Holy Wednesday

Chapel with the Flagellation
column

 It's Holy Wednesday today and there was the traditional veneration of the Column of the Flagellation. That's a purple column believed to be the one Jesus was tied to when he was scourged. Half of it is now in Malta and the other half is here in the Holy Sepulchre basilica. The Crusaders when retreating from Saladin's army in the 13th century,  carried one half to Malta.

The ceremony begins with mid-morning prayer, a procession around the Empty Tomb and then a procession to the Blessed Sacrament chapel to venerate the Column. It's a nice tradition that takes place nowhere else in the world.

The Column

Veneration

I'm still replacing my librarian who's undergoing an operation in hospital. So I can't join in the Chrism Mass and the Lord's Supper at the Holy Sepulchre tomorrow morning. Not that I want to anyway ... I'm not vaccinated. Nowadays you need to show your green pass in order to enter a church and join in the celebrations.

Tomorrow will be another tiring day at work. I'll sleep early tonight. Will pray for you all herre in Jerusalem.

Holy Tuesday

5th Station Mass

Yesterday ... Holy Monday ... is the only day in the year when Masses are allowed in the 5th Station of the Cross "Simon helps Jesus carry the Cross." I booked for the 7am slot ... each Mass is given 30 minutes before the next Mass. A nice crowd of english speakers came ... an american layman, 7 MC sisters, 2 PDDM sisters, 2 chinese sisters, 1 Teresian sister, 2 Maria Bambina sisters and another layman. The chapel was crowded. It was a good celebration and everyone felt privileged to be able to celebrate Mass in the little chapel. Since there was no one who booked the 7.30am slot, I celebrated a 2nd Mass for another group of sisters who came later.

Today my librarian at the other library had gone to the doctor's. With no other workers, I had to stay at work till closing time. It was exhausting. I managed also to deal with payments for book orders at the Finance Dept., then went to book a room at our hostel for a student from Haifa University who wants to come and join in the Triduum celebrations, planted some geraniums in the library garden and dug up lots of flowering bulb from a broken pot and gave them to 2 accountants at our Finance Dept. 

After closing the library at 5pm, I went to Mian restaurant to buy fried rice. I was famished. A box of fried rice costs US$20. It's expensive ... but that's life here. No other restaurant was open because it"s the Jewish Passover and no leaven is allowed, so restaurants close for 8 days. After eating the takeaway in my office, I walked the 1km home. It's freezing cold. Forecast says 5 degrees but it feels like 1 degree. I wasn't dressed enough and my only help was my scarf to keep my neck warm. 

Well tomorrow is Holy Wednesday and I have more work. Early bedtime for me.

Palm Sunday

 

Palm Procession yesterday

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. But because I'm not vaccinated, I cannot join in public celebrations. So I celebrated Mass on my own at 4.30am and stayed mostly in my room all day except to throw out the garbage at 6am. It was very heavy and consisted of a huge trash bag with 3 boxes of stuff. 

Everybody in the house however were busy preparing to go for the Palm Procession from the village of Bethpage up on the Mt of Olives down to the Old City. It's a little over 1km and roads are blocked by police to stop traffic from disrupting the procession. And this year it was packed with people ... since last year the procession was cancelled due to the pandemic lockdown. This year there were no tourists but local christians came in droves from all over the country to make up for it.

Patriarch enters the Old City

Though in my room, I could hear the singing and banging of drums from the Mt of Olives. It must have been very festive and joyous and I was tempted more than once to go down to Gethsemani and watch it as it passed by the basilica. But without vaccination, I risked catching the virus in such a huge crowd. So I stayed in my room.

Here are some photos taken by others of the procession.

Patriarch blesses
Jerusalem

Franciscans

At Bethpage before the start

Lazarus day

Spring flowers on Bible Hill

It's chilly today. It didn't go beyond 10 degrees today but it actually feels much colder because the wind is very strong and extremely cold. I had a woollen pullover under a woollen hoodie and I was still freezing. I hope it won't last too long. Holy Week in the cold is not very inspiring.

