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.