Lenten Vigil

The chinese sisters in pilgrimage

There is a sudden influx of tourists and pilgrims this week. Well "influx" is an understatement ... it's a tsunami. Our chapels and the Via Dolorosa are so packed, groups have to wait to get inside our courtyard ... let alone the chapels. I find it such a hassle to squeeze among these groups to get in or out of our house... as pilgrims and tourists are utterly and absolutely oblivious to the needs of others. They block the streets, take pictures, chit chat, drink and eat ... and make our lives so difficult because we have no place to walk. And the crowds will get bigger now that the Orthodox Lent has begun today. I dread it. I should move to Jaffa to stay during Lent. It will reduce my blood pressure.

GuangZhou youth group at Bible class

Among the countless groups are many chinese Catholic groups. Yesterday I met 6 sisters ... a very small group ... from TaiYuan. They're the first lot of sisters to make the final profession of vows as their congregation was founded only in 1997. They're called the Chinese Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. Gave them a talk and tonight I will accompany them to the Vigil and probably for Mass after that. That means reaching home at 2.30am. I'll be exhausted. There have been many other catholic groups coming as well. Despite my illness I have been running around the City in the evenings giving them talks. One was a youth group from GuangZhou and we had a Bible conference. And as Lent continues, more such group talks are lining up. I work all day and and nights as well now ... practically 16 to 18 hours a day.

And yes it was another night of insomnia. Last night I slept only half an hour. The night before it was 2 hours. The medication is wrecking my life. It solved my allergic reaction but it created another mess in my life. Veins in my hands are bursting, fingers are swollen, I get confused and disoriented. I lose my appetite but my students here constantly check me to make sure I eat something otherwise I faint. They're good guys.

Well as I said earlier, tonight I'll go for the Lenten Vigil which starts at 11.40pm and ends around 1am, followed by Mass on Mt. Calvary till about 2.30am. I shall be praying for you all there.

Drizzling weekend

Drizzling all day

The weather has changed from sunny to grey gloomy skies again. It even started drizzling. I spent some time planting seeds and replanting the daisies as I needed some fresh air. It drizzled but the cold 12 degree won was refreshing. It takes my mind off the swelling and nausea side-effects of prednisone. I just realised I'm taking 60mg each day ... which is a pretty high dosage as I'm usually put on 40 or 30mg. It's double dosage. That's why it's making me really sick. It messes with my head.

East Jerusalem traffic

I can't do much in my physical and psychological state, so I stay mostly at home trying to read and write. I can't really rest as I've become insomniac because of the medicine. I thought of going out for a long walk ... but it's drizzling. but maybe I will. I just need fresh air. The weekend has started and traffic is winding down so a walk through the western part of Jerusalem (jewish) will be calm and tranquil. The eastern arab part is bustling with thousands of muslim worshippers coming in to Al Aqsa Mosque from throughout the country. It's the Friday muslim day pf prayer. I shall avoid that place if I do decided to get out.

The Archbishop visited the chinese
sisters on New Year day

Being Friday in Lent, the 3pm Way of the Cross will take place even in the rain. We have a sudden influx of pilgrims and tourists. Protestant televangelists have organised mega-trips with literally hundreds of followers divided into groups of 50s under a local guide to visit the Old City. They cause major traffic jams in our streets and are very noisy. Though the shop keepers adore them for the money they spend, the rest of us find them bothersome. We prefer more peace and quiet in our streets.

