Weekend

In a surprising turn of events, there has been no demonstrations or clashes at the Gaza border for the 3rd Friday in succession. Reports say that the Gaza and Israeli goats are holding talks ... possibly also of exchanging prisoners. This could spell a new beginning and calm the tensions in the northern border as well. Let's hope for the best.

However local arabs have been targeted by israeli extremists again, burning cars, destroying property and defacing with graffiti. It happened last week to another village. https://www.timesofisrael.com/car-torched-graffiti-daubed-in-suspected-hate-crime-in-palestinian-village/

14th Station at the Empty Tomb

Today I had a full-activity day ... starting with class and then accompanying the seminarians of the Patriarchate to visit the Holy Sepulchre. It was a fruitful trip and I hope that the seminarians learned something. I got them to join the daily procession as well ... and they had the chance to enter the Empty Tomb and also touch Mt. Calvary. The Friday Way of the Cross was crowded with people. After this excursion, I had to go to a hotel quite far from the City to visit a group. Yesterday I had Mass for another group because their priest couldn't make it. I could take these engagements gladly if not for the terrible pain on my right shoulder. It's been 3 days now and it's so painful I cannot even sleep. I might have to resort to painkillers now.

And the annual event of shark swarming is back in the headlines. With the winter cold, sharks begin to gather around the Herzliya power plant where warm water is pumped into the Mediterranean Sea. Most varieties are not dangerous to swimmers ... but there're now hammerhead sharks who can get temperamental. People have been warned not to enter the waters during dawn and dusk.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-sharks-have-returned-to-the-warm-waters-off-the-hadera-power-station/?fbclid=IwAR1IU22-86weFBJPT0VAJ32G-vapaSM-n1XH5vd71OiiMYcm0GIEY5P4DW4

And if you didn't believe me about the butter shortage in Israel ... read this  https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=476665&fbclid=IwAR0Nfv-BhKAtB5KWTARbQJxfBmJklir-roNGJk9Hg_6WXIOR383Ay49W0CY

Of blackouts and butter

Another blackout 

There's a kosher butter shortage in the country. Seriously. And it's making life difficult for many people. It's even gone all the way up to parliament. Then suddenly a bit of news surfaces with a photo showing lots of Israeli-made butter (kosher) in Los Angeles. I wonder why.

Things have cooled down relatively after the Day of Rage along the borders. There were no demonstrations and clashes. However Gaza did fire 2 rockets into Israel and Israel responded with air attacks. But that's in the south of the country. Police presence in and around the Old City has been reduced today though stop-and-search continues randomly when arab youths pass by major crossroads.

What is truly worrying though is the news coming out of Syria ... how the turks have been slaughtering the kurds. And the world is not even paying attention to it.And it's not just the kurds but the christian and other minority refugees hiding among the kurds who are also being killed. We feel so helpless here ... just receiving news of the latest deaths an killings of our christians there.

We've been hit with a series of blackouts these few weeks. It's not just the streets but entire blocks of residential areas that are reduced to darkness. Walking in the streets is hazardous as the paving stones are slippery and there're lots of steps and potholes. I guess I'll have to bring a torchlight soon as you never know where or when the next blackout hits.

Day off

School kids on excursion in Jaffa

Today the Palestinians called for a Day of Rage to protest against America's unilateral recognition of jewish settlements inside Palestine. There were clashes in several towns including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Tulkarm and southern Jerusalem. If I am not wrong, I read that the protest is to last one week. Not a nice start to Advent in Bethlehem where we have processions and solemn entrances into the Basilica. This is all too disturbing. Let's hope the palestinian authorities are not using our Advent as an opportunity to cause trouble to fit their agenda.