Today is Lazarus Day. It recalls the revival of Lazarus - which should be a week ago - which provoked the Jewish Priests to decide to kill Jesus. In the meantime Jesus went to hide in the village of Taybe till Palm Sunday when he came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey. There was solemn Mass today at the tomb of Lazarus this morning.

Snail crossing the path

Meantime I'll have to figure out what to do during the Triduum. I can't join in the main celebrations so maybe I'll have to participate online. 

The cold is giving me a headache. My nose is no longer black-and-blue though the pain is still there. It\s crooked at the upper bridge and feels uncomfortable. But it's not hampering my breathing ... so thank God for that. 

Recollection

Recollection Day

Rain, blustery winds and daytime temp, as low as 8 degrees. What a weather we're having. Last week hot humid sandstorm with temp. up to 26 degrees. This massive swings play havoc with your health. I'm just glad I had my flu shots in winter. I haven't had the sniffles all winter unlike most of the guys in my house.

Today I organised a half day Lenten recollection and afternoon excursion to some unknown spots around the Capuchin Friary where we met. It was good ... a small group of religious living in Jerusalem came. It was a trial run to see if it worked. 13 of us met up and we had a good time. The talk was appreciated and the excursion included St. Modestus monastery (ruins), Bible hill and the Herodian tombs. The rain and winds didn't dampen the group which insisted on continuing the trip. Bible hill was full of mustard shrubs in flower, wild barley and St. Anne's lace. I guess it's too early for the stunning red anemones as only a dozen were in blossom. usually the dot the entire hillside. The Herodian Tombs date to them time of Christ and still are intact with a large rolling stone over its entrance. 

Bible hill in the rain

The sisters and priests were pleased with a day out ... after 1 year of lockdown ... it was good to get some fresh air in the large grounds of the Capuchin Friars, even in the rain. A good stretch of the legs. We walked almost 5km back home. I was so exhausted I fell asleep and woke up late for our house meeting to decide on the timetable for Holy Week celebrations.

Holy Week starts in 48 hours. I'll not be able to join in many celebrations as I'm not vaccinated. A certificate of vaccination is requires for entering churches. I'm practically still under lockdown.

Feast eve

Annunciation feast

Fooled by the weather again. It looked so promising with the hot weather the past 2 days ... and then today it dropped by 10 degrees. The wind is blustery and extremely cold ... and it should rain tonight. Winter clothes are back ... blankets are back ... woollen beanies are back. The worst part is the sandstorm is still blowing so it's a double pronged attack. Many people are sniffling and coughing because of this strange mixture of weather.

This afternoon I went to the Holy Sepulchre and joined in chanting solemn vespers for the feast of the Annunciation. There was incensing in the Empty Tomb as well because of the solemnity. And the organ was played. Very grand.

Solemn procession to the Tomb

It just occurred to me that Holy Week starts in 3 days! Wow ... I'm hardly prepared for it. The Jewish Passover coincides with Palm Sunday and the last day of the jewish feast coincides with Holy Saturday. I hope there'll be no lockdown. Anyway it won't bother me as I'm not inoculated so I can't join in church celebrations with more than 20 people.

Anyway I prayed for you all inside the Empty Tomb. May Easter bring a new beginning for everyone ... beginning with the end of the pandemic. We pray for it everyday at vespers.

Elections

At the Holy Sepulchre

The sandstorm is worse today. Though it rained for a couple of minutes this morning, it hardly washed away the dust from the air. I think it's 27 degrees at its peak, but the humidity is oppressive ... and the sand!!! I went to make the Way fo the Cross but when I reached the Holy Sepulchre, I had sand in my eyes, nose, ears, mouth. You can literally rub the sand off your lips. My specs had a film of sand and I couldn't see what I was reading. And forecasters say it'll continue for the rest of week unless it rains on Friday.

Almost everyone I know has a green pass now ... that means they can go to shopping malls, concerts, churches, gyms etc. And therefore they can join in the Holy Week services in church. I'll be left out. I'm still considering getting the vaccination .... but something deep inside says I may not survive it.

