Friday again

Poinsettias for sale

As if things aren't bad enough, yesterday we received news that a jewish policeman was attacked by an ultra-orthodox jew when he entered to pray in an ultra-orthodox synagogue in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood. Now it's jew against jew. So there you go ... a country that's imploding and exploding in all directions. Latest update ... 16 yr old girl peppered-sprayed at Qalandya checkpoint for wielding knofe and shouting jihadi slogans.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.630141

The newspapers are lamblasting the PM as a failure who led the country to this mess. Now that the govt. is dissolving and elections aimed on March 2015 ... it's a free for all. Even since yesterday sacked ministers are discussing alliances to oust the PM in the elections. Suddenly the "arab threat" is thrown into the back-burner.

New Madonna icon in
the Empty Tomb

Healthwise my feet are killing me. It's a little swollen but the neuroma is the real problem. I realise I must wear my orthopedic shoes all the time otherwise the pain is crippling. The asthma has improved though due to the long walks in the open air. And I actually got to sleep 4 straight hours yesterday afternoon. The nights are awful because the municipality workers repave the road under my window from 9pm to 3.30am. It's hydraulic drills, jackhammers and one enormous bulldozer with 10 workers and 4 policemen for security. The noise is unimaginable but they don't care.

Looking on the bright side, poinsettias are on sale! The Christmas ambiance is always sparked by the appearance of poinsettias in the streets. And in the Empty Tomb of the Holy Sepulchre, the Greek Orthodox have put up a new icon of the Madonna. Much lovelier than the old silver one. And unknown to many people, it's actually a window which opens and exposes the ancient Crusader stones  of the Holy Sepulchre.

Good weather is bad news

Sunset over the Sea of Galilee

Sadly the sunny weather is encouraging more violence in the country. Yesterday an arab stabbed several people in a supermarket in a town outside of Jerusalem. Then this morning another arab was caught for inciting a mob lynch on a jewish motorist. Along the road today I saw at a checkpoint a body covered with a blanket - there was a small crowd of arabs and a huge posse of police and soldiers. Awful.

And that is the dreadful irony of good weather - the harbinger of violence.

5 loaves 2 fish stone art

And to top it all, the Israeli govt. is closed down with the PM sacking several of his ministers and calling for snap elections. The 5 party coalition has never been so divided over Israel's response to the recent violence. Rightists want to deny citizenship and all rights of the arabs, leftists believe a carrot is better than the stick ... and the center cannot make up its mind. It looks like the PM is now looking for a coalition with the ultra-orthodox jews - as in the good old days - where the latter is not interested in politics but only in their own religious agenda (funding of yeshivas, no military service, power of the rabbis over marriage and other social institutions ...). That way the PM has no opposition over his political decisions.

On a much smaller micro level, I'm busy helping to raise funds to buy basic necessities for poor christian families for the Christmas season. I hand over everything to the sisters of Mother Teresa who do the gift packs and delivery to these families. The recent war and Israel's crackdown and collective punishment of arabs have dealt a severe blow to poor families. We're doing our best to let them at least have a warm Christmas.

Violence returns

The good weather has caused
wild cyclamen to flower

The sudden return to good weather saw a surge in violence yesterday. An arab car attempted a hit-and-run while in a town south of Jerusalem an arab woman stabbed a jewish settler. In a tit-for-tat attack, a jew attacked an arab taxi-driver. In fact several weeks back, several arab taxi-drivers have been attacked by jews. But the perpetrators have always been released without charge while arab perpetrators have always been caught and jailed. An insightful study to the cause of the arab violence points to a possible solution to this vicious cycle ... but undoubtedly no one will listen.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/East-Jerusalem-portfolio-head-addresses-core-issues-behind-Arab-discontent-383361

The good weather though has caused wild flowers to bloom everywhere. A beautiful sight when clusters of crocus and cyclamen appear between rocks and tree roots. Nighttime is still very cold though. Last night was 6 degrees. So far the finches and canaries are holding out in the cold. I cover their cages with blankets to keep them warm.

Lighting candles at the
birthplace of Christ

The Christmas atmosphere is in the air. Shops are selling christmas knick knacks ... some very tacky as usual, and practically everything is made in China. A trickle of local christians still go to Bethlehem and light candles at the birthplace of Christ ... praying for the peace that only the Prince of Peace can give.

Tiring "vacation"

Giant Christmas tree at
Bethlehem's Manger Square

The weather has been excellent recently - sunny and bright though the winds can be very cold still. No signs of violence so far ... so that's good news. I guess everyone just wants to enjoy the good weather again.