Tensions are rising since yesterday. An israeli military raid to arrest terrorists in Jericho led to the death of an arab. A security video going viral shows the guy shot dead point blank by a soldier when he tried to attack the soldier with a chair or table. Then other soldiers came and beat him dead. Autopsy confirmed he died of beating. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5126057,00.html

Coupled to this was the attack of jewish settlers against an arab shepherd, killing several of his sheep. This is terrible because the sheep are the only livelihood of these bedouin arabs. I wonder if any justice will be served. You cannot generalise and say the arabs are violent terroists who do not want peace and again and again we have cases of jewish settlers attacking and destroying arab properties, unprovoked attacks on arabs causing physical harm.   https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-west-bank-shepherd-says-masked-israelis-attacked-him-killed-his-sheep-1.5843470

And the Justice Minister made a speech claiming Israel must maintain a jewish majority in the State, even if it means overriding human rights of other races. Scary. In any other country this would have caused an uproar, locally if not worldwide.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/justice-minister-israel-s-jewish-majority-trumps-than-human-rights-1.5811106

On the other hand, Israel is willing to grant 20,000 work permits to palestinians to enter Israel to work. A nice dose of sugar to quieten the rising tensions. Let's hope this will include some of our workers who till now cannot come out to work in our institutes.   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israel-to-issue-20000-more-work-permits-to-Palestinians-543368

Meantime the ultra-orthodox threaten the coalition govt. if the compulsory military draft is not changed for ultra-orthodox youth.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-fresh-coalition-crisis-religious-party-places-ultimatum-over-army-exemptions/

Last sahlab this winter

Gloomy gray skies

Newspapers are running articles for Purim events. Yes Purim is next week ... March 1 and 2, It's when kids (and more adults) dress in costumes and the "hamantaschen" cookies are baked and eaten. But more about that when Purim comes round. Well let's hope the feast will enjoy bright sunny weather because these few days the skies continue to be grey and gloomy.

My allergic wheezing and breathlessness is over but I still must continue with my course of prednisone. Already the swelling of fingers has started and the depression as well. Luckily one of our indian sisters is a professional nurse and she's monitoring my situation so I don't get too depressed which is one of the usual side-effects of prednisone. I had a couple of visits from my students yesterday when they heard I was sick. One of the bought me a cup of sahlab ... the turkish winter beverage made from orchid root. I like it. It's topped with cinnamon but I don't take the crushed nuts. It was the 2nd cup I've had this winter/Spring ... and the shops will soon stop selling it as summer approaches.

Yesterday;s sahlab

The day before there was an explosion in a pub in the New City. The oven exploded ... but immediately people jumped to conclusion as said it was a terrorist attack. The police and to announce that it was a gas leak. Then within 12 hours another gas leak in the southern suburb of Jerusalem. The  ground floor carpark was blown off and the 3 storey building almost collapsed. 2 elderly residents were wounded and 1 died. Again the police said it was an accident but diehard rightists are flaming the fires of hatred by insisting it's a terrorist attack. Opportunists of fear and hatred.

And the saga of the corruption probe into the PM makes a dramatic turn when now it's been revealed that aides have offered the judge the post of AG if she closed the case on the PM's wife. No one is shocked here. And it would come to nothing as long as the ultra-orthodox rabbis stand behind the PM. The real power lies with the ultra-orthodox rabbis.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5122753,00.html

The dreadful bombing of eastern Ghouta in Syria is terrible. Hundreds have died including children ... casualties because the govt. forces are driving out the rebels who control Ghouta. There are churches and christian schools in that area. Let's hope the rest of the population are safe.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/100-dead-in-syria-s-heaviest-one-day-death-toll-in-3-years-1.5828694

Still sick

3 years ago today ... the snow storm

I am feeling better than yesterday. Prednisone always works quickly for me  ... first round is 60mg. Makes me sick with nausea, dizziness and fatigue but it stops the asthma attacks immediately. Problem is once I'm on it, I have to wean it off for a period of 15 days. Then the swollen feet and hands and face begin. For the moment I'm thankful the severe reaction has lessen considerably but not totally. I still have pain and pressure on my chest and walking or climbing stairs is still very tiring. There'll be time enough later to cry over the side-effects that I hate. I get nightmares just thinking about it. If doctors prescribe prednisone to you, make sure it's the last hope medication and you urgently need it to keep alive. Otherwise I'll say keep it as far away as possible.

