Prayers

TV news crews stationed at
Damascus Gate

Yesterday saw sporadic clashes throughout the Palestinian Territories and also here in East Jerusalem. Worldwide condemnation of Trump's announcement has done little to move this disaster. The people in East Jerusalem feel totally hopeless and helpless. Many just say they'd be happy if they get a roof over their heads and 2 meals a day ... others think there's nothing left to lose and so choose violent confrontation. There is resignation to a hopeless fate and there is anger and this hopelessness.

And the worse is there are american politicians and newspapers attempting to second guess Trump's disaster by "seeing "a genius" behind this declaration ... that it is a ploy, a clever ruse to force Israel and Palestine into negotiation. Utter laughable. The simple fact is he doesn't know what he is doing, created this tragic mess and people are trying to whitewash it.

Mobile satellite units ready to
broadcast live

And news is out that behind Trump's declaration is the christian evangelicals who are pro-zionist. These newbies in the christian world think they have monopoly over the Holy Spirit and their private interpretation of the Bible will bring about the coming of their messiah. These fools will soon learn that they will not be welcomed in the Holy Land not just by the arabs but by the jews as well.

http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/middle-east/israeli-palestinian-relations/day-of-rage-in-gaza-west-bank-jerusalem-32886

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5053472,00.html

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israeli-troops-clash-with-Palestinian-protesters-in-West-Bank-517328

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Intense-push-by-US-evangelicals-helped-set-stage-for-Trumps-decision-on-Jerusalem-517293

Cold wet day

Cold, wet and tense

It is cold and raining and the sky is dark and overcast ... exactly how we all feel here in East Jerusalem. Trump will declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel in a few hours and it will spark violent clashes from the arab population. The thing is Jerusalem has always functioned as Israel's capital ... and everyone knows that ... and there is no need for this public declaration by America which has cared little about the arab-israeli conflict. Trump simply needs a distraction from the Russian spy investigation ... and Netanyahu needs a distraction from the corruption investigation that would indict him. But it is playing with fire. The palestinians have called for 3 days of rage.

Western Wall tunnel
exit closed

The tension is heavy in the air and we're expecting riots soon. Even the Western Wall tunnel is closed today for security. Police presence is reduced inside the Old City to avoid provoking clashes. An hour ago the Pope issued a statement before trump does.

Trump is more dangerous than Kim Jong Un ... the latter is consistently crazy and predictable, the former is totally inconsistent and unpredictable. All I can say is Trump has succeeded in one thing; uniting the Sunnis and Shiites ... if only against a common enemy Israel. The whole Middle Eastern war in Syria, Yemen, Iraq with ISIS and Iran and Saudi will all end at the moment Trump declares jerusalem as Israel's capital.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-burn-pictures-of-trump-as-israel-braces-for-violent-protests/

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5052180,00.html

http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=433740&utm_content=bufferedfb0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.826929

Lull before the storm

Monster moon over the
Mt. of Olives

What an enormous moon!!! Everyone walking towards the east couldn't miss it ... and everyone was taking photos/ Even the police and soldiers were moon gazing. And despite all the traffic and shop lights, the moon outshone them all. It was so bright the whole night it shone into my room like someone had searchlights aimed at my window.

I managed to get home at 7.15pm last night. Just had to drop all my work as I was just too tired to do anything. That's 16 and a half hours of solid work. No rest or lunch. Rushed off to Arab Fried Chicken to buy the 30 shekel package - 2 drumsticks, coleslaw, bun and garlic mayonnaise, fries and a coke. Good to eat something warm at last. Then I was off to bed. Refused to answer 3 phone calls that woke me up. And dozens of other messages. No time for anyone else. It's my time to rest. The old body is breaking down and needs it's rest.

Moon in clouds
above the traffic

Yesterday I left a message to be read at dinner that if anyone has clothes that are not used, they can leave it at my door and I'll bring them to the poor. This morning there were 4 big bags. Wonderful! This morning I brought them to M. Teresa's sisters. The weather will get very cold tonight and many poor families do not have enough clothes. It is a great help these clothes.

Nationwide there is still great consternation over the precarious situation in Lebanon. In Syria there is also tension after Israel bombed some military stations near Damascus a few days ago. The war between Saudi Arabia and Iran (Sunnis and Shiites) is dragging everyone into its tangled web. And lots of innocent people are dying because of it. A harsh winter would be disastrous for the christians and other minorities running away from the war. And a report on kids in Gaza is terrible.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/1.821771

Today is warm and sunny ... 18 degrees at 1pm. But it's the lull before the storm. Tonight it'll start raining till tomorrow and temp. will drop to between 4 and 8 degrees. Well if it rains, I'm not going to work. I'll just stay home and stay warm. Don't want to catch a cold ... which everyone else at home seems to have.

Money hunting

Awesome sunset

The first Advent week has started and everyone is already in the holiday mood. Well almost. The students have an exam in 2 weeks time so they'll have to work hard before the real holidays begin. But the weather suddenly turned very summer ... it was 28 degrees during the day! The sun was shining and everyone just wanted to go out instead of studying in class. The nights were also bearable ... I only had one heater turned on. However the cold snap will return in 48 hours ... the lowest will be 4 degrees and the maximum daytime temp. will not be over 10 degrees. Such extreme switches in weather ... no wonder everyone is sick.

Boys searching for coins in
the "stream"

Last night while on my way home, I stopped at Palm Plaza to rest ... as I usually do because I get exhausted walking the 1 km home. The fountains were working and lots of water was running down the "stream" from the upper pool to the lower pool. Arab youths were as usual hanging about, riding their bikes ... when suddenly one of them noticed a shekel in the "stream". That started a money hunt ... over 10 boys were running up and down the "stream" with flashlights searching for more money thrown in the water. And they found over 10 shekels in all.

