Ascension Chapel burnt

Dusk at Jaffa street
but you can't see the
swallows: they're
too tiny in the pic

It's Friday and definitely it must be summer. Because the swallows have returned. Yesterday as I was going to see my doc, I saw flocks of swallows covering the sky at Jaffa Street junction. Well, Spring was fun though notoriously short here in Israel. A couple of weeks and its gone. And it really felt like summer today ... 21 degrees. Still people continue to wear hoodies and pullover because any sudden switch in the temp. would lead to a nasty cold or flu.

The sudden hot weather has led to fruit ripening before their time. Strawberries are at its peak right now. They're everywhere ... 10 shekels per kilo. Mandarins and oranges and kumquats are also plentiful. And the flowers are really blossoming. Tulips in the parks are all in flower. Almonds are beginning to loose their flowers and leaves have grown in its place. The shocking pink of Judas Tree flowers are also falling.

A statement from the different church leaders have just been released: the inauguration of the renovated Tomb of Christ will take place on March 22. It'll quite an event ... though we don't expect many pilgrim groups to join in. Though this week has seen a sudden boom in tourists, we expect it to dwindle as Easter and the jewish Passover near. The crowds in the Old City will be unimaginable. I don't wish to stay around at that time.

My anemones in
full bloom

My asthma has practically stopped since the change in medicine (fingers crossed). I feel much better because I don't suffocate anymore, and no chest pains and dizziness and nausea. But one thing remains: my memory is going. For the past 2 weeks I have confused the days, going to school only to find out I have no class because it's the wrong day; forgetting where I put my specs and keys and books (today I actually had to go back to the library 3 times because I kept forgetting something) .... I forget people's names, I forget appointments and meetings, I forget where I'm going and what I'm doing. It's frightening.

One major news shocking us all : the Chapel o the Ascension on the Mt. of Olives was set on fire. Luckily it's a stone edifice ... a small octagonal Crusader building. Inside was all blackened because of the fire ... which according to the police, was set purposely on fire. No accident here. We wonder if the police will catch the culprits.

Of Status Quo ladders and Sushi-doughnuts

The Status Quo
ladder 

There has been a sudden surge in tourist numbers these few days. The street at our place is packed with foreigners ... both western and asian. I guess it's because it's the low season so things are cheaper. Soon Easter will be celebrated by both western and eastern churches (this year the julian and gregorian calendars coincide) so lots of pilgrims will be coming. I know that all religious hostels are fully booked by now.

I managed to spend a few minutes at the Holy Sepulcher yesterday morning. I wanted to see the cleaned dome of the Empty Tomb  and also to pray for you all. The Status Quo ladder was up across the entrance as at every Lent. Nobody remembers why it was there hundreds of years ago but because of the Status Quo law, the ladder is brought out every Lent by the Franciscans and remains there till Easter.

Outside church circles, the news of the country are picking up tempo after a lackluster weekend. Following Trump's travel ban, Israel has now approved a travel ban on critics of the State. That means activists and objectors of Israel's policies especially regarding the settlements in Palestine will be refused entry to the country. http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.775743

Alarming news is also cited in all newspapers - the level of the Sea of Galilee is at the lowest in a century. The drought has reached its peak and there will be no water for us this year. Desalination plants will not be able to provide the needs of the people. Farmers have warned that their crops will die hence prices of food will rise. I think in summer all the religious leaders will be asking their followers to fast and pray for rain. We've been doing that several times now this decade.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4931746,00.html

And horror of horrors ... there's a fad in Tel Aviv of sushi-doughnuts sold at a swanky Japanese restaurant. Just take a look at the pic. It looks disgusting. Still locals here are clamoring for more of it.   https://happyintlv.net/item/sushi-donuts-tel-aviv-kosher/

Dove and nest at
St. Saviour
monastery

On a positive note, the Hebrew University at Jerusalem made a brave step by recognizing the credits and matriculation results (called tawjihi in arabic) of students from arabic and palestinian schools. The students no longer have to sit for an entrance exam to apply for a place at the Hebrew University.  Fantastic. I don't believe in academic boycott, which many western academic institutions are supporting and practicing against Israel. Education is the means of change ... by boycotting Israeli universities and activities, it perpetuates isolationism which leads to narrow mind-mindedness. Students should be challenged to think beyond their circles and accept the views, sometimes opposing, of others.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-hebrew-university-to-accept-palestinian-authority-test-scores/

 And on the lighter side  I had a surprise when I saw a dove that built a nest over the head of the Virgin Mary (a tiled fresco on the wall of our cloister at St. Savior Monastery). The fresco is the Annunciation and the angel Gabriel is announcing the motherhood of Mary "... the Holy Spirit will over-shadow you and you shall bear a son ...". Couldn't resist photographing it. had a good laugh.

