate it for dinner when I got home at 7.30pm and shared it with our indonesian student. What a treat!

Yesterday there were scuffles inside the Al Aqsa compound when police arrested 5 muslims and removed several furniture form a disputed hall. We expected demonstrations today but despite the fiery sermon preached by the imam, nothing resulted. Let's just hope this continues throughout the Sukkoth holidays.  https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israeli-police-arrest-5-Palestinians-at-Temple-Mount-gate-report-604159?fbclid=IwAR3ErR2yQ2JQZtkHjd6lj16OB8qUHsyv7Kbq0RhypTOECLuTaCYF49kZerQ

New day

Sunrise today

The turkish incursion into Syria is terrible ... and is causing ripples of dismay if not fear around our region, not least Israel. Thousands of christian and yezidi and Mandean refugees under Kurdish protection are now open to attacks ... by turks and ISIS.  If Trump could so easily dump the Kurdish allies after so much suffering .... no one is harboring any illusions that America will always have Israel's back. Time to have backup plans. Just received news that 3 have died by turkish fire ... including a baby.

School has started .... 2nd day today. Already the tables in the library are half filled and within the coming week, all will be filled. I need to put up rules to free up some tables otherwise many students will not be able to study. So much logistics to consider ... it's giving me a headache trying to fulfill everyone's requests. Added to this, the jewish holidays have deprived me of workers living in Palestine because the borders are closed ... and those who can come are sick.

Sunset today

Soon the feast of Sukkoth will start and everything will close down again ... some for 8 days. I've been warning our students living in Palestine to look for lodging in Jerusalem during this time otherwise they will miss school for a week ... the borders being closed for the week.

I sprained my back a 2nd time ... it put me back in bed for a day. But I've learned to adjust my position to relieve the pain so I can walk and work again. Adaptation is the key to survival.

Reparation day

Mounted police at Damascus Gate

It's Yom Kippur today ... popularly known as Day of Atonement but more properly Day of Reparation. All public activities stopped by 3pm yesterday and at sunset the whole country was silent. No cars in the street ... the only day in the year when the streets are totally empty of traffic. Its a day when israelis go out in bikes ... not to go anyway but simple to enjoy the empty streets. Along the City walls of the Old City, the main street was also empty of cars except for police cars and police motorbikes and mounted police. It was eerie. Some families of jews walked home from prayers at the Wailing Wall ... talking softly. Some were barefoot to show repentance.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-shuts-down-for-yom-kippur-2/?fbclid=IwAR3X4JM7UNBc6PJD7eBJQOYBDvVLRL-s_5A_IccutI9POOKebPh9x2hC160

On the eastern/arab side of the City, life was as usual last night. Kebab sellers were roasting in the streets and people continued to loiter around in the chill, enjoying the breeze. But this morning most arab shops were closed. Not because they observe Yom Kippur but because all the borders with Palestine are closed and shopkeepers living there cannot come to Jerusalem to open shop. Hence even East Jerusalem was also relatively quiet.

Only police cars on the streets

Closure of the borders meant that our workers living in Palestine could not come to work. I was rushing between the 2 libraries because both were short of workers due to the closure. Then those workers who have Israeli citizenship have Yom Kippur as a compulsory day off. I could get no paper work done in our IT and Finance departments due to this. I'm quite afraid for next week when Sukkoth starts because the borders will be closed for a week. No workers for a week!!! I'll be working time and stretching to the limits.

School reopens

Ap. Admin. presides
at Mass

Yesterday was the inauguration of the new academic year. The opening Mass was presided by the Apostolic Administrator (who is also a franciscan and alumnus of our school). There's a bumper of new students this year in both the BA level and postgrad level. There're not enough rooms in our monasteries around Jerusalem so other convents and hostels have to take them in.

Yom Kippur begins tonight ... solemn day of fasting for the jews. Even most non-observant jews will fast at least on Yom Kippur. It's not simply for the atonement of sins, as what is commonly thought, but also the removal of sins and a consideration of the severe consequence of sins that this feast is all about. And it begins at sunset with a strange prayer called the Kol Nidre. It's a prayer which pre-empts any sins committed in the coming year regarding vows and promises made but cannot be fulfilled. It asks for pardon and forgiveness of all these future sins ... so it sounds like you can go ahead and make empty promises anyway. Well I'm sure it's not meant to be like that ... but it sure offer a loophole.

Felled palm branches

5 days from now is the feast of Sukkoth or booths or huts. Public palm trees have been cut so that the palm branches are given to poor jews who can't afford to buy them to build huts for the feast. For 8 days they must eat all their meals inside these huts. A lot of food sold in shops will be fruit and vegetable based reflecting the autumn harvest ... so that's good for me.

The whole country is in jitters as the utterly inconsistent Trump announced he's pulling US troops out of Syria, leaving the ally Kurds to be killed by Turkish troops. It's a betrayal ... after the Kurds supported the US troops fighting off ISIS. Now Trump pulls the rug off their feet. Everyone from both parties as well as around the world condemns Trump as ungrateful and disloyal to allies. Which makes Israel panic because now they realise they cannot count on Trump to watch their back. He will betray anyone anywhere anytime. Utterly immoral. View this in the context of Iran's growing threat in our region and you can understand why it's a scary situation.

After the rain

New 1st Station cast

It's the 1st Sunday after the feast of St. Francis and the 800th anniversary celebrations of Francis meeting the Sultan Al Malik in Damietta. The past 3 days celebrations was not all over yet. This morning new iron casts of the Way of the Cross were fixed on each of the Stations and blessed in a procession by the Custos and the friars this morning. I couldn't join in as I was celebrating the Armenian Mass at that time.