I decided to take a day off today. I was just too tired to do anything ... mentally I am exhausted. I cannot finish a sentence because I can't remember what to say. So early this morning at 4am, I packed my backpack and went to our Jaffa house. The new superior there was very kind to me and led me to a guest room he had prepared for me when I arrived at 6am. After Mass the community came to chat with me and I felt so much more relaxed. The sea breeze was warm and salty ... and the weather was balmy. About 17 degrees. That's almost 9 degrees warmer than Jerusalem. You can see the difference between Jerusalemites and Tel Avivians ... there I was in 3 layers of jackets and they were in T-shirts and shorts. School kids were out in the hundreds on excursion with their teachers. And tourists were everywhere.

old couple in the sunset

I met up with some Singaporean exchange students studying at Haifa University. They made the one-and-a-half hour journey to Tel Aviv and we had lunch together. Then we sat by the beach while they worked on their computer and I rested in the sunshine. Strange sight ... I was still in my winter pullovers while people were in swimming costumes. People stared, had a laugh ... and nodded to say they know ... I'm from Jerusalem. One thing that caught my attention at the beach though ... while people were soaking in the sun, many were working on their laptop computers. Walking past them, I saw that they were all working on documents and charts. Some people are so lucky! They can bring their work to the beach!!! And I took a photo of a lovely old couple sitting by the sunset ... magnificent scene.

Sunset

The journey home was tortuous though. By 4.30pm the sun had set, the traffic was dreadful as everyone was heading home. My bus was stuck in the jam for over 100 mins along the journey. Some people sitting behind me were losing their patience. Well they couldn't get off the bus along the highway so they had to sit it through. Anyway I got home safe and sound. A little refreshed by being away from work and demands ... my phone batteries died and I didn't bring my charger so I had no phone calls to disturb me all day. Divine intervention.

Christ the King feast

Christ the King ... tabernacle of the
Flagellation chapel

Yesterday was Christ the King feast. That's centred in our Chapel of the Flagellation and Coronation of Thorns. Here we recall Christ crowned with thorns and mocked as King of the Jews. The soldiers dressed him in a purple robe and bowed to him, giving him a reed as a sceptre. That's as real as it gets ... it took place here ... just 2 meters from my room.

I had to celebrate the Mass at the Armenian Catholic church as with every Sunday. But in the evening the Custos invited our entire community including our indian sisters, to pray vespers at St. Saviour Church (our custodial church) and then dinner  at the massive refectory there. Over 100 friars with 7 sisters attended. The refectory is so huge it's necessary to use a microphone to bless the food and grace after meals.

Cold quiet streets

I had hoped to spend the afternoon resting after 3 weeks of intensive courses. But the MC sisters called at noon asking me to bring them visit the Jewish Quarter. We visited the Cardo and several archeological sites and then I had to rush off to do my Sunday shopping in the New City before going to the Custody meeting mentioned above. My legs were like jelly as I was exhausted. Several other students also had to quickly do their shopping ... buying stationary for class; toiletries; food; even winter clothes. It's the only day we're free to buy these things as school takes up all our time for the next 6 days.

Saturday was the jewish memorial of the death of Sarah, wife of Abraham. She's buried in Hebron and thousands of jews converged to her grave. However it's an arab neighbourhood and several arabs including a baby were attacked by the visiting israeli crowd.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/over-a-dozen-palestinians-said-injured-by-israelis-in-hebron-over-weekend/?fbclid=IwAR0hnWR4l1uB9XaxHurq2dIUkdvwGMAQXfkZJwonUpbz5wrU8i4gKS7S3eU

Feastday

2nd year students

I was just out to buy bread for tomorrow's breakfast when I was almost runned down by a took took ... that's those mini-trucks made in China that's heavily used by merchants nowadays. It ran through the vegetable hawkers' boxes of fruit and ran over a small boy in front of me. Poor boy ... about 6 yrs old. Looked like his ankle or chin was broken. There is no law against the use of these tuk tuks ... and it's about time a law ban these vehicles on pedestrian malls. On my way back form buying bred ... at the same area but out on the road, 2 cars collided. There was a small crowd swirling around ... not sure if anyone was hurt but it caused a massive traffic jam down into Damascus Gate. What an awful evening.

Our armenian franciscan martyr

This morning started out early with Mass with my 2nd Year Theology students. It was a good gathering. I prepared breakfast for them and brought them up to our terrace for a panoramic view of the City and beyond. I think they enjoyed the morning out. Immediately after that I had to go preach a retreat for the Bethlehem sisters. Afternoon was spent cleaning my room at a leisurely pace. No stress today. I really needed to slow down and rest.

Yesterday we celebrated the feast day of our armenian friar Salvatore Lilli who was martyred with 7 other armenian laity. Armenia and Turkey were part of the Custody of the Holy Land till the turn of the century.