Sahlab and Hamantaschen

Close up of the clean dome above
the Empty Tomb

Surprise ... but the beautiful blue and white marble on the of the Empty Tomb is not a reconstruction but the ORIGINAL that was covered by centuries of dust and grime. I went to see it this morning for my self. It is amazing. It's marble. And with the morning sun shining through the "navel" above, the Tomb looked incredible. One thing surprising though is the golden cross above it, It wasn't there in the photos I saw last week. Found out the Greek Orthodox and secretly put it up at midnight without consulting the other churches. The Armenian Orthodox are furious ... since this act would mean an exclusive claim to the Tomb by the Greeks. The Franciscans have no comment. As long as our rights are not breached, the Greeks can do what they want.

Sahlab and Haman's
ears

I'm feeling much better with the change of medication. I still tire out easily when I walk distances but I don't have the chest pains, dizziness and breathlessness. In fact I have not had an asthma attack so far, and fainting spells have also gone. The thing the docs insist is that I must not be stressed. What?? With the number of work and classes I'm teaching .... everyone is saying how could anyone with my health problems take on so much. I don't know ... but my body and mind are breaking down. Luckily my students at Ratisbonne are very kind. All 41 of them. They bring me water, cookies during class ... offer to accompany me home after class ... to drive me home (it's 2 kms away from my home). Well I prefer to walk home ... only thing is I have only half an hour to get home because I must close the university library at 5pm and I never make it back on time. It takes me at least one hour to walk 2 km.

Yesterday after class, I decided to take a detour and go to Rimon Cafe at Hillel Street for a sahlab. A student decided to accompany me. We had a cup of sahlab ... probably the last as Spring has started and this winter beverage will no longer be sold. We also had some "Haman's Ears" ("hamantaschen" in german/yiddish) ... triangular cookies stuffed with dates or poppy-seeds or nowadays with chocolate, toffee and anything else imaginable. It's the typical cookie eaten during the feast of Purim which is next Monday. The villain Haman has his ears memorialized as cookies.

1st Sunday of Lent

The Ap. Admin. in procession at
Jaffa Gate

Another busy Sunday. Had to preside at the Liturgy at the Armenian Catholic Cathedral. But this week I came prepared: organised a choir of my students. Taught them the prayers and hymns in armenian. So the liturgy went smoothly ... except for a few mistakes because the organist was not totally there ... missed 3 hymns ... resulting in awkward silence. There was the distribution of ashes as well.

After Mass, we bumped into the procession bringing the Apostolic Administrator of the Holyland (we have no patriarch for the moment) - who was our former Custos - back to the patriarchal palace. Managed to say hi to him. It's been a long time since we met.

Restored Tomb of Christ
last night

The Lenten rigours have started. Last night at 11.40pm the friars had to gather at the Holy Sepulchre for the Divine Office and procession around the Empty Tomb. It was quite different because the Tomb has just been restored. The steel girdles that once used to hold the Tomb together have been removed, new marble covered the Tomb, and the dome above had new blue and white tiles. It looks magnificent. By Easter all the scaffolding will be removed and the Empty Tomb will be open to everyone in all it's restored glory. Really great!

Today there's not been any serious news in the newspapers ... so life goes on as usual. The weather has turned again ... bright and sunny, hot even. The new medication is doing wonders for me. 72 hours now and I have not had one asthma attack, no need to use the puffer though I carry it along for emergency. I can walk 1 km without being breathless and chest pains. I'll have to keep this new regime up and pray the body doesn't react adversely to this new medication in the next few weeks. Fingers crossed.

Anniversary of 4 murdered nuns

Stormy skies last night

The weather has gone little crazy yesterday. Temperatures dropped and it drizzled. Daytime was about 15 degrees and the night was 8 degrees. It was a big change from the sunny we have been having the past week. Luckily I am feeling much better today and have not had an asthma attack in 48 hours. And my giddiness and breathlessness is gone. And I can walk 1 km uphill without stopping and resting. But my sciatica is killing me .... sitting for more than 20 mins results in acute pain.

