Feast of the Immaculate

Car ride in the rain

Yesterday's rain continued all through the night. Though it was mostly heavy drizzle in Jerusalem, it was stormy up in the north. A 17 yr old was struck by lightening there. But things don't stop on the meteorological level. Down in Hebron at the tombs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 2 stabbing attempts were foiled by the army. And last night ultra-orthodox jews rioted in central Jerusalem because the police had arrested one of their kin who dodged the military draft. So much tensions everywhere, it's spoiling the festive spirit. And I don't just mean Christmas. The jewish feast of Hanukkah falls on Dec 21 and it's one feast that stirs up nationalistic feelings.

Pine branches &
cones on the Madonna
statue

Today the rain continued ... and it's really rain ... a downpour with thunder and lightning. The temp remains around 9 degrees and we even had to turn on the heater in our refectory. It's the feast of the Immaculate Conception and I remember during this feast decades ago, it gets really cold and we have our woollen habits and mantles on.

The cold weather is just right for Christmas. With festive lights all along the Christian Quarter and giant Christmas trees on the roofs of several institutes ... the feeling of Christmas is catchy. In the evenings when the lights come on and carols are blared throughout the Quarter, not only christians but muslims and jews also come and see the festivities.

Last night I had to go to the St. Vincent de Paul convent to meet a group. Travelling by car up the Mt. of Olives in the rain was an experience going back 30 years. And luckily for me, the convent garden also had lots of pine trees so I had the gardener cut 3 branches for me. Killing 2 birds with one stone. Spent some time in the morning arranging them at our Madonna statue in the refectory.