Basilica reopened

Sunset yesterday

The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre reopened this morning at 4am. The traditional muslim key-holders from the Neseybeh and Al Goudia families opened the millennia old locks and inside the representatives of the Greek, Armenian and Franciscan communities waited for the sunlight to enter the building as the doors opened. The announcement to reopen the Basilica came yesterday evening through a joint communique of the 3 church leaders. It had not been an easy decision to close the Basilica indefinitely, knowing well that many pilgrims have travelled long distances and sacrificed a lot to come to the Holy Land. However without any other course to protection ... least of all the churches outside the Holy Land, the closure was the last resort. 15 years ago something more drastic was decided when all the churches - orthodox, catholic and protestant - closed all their doors for a week when israeli jews occupied the Crusader Tower next to the Holy Sepulchre. They had barricaded themselves in there and the churches protested by total closure. The govt. had no choice but to send police to forcibly evict the settlers and returned the Tower to the Greek Orthodox.    https://www.timesofisrael.com/church-of-holy-sepulchre-to-reopen-after-city-suspends-church-tax-collections/

Purim parade at Herod's Gate

After 2 days of closure, the PM and the Mayor of Jerusalem decided to suspend the 2 controversial bills: one to back tax all church properties and the other to expropriate land from the churches. Both agreed to set up committees to dialogue with the churches in order to resolve the matters. Well that should have been done long time ago ... instead the State chose to unilaterally impose the bills, sending tax collectors to harass churches and monasteries event with threats and forceful closures of gates and entrances. Only such a drastic step of closing Christianity's most holy site could bring attention to the authorities. But of course this is not a victory for the churches ... far from it. Local Israelis are now even more stirred up against christians and we're expecting physical and verbal assaults in the streets from the jews as they celebrate Purim tonight. Even the leftwing newspaper is accusing the churches of politicising this "petty financial dispute". Petty for them, 60 million dollars for us ... churches that have no income and survive on the meagre offerings of pilgrims.   https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-no-israel-didn-t-just-declare-and-revoke-a-holy-war-on-christianity-1.5863894

This evening the first Lenten pilgrimage Mass will be celebrated on Dominis Flevit chapel on the Mt. of Olives. It's to commemorate the Lord weeping as he saw Jerusalem from a distance, weeping over Jerusalem's rejecting of her messiah. Most of the friars will be there for the Mass but I still have class to teach. I'm feeling very drained under this course of medication, plus work in 2 libraries and teaching. I'm ready to call it quits and retire.

And talking about medication, the Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva is causing a storm in America because it's generic drug is being sold for US$18,275 for 100 pills. How could the poor and needy afford it?   http://www.jpost.com/Jpost-Tech/Business-and-Innovation/Outrage-as-Teva-charges-18275-for-generic-drug-in-US-543634

Basilica still closed

Pilgrims outside the Basilica

The Holy Sepulcher continues to be closed. It's not sure if the matter will be resolved but while pilgrims go home disappointed, local israelis are accusing the Mayor of Jerusalem and the Finance Ministry for creating a mess from a dispute among themselves, spilling it to the christian churches who have to pay the price. But there are also many Israelis who are jubilant that the churches are being taxed ... and their reasons range from economic to unbridled anti-christianity. There is no lack of hatred in this country. And the muslims are being afraid ... because they know if the churches fall to these demands, then they will be next. The good thing about them is that they will have all the arab States behind them so a huge uproar will be expected if Israel demands taxes from mosques.

Dew on the freesias

Meantime the anti-christian lobby here in Jerusalem are moaning their plight that taxes in Jerusalem are the highest in all the country. Rather than admit that it's due to the Finance Ministry not giving the Mayor a budget (which resulted in municipality strikes and uncollected garbage for a week), they blame it on christians who do not pay taxes on churches and other properties. It's an attempt to deflect attention away from the real issue and ... as usual ... put the blame on christians who are easy targets.

The day remains dark and gloomy ... like the atmosphere in our churches. It's 13 degrees outside but the wind is strong and cold despite the sun. It rained last night though and the air this morning was at least clean and crispy. Spring flowers are all blooming and the new leaves are appearing on trees. My little garden of 15 pots on the library roof is colorful with purple muscari and red / yellow freesias. Yesterday bumble bees were flying all around them. It's been a very long time since I've seen a bumble bee in our area. What we have are more honey bees from our apiaries down in the Garden of Gethsemani.

Meantime I'm weaning off prednisone. I still have another week of medication to go but the dosage is being reduced every 3 days. My hands and feet are swollen as a side effect, and my tummy is bloated. I still am insomniac, sleeping only 2 hours a night. And I am very confused and lethargic most of the time. I had planned to go to Jaffa today to get some fresh air but as usual work required me to stay back. One day I'll just pack my bags and run away where nobody can find me. Then I can rest in peace.

Holy Sepulchre closed in protest

Greek patriarch flanked by Franciscan
Custos and Armneian patriarch
addresses the media

The basilica of the Holy Sepulchre which contains Mt. Calvary and the Empty Tomb was closed to the public yesterday at noon for an indefinite period of time. This was decided the Greek and Armenian patriarchs with the Custos of the Holy Land and other christian leaders as a protest against the Israeli's onslaught on christian churches in the Holy Land. Extreme far right Minister has placed a bill to become law for the confiscation of church lands and property; another bill demands back-taxing all church properties not used for religious purposes, from 1948 onwards. The latter bill supports the former bill ... if you don't pay the back-taxes, your land will be confiscated.

