Holocaust Day

Beautiful garden of the benedictines

It's Holocaust Day today .. or Yom haShoah. The sirens sounded at 10am and almost the whole country stopped for a minute's silence. 6 million jews were killed by the Nazis ... but also many gypsies, christians, africans ... anyone who was different form the Nazi race were killed. The call today is "Never again" but seeing the chemical attack in Syria yesterday ... it looks like we've never learnt any lessons from the past.

It was a nice day off for me today ... only because I was out of the Old City. It was work all the same. I had to accompany the community of M. Teresa's sisters to visit some churches along the ancient Roman rod between Jaffa and Jerusalem. We could not visit the Biblical Zoo as they wanted because it is Holocaust Day and all public places and restaurants are closed. Only alternative is to visit churches.

We first went to the church closest to Jerusalem along the Roman road ... Abu Gosh. It's an arab village today but many jewish artistes have moved in to this tranquil valley. The inhabitants used to guard this entrance to jerusalem .... and taxed christians going there on pilgrimage. The crusaders built a church there over a spring of water and thought it was biblical Emma's. They were wrong.  But the church is very well preserved because the muslims did not destroy it. A monastery of benedictine monks and nuns now live there and care of this crusader structure. The gardens are beautiful. The whole place is serene and prayerful.

Then we went up the hill of Abu Gosh to the sanctuary of Kiryat Yearim ... the place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept before David removed it to Jerusalem. Today a convent of Soster of St. Joseph of the Apparition stands there with a reconstructed church over the ruins of the Byzantine church. It has a magnificent view of the hills and valleys toward Jerusalem ... which is marked by high-rise buildings 26 kms away.

The church at Ramle

Then we went to Ramle ... again. I was there last week accompanying our Fr. General and his friends to visit the church. Ramble is biblical Arimathea and the church is dedicated to Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Fr. Abdel Masih the parish priest is always generous and offered food and drinks to us. We celebrated Mass there and thenFr. Abdel Masih bought sandwiches for our lunch. From there we went on to Jaffa to visit St. Peter's church.

Gaza had fired rockets into Israel again and Israel will respond by bombing Gaza. It's terribly tense right now at our borders. Worse, we're all expecting Syria and Russia to attack Israel after Israel bombed Damascus several days ago. The whole country is on red alert. Iran the supporter of Syria said last night that Tek Aviv and Haifa will be laid waste if America bombs Syria. Trump who promised to bomb Syria soon, this morning changed his tune ... probably because his allies warned him of the consequence for Israel. All the arab nations are laughing at him ... always shooting his mouth and then having to withdraw his words after a day.

Tonight begins the Muslim Feats of Laylat el Miraj .... the night journey of Mohammed to Jerusalem on a flying horse. Police presence has beens stepped since afternoon in and around the Old City after noon.

Eve of Holocaust Day

Rainy skies all morning

And it rained this morning as well! What strange weather. With the drought for the past 10 years, we've not had April showers for a long long time. Children below 10 years definitely found it surprising. Most have never seen snow or rain. The temp. continued to hover around 10 degrees. By afternoon the sun came up but the temp. remained very low. Let's hope tomorrow will be better.

Meantime our concern is Syria/Iran/Russia's revenge on Israel's bombin of Syrian airbase. America the protector of Israel has threatened to bomb and today the syrians have cleared out all airports and air bases ... prepared for a bombing by America. Russia has threatened to retaliate. Things are now extremely tense and we're not sure what the next step will be. Trump is famous for last minute back-tracking ... a lot of barking but no bite.

By the way, the chemical attack in Douma is where we have 2 churches and several convents of sisters. Let's hope they're not hurt.

Tonight begins Holocaust Day ... Israel remembers the 6 million jews killed in Europe. The sirens will sound at sunset and again tomorrow morning at 10am. Last year I was on the highway and we stopped by the road, like all other Israelis, for one minute's silence. All places of entertainment will be closed. But in the ultra-orthodox jewish neighbourhoods, there will be celebrations. They think it was God's punishment on unfaithful jews ... divine justice, so they celebrate. This upsets the rest of Israel but no one, least of all the govt., will dare to criticise them.

I am stressed with all the corrections of theses and term papers. It's not the major mistakes that upset me but the small recurring mistakes like missing articles, wrong prepositions and long tedious phrases with lots of subordinate clauses. I understand the students are not native english speakers but after over a 100 pages of the same mistakes, I go crazy.

Rain?!

Wet day

The morning was utterly unbelievable .... It rained. Not drizzle but actually rained hard. The sky was terribly dark and it was 9 degrees. Suddenly everyone was back in winter clothing ... down jackets, beanies and hoodies. Even heaters were turned on in many places. I had to wait for a break in the rain to rush up to the other library to get some paper work done ... then wait for another break to rush home 3 hours later.

