Almost weekend

Spring figs budding
but inedible

Tonight is the last night of the Old City music festival. I guess it will be super packed with visitors. A prof wants to go out after dinner for an ice cream and asked me along .... but I'm not too keen. I'm exhausted from a whole day's work and lessons. Am too tired to walk uphill 2km for an ice cream. Sleep is the best alternative.

I just left the convent of M.Teresa's sisters and was thinking of walking down to East Jerusalem to buy some dinner at Arab Fried Chicken but decided not to. So turning to the right to get home I aw police blocking off the road. The rightwing yeshiva students must be marching through the Muslim Quarter tonight ... they do it once a month under heavy police protection. Very noisy, rowdy and provocative ... vandalising non-Jewish property along the way but no one is ever caught or charged. All our roads are blocked, residents must stay indoors and only these jewish students are allowed to march through our streets. I rushed home as soon as I could before the streets are totally closed. The marchers would harass and spit at christians ... and we cannot protest as the law protects only Israelis. Right now as I right, the marchers are passing under my window ... blaring loud music, singing at the top of their voices ... and stopping in front of the 4 churches along Via Dolorosa to spit and harass with noise pollution. Well the important thing is I'm home save while the marchers are outside causing disruptions.

Several days back I passed by a fig tree in bud. There were lots of immature figs and these are inedible. They will fall in a few weeks but this guarantees that in August there will be sweet luscious summer fruit. I look forward to that.

Though I love summer a lot more than winter, yesterday we received bad news. Due to global warming, summers will be twice as hot and lasts twice as long. In other words, no more winters. Now that is a bit too much. I won't be able to survive 8 months of summer. I need to move out.  http://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Study-Global-warming-to-nearly-double-length-of-Israeli-summer-by-2100-545093

And in a shocking (for the rest of us) move, the lawyers of soldiers charged for killing an unarmed 16 yr old arab argued that their clients be freed because soldiers are rarely charged for such acts. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-weighing-plea-deal-for-soldiers-who-killed-palestinian-1.5905960

Old City festival of music

Arabic traditional musicians

Last night I went to see the music festival "Sounds of the Old City" which is spread throughout various corners of the Old City. It was crowded. Very crowded. So much so that by 9pm the police had to close off Jaffa Gate because there was simply no space to walk. No one could even get out of it ... people in front of me were turned back. When I managed to get to the barrier I saw the guard was an arab so I spoke arabic to him and he let me out. Other israelis were not happy ... but that's the privilege of knowing another language!!

Concert at Jaffa Gate was packed

The festival was a lot smaller than previous years. It sued to have 3 routes, one to the Christian Quarter, another to the Jewish Quarter and the 3rd to the Armenian Quarter. This year it was reduced to one route that passed through all 3 Quarters and even through the Suq (covered market) of the Muslim Quarter. In the Armenian Quarter the performances were more light and Sound show than just Sound show. Projectors flashed images while music was played through amplifiers ... it was mainly nostalgic traditional music from times past.

Light & sound show
at Armenian Quarter

One thing noticeable about this year's performances was the number of arabic artists. They made up almost half of the festival sites and noticeably these performances were packed with local arabs who usually shy away from Israeli festivals. It's good that the Municipality had made this change ... it's become inclusive and the arbs do not feel left out or bitter that it's an Israeli cultural conquest of the Old City. It made them belong. The Israelis on the other hand had 2 huge concerts - one at Jaffa Gate and the other at Hurva Square. Thousands literally packed the areas so much so that ... as I said earlier ... the police had to close off Jaffa Gate as there was no space to move.

I was very tired actually after work and still feeling sick ... but the fresh cool air at 14 degrees was good for me. I needed the break so I took this slow walk around, enjoying the music. I have lost my appetite these few days because my stomach is burning ... maybe I have ulcers due to the medication. But I did enjoy the evening out. Maybe I'll go out again this evening for another walk at the festival.

Nazareth, not to be outdone by Jerusalem, organized its own Old City festival. And like in previous years, the muslims in our Quarter organized an afternoon of fun at Damascus Gate. Clowns and people in costumes entertained the children. There was face-painting and spontaneous dancing and singing. It's not much but for the arabs and especially the children who will not participate in the Old City music festival, this is a great alternative.