Newspapers have reported anti-arab vandalism in a northern arab village by extremist jews. Cars were burnt or defaced. I guess they have been emboldened by america's unilateral declaration of recognising settlements in Palestine.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-cars-torched-in-suspected-settler-hate-crime/?fbclid=IwAR0Vqr0NFzSYouiTNywcBPZgHf_5WoNtovf7KTJQtFxT-TwSTgLfkSThSpA

On a positive note, the first day of Tel Aviv running public buses on Sabbath has been a huge success. So many people used it that the municipality has decided then and there to increase services next Sabbath. That's a total opposite of the trial in Jerusalem ... which was a huge failure. That's because in Jerusalem the ultra-orthodox are numerous and observe rigorously the Sabbath. Secular jews are cowed.

Of seafood and classes

Fresh crabs!

There is a lull at the borders both north and south today.  And there were no clashes in our streets. It's quite a relief. I don't think I can handle another clash. All these tensions are tiring me and there're moments when I just feel like leaving.

It's Friday and this evening I went out to buy bread for tomorrow's breakfast. Seafood were again sold and being evening, it was going cheap. 3 kgs of anything for 50 shekels. I was tempted to buy some crabs and squid but realising I have no time to cook, I decided not to buy any. But one fine day I will. There were many indian and filipino migrant workers buying at this cheap price. It's affordable for these workers who are used to eating seafood back home, but here is expensive and rare to find because its not kosher.

Students taking photos of notes

This morning I finished teaching my course at the Sabbatical programme with the African missionaries. It was fun and there were several very bright participants who ask intelligent answers. One thing about modern students ... they don't take notes. They take photos of what I write on the whiteboard. Times have changed. I'm hoping to rest next week ... but we'll see. Work is continuously piling up and the last ting I need is a backlog.

The weekend has started. I'll sleep early as a reward for a job well done.

Stromata

Sunny cold day

Russia has waded into the israeli-syrian tit-for-tat bombings by exposing the operational details. That means Russia is seriously upset. I wonder where it'll all lead to. An escalation is the last thing everyone wants.

There was a raid into a muslim school inside the Al Aqsa compound yesterday by Israeli police. Students and teachers were escorted out of the building and school was closed for the rest of the day. Several arrests were made ... suspects of a terrorist movement using the school as a hideout. Tomorrow is Friday and we'll see if there'll be big scale demonstrations against the US recognition of jewish settlements inside Palestine, and the incursion into the muslim school. I don't look forward to anything violent as my door is along the road that's usually the venue for such demonstrations.

Locally a 3rd election is looming as no single party has succeeded in forming a coalition govt. Well let's hope for the best.

Seminarians in class

Weatherwise the day is sunny but cold. No winds though. I had to walk to Ratisbon which is 2kms away for a meeting at that school. It was a pleasant walk though strangely I've not seen any birds anywhere. Could it be the cold? I did have several jobs to do this morning ... and I had to quickly get them done in various offices because Thursday morning is the only time I am free. At 1pm I start classes with some latin american seminarians and then at 4pm to 7pm I'll have Mass and Bible conference with the MC sisters. Not as hectic as the previous days and weeks but nevertheless tiring. I'm not young anymore and I've noticeably slowed down alot. Multi-tasking is out.

Midweek freeze

Fresh seafood on sale in Musrara

Israel announced it bombed Damascus this morning as response of Syria bombing Israel yesterday. At least 11 are said to be killed. TV news are talking a lot about it. Last night security helicopters were hovering above us for most of the night. No idea why. But it certainly is making everyone nervous. Everyone in our neighbourhood is talking about it this morning. America's declaration of accepting settlements as legal is one flashpoint we're expecting to explode. Friday will be the watershed ... if the arabs will protest this unilateral american move. I've got classes on Friday so I'm not sure if I should cancel them ... I need to walk out for 1km to get to school.

Breaking with tradition and religious law, Tel Aviv will run buses on the Sabbath. Most Tel Avivians are secular so they will use the bus. Here in Jerusalem the scheme was scraped because there were not enough users.

And on the topic of kosher ... I saw fresh seafood sold in the open market at Musrara last weekend. People tell me they're brought in from Tel Aviv and other coastal cities every Friday. But its best to buy after 10am ... it's cheaper but less fresh. Cheaper is a keyword because seafood is very expensive. One crab is 47 shekels or about US$12.