It's surprising it rained ... though not surprising. The 50 days between Passover and Pentecost is a time of weather extremes, strong desert winds called hamsin alternating with mild weather, stormy weather mixed with hot sunny days. The crops that are flowering or fruiting during this time are always at the mercy of the weather. Too much rain and all the pollen will be washed away. No wind and the flowers cannot be pollinated. Too much sun and the young fruit wither. No sun and the wheat cannot ripen. It's this delicate yet uncontrollable power of the weather that caused ancient peoples in our region to pray to the weather god Baal.

It was just as well that it rained all day. Other than the 3 hour rush to finish paper work in the other library, I locked myself in the room to finish at least correcting one chapter of the many theses and articles assigned to me. It is extremely tiring not just for the eyes but also for the mind. I usually would need a long walk to cool the brains but yesterday with the rain I had no choice but stay in my room. Looks like the weather is forcing me to finish correcting the scripts.

Annunciation Feast

Birthday tea time

Saturday we were locked in our house because of the road closures due to the Jewish Passover and the Christian Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony. The roads were opened only after 3pm when the fire descended. At 6pm I went out to meet some of my students who wanted to celebrate my birthday. There were not many places to go to .... all jewish restaurants and cafes were closed due to the jewish feast and all the christian ones were also closed due to the Holy Fire ceremony. Only the muslim side was only but they don't have cafes ... so we ended up in the cafe of the Legacy hotel. Not all the students could come as some had apostolates. We had coffee and tea and 2 pizzas. We couldn't afford much but the company was precious. The students prepared a surprise banner and secretly ordered a waffle with a sparkler. The girl in the next table also had a birthday ... so the waiters came out with both waffles and sparklers with a taped arab birthday song blaring in the sound system. It was corny but everyone enjoyed it. I'm thankful for this lot of students.

Dusk at the Legacy

On Sunday I voluntarily locked myself in my room ... no breakfast or lunch. I had to finish correcting a whole load of term papers, articles and theses. It was painstaking and very mentally tiring. I managed most of it but I still have a thesis and a half to go. I went to look for dinner at 8.30pm. The shops had reopened after the 8 day Jewish Passover. I really wanted some warm rice so I went to Mian restaurant and got a takeaway.

Yesterday there was a demonstration in the Al Aqsa mosque during lunch. From my room I could hear the chanting from inside the esplanade and then it flowed out into our street. But it fizzled out. I guess the heavy police presence was enough to put an end to that. But tensions continue and it'll flare up again.

There's deep worries in Israel today as we receive news that Israel had bombarded Damascus. Russia outed this secret and we're expecting retaliation. Mind you this strike was a retaliation over the downing of an Israeli jet in February. This summer is going to be eventful.

But meantime today we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation because March 25th was Palm Sunday. Nazareth's basilica of the Annunciation had the solemn liturgy and I guess it was very crowded. Today  I had to go back to work so I'm not joining any liturgy.

Holy Fire

The Holy Fire around the
Empty Tomb

The Old City and some roads surrounding it were closed off yesterday for the annual Holy Fire ceremony. Tens of thousands of orthodox christians gathered or at least tried to gather into the Holy Sepulchre church for this miracle but police closed off the entrance after the crowds got too large and there was danger of a crush or fire. SO what is this Holy Fire all about? It's the Easter proclamation in the eastern rites. They believe a holy fire from heaven comes down into the Empty Tomb and the Patriarchs of the Greek, Armenian and Coptic churches receive it and pass it to others outside the Tomb. The franciscans who care for the Holy Sepulchre used to participate in this ceremony until recently ... and though it is not central to our Easter celebration, we still retain this miracle in a low-key moment during the Easter Vigil when our franciscan sacristan enters the Empty Tomb when the Gloria is sung and comes out with a lighted candle with which he lights all the candles on the altar.

Anyway there is no Easter Mass or Blessing of Fire and Water like us ... the Orthodox have this fire which they share with each other. This miraculous fire is supposed to be the guarantee that the Resurrection actually took place but now so much superstition has taken over, this rite has overtaken the Gospel message and people only think of bringing the fire home ... nothing remembered about the resurrection. Pity.

Police on horses, patrol cars and foot
patrol at Damascus Gate

The Jewish Passover also ended yesterday ... so the Old City streets were also packed with jews going to the Wailing Wall to pray. Security was super tight. Tensions at the Gaza border where over 10,000 Gazan burnt tires to block the view of Israeli soldiers have led to over 10 deaths when Israeli soldiers fired through the smoke. Among the dead was one journalist. There was fear that violence would erupt throughout the country and other borders but luckily nothing happened. Anyway now that all the feasts are over, we can expect a little normality in our lives ... till Independence Day and the American Embassy move to Jerusalem in a month's time. We're expecting riots.