Of sirens and Sounds

The upper fountain at Palm Plaza
is repaired

The Sounds of the Old City annual festival started last night. It was quite noisy ... we could hear it even from our Quarter ... the only Quarter where the festival is not passing though. In fact all festivals in the Old City bypass our Quarter because of fear of violence. While it's such a pity our area is never part of any municipal festivities, on the other hand it's a blessing because our streets are not blocked by crowds, blaring music do not disturb is till midnight and we can live our lives without strangers constantly poking their heads into doors and windows. In fact yesterday there was a movement by Old City residents to sign a protest topping more festivals from being organised in the Old City as it is too disruptive for those living there.   https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=440297#.WqZPpllnQ98.facebook

Sirens sounded throughout the country at 11am warning of a rocket or missile attack. But it was just a drill. Israelis at work and in school had to head for the closest shelter. And of course the arab side of the population just went on as if nothing happened. And all this drill just seems to point to Israel's readiness for war this summer.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5162805,00.html

Confound this with an attempted assassination of the Palestinian PM while on a visit to Gaza. The rival Hamas govt. there is accused of plating a roadside bomb to blow up his convoy. Several security staff were wounded but the PM escaped. This summer will probably see more tensions between Hamas and the Palestinian governing Fatah party. The war scenario is getting more colourful.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5162044,00.html

On a brighter side, the Egged Bus company monopoly of bus routes in the Judah region where we live - that's the southern half of the country. Now with some competition, bus prices might be lowered and services would be more efficient. https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=440291#.WqZJ-by5YMA.facebook

Hebrew uni. students at our library

As usual it was a busy day ... extra busy now that I am one short of personnel. Despite my arrhythmia I have to walk up and down the City to do my various work. We've been hosting students from the Hebrew University who are studying medieval music. They have assignments that focus on our oldest Crusader period hymnals. That means moving the 12kg books back and forth from our archives and requires 2 people to carry each book. They're bound in covers of wood and bronze. They were commissioned by King Henry IV of England in memory of his father John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster to be used by the franciscans at the Holy Sepulcher in the 13th century. It's world famous and has been in exhibition in New York's Met. Museum, Paris' Louvre etc...

Of sunrise and sickness

Amazing sunrise today

My heart still hurts ... and at times sharp pains. I'm sure I'll get a stroke or heart attack soon ... because the amount of work I have to do. I'm actually supposed to be resting but due to the sudden transfer of my personnel by higher authorities without any warning, I'm left with less than a skeleton crew .... literally only one guy who is learning on the job. I am at wits end as now I have to do the job of 5 people. And to top it all, it's Monday .... class at 4am.  I prefer to get a heart attack and die.

Cold, empty street last night

The weather has been playing games again ... during the day it gets to 18 degrees and you can actually wear a T-shirt. But by 5pm it gets cold and during the night it goes down to 12  degrees. It's quite bearable .... but I find it extremely annoying because in Tel Aviv it's 25 degrees and people there are having summer while we're still at the tail end of winter. But the sunrise these few mornings are spectacular because of the dry crisp air. From the vapors of the Dead Sea, the sunlight takes on a strange hue of violet and blue.

The ongoing saga of forceful repatriation of african asylum seekers takes a new twists as jews from kibbutz and communes begin sheltering them. Amazing.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5157685,00.html

And the govt seems more divided and poised for a snap election because the ultra-orthodox will bring the coalition govt. down if the military draft law is not changed; while the zionist parties vow never to give in to the ultra-orthodox. The PM is struggling to keep his coalition in place but everyone expects the govt. to crash and a snap election be called in the coming months.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-vows-no-compromise-on-idf-bill-as-netanyahu-tries-to-save-coalition/

Let's see what happens next.

4th Sunday of Lent

Precious limes

I didn't go to the Vigils last night. I fell asleep and when I woke up it was already 1.30am. However I couldn't sleep as m stomach was burning from the medicine's side-effects. So I did some reading and dozed on and off for several minutes till 4am when I started cleaning the room and preparing for Mass. After Mass it was cleaning again ... it takes a lot of time not because the room is big ( it isn't) but because of my sickness I cannot do anything quick. I must take my time otherwise the heart will give out.

I've been losing my appetite as well and today several of my students came to visit me. They remarked that I've lost weight these 2 weeks. I won't be surprised as I have to wear a belt now to hold up my pants. However I have a great desire for limes. They're almost impossible to find here. I managed to buy 2 form the asian grocery and since then there has been none on sale. And calamansi ... I'm dying for those but they're non-existent here. So here's my wish list for those who are coming up to Israel and are thinking of bringing something over for me: I want fresh limes and calamansi ... and pei tan (century eggs) and fresh rambutans and mangosteens. So much for the moment.

Protests continue today ... this time the southern cities' citizens marched against the ultra-orthodox's push to close all shops during the Sabbath. The moderate and secular jews want the freedom to choose, not a law to be imposed.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/hundreds-of-secular-israelis-protest-enforcement-of-shabbat-laws-1.5889246

Meantime arabs living in East Jerusalem, fearing that the jew will take over their neighborhoods and expelling the arabs out, are all rushing to the Interior Ministry to register themselves or trying to get Israeli citizenship in order to loose their properties. They're expecting a big advancement of the israelis into their land when the US and Guatamelan embassies move into Jerusalem in May ... emboldening extreme right-wingers to expels forcefully arabs from the eastern part of Jerusalem.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-palestinians-despair-of-wait-times-at-gov-t-office-in-east-jerusalem-1.5887607

Saturday events

Budding oak tress at 4am

So as the Sabbath began yesterday, a wholes series of demonstrations rocked the country. In the Palestinian Territories, one died and several injured as arabs clashed with Israeli soldiers over the planned embassy moves by USA and Guatemala; in the northern beach city of Caesarea, israelis protested and blocked the main road over plans to big a oil pipe line across the city and its pristine beaches ... one youth even threw a flare in to the PM's private house and got arrested; in Tel Aviv thousands of israelis marched to support african asylum seekers from being forcefully repatriated.

