Labour Day

Crowds seated at
Damascus Gate

It's been 5 days since I updated the blog! My goodness! I wasn't really very busy as I had a break from some classes ... it's the Orthodox Holy Week so there's no school here. However I had several retreats to preach ... meaning I had to be in several places outside of the Old City. It was a good break from the routine of library work but then again, we're having a heatwave ... daytime temp rises to 30 degrees or more ... so walking 3kms to various places in this heat, with a mask on, is no fun.

We had 2 nights of relative peace because the police finally removed the metal barriers stopping the arabs from sitting on the steps of Damascus Gate. But yesterday I saw the barriers back up again. In the evening, crowds removed the barriers and sat there. The police tolerated it. Then the youths began beating the drums and chanting slogans including one about israelis. That didn't go well, and the police rushed in to arrest a few youths while dispersing the rest. No stun grenades were fired ... so the police were restraining themselves. 

Police clear the crowds

Yesterday midnight saw the tragedy up in the north where thousands of ultra-orthodox jews went to the tomb of a 2nd century rabbi to celebrate. They were mostly not vaccinated, there was no space for distancing ... and there was the stampede that killed 45 people. It's terrible. 

Today is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. I guess it's a reminder for all of us hat work gives dignity and respect ... not a curse. After a year's lockdown, with many unemployed, we appreciate work even more now.