Rain in summer

Rain clouds over the City

So last night muslims by the thousands prayed in the Al Aqsa Mosque (200m away) till daybreak today. And those who didn't were making a lot of noise in the streets (4m away from my window) till daybreak. It was a sleepless night for us. Constant shouting, chatting, hawkers yelling their wares ... while over the loudspeakers the koran was chanted and prayers recited. At daybreak, everyone went home to seep. The street cleaners came with huge hoses to clean the mess in the streets. Unbelievable mountains of trash at every corner ... stinking of urine as well. All were flushed away by powerful hoses. By 8am there was quiet n the streets at last. Just when it looked perfect for sleep, we had to start work. Horrors.

Students come to
say goodbye

I had to open the university library and organise work for the librarians. Then it was a dash up to the Holy Sepulchre to meet a group that brought some things for me ... thanks for all the food, gift and donations to the poor. Then it was work in the other library till lunch time when I returned to wait for students coming to see me. I have 25 students who will be ordained this weekend and others over the next months - 20 will be priests and 5 deacons. They have come in little groups or individuals to thank me and say goodbye before they return to their country for the ordinations. Today 6 came with ice cream and we had a nice chat while eating the it. An hour later another student came alone and we chatted for another hour. The next few days I will be busy receiving these students as they begin to organise their departures. They're good students ... they will make good priests.

The weather went crazy today. Last night a cold damp wind blew strongly, pulling the temp. down. This morning dark rain clouds cover the sky and by 8am it started raining ... albeit a short while. Tel Aviv instead had heavy showers and caused flooding. Everyone is stumped. We're into summer ... in June ... and it rains. Forecast is for rain again tomorrow. God knows we need it but raining in summer is a shock.

Tomorrow is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of the Custody of the Holy Land. School and libraries will be closed. I hope to wake up late then. My ankle still hurts very much and I'm feeling terribly stressed with so much work before the academic year ends on Friday ... which happens also to be Eid el Fitri, the end of Ramadan. I have to finish reports, annual financial statements and have lots of meetings. Hope to survive this week.

Muslim feast

Our sisters at the Little Wailing Wall

So Sunday came and went. I just didn't know what happened ... I had early Sunday Mass then I went off to catch up with the backlog of work in the other library. Before I knew it, it was 5pm (3 meetings in between) and I was late for an appointment with our sisters whom I promised to bring them for a walk in the Jewish Quarter. Luckily the sisters were waiting. We walked through the Suq (covered market) and visited the Cardo Maximus, the ancient city wall, the Crusader ruins of St. Mary's church, panorama of the Wailing Wall and then the Little Wailing Wall. That's the ancient section of the Wailing Wall where jews for hundreds of years under the Ottomans used to come and pray because the present Wailing Wall was built over by muslim houses. It was a tiring day and I was exhausted by evening. However there was a barbecue organised for dinner at our house and I was asked to join in. Ate several lamb chops and then went off to bed as I had to wake up at 3am for class.

Sunflower in my
garden

This evening the muslim feast of Laylat el Qader begins. It's a movable feast which occurs in one the the last 10 days of Ramadan. Muslims recall the Koran being revealed to Mohammed on that night and they spend the entire night reading the koran in the mosque and praying for forgiveness because this is the only night that God opens the heavens to forgive and your destiny will be written tonight in the heavens. All I know is we won't be able to sleep because the all-night noise from the crowds and prayers over the megaphones of the Al Aqsa will keep us awake till sunrise tomorrow. It happens every year.

The weather has been getting very hot again, around 30 degrees in the afternoons. I need to have my portable aircon on several times a day because my room is one of the hottest in the house. A sunflower has sprung up in one of my flower pots ... it was some seeds from Buddy's food that I threw away and this planet started sprouting and flowering. Beautiful as it loves the sun. Well this heat though is making the drought really bad. The govt. has decided to pump desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee as it has reached beyond the critical mark.   https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Cabinet-approves-transferring-desalinated-water-to-Kinneret-559643

Jewish implosion continues as diaspora jews are unhappy they're being treated as 2nd class while ultra-orhtodox jews control most aspects of jewish life in Israel and around the world, including conversions, marriages and praying at the Wailing Wall.   https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-us-jews-say-israel-is-losing-their-support-by-capitulating-to-haredim-1.6167773

On the arab side, a huge demonstration took place in Ramallah against its leadership. And I guess it's about time ... after 20 years in power, the present leaders have done absolutely nothing for its people but make them poorer and losing all hope. Time for regime change and the people should make it clear.   https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-over-1-500-demonstrate-in-ramallah-against-abbas-sanctions-on-gaza-1.6163387

Immaculate Heart

Agapanthus love the heat

It's the 2nd Saturday of the month. That means I have the 8am Mass in the Empty Tomb. The expatriate community of St. Anthony's parish in Jaffa come for the Mass. Today it was a small group of less than 15 people. Easy to handle. After Mass we had a Bible lesson in my library and then they went off to the Dead Sea for a picnic. I on the other hand, had to accompany a retreatant to a shop to buy souvenirs, then brunch at one of the few restaurants opened on Sabbat and Ramadan ... the restaurants are all christian. Nothing is worse than Saturday in Ramadan ... the jewish and muslim shops are all closed. After the brunch which was an omelette with chips (!!!! local christians have no idea what brunch is), we went to another bookshop before he returned to the retreat house.