Bedouin hawkers at 4am

Today the City was much quieter, being the Sabbath. The police were expecting trouble I guess because there were lots of them in and around the Old City. I had the usual 2nd Saturday Mass in the Empty Tomb for our parishioners from Jaffa. 5 of my students also came to join in. I was quite dizzy and almost blacked out during the Mass. After that I had to preach a lenten retreat till 12pm. Then I took 2 hours of rest in my office while working. I had woken up at 1.30am last night and could not sleep due to the medication. My stomach was burning and I still feel quite sick all day. Sleeping only 2 hours a day for the past week is killing me. I took a long 4km walk to shake off the side effects of the medicine. At Damascus Gate at 4am bedouin women had already arrived to lay out their veggies for sale.

Women's Day took a step back yesterday when women soldiers had to relocate their barracks because orthodox jewish male soldiers came to do their reservist service and they demand gender segregation. So much for democracy and equality as Israel touts itself ... the final word comes from the rabbis ... they run the govt. Then a video ad for women pilots as taken down because the rabbi's frown on women in public. It's a scary thought that the all powerful army of Israel is now under the thumbs of the rabbis.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-after-religious-pressure-israeli-army-takes-down-women-s-day-video-1.5889071

And radiating the negativity outwards, an Israeli Justice Ministry official called for jews to invade and settle in arab East Jerusalem ... "take over" is the word. Such calls are now public and brazen thanks to Trump who declared all Jerusalem as the jewish capital. Arabs are now publicly targeted to be removed from their properties so that israelis can move in and calm their "right". I guess this also spread into the taxation of church lands and properties ... now that there is no limit to the Trump-israeli claim.    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-the-ministry-s-man-who-settles-jews-in-arab-east-j-lem-1.5888643

YNet News on the other hand offered an assessment of the sheer lunacy of an almost war between Israel and the Christian world by unilateral confiscation and taxation of church properties that led to the closure of the Holy Sepulchre last week. The narrow rightwing agenda will implode.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5150808,00.html

And we're receiving news of daily attacks by jewish settlers on arab farmers and shepherds. The incidents are rising on a daily basis and soldiers present have done nothing to stop these aggressors. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/soldiers-do-nothing-to-stop-settlers-throwing-rocks-at-palestinians-1.5888651

By the looks of these, this summer is going to be eventful ... to put it mildly.

Marathon Day

The biggest Marathon to date is just ending here in Jerusalem. Roads closed almost half the City at 5.30am and the half marathon started at 6.30am. The full marathon started at 7am. there was an estimate 35,000 runners with over 4000 foreigners participating. The largest group of foreign runners came from Hong Kong. The winner was a kenyan who finished in 2 and a half hours. But the majority of the participants were local jerusalemites. It was a family day for most people .... parents with kids in strollers, senior citizens in groups, classmates from schools .... all varieties, many in costumes from last week's Purim .... it was very festive.    https://www.timesofisrael.com/30000-race-through-jerusalem-in-capitals-largest-ever-marathon/

Dome of the Holy Sepulchre
at midnight 

And no ... I wasn't there or even near it. I saw the photos on the news and live videos. I have to work today despite my arhymic heart, so I couldn't go to take photos of the marathon. It's such a struggle everyday to walk short distances and especially up and down the stairs. I get so tired and dizzy. And the cocktail of antibiotics makes me so thirsty all the time, day and night.

The marathon was quite a relief from the tense demonstrations yesterday but the ultra-orthodox jews. However because of the traffic disruptions and closures of many shops, many locals are no less happy than yesterday. Well maybe things will get better next Monday when the Jerusalem Sounds of the Old City festival begins. As with previous years, musicians and performers will be found at various points in the different Quarters of the Old City. It's a 4 day event and it'll draw thousands of locals from other cities. As it's a night event, traffic won't be disturbed but parking certainly will.

Steamed buns today

And talking about night ... I don't think any of you have ever seen the dome of the Holy Sepulchre at midnight. The lights are all turned on and it looks stupendous. Every 4 hours deacons from the different churches take turns to incense all the altars in the basilica. It's quite an experience.

Yesterday our filipino parishioners came to Jerusalem and they brought some food for me. However I was out listening to confessions in the evening. They brought me steamed buns and biscuits ... and 2 sticks of durian cakes. That was very nice of them. All of them are domestic helps and health carers of elderly jews in Tel Aviv. They don't have much pay but they are generous with charity. That's what Lent is all about. I am privileged.

Daylight saving is on March 23rd. That's Holy Week and so our liturgies will be an hour earlier.