Exhibition Day 2

Reduced fountain at Palm Plaza

From the news, we know that Tel Aviv and the central cities had an enormous storm last night ... but we got nothing of it today except for some thunder. The sky continued to be dark and cloudy but nothing significant in terms of rain. What a disappointment.

The Bible exhibition continued today but fewer people came. It's a working day after all. But tomorrow we're expecting a large academic crowd because in the next hall the Ecole Biblique and Studium Biblicum will jointly hold their Dies Academicus. The former president of the Commission of Chritsian Education, a cardinal, will be giving the keynote address. The Archbishop, nuncio and other dignitaries will also be present with the full faculties of both universities. During the break, they will come to view the exhibition.

Sunset

I had a busy day with the exhibition in the morning and meetings with lawyers and finance dept., then class in the afternoon. Tomorrow I will be doubly busy. Hope to have a good sleep and get reinvigorated for tomorrow. Last night I slept badly because it was cold and I was bothered with all the paper work yet to be done.  

Saudi Arabia has banned one million muslims including those from Israel to make the Haj in Mecca. This is the largest yet banned imposed by Saudi Arabia. I wonder what the rest of the muslim countries will do.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-over-one-million-israeli-muslims-to-be-barred-from-making-hajj-to-mecca-1.6632099?fbclid=IwAR25g_K01fFyG6Wn2QuiDyqso4w9KbhOGHEFyXjuV8flID_8hj0cqP_Bdo8

For once an israeli soldier was charged for assaulting an incapacitated arab. It's justice ... but we'll see if he'll be pardoned or punishment mitigated.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-idf-charges-soldier-with-beating-blindfolded-handcuffed-palestinian-1.6627238?fbclid=IwAR1rCcN9EXjUj1LjuC6isNcUg9UgDwxofVFLOuzlfQYlgmNTCF7OKNZdlC0

Exhibition

Rain clouds today

The sky is dreadfully grey and cloudy ... but the rain has not come. It's probably raining all over the rest of the country now. Jerusalem seems to be the last place to rain. The orthodox rabbis say it's a punishment from God. Makes no difference to me whatsoever how you explain it .... we just want it to rain.

Exhibition before the inauguration

This morning we held the inauguration of our annual exhibition. The theme was on the Bible, it's traditions and translations. Some rare and precious old bibles are exhibited and will last for 3 days. Some interesting bibles include the copy used by Blessed Manuel Ruiz, franciscan martyr in Damascus 200 years ago. There are illuminated manuscripts from the Medieval period and some early printed versions from the 15th century. My only fear is bringing these books back and forth from the library to the exhibition center when it starts to rain. Fingers crossed. I'm always tense whenever we have these exhibitions. Should anything happen to these books I'll be responsible and the axe is on my neck. On the 3rd and last day of the exhibition, the emeritus cardinal of commission for christian education will be coming together with the nuncio and the rest of our university. It's going to be quite a pressure to guide them around the exhibits.

Visitors to the exhibition

Yesterday there was a stabbing attack and today another ... I didn't quite expect that as the cold and rain usually deter people from going out to cause trouble. But then again all that thick clothing can be used to hide weapons. You never know. I really wish that those attackers realize it's a futile attempt to solve problems with violence. Nobody wins, least of all their families who survive them.

Storm at last

Storm clouds over Damascus Gate

What an almighty storm we had last night. The wild crocuses I saw in the fields yesterday blooming usually forecast rain in 24 hours ... and they were not wrong. I woke up at 2am to the sound of loud thunder and flashing lightening and heavy rain. And it was cold. The rains continued till about 5am when it stopped. The highest temp today was only 17 degrees. But later in the morning and afternoon the rains returned. Tomorrow's forecast is even heavier rain. I'd look forward to another storm tonight ... I miss these rains since they stopped falling in winter some 15 years ago. Children below the age of 15 have never experienced a thunder storm like we had last night. Storm clouds continue to gather over Jerusalem and the sky is red and threatening. Feels like winter at last.

Cold and wet day

It's been a very tiring day starting at 3am for class and then work in both libraries and class in the afternoon and then meeting a group of pilgrims in the evening. Ended at 8pm ... which made my working day a full 17 hours with no rest or food. Professors from Milan arrived to prepare for an exhibition to be inaugurated tomorrow morning. I have to write an inaugural speech but right now my mind is numb. Will write it tomorrow morning before the inauguration.

