Retired

Ratisbon chapel

The weather continues to be relentless. And I read that it's all over the world ... the hottest July around the northern hemisphere. We don't know how long more will this heatwave last ... August has come and it might get even hotter. I can see how seriously hot it is ... my aquarium evaporates by one inch a day!!!! I've actually been measuring the water level and it is that drastic!

Tens of thousands around the country have protested in the 30th consecutive week against the changes to the law on justice and judges. It's been passed partially and it means ministers will be above the law, but not so for the rest of the country. It's a privilege for the privileged. Meanwhile newspapers say the govt is going to siphon 164 million shekels from other ministris to fund ultra-orthodox seminaries, because the govt depends on these ultra-orthodox groups to keep the coalition going. 

My feet are terribly swollen and makes walking difficult. And my left wrist continues to hurt. I've been told many times and I'm seriously considering getting a small transporter to get me going around. I am no longer very mobile. But others are saying if I rely on that, I'll only get worse. I must instead continue walking to keep the muscles and organs going. Well this heat and the amount of work stacking up is not helping. I've retired from one job as of last month as my health can no longer manage it. The Custos agreed and released me. Things should technically be easier on me. But that remains to be seen.

Baffling

Ethiopic christian

Last night and today saw a spike in spitting and hate related crimes against christians. It's the jewish feast of tesha b'Av that commemorates the destruction of the 1st ad 2nd temples on the same day 500 years apart. The jews accuse christians of helping the romans destroy the 2nd temple in AD 70 so they come to attack christians on this fest day. Lots of video documentation by groups on the watch for such crimes. Ultra-orthodox jews believe the temples were destroyed as punishment from god ... well, that's what we believe too. The unjustified hate crimes committed by jews or sinat hinam as the ancient rabbis say.

The country remains in tense division and a cease in demonstrations for the next 24 hours due to tesha b'av observances ... which is mainly fasting and reciting the book of Lamentations. But anti-christian hate crimes do not absolve their sins. Since early last night I could hear police shooting stun grenades at Damascus Gate and Herod's Gate for the jewish provocation against christians and muslims. The the whole night, groups of jews shouted and chanted as they marched through out streets, spitting and cursing at us till the early morning when the muslims gathered for prayers at 4am and the jews quickly dispersed.

The heatwave continues, scorching anything alive or dead. Walking in the stone streets, one get get suffocated by the heat emanating from the stone walls and ground. You can literally fry an egg on the road. My aquarium loses an inch of water a day ... that's how fast the evaporation rate is. Let's hope this heatwave would change soon ... it has become unbearable. One thing that mesmerises me ... I wonder how ethiopic Orthodox Jews can wear al those layers of clothes and veils under this 40 degree heat. It baffles science.

Heatwave

The weather continues to be extremely hot. Much as I wanted to stay home, I had to go to the money changes, then to the bank 3km away and then to the dentist 5km away all in 3 hours of walking. I'm feeling very sick now and my feet are very swollen. I'll need to rest for the next 2 days. The dentist was worried about my heart and insisted I make an appointment with my cardiologist immediately.

Ice cream and figs

In this heat, I only eat fruit chilled on the fridge ... and ice cream once in a while when I can afford. Yesterday I bought some fresh figs and vanilla ice cream. In the near 40 degree afternoon, it was the best thing we could have eaten. I'm lucky this summer I'm celebrating Mass everyday at the Ivrea convent. Once in a while the nuns give me a stipend of 50 shekels which I can spend on ice cream and fruit! This makes summer special!

Sad and shocking day yesterday as the parliament voted to give itself the right to dismiss investigations on ministers by simply the ministers saying it's "unreasonable". Judicial independence is now at risk as the supreme court can be dismissed by the parliament who now is going to be more powerful. Tens of thousands of protesters clashed with police all over the country. The police who are supposed to uphold justice, seems to be supporting the govt to be above the Law. That's very strange. Meantime many sectors of society are on strike today. From doctors and health workers to lawyers. The country is deeply divided and clashed violently. Far-right orthodox jewish parties will take advantage of this chaos to push for more anti-christian measures.