Enough of walking for me. My ankle is still swollen and I really want to rest today. The morning was a whopping 30 degrees. I dread to think what the afternoon would be like. Still I noticed certain flowers like marigolds and roses love the heat and are blooming like crazy. So too the agapanthus ... amazing purples and whites. I should plant them in my terrace garden the next time.

Delicious jambu ayer

A friend brought up a pack of jambu ayer ... lovely juicy fruit which when chilled are delicious in this hot weather. I gave some to the Indian sisters and our Indonesian student. They all loved it. It's something we all missed ... a little bit of home grown fruit. You can't imagine what it means for such a gesture to us who live far from home and for such a long time. Thanks.

Well today we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I remembered you all at Mass inside the Empty Tomb. The Archbishop has asked me to help raise $13,000 for the Home of the Aged and Day Care centre in the village of Taybeh. It's one of the 7 remaining villages which is still totally christian ... and Christ stopped here according to John 11:54, when it was named Ephraim. it's in the middle of a desert region. many young people have left for the city to look for jobs and the elderly are left behind. The diocese is using an old building to house some elderly and serves as a day care for other elderly when their children go to work. Please help. The christian population in the Holy Land has dropped to 1.2%. It may soon die if the universal Church doesn't intervene to help. Remember it was here that the Church was born. May the Immaculate Heart intercede for us.

Sacred Heart

Watching the opera
last night

It's the last Friday of Ramadan and the crowds are much larger than usual ... meaning several hundred thousand more muslims than usual. This is quite worrying because yesterday morning there was a small group of extremist muslims who threw stones and chairs in the Al Aqsa Mosque, injuring a tourist and a policeman. Fear of violence spreading today is real ... but nothing happened. The police have been tougher than usual, checking bags and other luggage at Gate entrances. But as I said in an earlier blog, Israel's new approach to Ramadan is much more enlightened than previous years, allowing free access to the Mosque by muslims of any age and place. This was prevented any disgruntle among the muslims and hence no violence at all. https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-hurl-chairs-stones-from-al-aqsa-mosque-injuring-tourist-cop/

At the same time we also noted that while Gaza is embroiled in clashes every Friday with Israel, the rest of Palestine is quiet. In fact no one seems to be interested. Muslims in other cities and towns go on with Ramadan celebrations and not interested in spoiling the holiday mood. Once again Israel's new policy of unfettering the palestinians is working very well. Yes there will be a few extremists who fall out of the rule, and we should watch out for them, but there was no large scale protests and violence at all. This is enlightened security.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5269724,00.html

Butterfly and
Pinkerton on stage

Last night at Sultan's Pool (in the Valley of Gehenna) just south of the Old City, Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly was performed with korean soprano Elisa Cho as Cio Cio San. The rest of the cast was local Israeli. I wanted so very much to go watch it but I didn't know how to buy the tickets, nor did I have the money for it. But I was determined not to miss it so at 8pm I walked out to the hillside opposite the Sultan's Pool to watch the opera. It was a dark alleyway of a row of houses overlooking the Pool which lies in a deep valley. But I was very happy. Stood there for over 2 hours listening to everything. Of course it was not very clear ... there was traffic noises, police sirens, arab cars blasting music, another Isareli pop concert in the other end of the valley ... and cyclists and pedestrians walking up and down the alley. It interfered with the music ... but I didn't mind. It was free and I got to see it. I was about 200 meters from the stage. There were the highlights I especially wanted to hear: the love duet, the humming chorus and Butterfly's aria Un Bel Di Vedremo. Utterly enjoyable. Anyway all that walking (over 2 km) to the concert and back made my left ankle swollen. Today I'm hobbling.

Today for us it's the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Let's hope the Sacred Heart will have mercy on our poor region and protect our christians suffering a new wave of persecution in Syria, Iraq and Yemen this week. The news I received yesterday from the sisters living there is horrific. Pray for them.