Mounted police on the watch

Today is election day. All citizens get a day off and the Old City is packed with local israelis on group tours. Tour guides are shouting out their explanations even though there's no one disturbing them or drowning them out. They must have lost getting used to hearing their own voices after a year's lockdown. Muslims are also flocking into the Old City to offset the Israeli presence. It's tense.

Anyway for the past week I've been getting lots of messages telling me to vote and which party to choose. Big choices ... except I can't vote. Anyway police are out in force today just in case there'd be clashes between rival parties. I'll watch the outcome tonight ... probably in the night at 3am. Bracing for no surprises.

Sandstorm

Sandstorm in the air

A sandstorm crept over us today .... unbelievable the dust and sand from the southern desert. It was humid and hot. Though the weather stations say it's 23 degrees, it feels more like 28 or more. And the sky is all grey and yellowish. Already one of our students felt sick this morning. The air pressure must have gotten onto him. Its normal in weather like this to feel dizzy and light-headed due the high pressure system in the atmosphere.

It's also normal for these desert winds to blow at this time of the year. They're known locally as hamsin or 50 (hence we get "pentecost" = 50 days) because it blows for about 50 days between Passover (Easter) to Pentecost. We just have to be careful and drink lots of water and cover your eyes, nose and mouth as sand gets in everywhere.

Israeli scientists have come up with a nasal spray that'll kill 99.9% of nasal viruses. It'll be on sale soon. I'm wondering if I should take it as preventive medicine. Not sure what side effects it has or if I can use with it with all my allergies.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/life-saving-nose-spray-that-kills-99-9-of-viruses-begins-production-in-israel/?fbclid=IwAR0bDpphzYbnXgtriJ5dNkWzfkvEcYU-UveCz0bNP2Gykaq8iyTJhfnav4g

New Gate police block

Yesterday police presence was stepped up and the City Gates were blocked. Everyone going in was checked and I could easily see that 70% of the people were turned away. As I tried to enter New Gate, I noticed that everyone was muslim ... and they came from outside Jerusalem or Palestine. These are not allowed to enter the Old City ... not sure why ... whether political or medical. For sure the pandemic is rampant in Palestine and many cities are under a 20 day lockdown. Yesterday a vaccine rollout started. Let's hope they'll get vaccinated instead or listening to rumours and scare-mongers not to be vaccinated.

Tomorrow is Election Day. So it's a national holiday for Israeli citizens. I expect the Old City will be packed with local tourists. Not what I look forward to if I have to go out. I'm used to the quiet empty streets for a year now ... I'm not ready for crowds.

Summer creeping in

Amazing dawn today

Already 3 days since I updated the blog? Unbelievable how quick time flies! I've been extremely busy as usual every weekend. My head still hurts from the blackout last Sunday but my nose is much better though it's now slightly crooked. I'm hiding it under the ask.

The weather was typical summer. I think it reached 26 degrees this afternoon ... it was hot. I even wore only a T-shirt. Looks like summer will be quite a hot season. However forecast is rain and a drop of temp from Thursday to Saturday. This see-saw temp is causing lots of people to feel sick ... and vulnerable to Covid. 

Joseph the Jew

The other day was the solemnity of St. Joseph, and this year is dedicated to the saint, There was a major celebration in Nazareth at the house of St. Joseph and almost everyone was there. Don't ask about distancing ... it doesn't exist in real time though it does exist on paper. St. Joseph's been called many things ... patron of a good death, the worker, the carpenter, foster father ... but never the jew. And he was a jew ... a good, righteous jew. In Bethlehem there's an icon of him as a jew. I think that's the best title to give him.

On Tuesday it'll be elections again ... the 4th in 15 months. Nobody knows which way the votes will swing. People are tired with the ultra-orthodox parties because of their disregard for Covid measures and rules. Maybe they'll be voted out. Then again the left are totally in disarray (for the past decade) and the right is wrecked with infighting. So it's anybody's guess. All I'm bothered with is that it'll be a holiday for my workers so I'll have to do their work that day ... alone.