The weather remains very cold. It was down to 7 degrees at 4am this morning. I've had 2 heaters turned on. I can imagine how much colder it will get in January and February when to rains and even snows. I must prepare myself.

Freeze

Cold empty streets last night

Syria fired 4 missiles into Israel this morning and reports are coming out that Israel struck near Damascus airport in response. While tensions are rising in the north ... the Gaza problem seems to have cooled down a lot. Never a dull moment here.

The temp has dropped drastically yesterday and we've reached 10 degrees in the nights. Daytime is 15 degrees but the wind is a lot colder. Scarves, woollen caps and thick winter jackets are worn by everyone. I caught a dreadful cold while going to class in the morning yesterday ... didn't wear enough. But today I'm prepared. 3 layers of clothes today. The sun is bright but it feels like 10 degrees. Yesterday's winds were very gusty. 2 people were injured by falling objects. It was very unexpected ... tis drop of temp. I'll have to start taking out my winter clothing. T-shirts are definitely out.

Strangely in this cold weather I'm not getting any pain in my ankle or wheezing. That's a good thing though I prefer summertime. I'm still very busy with classes. Yesterday I taught 8 hrs of classes in a row. Ended up like a zombie. Came home at 7pm and slept immediately ... a day starting at 2am.

Christmas is still a long way off but already shops are selling christmas decorations. It's unbelievable how merchants are catching the festive season to make money as much as possible. I'll do some window shopping though.

New week

Gusty cold wind at Palm Plaza

The ceasefire has certainly fallen apart as sporadic bombings continue on both sides of the border. But as I told my students at the White Fathers Sabbatical programme, we're in the safest place in Israel because we live next to the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Wailing Wall ... sacred sites to Judaism and Islam. No one would risk bombing either site ... and they're literally next to each other.

Politically a 3rd election is looming as the candidates of the last election fail to form a coalition govt. Locals don't look forward to it. And internationally it looks bad for the country as it shows the division and disunity in society.

And mind you ... here the war is nothing compared to the situation in Hong Kong. Entering a church to arrest people is against International Law on sanctuaries. It's a biblical law. And now I read that Sunday Mass was cancelled in Rosary Church as well. It doesn't look good.

Outdoor cafes at Jaffa Street

This morning I had another meeting with the UNISA profs. They wanted to see the library and museum. I was glad to see them again. Like I said, I feel at home when I am with them. UNISA was my intellectual home from 1990-1998. They offered me new horizons and approaches to old problems. I found an alternative from the traditional methods and perspectives in biblical science etc.

I did manage to go to the New City to buy the usual stuff for the week. The sun was very sunny ... but  the wind is very very cld. Everyone ... and everyone including tourists had hoodies and jackets on. The palms and trees at Palm Plaza were bending with the wind. And in Jaffa Street, you can see the people in winter clothes while enjoying their brunch in the roadside cafes. I rather liked this weather, it's good for my asthma ... but I prefer summer anytime.

A new week has begun ... I'm ready for it. Bring it on.

Stromata

Rain clouds at 1pm

The ceasefire definitely isn't working as Gaza fired 2 more rockets early in the morning into Beer Sheva, a southern city. Israel responded with bombings as well. Apparently there was an internal fight between Jihad and Hamas in Gaza ... Israel had targeted Jihad and when Jihad declared war, Hamas refused to participate. The internal conflict then seemed to be solved when Hamas fired the 2 rockets into Beer Sheva this morning ... to appease Jihad. Then we hear there was more internal conflict .. this time within Jihad's political wing that wanted a ceasefire and its military wing that wanted to continue fighting. Well as long as there's internal fighting, they have no time to bomb us.

1st Passionfruit

The weather has turned to winter ... very dark cloudy skies and cold winds. Looks like the heatwave is over. Let's hope it stays ... we need winter ... and lots of rain. It'll limit my walks around town as the stone pavements are very slippery when it rains ... but that's ok.

The change in weather has ripened the passionfruit in our courtyard. We ate the first one yesterday ... our indian sisters say it's a high quality fruit and the vine I bought and planted is a very good stock. Well I also took a lot of care by watering and fertilising it regularly. There are 17 fruit on the vine to date. Looking forward to harvest them all.