Stromata

Family pic at Damascus Gate

Another day of classes and work. Good thing this morning the chinese sisters brought some dumplings they cooked ... I was very hungry. Then it was a race to get work done in several departments before rushing home for class. I can't wait for summer vacation to start because at least I don't have to teach ... even though I love it. Several more of my students will be defending their theses in the coming days but I will not be attending because of work schedules ... and also because the weather is too hot. Walking 2 kms to school in the 36 degree heat is unbearable.

Washing their snakes
in the fountain

So it's Ramadan and the usual circus is out at Damascus Gate. Every year guys who own snakes bring them out after dinner to have their snakes photographed by people willing t part with their money. Well last night 2 of those guys (there are at least 4 of them) who own 4 pythons brought the snakes to the fountain at Palm Plaza and started washing the snakes in the water. It drew a small crowd and the police stood by watching. It may seem amusing but I wonder how the snakes felt, being moved about and touch and handled by so many people, then dumped in cold water. And there were little children playing in the water as well ... which could have resulted in a nasty accident if the snakes bit them. But it's part of the Ramadan circus ... and people here just let it be. Anyway Ramadan will end next week on Thursday 14th evening.

There has been small clashes around the villages and borders though nothing has happened in Jerusalem itself. But further up north of Jerusalem a teen was shot dead when he threw a stone that hit a soldier on the head. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5280088,00.html

On the other hand, the govt. is going to pump $560 million into the arab part of Jerusalem, upgrading the physical amenities as well as people's skills so they can join the workforce and be productive. That's good, because as long as the social and economic disparity between the jewish west and the arab east widens, there will be no peace. The lesson to learns, once people enjoy a certain standard of living, they don't bother to fight because they risk losing all they have. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5275895,00.html

New Week

2 graduates at
Mian

It was an incredibly busy weekend and weekstart ... there was no time to update the blog.  The series of excursions ended on Sunday, But almost immediately I had to start preparing for the oral defense of 2 of my students for their BA degree. I had directed their theses and it was a good experience because the students were willing to learn and accept new ideas while also able to defend their own views. It was a learning process and they profited a lot.

The defense itself went smoothly. My students were well prepared and answered all the questions thrown at them. There was a commission for the defense comprising me the director of the thesis, a presider of the examination and a 2nd reader. Both graduated with high marks. In the evening I invited both for dinner at Mian restaurant. Chinese food. Something new for them as both come from Africa - one from Burundi and another from Ethiopia. They liked the food ... and I was relieved. Anyway they'll soon return to their own countries to be ordained.

My lilies in full bloom

Ramadan will soon come to an end and we will be very glad that all the road blocks and noise in the nights will end. But it also means the yummy Ramadan desserts and sweets will also end.

The weather has cooled a lot and lilies have been flowering profusely. The agapanthus have also flowered in the parks. Other plants though are withering away because summer has set in. I'll have to start planning for flowers for autumn ... planting should start in July.

My operation due today has been postponed to next week because I need to get a CT scan done to check the density of the bones. I'm not sure where I can get it done so today I'll be searching for a specialised clinic to do it. Because I don't have medical insurance, most hospitals and doctors refuse to accept me. I have to look for a place that's willing to do it for me with the insurance ... but it also means I need to pay a lot more for the service.

One dark cloud is looming over us ... there might be a general strike of municipality workers soon. In the summer heat, the uncollected garbage will rot and stink. Awful.  https://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=446057#.WxaPCJU49F8.facebook

Friday crowds

Total road closure today

It's been a very tense Friday here in the Old City. Because Israel has allowed palestinians free access to the Al Aqsa Mosque every Friday of Ramadan, the Old City has been flooded with tens of thousands of people. This is a big shift of tactics from previous years when only men over 50 years were allowed to enter the Old City and Mosque. This open access has actually quelled a lot of violence and to date there has been no attacks ... unlike previous years when restrictions were imposed. Good move. But other security measures had to be taken ... like total road closures to transport. Everyone had to walk into the Old City ... and only on limited lanes. Security checks have been strict but crowds nonetheless entered the City and Mosque.

Thousands coming up our street

I almost could not get out of my house twice today ... once in the morning and once in the evening. Literally thousands of muslims were walking past our door and I was going against the currant. I had to turn off at the closest alley and take the long and steep way to get out. Coming home was even a bigger trauma. Jammed pack and hardly able to breathe ... it was a terrifying experience. Never again. I turned the left alley going uphill and escaped from the crowd that was not moving anywhere. I almost fainted from the crush.

Anyway today we visited the Last Supper Room, Dormition Abbey and Peter Gallicantu church. Then we went to the Jewish Quarter to see the Wailing Wall and the Cardo. It was a nice excursion because it was very cloudy and windy. But the steep hilly climbs are extremely exhausting and I am totally dead tired. I have blisters in my feet. And tomorrow it's another early morning Mass before another excursion.