We're closing in on Holy Week. Don't know how it'll work out now that churches are allowed to open but with restricted participation for those inoculated. Those without, like me, might have to celebrate the liturgy alone, or just participate on video. I'll go ask the bishop for  instructions. It's a little bothersome, all these restrictions that are not totally clear, and which most people don't bother to observe. Well I'm terrible observant as my health is at risk.

Cold again

Damascus Gate tonight

What a switch in weather! Yesterday's almost 18 degrees have dropped to 9 degrees now. Freezing cold again! Guys in T-shirts suddenly are back in the streets in pullovers and hoodies. But the cold didn't deter people from coming out. The lockdown is eased alot and today the govt has agreed to ease even more ... so everyone is taking advantage to go and walk ... stretch the legs ... even if it's only 9 degrees. 

The walk back home from work tonight just showed how everyone bounced back from the lockdown. Damascus Gate was all lighted up. Youths were seated in the cavea chatting, drinking, smoking. Hawkers with pushcarts are back at the Gate selling sweet corn-on-the-cob, nutella pancakes and other snacks. Almost all shops that survived the lockdown are open, and those closed have gone bankrupt. 

Storm clouds today

There's been a rise in requests for help now that life is getting back to normal. People who cannot pay rent, school fees, medicines, repairs to houses after the snow storm ... I had a meeting with M. Teresa's sisters and our Custody aid office , so that we don't duplicate  helping the same cases ... yes there are some crafty people out there ... and M. Teresa's sisters will visit the houses to check on the real situation of each case. Just yesterday I spent over 1100 shekels  buying medicines for M. Teresa's sisters in Gaza who lack lots of medication due to the pandemic; they care for 68 handicap people in the enclave,

My nose is healing fast ... maybe because of the cold weather. But my headache is still a 24 hr problem. I'm hoping it'll go by tomorrow. I can hardly concentrate on my work. Luckily I still have a lot of food which people have given me, so I don't have to add another headache and figure out where the next meal is coming from. Thanks to all those kind people.

Lenten pilgrimage

Pilgrimage Mass now

 It's the 3rd Wednesday of Lent. That means a pilgrimage Mass at our Flagellation chapel this evening. The lenten pilgrimage Masses is a traditional series of celebrations recalling the suffering of Christ every Wednesday of Lent. They cover the chapel of Dominus Flevit (The Lord wept), Gethsemani, Flagellation chapel, Condemnation chapel, and one other which I now cannot remember. Solemn Vespers is chanted within Mass and the Passion of John's Gospel is sung in 3 parts. Due to pandemic restrictions, few people are allowed to participate. And we have no doorman yet, and we cannot leave the gate open as jews and muslims will come in to cause trouble. So a lot of logistical problems have not been ironed out.

Pansit from MC sisters

The MC superior of Gaza came today. She needed medicine for her 68 handicapped patients in the MC  convent there. I brought her to the pharmacy and we bought 1100 shekels worth of medication. We'll buy some more next week when there is more stock.

My nose still hurts, so does my head. But the bruise is quite reduced. Looking in  the mirror today, I noticed my nose is now crooked. It's bent to the right. I'll have to wear a mask forever.

It was another busy day today. I really wished I could sleep as with my coughing spasms at night, I've slept only 2 hours last night. Cam home by 4.30pm and though I still have work to do, I've decided I'll go to sleep early. Too exhausted and my brain isn't working anymore.

Kind people

Wandering rooster in the park

My nose is hurting less today and the bruised marks are less visible. Good thing I wear the mask so people don't notice it. The seratide is kicking in and my asthma is very much reduced now. It'll take a couple more days for it to be totally under control. I'm hoping a new sandstorm won't hit us by then. However I still have a throbbing headache and find it hard to concentrate and work. I don't want to take any paracetamol as I'm tired with all these medications. 

An incredible bit of news today ... archeologists have discovered ancient documents dating 2000 years back. It's the first time in 60 years since the last discovery of ancient documents from the Dead Sea. It's very exciting and everyone wants to see it and study it.

Flowering Judas
tree

Today I was loaded with food by many kind people. The M. Teresa sisters in Bethlehem sent bread and noodles for me. The chinese sisters made sandwiches for me. The cleaning lady made makloubeh and chicken for me. And Mian restaurant boiled chinese soup. I'm very grateful to everyone for their kindness. During this year of multiple lockdowns and moments of my illness, many people have been very kind and I was never short of food. God will bless you all. 