I hoping to get some rest this afternoon and then I'll have to prepare next week's lessons. Last night I met up with my U. of S. Africa group of profs and students. They're leaving tomorrow morning and we wanted to say goodbye. They're a great lot and I enjoyed the afternoon sessions and excursions with them. I might decide to pick up another degree with them again. UNISA is the largest distance learning university in the world. I studied archeology and greek and library science with them many years ago.

Drizzle

Blackout in E. Jerusalem

The night was relatively quiet despite the ceasefire being broken. Israel bombed Jihad targets in Gaza overnight but Gaza did not respond. This morning the local councils of the southern cities decided to go back to normal with schools and offices reopening. Egypt has been scrambling to negotiate between both sides to reach a settlement. Let's hope this quiet will last this time.

Funeral procession

It's started to drizzle now. I think the heatwave is over. It's chilly and everyone is wearing jackets and hoodies. This time winter better come ... we want more rain and cold weather. But that usually comes with electric blackouts. Like last night. There were 4 blackouts in a row ... and it affected the entire East Jerusalem ... both in and out of the Old City. I came home from home in the dark ... and it was dangerous. There're lots of steps and ramps to negotiate along the streets of the Old City. I had to walk very carefully. But I reached home safely.

And the sun set at 4.02pm today. The siren sounded to start the Sabbath and I thought it was very early. But then it's winter. Now an hour later the sky is all black like midnight ... except for the bright full moon.

One of our lay brothers died this morning. He was a very quiet polish and was the sacristan at Bethpage. The funeral procession from the parish church to the cemetery had begun when I arrived.

Time is ticking and no israeli govt has been formed yet. Looks very likely another election is inevitable ... the 3rd this year. That's not good as it gives the semblance of instability. That emboldens terrorists.

Ceasefire

Mass in the Empty Tomb
last Saturday

There's a ceasefire declared this morning ... and there's general calm ... though we hear reports of missile sirens sounding in southern parts of Israel still. Israel had retaliated with several bombings ... killing a jihadist chief in the process. 22 others have been killed including children. On the israeli side .. no deaths but 2 injured. I doubt Gaza with remain silent for long. Let's see if this ceasefire will last.

... and news just in ... the ceasefire was broken because Gaza fired 5 rockets into Israel. Let's see what will happen tonight.

It's another work day but I took it slowly since I didn't have morning class today. Celebrated Mass at the FMM convent for the filipino group led by our alumna.Then it was 2 meetings ... almost 3. Then work in the library followed by 2 hr class and 3 hours of eucharistic adoration, bible conference and confessions at the MC convent. Not as hectic as in previous days ... but nevertheless tiring as I haven't rested in 10 days.

Received news last night that not only are christians being slaughtered in Syria .... 2 armenian catholic priests were killed by ISIS as well. Then a new wave of attacks on christians in Iraq as well. The terrorists have regrouped and restarting their evil. When will the world stop them?

Full moon

Full moon

The night was quiet as the firing of missiles stopped. But early this morning the barrage of missiles started again. Last night a total of over 200 rockets were shot. One or maybe more landed near Jerusalem ... just north in Beat Shemesh. Rocket sirens were blaring and some people in Jerusalem could hear it. Israel had responded bombing Gaza military sites. Everyone thinks on Friday things will escalate and then it'll die down. Let's really hope so.  https://www.jerusalemonline.com/150-rockets-rain-down-in-israel-from-gaza/?fbclid=IwAR1hiCMLO-lRWCKyDQZT4RZujEkyHmcDiTp5pqO9FrMEuJjvV5vrB_LjXFo

The weather is still hot but the nights have suddenly turned cold again. I still wear a hoodie during the day as indoors get quite cold. And most locals are doing the same. You can tell a foreigner easily these days ... they're in shorts and t-shirts. Locals are always cautious as changes in weather here means coughs, colds and other illnesses. But healthwise I am quite good ... no illness, slight pain on my left ankle as usual and a bit of wheezing ... nothing serious. I only need to sleep as for the past 10 days I've been sleeping only 3 hrs a day. Too much teaching and work. The exhaustion is showing with mouth ulcers breaking out.