When Mass ended, I had to go to my office 1km uphill to meet a needy family that couldn't pay its rent. Then M. Teresa's sisters came to collect the last instalment of vitamins, first aid kits and clothe for Syria. It was a lot and the  2 sisters couldn't damage. luckily some Salesian seminarians passed by and helped the sisters carry the huge boxes and sacks to their convent 700m downhill.

Bernese Mountain
dog

After that I went to Jungle petshop to buy Buddy and JJ their mixed-seed food. It was sunny and cool so the walk was very pleasant. At the shop there was a huge Bernese Mountain dog ... it's thick fur had lice so he was given a shampoo. Throughout the process he was very calm. I liked it. Unfortunately I have no room to keep a dog ... so I have to settle with Buddy and JJ. And believe me, they are more demanding than a dog.

It's been the 3rd night that I've slept only 3 hours. I'm very exhausted from this. I'm hoping tomorrow to be better as I don't have class. My sprained back is over and I can walk ... though my left ankle as usual hurts whenever the weather changes.

Yesterday's unexpected rain is still hitting the headlines ... and the southernmost city of Eilat saw rain today. Really strange weather we're having.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5603154,00.html

1st rain of winter

Rain ... and my plants are happy

It rained this afternoon. The first rain of winter. It started with large drizzle and then heavy drops. Then it rained with thunder rolling ... for over an hour. What a great start to winter. The wind was chilly and the damp ground smelt nice. The hot dry ground was cooled by rain.

However for the jews it's a bad sign ... a sign that God is displeased. It should only rain after Sukkoth which is a week from now. Now is the harvest season which climaxes with Sukkoth. To rain now will render the fruit harvest rotten by the rains. It's therefore seen as a punishment by God.

Profession rite this morning

Earlier this morning we had the solemn profession of 4 of our friars. Great event as their families from Latin America, Syria and Italy came. The church was packed. This year like last year, we have a bumper group of seminarians ... 22 new ones plus 3 who have returned from their apostolic year. There's no more room in the seminary and the classrooms are overcrowded. That's a good sign for us ... but for the seminarians we must try to provide sufficient food and lodging and study materials for them all. I think the total number of seminarians are 80 plus.

I had to go to our house in Jaffa for a job. Woke up at 3am and left home at 4.45am ... luckily there was no traffic in the highway as it's the Sabbath. Reached there at 6.10am and rushed to get my job done. The rest of the friars were ready to go to Jerusalem for the solemn profession so I went back with them. It was a short stay for such a long journey ... one hour and a half to get there ... another hour and a half to get back ... but only one hour there to finish my job. Hope I get to stay a little longer next time ... to rest.

Francis Day

Statue, relic & Rule of
St. Francis at St. Saviour
church

It's the feast day of St. Francis. There was a pontifical Mass presided by Cardinal Sandri with 6 bishops, Custos and abbot. Lots of religious and laity in attendance. The entire liturgy was broadcast live over the Internet. Very impressive event ... the cardinal came to represent the Pope on this 800th anniversary of St. Francis meeting the Caliph Al Malik of Damietta (Egypt) who ruled the Holy Land at that time (1219).

I had Mass with the M. Teresa sisters at 6.30am so I didn't join in the pontifical event. But it was quite a night. Was awaken at 1.30am by loud banging on a door or wall. I thought someone was stuck in the library elevator (yes we have night scholars who do research in the dead of night) so I went to check all 5 floors. No one inside. The banging stopped but I couldn't go back to sleep. At 4am I had to go buy barley loaves for breakfast and there ... as I opened our main gate, stood an indian priest with 2 luggages. He had been waiting and banging on our door all night. Too bad for him because he never informed anyone in our house he was coming. And he wasn't meant for our house anyway ... he should have gone to our house 2 kms away but he never had an address nor a telephone number to call. Big time drama. Anyway we gave him a room to sleep and later in the afternoon we had to bring him to the other house where he should be staying.

Paper & sackcloth effigy & card

Then later I tried to rest but was called to do odd jobs as one of our workers reported sick. At 4pm I had to back to the MC convent for adoration, confession and Bible conference. The sisters made a small paper cutting of me and a feast day card ... all in sackcloth and paper. Very creative. Anyway it ended at 7pm and I walked home through the long way in order to avoid the road where muslims can attack me. However the streets in the other part of the Muslim Quarter has few street lights. There're lots of stairs and going downhill in the dark is dangerous. So if I don't get killed by muslims, I'll die breaking my neck falling down the dark stepped streets of Herod's Gate. What a way to end the feast day.

Transitus

Transitus in candle-light

Today is the Transitus or Passing of St. Francis which we celebrate in the evening. For 800 years it's been the same moving liturgy ... the reading of the last hours of St. Francis' life ... the singing of the Canticle of the Sun, the lights are turned off leaving only the candle-light in our hands as we sing the ancient hymn to send the soul of St. Francis to heaven O Sanctissima Anima and the final when all the sons and daughters of St. Francis hail as our common father. It's very moving.

The special altar to St. Francis' relic was created by an italian artiste and the Custos who presided over the liturgy blessed everyone with the relic. The Church of St. Savior was packed to standing room only.

The Custos gives the blessing

Our young friars ... 26 of them ... renewed their profession during the liturgy. This year again we have  an abundant flow of vocations and our seminaries are full to over capacity. There's been so many young vocations that we had to divide the seminary into 2 locations and now even that's not enough so we have to house some of our seminarians in the guest-house. That good and hopeful sign.

After 2 days in bed, my sprained back is alot better. I managed to walk and stand ... so I slowly made my way to St. Saviour's for the Transitus. It was worth it. Now it's time to go home slowly ... and rest till tomorrow for the feast.