The good news regarding the pandemic is ... Israel is reaching herd immunity as almost 7 million people have been inoculated. Masks may not be mandatory anymore, gatherings may be allowed by Jewish Passover (which coincides with Catholic Holy Week) ... but not for people like me who cannot have the vaccine. We'll be sidelined and it looks like we'll never get back to normal life. Some say it's unfair. Some say it's necessary for self-survival. I'm playing along day by day. I need to go to work, but I also am very careful when I go out ... wearing masks always, no touching of anything, and keeping distance which means walking through alleys and sidelines where few people are found. That's all I can possibly do.

Ides of March

Praying at the
Holy Sepulchre

Yesterday was bad. My asthma was so bad I blacked out several times in the evening and once I blacked out so bad I bashed my face on the table, bruising my nose. Got up a few seconds later with a very sore nose, blue and black, with a pair o broken specs. Disaster. This morning I still felt very sore and couldn't wear my other pair of specs.

Then my seratide inhaler was zero ... for the past 5 days. That was the reason why my asthma was so bad. And my anti-allergy Telfast finished and I had no spare tablets. All that exacerbated by dreadful asthma that caused me to blackout and smash my face on my table. I must be more careful monitoring the stock of my medications. It can kill me even by not taking it for one day.

At noon I went to the pharmacy to buy the medicines. The Anglican family that runs the place are very nice to me. The mother told me to be careful and not overdose, I'll be careful. It's been a dreadful past 4 days and I can't imagine how one simple puff can mean life or death for me. I'm feeling much better now that I've taken my medications. And that's the Ides of March for me .... near death experience.

There's one very nice news article about Sister Aziza who works with illegal immigrants from Africa in ISrael. A very brave woman. Read it   https://healingdivides.org/2021/03/08/women-behind-the-healing-meet-sister-aziza/?fbclid=IwAR2ScGJVSa5mj0f_TLtnTmEiFkE7GtDdWJTp2I-HC1bzHHrin-uzWZh2yw8

And another viral photo this weekend is a wild boar sleeping on a dumped mattress in Haifa. That's exactly what I need after 4 nights of sleeplessness due to the asthma. See the photo and have a good laugh.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/sleepy-haifa-boar-becomes-internet-star/?fbclid=IwAR2AZwnMsOqfzCyEKs2ygJotABfX8Ajv6gN6qLaZfAtc2tpqORILRQJbTA8

sick

Been very sick today. The asthma is killing me. I just cant draw in oxygen. My brearhing is very shallow.  Then my windpipe gets into spasms, choking me. I blacked out more than once today. Knocked my head on the table. Now I have an awful headache.

Despite that, I managed to translate a 7 page document in 5 hrs; write a 2 page research paper in 6 hours. That was my entire day .... blacking out in between. 

The doc changed my medication yesterday but I was so dizzy from lack of oxygen, I forgot to bring it home. What a disaster! Had to ask a student to go buy another this morning. Just checked on the seratide inhaler I'm using. It's zero!!!! No wonder its not working!! Tomorrow I'll have to go buy one. 

Way of Cross

Crowds at Damascus Gate

Thank goodness there was a storm last night. Temperatures plummeted to 4 degrees again (It was about 20 degrees in the afternoon yesterday) and today the highest was 16 degrees. The air was clear from all the sand and dust, and this morning though it continued raining, the air was breatheable. My asthma was much reduced as a result ... though I still wheeze and cough, at least oxygen was entering my lungs. 

The plants and flowers however took a beating from the rain. The wind was very gusty and many anemones which have weak stems have either lost their petals or snapped off their roots. That's a price to pay for clean air ... but the plants are robust and will spring back in a couple of weeks. i wonder how the 2 oak trees fared. They're at the Damascus Gate park and were flowering yesterday when I walked past ... long strands of yellow flowers dangling downwards. Very iconic for Spring. Towards the end of Summer, little acorns would be falling from the trees.