Morning class with African religious

This morning I finished the course on the Pentateuch with the African missionaries on Sabbatical leave. It's been very demanding. But it ended well and everyone was satisfied. I get one day rest tomorrow and on Friday we start with the prophets. The afternoon classes and excursions with the U. of S. Africa profs and students ended today also. Last visit to Mt. Zion - the Formation Abbey, the Last Supper Room and St. Peter Gallicantu church. They were exhausted after their excavation but still wanted to see these places.

So tomorrow I'll try to rest ... and prepare for Friday class. Provided the war doesn't spread into Jerusalem. If it does ... then no class ... I'll get another off!!

War

Full moon

It's war. Early this morning Israel bombed and killed Jihad chief in Gaza and also bombed another Jihad chief in Damascus. Jihad has declared war and since 9am rockets have been fired into Israel from gaza. Friends in Tel Aviv took photos of missiles flying overhead. Some have crashed into roads and a house was destroyed ... injuring an 8 yr old child. The whole country is on red alert. All offices and embassies and institutions are closed from Ashdod near Gaza all the way up to Tel Aviv. The IDF is ready for an escalation of attacks. So far Jerusalem has not been affected ... but for sure military presence will be upped in a few hours. The next few days will be crucial.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-jihad-declares-were-going-to-war-after-idf-kills-its-strongman/

Bedouin hawker in
the early morning

As the country prepares for war situations ... public bunkers are opened ... here I still continue with my work. Was up at 2.30am to prepare for 8am class with the African missionaries. Finished at 12pm and went to the libraries to catch up with a week's work that I could not do. Afternoon class with the S. African students has been cancelled so I have time to finish the backlog of work. Then I hope it's an early night's sleep for me.

Our alumna from the Philippines has arrived with a group of pilgrims. Since they have no priest, I go to their hostel at the FMM convent to celebrate Mass every morning. I hope the rising tensions won't lead to road blocks so I can't go there.

Toil

Canaanite tunnel

It's Monday and there is no words to express how exhausted I am. Woke up at 3am to prepare for class. Then immediately after it was work in the library till 8am when I went to teach at the White Fathers' Sabbatical programme. At noon I rush home for half an hour lunch and then off to the other library to work till 3pm. Then it's an excursion to the Gihon Spring and the Pool of Siloam ... 1km at the lowest valley in Jerusalem. There is a Canaanite tunnel which leads to the Spring and it's very steep. It's an 80% angle. Climbing up and down was tough. Walking home uphill at 6pm was the ultimate test ... I was too exhausted as it was, and I had an asthma attack. People older than I were supporting me to climb uphill. They were very nice and caring. I made it to the Wailing Wall and felt much better on flat land.

The violence in Hong Kong this morning is unprecedented. There is no turning back. Now that the sanctuary of a church has been broken and live bullets are freely fired ... it is the end of the freedom Hong Kong once enjoyed.

Night crowd at Damascus Gate

In Gaza a brother self-immolated in protest as he could not care for his younger sibling. Both slept in the streets and had no food. The Hamas govt nor the Fatah govt won't help. Their corruption is wonton and they don't care for the people. This travesty must be addressed. If only the 2 bothers knew how to go to M. Teresa's sisters for help ... for food and clothes. Such a pity.

Leo the Great

Sunset from the Mt. of Olives

The unusually hot weather was today declared a heatwave not seen since a decade. And it will last for another week. The cold from lat week just disappeared and yesterday I even had to turn on the aircon!!

Fruit-tart and sunflowers for myself

This afternoon I had to walk up the Mt. of Olives to meet the group of profs and students. It was a difficult walk but I made in it 40 mins ... in the heat. I gave a quick explanaiton of the archeological sites seen from the panorama at the top of the Mount ... then we hurried down to Dominus Flevit and the Garden of Gethsemani. It was a good visit and everyone learned something new. At the garden of Gethsemane they had the chance to pray in silence as the basilica held it's daily Eucharistic Adoration.

Nadia's cheesecake

Today is my feast day ... St. Leo the Great. I missed the community Mass as I had to celebrate the Armenian Mass at the 3rd Station. After that I went to buy myself a fruit-tart that I really wanted to eat ... and 2 sunflowers for the Madonna statue in our refectory. I didn't think anyone would remember my feast day. Quite pathetic really. But Nadia our cook was making a blueberry cheesecake for me when I got home. She made the cheese last week and used it specially for the cheesecake. Loved it!!!!  And we had appetiser for lunch .,.. which means they were celebrating my feast!! We had raw salmon with cream of tartar. Then Nadia made a fantastic lasagna for pastasciuta ... and all the students were saying nobody had never had lasagna on their feast days. Then there were 4 roast chickens stuffed with rice. It was really a big meal! Appreciated all the hard work in the kitchen today!