As winter has started, the last olives trees must be harvested soon as the olives are ripe and black ... another week and they will start to rot. However like every year jewish settlers vandalise the arab olive groves, chopping down the trees that takes 60 years to grow, raking and destroying the olives.... and these culprits are never caught or arrested or charged.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-tree-terror-settlers-attack-palestinian-farmers-produce-israel-doesn-t-care-1.6618391?fbclid=IwAR2H0_w3edOcY0kypE5xKTujB-qwbid7ACRYdaoAnPp02ZhjoQdiStPfEFk

Meantime arab students are skipping school because the govt will not subsidise their bus fares, claiming the distance is not far enough to warrant a subsidy. Most of these arab families are extremely poor and cannot afford the transport fee so their children will not be able to go to school.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1-500-israeli-arab-students-stay-home-from-school-protesting-bus-cuts-1.6618595?fbclid=IwAR2356St_KV7gd5Of217fHg2L8cyc0Py4Pitw2nYuaNkxMhdnqEf-nwoXbY

But jews are not just attacking arabs ... the implosion of jews attacking other jews have blown out into the open during last weekends election of mayors of all the cities. In the ultra-orthodox controlled city of Bet Shemesh, a woman won the election and the obviously sore ultra-orthodox community was not only angry and vindictive, the rabbi actually cursed all those who voted a woman to be mayor to be damned to hell's toilets. So much for loving your neighbour as yourself. Last night's storm is nothing compared to ultra-orthodox wrath.   https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Leading-Shas-rabbi-Voters-of-non-haredi-destined-for-toilet-in-afterlife-571042?fbclid=IwAR13ALaPwjYPYy1A18W101KqWEkDU-_NKK0WPvps-2r6IG5SV8imKcxtIns

31st Sunday

Pruning palm tree at St. Louis
hospital

We're almost at the end of the liturgical year ... the Mass readings are more intense and evoke the coming of the Kingdom. It's great because it gives a sense of great expectation leading to Advent. I rather like it. The weather continues to get colder, the skies alot cloudier and the nights longer. Winter is surely here. One activity which we cannot miss witnessing is the cropping and pruning of trees to prevent collapses when the rains and snow begin to fall. Municipality workers are everywhere pruning large trees in the parks and along the streets while private houses hire private companies to prune their trees.

Morning market
near the bank

This morning I had to accomplish one final act in the bank - close the account. I celebrated Mass at 4am so I could be free to go to the bank at 8am. It's dreadfully stressful but I must do it as we're losing lots of money from this library account. There is a monthly charge to maintain this account, then a quarterly charge for something else and then taxes. Then there are charges and taxes for every transaction. And the Municipality takes money from the account for payment for other reasons that have nothing to do with the library. It was a nightmare that e had to end. Well I'll miss all the workers at the bank whom I've become friends. They are really nice and helpful. But this nightmare had to end.

I decided this afternoon to take a break from all the stress by walking in the park. Brought some cheese, bread and chicken wings which the cook prepared for me for my late lunch in the outdoors. My feast day will be in 5 days and Leo our Indian seminarian, who celebrates the same feast day as I, suggested I should just take an afternoon for myself. And I will.

Nov. 3

The 2 major feasts of November are over ... now we're waiting for Advent. The following weeks will be rather quiet except for a couple of Master's and Doctoral defenses. Not my problem. I just have to prepare the students for exams in January ... but that's after Christmas.

Meeting in progress

This morning I presided over my last Mass as hebdom. There were only 4 priests and 6 sisters so I decided not to recite Morning Prayer but celebrated only the Mass. Then I had to rush to our provincial house for a meeting of sacristans and heads of pilgrim shrines and pilgrim guides. The Custos and his Vicar gave some input and updates on service to the pilgrims. It ended at noon and I had to prepare for class. It's going to be a long day. But at least I'll be free this evening so I get to clean my room and get some important documents prepared for tomorrow.

