Stromata

 

Public piano at New Gate

Europe is turning back to lockdowns as infection rates blow out of control: Great Britain, Belgium, Italy ... and increasing at the same time. And while our numbers have dropped to below 1000 yesterday, the reopening of schools point to a possible rebound. Experts have warned against reopening schools ... it was the cause of the 2nd lockdown ... but govt and ultra-orthodox refuse to learn a lesson from the past. The ultra-orthodox rabbis are pushing for reopening schools and of course the govt bowed to their wishes. As all the local papers are saying ... the pandemic strategy is fueled by political motives and not scientific or humanitarian. The price to pay is high ... they will lose an entire generation in 20 years as infected people become sterile, and those who are sick will not be able to contribute to the economy. Instead they will burden the healthy ones with medical expenses and care. The country will be torn even more. Mark my words, it'll be too late for regrets. In 20 years, the price to pay will be high.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/prominent-rabbi-orders-haredi-schools-to-reopen-netanyahu-warns-against-move/?fbclid=IwAR1yN3nj-QqHQf1N0oQJuUhO8EaPUXBC4pE4rUEVuzGsm_LIx2aDoIHaNEs

As travel restrictions have been relaxed, this afternoon after lunch, groups of seminarians took advantage to go out to the New City. It was a chance to breathe some fresh air outside the monasteries which they have been enclosed for the past 8 weeks. And they were all surprised to find a public piano installed outside New Gate. Such pianos have been installed in the jewish part of the New City where people can go up and play. But to risk one at the Old City where arab vandals are proverbial and ubiquitous. Everyone is saying "Let's count the days before it gets destroyed". So much for optimism.

Apparently there's a heatwave around the region. Parts of the north have reached over 30 degrees. But in Jerusalem we've been having 28 degrees or lower. And nights are 16 degrees. So we didn't think there was a heatwave till international news reported it just now. Let's hope the winter rains come quickly.