This morning I suggested to some of our guys that we should go to the New City for some ice cream as the weather has heated up to 26 degrees. Last week because of the Feast of Unleaven Bread, no ice cream shop was opened. Then we realised if we went today, they'd have only old stock left as there's no time yet to make a new batch of ice cream .... so I guess we'll have to wait for a couple more days.

Orthodox Good Friday

Our church in biblical Arimathea

It's the Orthodox Good Friday today. Copts and Ethiopics were already up at 5.30am making their version of the Way of the Cross. The crowds got bigger and bigger and by 8am it got so large and out of control, police stepped in to close our street and those along the Way of the Cross. Every few meters there were barricades and groups moved barricade by barricade till they reached their destination. I was petrified because I still had one more day of guiding to do ... and so I left at 8am only to find I was locked in my own house. It took lots of explanations to have the police allow me to get out ... through 4 barricades. I was sure I didn't want to return till late evening so as not to be locked out of the City. Utter stress.

The tomb of St.
George in Lod

This morning we visited the tomb of St. George in the city of Lod: that's the George who killed the dragon. Old is the modern name of the biblical Lydda where Peter worked a miracle. The place of the tomb is today a Greek Orthodox Church ... and there was a lot of hustle and bustle because the Greeks were preparing for Holy Saturday tomorrow. They had decorated a table to represent the tomb of Christ but covered with a frame of flowers to symbolise the resurrection.

Then we had Mass at our ancient church in Arimathea ... today it's called Ramla. The parish priest and community of sisters and workers were super kind to us ... even cooking up a lunch which was unplanned. They were so generous and kind. It was amazing. Then we went on to St. Peter's church in Jaffa to greet the community there. It was a short visit as we had spent over 5 hours in Ramla. Anyway everyone was happy. That's important. I think today is my last day and tomorrow I get to rest.

Now things are getting scary up in the Syrian border. Govt. forces and placing heavy artillery in the buffer zone with Israel ... which apparently is against the 6 Day War agreement. We don't know how Israel will respond but believe me if it's going to be military .... then Syria better watch out.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/assad-regime-places-tanks-artillery-in-buffer-zone-with-israel-report/

And even scarier yet ... ultra-orthodox jews rioted and beat up ambulance attendants and removed the body of a jewish baby from the ambulance because they felt the medical service was impure ... or not jewish enough. Imagine the trauma of the relatives.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/haredi-radicals-grab-body-of-drowned-baby-from-ambulance-during-funeral/

And the ultra-orthodox rabbis continue their war with other jews by declaring that artichokes from italian .... which are usually eaten by italian jews during the Passover season ... as impure / non-kosher and hence banned their eating and import into Israel. It's caused an uproar among italian jews overseas and in Israel.   https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium-rome-s-jews-fume-after-israeli-rabbinate-bans-staple-dish-1.5976677

Birthday

Sr. Clara and
my flowers

Yesterday Holy Wednesday I took a day off. I didn't have normal work in the library. In fact this week I have been given a special job to do ... guiding some VIPs. That's why I didn't have time to update my blog. But yesterday I asked for a day off ... I didn't feel secure enough to go to Galilee, with my IBS. And thank goodness too. The friar who substituted me had such an intense day, and with the jewish holiday traffic, the group came home at past 10pm ... and they started off at 5.15am. Really I'm glad I didn't do it. They were stuck in a 10km traffic jam on the way home.

Yes .. it was also my birthday yesterday. Without the group, I was less stressed and was able to have a quiet day. I corrected one term paper and then went to the other library to settle some work log. Then I took a slow walk around the New City looking for a nice lunch. I wanted rice or noodles but because no leaven is allowed during the Jewish Passover, all those restaurants were closed. It was disappointing. Finally I found IWO's opened ... non-kosher and hence serving bread and bacon. I ordered a crispy bacon burger and a coke. The guys working there recognised me and we chatted a lot. That made my day.

Church of the Good
Shepherd in Jericho

I managed also to do a little gardening. All the summer flowers are blooming. Magnificent pinks and purples. Sr. Clara liked them very much and made many photos while I tidied up the courtyard.

Today I had to bring the group to Masada and Jericho. Thankfully it was a copy day so it wasn't very hot. We visited the north and western palaces and then I had to rush them back to Jericho for lunch, stopping by the Baptismal site in Qasr el Yehudi. Then it was lunch at the Mt. of Temptation restaurant where I met up with some old friends I haven't seen in 5 years ... they work in there and I haven't been to Jericho for a long time. Then it was Mass at our parish of the Good Shepherd. I was so surprised to find the broken down church totally renovated, and the dark damp friary is not bright and airy. It was so beautiful. The poor christians in the muslim majority of Jericho must feel so happy this Easter to be able to worship in a decent church.

Mind you I've had several wheeling attacks ... not full blown asthma.. and my left ankle is hurting like crazy. But it was a good day out. That's a perfect birthday present.