Saturday

Our exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci ended last night and we cleared the exhibitions. It was very crowded the night before. Anyway all in all we are very happy with it.

Autumn colours

Today I have most of the day free as there was no class. I had Mass at the Empty Tomb at 7am and then a bible class with the filipino community of Jaffa who had come for the Mass. Then I was free so I spend my entire morning gardening. I rather enjoyed that. It was hot ... 24 degrees. I repotted many plants. And I added fertiliser to many of the plants as they begin the winter dormancy ... it fortifies them so in Spring they will grow profusely. The rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning the courtyard and cleaning my room. Tomorrow class with the U. of S Africa group starts again. I need to rest this evening.

And ... my blog is definitely being hacked and manipulated. One day there were 197 views ... yesterday less than 20. Just sounding out to you all that's all.

This weekend is a memorial to Kristalnacht ... the beginning of the Holocaust. That was the night when german nazists rampaged through Germany destroying jewish property. It was the trigger. The tragedy then toppled down like dominoes. It was terrible.  https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Kristallnacht-The-shattering-of-illusion-607211

And the govt is again warning of an impending earthquake. There was a small earthquake in the north yesterday ... and the warning comes in its wake. Hopefully everyone will take it seriously.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5619988,00.html?fbclid=IwAR2tcqSWbutLnyPsrTiRy2LZXJYAzif1pgE3qnXjPAwEryXQgQdRk-n9bVs

Weekend

Chapel of the Afr. Miss. centre 

The weekend is upon us. Our exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci will end this evening. It's been a very rare occasion for us to bring out our ancient books on science and technology for display. I'm sure many of the visitors appreciated this educative exhibition.

Classes continue at the African Missionaries' centre ... I'm teaching 23 priests and sisters. I'm not used to 50 minute lessons and find it very exhaustive since it's 3 lessons in sequence every morning. I hope they follow my lessons as I speak rather quickly and those whose mother tongue is not english might have difficulties. 2 more weeks to go.

Children's choir

In the afternoons it's archaeological and history class with the students of the U. of S. Africa. It's long walks around the City visiting archeological sites and explaining its history and significance. Some new areas have been opened such as the Forum of Aelia Capitoline below Damascus Gate. It's very interesting as the pavement is still intact. While on the way to visit it, there was a choir of muslim children singing songs at the cavea of Damascus Gate and a recording team was filming them.

Today is the feast of Duns Scotus ... our illustrious franciscan theologian who proposed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception more than 400 years ago. He was silenced and condemned by the dominicans as heretic and the teaching was not studied till the apparition in Lourdes. There the Madonna called herself the Immaculate Conception. A few decades later the pope proclaimed it as a dogma and the franciscans won the day.

In the local news, much is reported about the schism in Israel's largest ultra-orthodox community. The incumbent leadership, known for it's absolutism, was challenged by some and a split occurred on Simhat Torah feast. Now the incumbent group is using threats, extortion and excommunication to stop the schismatics. Big news.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5612060,00.html

News coming in that Turkey has attacked christian areas in Syria. It's terrible. But what's worse is no christian country is talking about it. Christians are doomed to death because all over the world they are persecuted ... and nobody cares. Especially fellow christians.

Busy

Exhibition of 15th century books

It's been an unbelievable 3 days so far ... working 17-18 hours flat with no meals or toilet breaks. Teaching 3 hours in the morning, 4 hours in the afternoon, other class about 2-3 hours a day, work in the library and exhibition, masses in Bethlehem ... I'm collapsing literally. My legs are jelly, my mind is confused and I need so much to sleep. And there's 2 more weeks to go. I might just cancel everything and go to rest in hospital.

The exhibition celebrates the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci. Books on science and technology from the 15th century conserved in our library were displayed. Leonardo da Vinci had as a close collaborator in his studies a franciscan friar called Luca Pacioli and a copy of his writings was donated to our library and displayed at the exhibition.