Flowering oak

Much as I wanted to stay home and recuperate, I was asked by the Custos to lead the official Friday Way of the Cross in mandarin. Surprising lots of people showed up ... though only 50 are allowed in public. There was no distancing ... which is impossible as the streets in the Old City are very narrow. I wore double masks to be careful. And as usual those young friars were rushing from one Station to another ... we have only a 50 minute allowance to make the devotion. I could hardly catch up, climbing up the hill to the Holy Sepulchre while reciting prayers. Anyway I managed to survive the whole thing ... and all the religious (there were very few lay people) wowed because it was the first time they saw me in habit and mantel. It was cold and windy. M. Teresa's sisters and Sr. Regina of the Spanish convent accompanied me home, and insisted on taking a photo with me. I guess they think I'll die soon ... as I've not worn the habit for many years. Anyway I prayed for all of you and your intentions at the Way of the Cross.

Sandstorm

Sandstorm at dusk

Already 3 days since I last posted? Unbelievable. Well that's how busy I am, I've lost all track of time. Also because I've been feeling very sick with asthma the past 3 days. There's a sandstorm blowing and today was especially harsh. Even in my room, I'm choking. I couldn't sleep for the past nights as I couldn't breathe. Was sitting up on my chair and struggling to get some oxygen into my lungs. And my eyes are itching because of the fine desert dust blowing over the country. And I have a terrible headache as a result of not sleeping. I stayed in my room all day till 6.30pm when I needed to go to the bakery and buy bread. Ran out of it. I walked very slowly, climbing all the steps at Damascus Gate to get to Musrara open market. The bakery is the last stall at the end of the street. I bought the bread and walked the long way home through Herod's Gate. I needed to stretch my legs but the sandstorm is not doing my lungs any good. Anyway the forecast is rain tomorrow. I sure hope so. It'll wash away the sand and dust from the air and my asthma would get better.

Sea bass and octopus!!

At Musrara, all the shops and restaurants were opened. Crowds of muslims were eating and milling around ... it's Friday and most have come from outside Jerusalem to pray at the Al Aqsa mosque. Passing the butchery, there were lots of fresh fish on sale, as usual on Thursdays and Fridays. There was a huge octopus and 2 huge sea bass. And there were crabs and prawns ... I was thinking of all the dishes I could cook. After daydreaming ... I walked off. It's too expensive. 1 kg of prawns or crabs costs over US$15. Exorbitant.

Infection rates have dropped to its lowest since December (after the 2nd lockdown). It looks good. We might not have to be locked down again. Fingers crossed. More public places will be opened ... but only to green pass holders or recovered covid people. I'm not both ... so I'll be kept out from everything, including church services over 10 people. Holy Week will be quite a personal affair for me as I can't join the community

Back to normal ... almost

Life back to normal

An utterly exhausting day ... I can't even think straight. Just a numbing headache and not aware of my surroundings. Woke up at 3am for class at 4am. Then 7am doing the Way of the Cross for recording and editing. Then it was work right through the day, plus a bit of studying. But honestly I was so tired I nodded off to sleep several times during the day. I couldn't keep awake. There were queries for instructions from the other library, payments for bookbinding to be paid, a volunteer needed instructions ... actually I thought volunteers were here to make my work lighter ... but reality is they add on a lot more instead.

Holy Sepulchre
altar

Life is almost back to normal. Yesterday's walk to the New City, many small businesses and restaurants opened ... with outdoor sitting. It was good to see some semblance in normality. But 40% of businesses are permanently closed down. Owners have gone bankrupt. It's tragic. Hopefully the govt can create more jobs, give financial assistance for business re-starters, and get debts cancelled. It's imperative. 

This morning at the end of the Way of the Cross, which ends at the Empty Tomb, I went there to pray for you. And I guess I needed some prayers for myself too. 

Now I must sleep. I'm a zombie ... my brains have gone to sleep already though my fingers are still typing.