It occurred to me while I was resting in bed this morning that today Feb. 20th exactly 3 years ago there was the great snow storm in the Holy Land. I remember going out at 5am to see Damascus Gate and the park when no one has yet trampled over the 1 foot-high snow. It was amazing ... like a fairyland ... all white and blue. I can never forget that experience ... alone in the very silent, cold park  with trees crystallised in ice ... it is utterly awesome.

Mottled sky this morning

Though I wish I could rest today, there is always that someone who is absolutely oblivious to the needs of others and demand immediate action. So I had to walk 1km up to the other library to get a job done ... but I had to stop several times on the way. And after 15 mins of work, I had to come home. Luckily someone was passing down Damascus Gate so I hitched a ride. I realise now how decrepit illness and age can reduce a person.

There was an interesting article about fasting that I read yesterday. It says that fasting can trigger stem cell regeneration and fights cancer. Not sure if it's all true but that's an incentive to fast during Lent.   http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/scientists-discover-fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-fights-cancer.html?utm_source=JERF&utm_content=9487-YEZ5

And another plus for Israel ... research here on the medical use of marijuana has shown it reduces pain which will be very helpful for the elderly and those suffering from arthritis and other illness. Medical marijuana is legal here in Israel and it has helped thousands of sufferers. This is a very enlightened approached to medical science.   http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=438801&utm_content=buffer9c5f1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Meantime the implosion of jewish society ... more exactly the ultra-orthodox against everyone else continues to escalate. A well-known and reputable Canadian rabbi of one of the largest jewish communities in the world was blacklisted by the Chief Rabbinate (100% ultra-orthodox) in Israel; meaning he cannot legally perform jewish rites, personally flew into Israel to find out why. He was not met by the Chief Rabbinate but only a commission looking into the decisions of the Chief Rabbinate. All he got was only an apology but no assurance that his name will be removed from the blacklist. This implosion will reaching worldwide jewry ... and the repercussions will be felt not just religiously but socially and politically. Red lines are being drawn and financial threats are becoming a reality.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-blacklisted-orthodox-rabbi-accuses-israel-s-rabbinate-of-blasphemy-1.5828591?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter   and   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5122047,00.html

Sick

Some of my students last night

Last night I felt a tightness round my chest and thought it could've been the cold but this morning I am utterly breathless and fatigued. There was no loud wheezing like an asthma attack but all the other symptoms point to it. As I walked uphill to my other library later at 8.30am I realised I could not walk very far as I felt very faint and my breathing was very shallow and chest very tight. So I returned and went to my usual arab doctor. He checked me out and said it's severe asthma ... an allergic reaction to something. Well I couldn't think of anything as I drank half a cup of coffee only this morning. So it wasn't something I ate. The doc said it cold be something in the air as we've had a bad sandstorm a few days ago and some pollen or stuff would still be floating in the air ... or dust from the many renovation works along the street. Despite the rain, people make house renovations in winter because the building materials and workmen are cheaper. In summer prices rise.

Anyway I asked the doc why it didn't feel like a normal asthma attack like before and he explained that the seratide I am now taking has suppressed many of the symptoms so my asthma attack now is not like before. Anyway he gave me an injection and put me back on my dreaded enemy ... prednisone. The doc said there is no other choice as my asthma is very bad. So today I start my 2 week course of prednisone.

Musrari in bloom

Last night my level 2 english language students asked me to bring them to a chinese dinner ... and practice their english skills there. Ah Ling of Mandarin restaurant is now cooking alone in the kitchen  as her cooks returned to China. There were 2 groups of tourists eating dinner and I thought Ah Ling would not be able to cook my group's dinner as well so I told her to simply give us what the other groups are having. That would save her from cooking extra. The students were delighted in learning about Chinese New Year, the traditions and eating chinese food. It was a nice evening. And my asthma allergy did not come from dinner because it usually starts within 10 minutes from eating the allergen, not after one night.