Mad

Beggar with "hat"

The hot weather is not abating. It is scorchingly hot ... the skin burns under the sun. There is a breeze but it's dry and hot as well. Most people have stayed out of the heat. Street workers wear hats and long sleeves to avoid being burnt. There's alot of road work right now, so the air is dusty dry and hot. Even beggars are using boxes to shade themselves while others hide under trees and lose out on the takings.

I'm told the weather will continue to be like this for the coming week, so I'll be staying home most of the time. My ankle still hurts after the fall, and last night I had a severe cramp on my right leg. It still hurts to walk.

Anti-christian attacks and harassment continue big scale today. Orthodox jews try to take other the Carmelite Monastery in Haifa, saying it contains the tomb of the Prophet Elijah. It's been like this for several weeks now. The jews want to take the church over and convert it into a synagogue. When will this madness end?

Exam results

Waiting for Tawjihi results

A week has passed since my last post. As most of you know, I slipped and fell at Damascus Gate, injuring my wrists, ankles and back. Was bandaged for several days. They're off now but I still have pain in my back. The filipino community here bought me a pair of anti-slip shoes which are very comfortable and make my daily walk to the Ivrea convent for Mass very much easier. It has much better grip so my calves and feet are less tense while climbing up the slippery slopes and stairs of the Old City. 

Nervous wait

Two days ago East Jerusalem was exploding with fireworks from 9am onwards. From New Gate I could see unending plumes of smoke and very loud explosions as families celebrate the graduation of their children of their Tawjihi or "A" levels exams. It went all from house to house, village to village, city to city. The results are sent to their handphones. Many students gathered in street corners and cafes waiting for the messages to arrive at their phones. A lot of tension, a lot of relief ,,, also a lot of disappointments. One generation of students passes .... another prepares itself.

On the other hand another type of explosion was going on around the country: gangland murders have spiked this week. The anti-judicial overhaul protests have blown into tens of thousands throughout the country ... some marching for a week to reach Jerusalem today. Highways aer blocked, army reservists refuse to serve, medical teams go on strike .... to protest new bills that will make the parliament override any Supreme Court decisions .... and now another bill that can dismiss any case of a govt minister if he/she thinks it's unreasonable. Everyone thinks it's a great law for themselves but not for others. Jews continue to provoke and harass christians in the Old City with impunity because the rightwing govt and rabbis are protecting these perpetrators. 2 days ago the german Abbot of the Dormition monastery was told to remove his cross at the Wailing Wall because it offended jews. But it's ok for jews to offend christians by spitting, attacking, destroying and vandalising our churches and properties.

Heatwave

Hawkers in the heat

So from what I've read in the news, the heatwave is global. In Italy temp have risen to above 40. Luckily that heatwave has to pas over the Mediterranean ea before reaching us ... which lowers it by a few degrees. Today was 37 degrees for us. Before the heat peaked at 2pm, I sprayed water on the terrace and walls to prevent cracking of the plaster. Birds and butterflies and bees immediately flew over to drink from the puddles. My zinnias are all wilted from the hot dry winds even though the soil in their pots are moist. From the weather forecasts, this heatwave will continue all through the week. 

I'm trying to stay hydrated and indoors as much as possible. It's not easy when now that it's summer vacation and hardly anyone is home to celebrate Mass for the nuns, especially the old ones who cannot walk. That means going from convent to convent celebrating Mass in the scorching heat. Let's hope the heatwave passes quickly.

Another hot day

Empty streets in the heat

Another staggering 36 degrees today. The relentless sun beating down hard and the ground is like one giant frying pan. My skin is beginning to peel like after a suntan. Everyone is putting sunscreen and lotion as the skin scorches away the living flesh. And the wind is no help ... dry harsh sandy winds from the desert. Unfortunately with the drought, we don't dare use any more water than we need to. Plants wither away, walls and pavements crack ... a bit of water would have solved that. Now there'll be long term repairs in winter when these cracks let in winter rain and snow.

There was alot of violence the past 2 days. Gangland and mafia killings have not abated. Israeli raids into palestininan erfugees camps continue. And the naitonwide protests over the judicial laws are grwoing even more widespread and bviolent. There is a new law being forwarded which prevents lawmakers from being investigated if they feel it is unreasonable. And that's the only reason needed - if the accused feels it's unreasonable to be investigated, the case is closed. Everyone in the street thinks its a great law for themselves.