Exit lockdown

Damascus Gate yesterday

3 days have passed since I last updated the blog! Can't believe how time flies. As usual Fridays and Saturdays I'm busy writing my weekly homework. There was no time for anything else. I finished my paper yesterday evening in my other office ... which is a lot quieter as I don't have Buddy and JJ playing on my keyboard. It was 6.30pm by then and I still had to go to the bakery to buy bread and then get back home by 7pm because we have Lenten meditation with vespers.

Mounted police

The sky was a terrible yellow ... a sure sign of a sandstorm. No wonder I was having problems breathing. It's very bad for asthmatics. The crowd at Damascus Gate and the Musrara open market were a little larger than usual. Jewish worshippers were many ... rushing down the Gate to get to the Wailing Wall. And there were 2 mounted police at the top of the staircase. They were probably anticipating some trouble, since they're deployed only when riot dispersion is necessary.

Today our 3rd lockdown ended. Shops reopened, restaurants opened, all who did not give up reopened. Sounds like good news ... except when we see so many other shops closed, we remember they did not survive: businesses wound up, collapsed, bankrupt. It was a bitter sweet day. Let's hope we don't have to be locked down again. It's up to the people to continue being vigilant, wear masks and keep distance. Otherwise a 4th lockdown is inevitable. And don't be mistaken ... if restaurants, shopping malls and shops are opened, it means only for green passport holders, meaning those who are vaccinated, or who have recovered from Covid. Those without it, cannot enjoy these facilities. That means me. I'll be left out in many things ... including church services.

Hailstorm

 What a cold wet day! I almost expected it to snow again! 4 degrees felt like zero. And the wind was biting cold. The coastal cities ... usually warm and humid ... were struck with heavy rainstorms, floods and even hailstorm. The southern coastal city of Ashkalon was was caked by a layer of ice after the hail melted. Amazing sight.   https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rks79NCzu?fbclid=IwAR3RNIbqwBfdjF7XTlBuDj_-WWILVx7AHhFUr-7pJLkbMyGzZLH6hQ76ImA#autoplay

Sr. Ann - photo from Facebook

Everyone is talking about Sr. Ann, the Burmese nun who intervened in front of armed soldiers to spare protestors from being shot. Many have shared the stunning and touching photos on social media. No one can ignore it. Even non-catholics are sharing it. She was ready to sacrifice her life. And that summarises the ultimate christian call ... to die for others. 

I was home all day because of the cold. It was only at 4.30pm that I went to M. Teresa's convent for confessions, adoration and Bible talk. It's always good to be with the sisters. Always joyful and thankful. But mind you even though the walk to their convent is only 200 meters, I got a severe bout of asthma. It was just too cold.

Another week is ending. Tomorrow is the weekend. I feel as if I'm trudging ... or limping through 2021. There seems to be so much to do, so little time to do it ... and I am so very tired. I've been promising a month long summer holiday in Jaffa ... but it's been 8 or 9 years since I've actually done that. This year I simply must. My body is breaking down ... and I think my mind already has.

Filipina sisters of D&D grocery

We're one year this week since the corona pandemic touched the country. It's been tough for everyone. We've struggled and battled to stay alive ... physically, spiritually and mentally. One thing I'm thankful for are all those people who cared and provided me with food and called to check if I was alright. Last week 2 filipina sisters who run an asian grocery gave me and a filipino student packs of biscuits and food to make sure we have something to eat. It was very nice of them.

Church attacked

Spring flowers in our mini-
garden

Another strange statistic in my blog ... yesterday there were 106 views. Something is fishy ... someone(s) is stalking my blog.

Now for the good news - infections dropped to its lowest today since December 2020. I guess the vaccinations are working, and people are developing a resistance to the virus despite the great crowds during the Purim holidays. However there is great fear that returning citizens could bring in foreign strains which the population is still not immuned. The govt wants to reopen the airport this Sunday for israelis so they can come home to vote ... and medical experts are crying foul that it's a political decision not based on science. They fear infection rates will rise next month.

Tons of garbage

The Israeli TV came and did their shoot in the library. I brought out 4 interesting ancient books from the 14th and 15th centuries: 2 illuminated psalters, a pilgrim's diary to the Holy Land, a phamaceutical book and a recipe book of a chef who cooked for popes and royalty. I guess they were all happy. 7 hours of hard work ended in 10 minutes. Took another half hour to put them back in the shelves. 