Been very busy as my sister's family is over for a visit. Brought them to see the usual sights and also some places I've never been to, such as the Pool of the Arches in Ramle. Interesting underground pool built in the 10th century held up by many arches ... visit is by boat ... which you row by yourself.

The giant Christmas tree is up in Manger Square in Bethlehem. But the crowds and festive spirit is pretty dampened. The recent war, tensions between the Israel and Palestine, the extra strict security at the checkpoints have discouraged many tourists and pilgrims. Too bad as the locals need the tourism of Christmas to survive. The atmosphere is like during the Intifada.

In the underground Pool
of the Arches

It's good to get out of the City and usual routine. But it's been more exhausting because in the nights I have to go give talks to the chinese groups that come. They're not happy with the local guides who have no experience with catholic pilgrimages - it's all tourism and shopping. They want to pray. So I have to make up for the lack by giving them talks. Get home each night at 10.30pm or so and then next morning is visiting other sights again. I'll need a vacation from this "vacation".

Rex R.I.P.

Rex  2000 - 2014

Rex, aka Mr. Dog died this morning. He was my best and most loyal friend. I remember bringing him home as an 8 week old puppy ... chubby and clumsy bulldog who fell into the dustbin when the shop owner left him on a table to get his certificate. Rex seldom barked and was very intelligent. He was trained by a police sergeant and obeyed hand signals from a long distance, like when I'm 3 storeys up and he down in the garden. Just one hand signal and he obeyed. He never touched his food until I gave the command to eat. But being so intelligent, he can be quite stubborn and try to get round me when he wanted things his way. He was always very clean and did his business at the farthest corner of the garden without me teaching. Rex was a very strong dog but in the last few months he grew thin and weak from cancer. A brave, obedient, loyal friend.

My best friend

Another cold Sunday

Beautiful clear sky at 5am before
the rains returned

It's very cold ... 7 degrees at the lowest in the night and 14 degrees during the day. There was a constant drizzle throughout the day and showers in the night. But at about 5am we had a break from the rain clouds and had some clear skies. But only for half an hour. Then the clouds and rain returned.

And yesterday was again another day without violence. The rain and cold is a marvelous peace keeper.

Yesterday I had to go to the supermarket to buy broccoli for the canaries and Yossi's petshop for birdseed. It was a miserable walk as the sky was grey and gloomy, and the drizzle would not let up. The roads are dreadfully slippery and I was scared of falling. The City was unusually quiet ... few people in the streets, cafes were empty, even the park hadn't its usual dogs playing with their owners. I think in such a weather, the best thing to do is sleep.

Grey skies, drizzle and empty parks

Workload is as normal - hectic and nonstop. Been working late into the night as well so I actually missed twice Ah Ling's invitation to have medicinal soup at Mandarin's. I should make time for that as it does me alot of good. The asthma has been very bad under this weather but I've got over the cold. Other people around are still down the cold. Mother Teresa's sisters have asked me to buy flu and cold medicine as they and their patients are also sick with the cold. That's alot of medicine for the 3 communities in Nablus, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. I bought US$1000 worth of medicines but still have more to buy. Will do so this afternoon if it doesn't rain.

Rain

The City walls built over virgin rock
after a night of rain

Today has been pretty uneventful as like yesterday. Police presence was reduced and no sign of tension. And there were no incidents outside of Jerusalem too. That's probably because of the rain and very cold winds. Today's highest temp. was 12 degrees. It's keeping everyone indoors. And that's a blessing ... I always say rain is the best deterrent for violence and terrorism. It's God using nature to put people under control.

Well the weather was good for the plants. But not for the birds. The wild sparrows and doves are cold, wet and have no food. We leave a few pieces of bread under the lemon tree for them, and I leave some grain for the canaries and finches on the ground too. Mr. Bird stays in my room during the night, and the canaries have been transferred to a smaller cage and kept inside the school. Only the finches are left in the large cage out in the courtyard because they have nests and eggs and I can't transfer them. But they're cosy ... each couple snuggle inside their thatched nest lined with jut and cotton wool, so its quite warm.

A Trappist monk seen at
Musrara open market.
What's he doing outside his
monastery 35 km away?

So far this week I've been working 18 hours a day ... a total of 7 days, sleeping a maximum of 3 and a half hours each night. I am utterly exhausted. Preached a retreat this morning. Have 2 more to go. Major changes in the library system that I have to direct and in fact create. Had to organize an impromptu exhibition yesterday morning for a group of visiting Israelis. So much going on ... I'm losing control of reality. Am very very confused and tired. The mind is lost and the body is breaking down. But people's demands can be very cruel and selfish ... perhaps I should just be like a sparrow and fly away ... cold, wet, hungry but happy to be free.