The Nuseibeh family lock the doors
of the Basilica during Press conference

But the situation is much more complicated than that. In fact several factors, quite separate from each other, have converged to target the churches. The Church has always been an easy target for zionist and rightwing Israelis ... but this time this have gone too far. The Haaretz analysis of the situation is probably the best article so far. Read it carefully to understand the real reasons behind the persecution.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-church-of-holy-sepulchre-crisis-israel-burns-its-bridges-with-the-christian-world-1.5848160

Banner at the
Basilica door

In summary of the above article: the Jerusalem mayor and the Finance Ministry have been at odds regarding the budget such that the latter stopped paying the former's municipality workers ... a shortage of cash could be solved by taxing the churches. Then separately, the sale or rent of Church lands has been the only source of income for all the churches in the Holy Land ... and such sales were never governed by any state legislature as it's private property. When private developers stepped in to build luxurious apartments, prices shot up and things got out of hand. Also the 99 yr hold is soon ending and the lands revert back to the churches. But the Israeli residents of these apartments don't want to leave the premises and are pushing for State confiscation of the land so they can continue to live in Church land.

The question of back-taxing involves land tax, water tax, electricity tax which amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars ... which no Church is able to pay. All Churches in the Holy Land have been exempted from taxes since the Ottoman dynasty and respected by all the countries involved. Now Israel recapitulates and demands taxes. The strange thing is they're not taxing mosques. They know a world war would start if they did. But christians are always an easy target because the wider Church is not the least interested in the Mother Church, and their meek pacifist stance makes them perfect targets.

By closing the Basilica, and eventually all churches in the Holy Land, tourism will be affected ... and the economy will fall. It's the only means the Churches have in protecting themselves.

Read the following articles and be informed. AND BE INVOLVED. YOUR MOTHER CHURCH IS BEING TARGETED. YOUR SILENCE WILL CONDEMN YOU.

http://www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=779&id_n=46135
https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-holy-sepulchre-shuttered-bill-allowing-seizure-of-church-lands-shelved/
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Church-of-the-Holy-Sepulcher-closes-in-protest-of-new-policies-543558

Prayed for you

Procession around the Empty Tomb

Last night I did go to the Lenten Vigil after all. Thanks to the chinese sisters who wanted to participate. I had to accompany them from their hotel and back because it was very late and East jerusalem is dangerous especially for women walking in the dark unpoliced streets.

The vigil began at 11.40pm with the entrance of the Custos with the retinue of friars. It started with 2 psalms and then a Scripture reading followed by a sermon by Pope St. Leo. Then 3 more canticles were sung before everyone made a procession around the Empty Tomb recalling the Resurrection (It's the vigil of Sunday and every Sunday in the Holy Sepulchre it's the celebration of the Resurrection). The Gospel was carried by the Custos and incensed by 2 deacons. It was brought inside the Tomb and a prayer was said inside before the Custos brought it out again. Then everyone went back to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament for the intercessions and blessing.

Prayer before the
Empty Tomb

It was well attended last night. The Benedictine abbot and some of his monks from the Dormition Abbey came, the Dominican superior came and most religious congregations had representatives. The franciscan sacristan was very kind when he was informed that a group of chinese sisters were coming so he reserved 2 benches inside the chapel for them. Anyway when every ended it was already 1.30am. I then had to accompany the sisters back to their hotel in East Jerusalem which is over 1 km away. When we reached the hotel it was already 2am. Then I had to walk home which is another km away. But just as I rounded the corner to the main road ... the empty road came a lone car that stopped next to me. It was my neighbour. He was going out to buy cigarettes and offered to drive me home. Wow ... saved me a long walk in the dark lifeless street. But first we went to buy his cigarettes and I bought bread for breakfast. He dropped me off right in front of my door. Needless to say, I was very happy. I was utterly exhausted and hungry. Ate the bread with some leftover sausages I found in our fridge, and went to sleep. I got up at 5am to prepare for Mass ... which means I slept only one and a half hour. So in 3 days I slept a total of about 5 hours. I am utterly drained ... but this prednisone is really destroying my life.

Sitting at any place
available to pray

Anyway I prayed for you all during the Vigil ... all the living and dead. It is such a privileged experience to make this Vigil.

Yesterday when the Sabbath ended, some 20,000 protesters gathered in Tel Aviv to protest the forced deportation of asylum seekers. I'm not sure how this struggle will go as the govt. is adamant to deport all illegal foreigners who may be suffering persecution in their own countries. Of course there are also economic refugees among them.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/over-10-000-israelis-protests-deportation-of-african-asylum-seekers-1.5846472

The ultra-orthodox jews yesterday had to face a crisis. Their leader and mentor, an elderly rabbi died. He was the leading rabbi to call for the protests and fight against compulsory military draft which had led the country into standstills and strikes and even violence. Now everyone is anxiously waiting to see who the successor will be.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/shmuel-auerbach-leader-of-anti-draft-ultra-orthodox-group-dies-aged-86/

And here's an interesting read from an interview of 2 isreali doctors who studied abroad and returned. They noted that they found Israelis hate more and have become more isolated.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/holylandings/.premium-israelis-have-changed-they-hate-more-and-are-more-insular-1.5843275

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