Church leaders in Jerusalem have united a presented a letter demanding the Jerusalem Municipality to retract statements threatening to collect retro-active taxes from church properties.  http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-02/church-in-jerusalem-taxation.html

Police have arrested some Israelis for attacking an arab bus driver. That's a good move ... it doesn't guarantee a charge will be made but at least it is a start.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-israelis-suspected-of-assaulting-arab-bus-driver/

Meantime Israel continues to bombard Gaza, hitting military targets and destroying tunnels. Though pre-emptive in nature, it serves to unite the Gazans in anger.  Tensions will be higher than before.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-strikes-gaza-tunnels-after-renewed-rocket-fire/

And jewish rightwing extremists attacked jewish left-wingers in the West Bank. Talk about implosion.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-settlers-filmed-throwing-stones-at-left-wing-activists-in-west-bank-1.5808502

Storm again

Chinese sisters'
oratory

The Lenten rigours have begun. Last night at 20 to midnight the friars and many local religious gathered in the Holy Sepulchre to pray the vigil office of the 1st Sunday of Lent which ends with a procession around the Empty Tomb. It's quite impressive if you're not sleepy at that hour. The prayers end at about 1.15am and then Mass begins immediately on Mt. Calvary. This midnight vigil will take place every Saturday night. Hope I'll be able to go to one and pray for you all.

By the way the Chinese sisters send their New Year greetings to you all, and thank you all for your kindness. They pray for you all daily and offer a Mass for your intentions once a month. Their little oratory ... not a chapel as there is no space for an altar ... was blessed with a gift of a tabernacle and stand from M. Teresa's sisters. In the picture on the bottom right floor there is a white sheet of paper. It contains all your names and the sisters offer it up in their daily prayers. The oratory is so small only 3 sisters can enter it at any one time.

Dark gloomy day

Yesterday afternoon saw dark gloomy skies with a very strong cold wind ... with a little drizzle. But in Tel Aviv and the rest of the country, the daytime storm was extremely heavy, causing lots of floods. Roads to the Dead Sea were closed. A tourist bus in the Negev desert was stuck in the flood and the tourists had to be saved.  In Rishon leZion and Tel Aviv there was hail carpeting the roads and fields like snow. The whole country experienced extreme weather conditions except Jerusalem.

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5117745,00.html
and  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Ukrainian-tour-bus-rescued-from-flash-flood-in-Judean-Desert-542863

But by evening the rains returned and by midnight the storm burst. Just like the night before there was an electrical storm and the rains were very heavy. Some of the guys in my house on their way to the Holy Sepulchre ran home soaking wet. They never quite made it to the basilica.

Down south in the country, missile alarms had sounded twice, sending people to hide in bunkers but there were no missiles from Gaza. Israel bombed many targets in Gaza anyway ... a pre-emptive strike as Israel is expecting a war from Gaza soon. http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/BREAKING-18-Hamas-targets-struck-by-the-IDF-Saturday-night-542898

Amazing

Amazing double rainbow this morning

What an incredible electrical storm last nights. It rained very heard with lots of thunder and lightening from midnight onwards but by 2pm it stopped. At 3am the electrical storm restarted and was much more violent. Lightening struck every 20 seconds. It was amazing to see the sky ... and the whole City lighted up by these flashes. And it rained very hard again till 4.30am. All that celestial noise kept me awake ... and fascinated by the phenomenon that we have not seen over over a decade. What a way to start the New Year ... literally with a bang.

Then this morning ... 4 degrees with gusty cold winds and very grey skies ... an amazing sight stopped the City. A full double rainbow stretched across the entire City. It was utterly awesome. Photos have been flying all over the local social networks. If anyone missed it in the skies, he surely would have seen it in the pics.

Olive trees being blown sideways

The day continued to be very grey and cold. At 3.30pm it was only 5 degrees. And the wind is very gusty and very very cold. More rain and lightening predicted for midnight. I guess I'll be awake again. The thunder is simply too loud for me to sleep.