Yesterday we heard the terribly news of ISIS in Egypt killing 7 and injuring 18 coptic christians during a pilgrimage. Why can't we just wipe out this plague and curse once and for all?  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/egypt/7-killed-19-wounded-in-egypt-after-isis-ambushes-buses-carrying-christian-pilgrims-1.6615917?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&fbclid=IwAR3g9apOFt6N0HQ9kcFdiF1WkBkWLNBOk-YUCT8UQetS3BGN4F1qPmTJZc8

The Gaza border continues to be relatively quiet. Thank God for that. The forecast rain for Monday and Tuesday will definitely enforce some peace as no one will want to go out and throw stones in the freezing rain. Mother Nature wins.

All Souls Day

Chinese Mass at Last Supper Room

All Souls Day began early with me presiding the community Mass at 6.30am. Then I went off to our Catholic cemetery on Mt. Zion on the southern side of Jerusalem about 2 km away. Prayed at a few tombs of people I knew and laid flowers. Many arab families had also come to lay flowers on the tombs of their relatives. Some waited for the procession of Franciscans to the cemetery where prayers were said and tombs were blessed with holy water.

Catholic cemetery on Mt. Zion

Then at 10.30am the chinese-speaking priests and nuns in Jerusalem gathered at the Franciscan Last Supper Room to celebrate Mass for the souls of family, friends and benefactors. It was a good occasion to remember those gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Not all the religious were able to come as some had work while another had to prepare for his doctoral defense. After that we had lunch at Mandarin restaurant to celebrate Sr. Teresa's graduation from the Salesian University, and the arrival of Sr. Clara to join the Jerusalem community of chinese sisters.

Our chinese friend
buried on Mt. Zion

Then I had to go to M. Teresa's convent to preach a weekly conference, hear confessions and Eucharistic adoration with the MC nuns till 7pm. Then it was a quick rush back because the 3rd Mass in our community started at 7.15pm followed by Vespers at 7.45pm. As hebdomedarius this week, I have to be present to lead all the prayers. Now I'm totally exhausted and want to sleep early.

The weather forecast for next Monday and Tuesday is rain. Temperatures will fall to 12 degrees. Finally a feel of winter ... nice.

The Friday clashes have largely reduced today ... as promised by muslim factions in Gaza. Now that's a good sign. Perhaps this weekend will be quiet and peaceful. Well if not, Mother Nature has a way to save that ... the forecast rain on Monday and Tuesday will definitely send people indoors and stop all the violence.

All Saints Day

St. Peter's church by the sea at 6am

All Saints Day today. Though it's my turn to preside at our community Mass, this morning I was excused because I had a hospital appointment in Tel Aviv. I woke up at 3am to prepare myself ... but despite all that I still to bring my passport. At 4.55am I went out to Damascus Gate to get the taxi for Tel Aviv but not before buying fresh arab bread called "kaik" which my Jaffa community loves to eat. Arrived at St. Peter's church in Jaffa at 5.55am ... but because it was cold both in Jerusalem and Jaffa ... I caught a dreadful cold. But I could concelebrate the Solemnity with my community in Jaffa before going off to the hospital for my appointment.

Checkup was quick and it's good news ... the bone graft is growing and anchored. However the doc said I need to clean up a few cavities so as to avoid any infection spreading. Now that was painful. I have to get back to painkillers again. Anyway all I wanted to do was to go home as quickly as possible ... so I took the bus home. The mini-bus drivers are crazily dangerous as they speed down the highway to Jerusalem. Once home I slept the rest of the afternoon as the cold was making me quite weak.

Tel Aviv at 6am

Anyway the rest of the Holy Land was celebrating All Saints Day ... not sure where the main celebration was. Tomorrow is All Souls Day and the friars will have Mass at our cemetery and bless the tombs. The chinese priests and religious will have Mass at the Last Supper Room, which I organised, and then we'll visit some tombs in the cemetery before going for lunch. We're celebrating Sr, Teresa's earning her Diploma from the Salesian University and the arrival of Sr. Clara.

On a national level, the mayoral elections are over ... with some surprising results in the northern cities. Jerusalem though is stuck with a tie vote ... so another round of elections will be underway. Then news is out that Israel's airforce attacked Russian military bases in Syria ... a very risky move as it might inflame the region war. In the south, Gaza's military factions have vowed to keep the ceasefire with Israel but the renegade groups armed and supported by Iran will definitely not honour this ceasefire ... and get everyone into trouble again by a new wave of bombings.