Strawberries galore

Being Friday I fasted. If not for my new medication, I would have fasted all day. However I had to eat a piece of bread otherwise the medication would have ruined my stomach. It wasn't so bad ... I managed to carry out daily work with one piece of bread (pitta actually) all day. Didn't feel hungry all day. Then again, this is my usual meal so I didn't feel anything extraordinary. I wanted to fully fast ... because today is the anniversary of the murder of the 4 sisters of M. Teresa in Yemen. They were murdered by islamists in their convent right after Mass. Fr. Tom their chaplain was kidnapped and today his whereabouts are still unknown. All martyrs of their faith, even though the Church has not yet publicly declared it. The 5 surviving sisters in another convent are now in danger. Please pray for them.

Now there is the Walled Off hotel in Bethlehem ... play of words on Waldorf. Created by world famous graffitist Banksy, it has 9 rooms with lots of works by Banksy ... with a perfect view of the separation wall between Israel and Palestine, barely 2 meters from the hotel. It is being touted as the hotel with the worst view on earth.   http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/1.775105

On a happier note, strawberries are plentiful now and are selling for 15 shekels for 1 kg. A little expensive for locals. It's usually the tourists who buy them.

Lent begins

Sunset yesterday

Just bumped into Dr. John and told him about my heart problem. He said it's probably due to the overuse of Ventolin, the asthma puffer. I puff at least 20 times a day because I cannot breathe but 20 is definitely over the limit. So Dr. John wrote immediately a prescription for another cortizoid medicine which I have to take twice a day in place of Ventolin. It's meant to be preventive. So ... another experiment is underway to see if I will react well with this new medicine. Sometimes I'm just so tired with this burden of ill healthy .... it seems a blessing if I die. Then again it's Lent ... so I should offer this for the persecuted christians in our region. I guess they have it worse then me ... they have no medicine or shelter or food.

Walking now has become a very difficult task as I have strength to walk up to work. I get so tired barely walking 100 m. Lack of breath, heaviness in the legs and dizziness. I wonder how long more I can work like this. One consolation is the sunrise and sunsets are fabulous these days. Walking while watching the sun distracts me from the difficulties and pain.

The weather has turned around again yesterday with heavy skies and drizzle. However it was warm. Eilat the Red Sea city was flooded and pelted with huge hailstones. I wonder if this will continue for the next weeks of Lent.   http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4929185,00.html

Despite the shelling of missiles into Israel by Hamas in Gaza, reports are out that neither parties, nor Hezbollah in Lebanon are instructed in a war. So all the missiles are retaliations these few days are just posturing to gain political support form the grassroots. Our greater fear however is ISIS in Sinai. They have unleashed a wave of terror among the christians who are fleeing by the thousands into Egypt. This move could be a warning to Israel to expect something later in summer.  http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-attacks-on-Sinai-Christians-pose-challenge-to-Sisi-482878

Ash Wednesday

Almond blossoms in the park

I finally had to go see the doctor. The dizziness, breathlessness and tightening chest was quite bad the night before. I really thought a heart attack was due ... all the symptoms were there: sweaty hands, blurred vision. But not before teaching over 4 hours of class and doing lots of chores. I was utterly exhausted by 6pm when I walked to the clinic 2 kms away. Anyway the doc placed several drops of a liquid under my tongue and I rested in the clinic for an hour or more. Then I walked home. It was almost 10pm by then. But I had a very good sleep and woke up feeling much better today.

My Media and Communications class:
41 students learning how to operate
a movie camera

It's Ash Wednesday today. I had wanted to do the full fast ... but being still weak and under medication, I had to eat a piece of bread this morning. My aim for Lent is to eat the diet of the desert fathers - those monks who lived and still do live in the deserts of Judea, namely dates. There's sufficient sugar and fibre content in dates ... and they survived on this for many years. I want to try it out. Let's see how long I can hold out on a date diet for 40 days. I guess it's my way of praying for the christians in Syria, Yemen, Iraq who are persecuted by ISIS. For us, fasting is a choice, for them fasting is a daily reality forced on them.

Terrifying news yesterday and today. ISIS has started persecuting christians in the Sinai peninsula as well. Christians are fleeing the cities by the thousands. Refugees are seeking shelter in churches in Egypt. Pray for them.  http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Egypts-Christians-fleeing-Islamic-State-violence-are-left-in-limbo-482746   and   http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-attacks-on-Sinai-Christians-pose-challenge-to-Sisi-482878

Well sick or not, school has to go on. Walking to Ratisbon Institute is an ordeal for me. 2 kms away uphill. I have to stop twice along the way to rest. It takes me more than an hour to reach there. But the 41 students that I teach make it all worthwhile. Last week they learned how to operate a movie camera by one of our expert cameramen from the Media Centre.