Anyway this evening I'll go back to the Christmas Bazaar to see if there are anything worth supporting. Maybe a couple of christmas decorations ... mainly to help the poor families selling these things.
The economic situation is bad so a little show of support for our parishioners goes a long way.

Now this is for real ... the ultra-orthodox jews have reached a stage where even looking at the face printed on a 50 shekel note is a sin because the guy (russian jewish poet) featured there was a jew who married a christian. He's an apostate, the ultra-orthodox rabbi says. So the banknote must be folded so that it doesn't show the face.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.826510

Advent bazaar

Advent bazaar at St.
Francis Street

Advent has started. Churches all over have their Advent wreathes and the first candle has been lit yesterday. Let's hope this season will be peaceful and our christians stay safe from the terrorist warnings of massacre ... it happens every year toward Christmas that the islamic terrorists kill christians.

Despite the poor economy, our parish Advent bazaar took place along St. Francis street. It was quite crowded although I don't see people buying anything. And you know the economy is bad when almost half the stalls are runned by muslims. I mentioned this to a couple of our parish youths hanging at the entrance of the Catholic Scouts club and they laughed and said "Christmas is a time to share joy even with muslims". I guess there's some truth in that.

The usual Christmas kickbacks were visibly advent in the bazaar. Rather there were more food stalls and palestinian heritage handicraft. The stall selling Nutella crepe is definitely making the most sales. But the one I like best are the doughnuts and eclairs sold by George. Further down the bazaar are stalls selling locally made handbags, bedouin embroidered clothes and pottery. All in all it was fun and it's a necessary digression from the dreary routine of life in the Old City as a christian. A little cheer, a reason to leave the tiny windowless hovels and come out into the streets to chat, mingle, see the lights and hear the music.

Super moon last night

And of course there was this incredible super moon hanging in the sky. It was huge and orange last night. Utterly amazing. It made the Advent atmosphere a little more mysterious.

In the meantime the weekend saw one of the largest demonstrations in Tel Aviv. It's called the March of Shame and it targeted the Prime Minister who's under investigation for corruption and the govt.'s trying to rush a bill to make the PM immune to indictment. Well the immunity bill is definitely  horror to any democracy ... but israeli politicians are well known survivors. https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-turn-out-in-tel-aviv-for-anti-corruption-march-of-shame/

Strangely we have a report that tourism next year will be such a room there is a shortage of rooms in hotels and many groups are forced to cancel. I find that hard to believe. It smells of fake news. But no rooms in the inn is not anything special here in the Holy Land ..... it happened 2000 years ago as well.   http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=433491&utm_content=buffere5057&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Last Saturday

Full moon

It's the last day of the liturgical year. This evening Advent begins. Another liturgical year begins. Let's hope it'll be a blessed one. After class at 5pm I had to go down to the chapel to help the Indian sisters prepare the Advent wreath. It is a simple decoration but it sets the atmosphere for the waiting season. The weather is also conducive ... it's cold like winter should be ... and it gets dark by 4pm so candles do bright up the chapel. And tonight we also have a beautiful full moon.

Being the Saturday before Advent, the solemn entrance of the Custos of the Holy Land to Bethlehem took place this morning. It's a very orchestrated event, with Israeli police escort waiting at New Gate to accompany the Custos and entourage in their cars to the Tomb of Rachel (wife of Jacob) which is the border between Israel and Palestine. Once at the Tomb, Palestine authorities welcome the Custos and mounted police accompany the Custos for 1 km into the Basilica of the Nativity. It's a Crusader tradition that the Custos entered Bethlehem on horseback by nowadays he rides a car with 6 mounted police ahead. Once at Nativity Square 2 rows of franciscans wait with cross, incense and candles to lead him into the Basilica. Hundreds if not thousands of christians join in. It's a big deal. And this solemn entrance will take place on every Saturday of Advent.

Fountain at work

I had to work as usual on Saturdays as our workers don't work on this day. So I couldn't join in the procession. And anyway I had class at 3.45pm so I was stuck at home all day. And right now I'm at the other library at work as well. It's 8pm. I'm still feeling unwell though the fever is over. Constant nausea and no appetite. But work is work. If I don't do the work today, the backlog will be too much next week.

On a happy note, 2 evenings back the fountains at Palm Plaza were turned on. They were very beautiful with lights changing colors and the water flowed down to the lower pool ... like it did 17 years ago when it was first built.

December 1st

Woollen clothes
gifts to the poor
from Singapore

It's the 1st of December and what a horrible way to start ... with a possible terrorist stabbing in the southern city of Arad. An israeli soldier, 19 yrs old, died. I've noticed a pattern this past year, that terrorist attacks get more frequent toward Christmas time ... because the Islamist know that with each attack the soldiers will tighten restriction of arab movement hence disrupting Christmas celebrations. It's deliberate and provokes enmity between christians and jews.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5050358,00.html

The past few evenings I've been busy running from one hotel to another gathering donations from pilgrim groups. It consists of heat packs which are very heavy, as well as toiletries and woollen clothes. Then it's repacking them into smaller packs so that the sisters can carry them into the Palestinian Territories to give to the poor for Christmas. The winter is cold, and the poor, aged and handicapped have little to stay warm. So while you're enjoying your Advent, please don't forget the less fortunate christians here in the Holy Land.

Santa's House in
Jerusalem

Bad news for 3 bedouin villages as the govt. sent notices to the 300 bedouins that they will be evacuated and the desert land be left for the neighbouring jewish settlements. Sad but true ... I wonder if the shepherds on Christmas night felt the same.    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.825706

It's definitely not going to be a merry christmas for many people this year. Not even if Santa moved to Jerusalem's Old City and has his front door all decorated for the season.