My feet and legs are simply too tired and swollen to walk anymore. Everyone is telling me to get an electric wheelchair or some other small transport vehicle. I'm even almost convinced of it. Spoke to the bishop this morning who said my health has detriorated very quickly and gravely.  There's nothing he nor I can do about it.

Heat

 

Scorching heat

It is 36 degrees today. The wind is dry and harshly hot. The sun scorches the skin. It's terrible to be out today. I pity those working in the street-repairs (which is just about everywhere). They're under the dreadful heat. I hope they have enough water and shade/rest during the day. Poor children who have to help their parents work this summer are in danger of heatstroke. And hopefully this year no parent will forget locking their toddlers inside cars. Every year there are such tragedies here.

My bandage is off but my wrist and ankle still hurt. My back also hurts and I can't stand or sit for long. It'll take some time for it to heal. The fall was not too bad but the double anticoagulants are making the healing process slow. I'm just glad I did not hit my head as I fell backwards.

Endless roadworks

I wish I could start my summer vacation like everyone else. I'm feeling so tired even mentally. Each afternoon at 4.30 in the intense heat, I have to hobble 1km to celebrate Mass for a convent of old nuns. I don't mind doing it, but in this heat and my injuries, it's very trying. Each time I celebrate Mass there at the altar, I think back of the many times I was gasping for air, thinking it was asthma attacks, even sitting down for Mass ... only to find out now that they were angina attacks. I could have had a heart attack there. I've been so close to a massive heart attack at that convent but thank God I didn't. Fingers crossed today.

Summer Camp

I've probably caught an eye infection when the dry hot winds blew sand into my eyes. They're all red and I cannot see properly. And it's making me dizzy as a result.

Summer camp

Well the big news is that our patriarch had been nominated cardinal. And ignorant folk are uploading congratulations for the "elevation" to the cardinalate. Nothing could be further from the truth. A patriarch is "inter pares" with the pope; a patriarch is way higher ranking than a cardinal. For a patriarch to be made a cardinal is a demotion from than a promotion. For this reason, none of the Eastern Rite patriarchs have ever accepted being a cardinal. The exception began only with the Maronite patriarch Sfeir in 1994 when he accepted the cardinalate; as did his successor patriarch Rahi in 2012, followed by the Chaldean patriarch Sako in 2018. They saw the cardinalate as an opportunity to be an influencer in the Roman power house. Well frankly I don't really care for all that ... the poor will still be poor, they will still be hungry and homeless, without education and security no matter what title the bishop carries.

Swimming

The sisters of St. Vincent de Paul organized a 7 day summer camp for the poorest children of the City, after I urged them by assuring them for financial sponsorship. It started yesterday ... and the children came and played and swam and had some classes. Some of the children were clearly malnourished. We provided meals for them to eat, and lots of time to rest and play. It's such a great event for these poor children because they usually would be helping their parents work and earn money. And swimming in plastic pools is a treat because in Jerusalem there are no public pools or any large body of water for people to swim. Thanks to all of you who helped sponsor and make it possible!

Strike

Shops on strike

Staying offline for a week has seen the viewers fall to 15. Now that's a bit more normal. Off the radar.

Well it's been an unlucky week. While everyone is on summer holidays, I'm alone doing the work of everyone else. I can't rush. I do it slowly within my health limits. But last Monday I slipped and fell at Damascus Gate .... twice. My left wrist and ankle are swollen, and my back hurts as well. I had to bandage my wrist and ankle because the doctor said it need to keep the inflamed ligaments bound in place. I also have to put anti-dolorific medicine on them. I try not to walk but the past days have been demanding and I've had to walk 5 km or more for the past 2 days. Now I'm having fainting spells.

The terrible raid and air attack on the arab refugee camp in the north ahs shocked everyone. Many people dead and injured. Roads dug up to prevent people from escaping. Shops in East Jerusalem and our neighbourhood had gone on strike for 2 days to protest the violence.

Meanwhile attacks on christians have become more violent in the past few weeks. One newspaper says if not checked by police and politicians, christian blood will be shed.