Ultra-orthodox jews have vandalised the Romanian Orthodox church for the 4th time in a month, this time setting the door of the church on fire. The police has done nothing and Christian leaders are now protesting loudly. Of course nothing much will be done ... it's election time and you don't want to upset the electorate with arrests and charges. https://www.lpj.org/posts/catholic-churches-condemn-repeated-attacks-on-romanian-church-monastery-in-jerusalem.html?fbclid=IwAR3xFd8aDHPE-_EDWNC0jRqrMEzcMEG6T4tkjalQCwZYfpfHRainoIlnaI4

The filming of the Way of the Cross tomorrow morning has been postponed. The weather forecast is rain. And it'll be only 6 degrees. I don't want to get sick and the Media Center doesn't want their equipment to be damaged.

I've been terribly stressed. And with the little sleep that I've been having, it's not helping me focus on my work during the day. I guess I'll go to sleep early tonight.

Oil spill

No more seafood here

A terribly busy day ... much more than usual. I had an unscheduled preparation for a TV shoot of some of our ancient books tomorrow. It was a mad rush to search for manuscripts and books which they wanted ... while also running back and forth from the Finance Dept to deal with financial payments of our workers for last month. And then I tried to do some studies but it was quite impossible. I was on call with Milan asking for help from our library team there to find manuscripts which I don't recall having ... and I was right. We don't. It was probably in the archives.

Praying in the
Holy Sepulchre

Today was warmer than yesterday, strangely enough. I think it went up to 20 degrees under the sun ... but in the shade it was like 10 degrees. Forecast is tomorrow is rain and cold again. I need to be prepared.

The terrible oil spill has destroyed all the beaches along our coast. Tons of tar contaminated the sands and lots of sea life died ... even a baby whale. Now the govt is banning all seafood ... Well seafood is not kosher anyway but muslims and christians can eat them so there's still a market. Last week I saw some fantastic crabs, squids, mussels and prawns in the open market. I couldn't afford to buy them as half a kilo costs US$10 or more. So I feasted it with my eyes for 5 minutes ... then I walked on.

With all the pressure of work, I've been sleeping only for 3 hours. Well last night was because I forgot to close the window and it was 4 degrees. Was shivering tough the heater was on ... till I figured the window was open at 4am. A little too late to go back to sleep.

Cold and colder

Adoration & recollection

 A day of unease ... more bombings in Syria suspected to be carried out by Israel, and an arab driver ran over an israeli, claiming he was escaping an attacked by israeli lynchers while israelis say he's a terrorist; and yesterday over 200 jews entered the Al Aqsa Mosque under police protection to pray - which is not allowed since 2001 during the 2nd Intifada. A lot of tensions and expected revenge attacks.

Meantime the inoculation programme seems to be working in Israel: cases needing hospitalisation have fallen. And arabs are going in larger numbers to get vaccination ... though the infection rate is much higher. Because of the tens of thousands who broke the social distancing rules on Purim for 3 days, it's likely the upcoming Passover feast will be locked down. Well, on paper at least. Everyone knows it'll be business as usual and the law will not be enforced.  https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/covid-19-hundreds-party-in-jaffa-many-without-masks-as-curfew-looms-660405?fbclid=IwAR2dOG8b_tuK_iraH_LszYMffFC-kGGGdF2ollL5ND692135O5lDR2By_t0

Ethiopic at
prayer

Yesterday the english-speakers in my house gathered for our monthly english day of recollection and adoration of the Eucharist. I started this 2 months ago because with a year of lockdowns, we've not had any retreats or monthly recollections. Our 2 indian sisters came to join us. One of our Nigerian students preached. 

The weather again was made a downturn ... temps rose no higher than 14 degrees during the day, and it rained in the late morning. More of such days for the rest of the week. I had gone to work while it was warm and sunny, just wearing a pullover and hoodie. But as I got home at 6pm, it was so cold I had to wear another thick hoodie over all that. I'm not sure if I'm ready cold plunge ... my brain is already on summer mode.