U. of S. Africa prof & students

Meantime the morning class is to 23 African missionaries at the White Fathers' programme of renewal and the afternoon class is to the U. of S. Africa profs and students excavating at an archeological site here. It's fun to be with them but the exhaustion is creating chest pains.

News just coming in that a terrorist had stabbed several mexican tourists in Jordan. Appalling. Tourism will slump for the next 5 months and that will hurt the Jordanian economy. Let's hope the violence won't spread.

All Souls

Mt. Zion cemetary yesterday

Yesterday was All Souls Day and it was very busy for me. The morning was spent cleaning tombs at our cemetery at Mt. Zion ... behind the Last Supper Room. Carrying bottles of water, sponges and flowers was hard work and I had to walk 1.5km to get to the cemetery. Luckily there were 3 american students from the Franciscan Umi of Steubenville who volunteered to help me. The cemetery was a little crowded at 9am ... families sitting by the graves of their loved ones offered us sweets and pastries. It's a local custom. I blessed their tombs in return.

Student volunteers 

We cleaned up a couple of tombs ... especially the one of our Hong Kong student ... and we prayed and laid flowers. Many jews also came and laid stones on the grave of Oscar Schindler ... whose tomb is close to our HK student's. Later at 9am all the franciscans came to pray and bless all the tombs.It was very crowded by then. Holy Water was dispensed and thuribles of incense were waved over every tomb. For many people, this was a necessary closure.

Later at 5pm the few chinese priests here were joined with chinese catholic migrant workers to celebrate Mass in chinese. It was a small group but everyone appreciated the Mass ... they being so far from home. To offer a Mass here in the Holy Land for the souls of the departed is a privilege which these workers realised. They were very touched.

In between the cemetery and Mass I had class. Believe me I had no time in between to rest ... it was one big rush from one part of the City to another. By night I was too exhausted to even eat ... so I slept.

This morning it was Mass at the armenian church and then meeting the profs and students of Uni, of S. Africa. It was good to see Prof. Magdel again and some of the students I've met before.

All Hallowed feast

Eucharistic adora-
tion at St. Peter's

It's November .... and we begin the month with the feast of All Saints. I went to join our Jaffa community for the solemn Mass. And I left very early ... at 4.30am because I wanted to arrive by 6am when they start Eucharistic Adoration. Mass followed at 7am with Gloria and Creed. After that we went to the refectory for breakfast. I brought arab bagels for the community which they really like. It was good to meet them all again ... a very international community. Superior is Mexican, Vicar is Polish, one Ukrainian chaplain for Byzantine catholics, one Indian chaplain for the Syro-Malabar rite, one eritrean chaplain for the ethiopic rite catholics. We bantered and laughed ... then they all went for a swim at the beach below the church. I stayed back to clean the aquarium and Marco our filipino seminarian was in charge of the sacristy. Both of us had a good chat and then the rest came home for lunch. Although its a solemnity, we're still pretty strict here so no meat but fish only. It's Friday today. But it was salmon ... so it's festive. No lentil soup ... thank goodness.

Lone beggar at Damascus Gate

On my way out this morning at 4.30am ... it was still very dark but lots of muslims were entering the City for Friday prayers. There was a slight mist and it was cold ... about 11 degrees. A couple of bedouin women were carrying their veggies to sell while at Damascus Gate there was a lone beggar loudly crying out for alms. The ground was all wet with dew. It was a typical early winter sight. Once in Jaffa, the temp difference was obvious. People wear shorts and T-shirts ... it was at least 10 degrees higher than Jerusalem. Then once I got back home by bus ... the hoodie jackets were out again. And the worst thing was I was seated in a very crowded minibus next to an arab who was coughing his head off. Obviously he has the virus .... I hope I have enough immunity not to catch it. People here never learn to cover their mouths when coughing and never ever were masks. It's a hygienic stone age. I'm going to need the prayers of All Saints to protect me from getting sick again.

There's rising tension between Israel and Jordan when Israel arrested 2 jordanians ... and Jordan arrest an israeli. Looks like a tit-for-tat diplomacy. It's not very assuring when this happens while we're watching our northern borders with Lebanon dissolving in social disorder and a collapsing govt ... and our southern border where Gaza is picking up its missile strikes.