Hospital again

Shock!!

It's the 3rd day of Eid el Fitri and most shops continue to remain close and the streets are peacefully quiet in the mornings. That made my early trip to Nazareth hospital a lot easier .... no need to elbow and push my way through the crowd. At the hospital I had another x-ray done to confirm that there were no fractures in the wrist. The orthopaedic doc said the tendons are badly inflamed and possibly one is torn. That accounts for the sharp pain. The wrist was re-bandaged and the doc gave me an injection which hurt so m
uch .... a very huge needle (no joke) and the medicine burned. I was crying. Now every evening I must take a painkiller for the next 10 nights so I can sleep well without pain.

Next to the ortho clinic was a room marked "Shock Room" which I thought was funny ... i need it after that enormous injection with the nastiest medicine. Total shock. And the medicine made me very sleepy ... so I was drowsy for the next 2 hours ... and they took more blood for tests and a couple more smaller injections. By the time I was in the car to go home, I slept through the 2 hour ride. By the way I want to thank all of you who helped me with my medical expenses. Just going to hospital costs me US$200 and double that for the return. Your gifts are really appreciated and I pray for you all at Mass tomorrow inside the Empty Tomb.

Some of my lilies blooming

The heatwave continues but there is a cool breeze blowing occasionally ... so that was pleasant. My lilies have blossomed and they look gorgeous. I'll have to cut a couple off to place in our refectory because it's Pentecost this Sunday and I'm not well enough to go out and buy flowers.

A swarm of locusts from Syria have blown into Israel in epic biblical proportions. They destroyed a field and continues to be a threat to the fields on the plains of Sharon. Frightening and apocalyptic.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/grasshoppers-swarm-into-israel-from-syria/?fbclid=IwAR0MDg8t4IWfITBZbnJoslt3HJF0s2aeKnRYKRi6ZpiIygRAprWzzMR9PD8

A newspaper article cites that since 2009, there were 53 mosques and churches burnt and vandalised but only 9 cases were indicted. Where is the justice for non-jews? It's the christian churches that are bringing in the money that sustains Israel's economy ... but they don't enjoy the protection that it should.  https://israelpalestinenews.org/israel-53-mosques-churches-vandalized-since-2009-9-indictments/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=370bc543-06d3-4ea0-a93f-586bb661c5ff&fbclid=IwAR0LplNnRERca9DCBGEot8fZ20OCoUDSGTRhxad0qdRr7ddthR9IBjQhs04

Bandaged

In bandages

I cannot remember what happened ... I came home from work real late after moving lots of heavy stuff and boxes of books. Felt a pain on my left wrist but thought it was muscle fatigue and would go away by the morning. Instead this morning my left hand was swollen like a melon and I couldn't bend my wrist. It was very sensitive and the pain was making me nauseous and giddy. Went to the closest hospital which is St. Joseph's ... and waited like an hour and a half at the Emergency Unit for the doctor to come see me. Had x-rays done. After another hour the doc had time to see me again ... no fractures but the bones were pretty messed up. He said there was a sudden sharp blow ... maybe I fell or maybe something heavy fell on me. But I can't recall anything like that. My mind must have blanked out. I was after all exhausted and I can't remember what happened. Anyway I'm in bandages for 10 days or so. Wearing a bandage in a heatwave of 36 degrees is no fun.

All kinds of needles

Today is the 2nd day of Eid el Fitri. Most muslim shops continue to stay closed and only some re-opened after noontime. Then by sunset all closed again. Everyone went home to feast. I had returned home from hospital at 12pm and slept through the afternoon. At 3.30pm I had to prepare a student for his thesis defense and at 4.15pm I went to the MC sisters for adoration and confessions. Finished at 7pm and came home famished as I hadn't eaten all day. Just my luck there was no leftover food in the fridge for 2 days now. Going out to buy food is difficult when all shops in East Jerusalem are closed. Walking to West Jerusalem is a 2km uphill trek in this heatwave. I prefer to die of hunger.

We've been warned by the Ministry of Health that more mosquitoes in Israel carry the Nile River virus. I better be careful.

Anyway I need to rest now as tomorrow I have to go back to Nazareth Hospital for my CT Scan results.

Tranquility

Crowds milling around the Dome
of the Rock

It's Eid el Fitri and our Quarter has never been so magical .... it was empty ... shops closed and no one in the streets. Once a year our neighborhood because so tranquil and quiet. Going to work was an unbelievable pleasure. But of course all this comes with a price ... last night the cannons fired 5 shots that shook our building. Ramadan was over and literally tens of thousands of muslims flooded the  Muslim Quarter. Food vendors were everywhere. The festivities went on almost all night. Then in the early morning they all went into the mosques for Fitri prayers and then left en masse for home ,,, which is throughout the country. And then by 7.30am all was quiet. It was bizarre but thoroughly

Bibimbap lunch

I had to accompany some people through the Jewish Quarter and what a surprise ... there was a bazaar at the ancient Cardo ... like what it was 1700 years ago. Very quaint. Around the corner from the Cardo is a very small korean kosher restaurant. The owner and cooks are korean ... and the bibimbap I ordered was great. It was all vegetarian though. But it was good to eat something hot for lunch once in a while.

The heatwave has picked up and wild fires have broken out again throughout the country. And the strong winds are flaming the fires to a very dangerous level. Residents of many areas have been evacuated.

Meantime I hope to have flushed out all the chemicals injected into me yesterday. I'll need to rest a little more this evening and tomorrow. But like always .... fat hopes

Festivities

Inside Damascus Gate at 4.30am

The First Lady N. Rivlin passed away this morning after a long illness. Despite her illness she carried out her official duties in a dignified manner, and humbly ... while discreetly and unapologetically carrying an oxygen tank which she requires. She is an inspiration to all sick people who have to carry out duties. I'm sure the whole country will miss her.

Meantime the muslim world is in chaos. They can't decide if Ramadan ends today or yesterday. Some countries following Iran's lead and closed Ramadan yesterday and celebrate Eid el Fitri today. Their political rivals follow Saudi Arabia's lead whose king announced the end of Ramadan tonight and Eid el Fitri tomorrow. In Palestine some towns follow Iran and others follow Arabia ... so there's general confusion. One village is still fasting today but the next village is feasting the whole day.

Last dawn of Ramadan today

I had to go to hospital early this morning in order to avoid the muslim crowds entering the Ol City to pray. Pre-dawn prayers begin at 3.45am and at 4am dawn prayers start with the firing of the cannon. I went out at 4.30am since the crowds would be inside the mosques praying and the streets quiet. It was the last down of Ramadan and the streets were really quiet. I took a few photos of Damascus Gate as the sunshine broke behind it.

The almost 2 hr ride to hospital was spent mainly asleep. I was tired since I had to fast since yesterday. The tests and CT scan was relatively quick ... despite my fear of needles. and claustrophobia for CT machines. The medical staff had to blindfold me for the CT scanning and hum a song to distract myself from the claustrophobia. They had to take the scan 3 times ... what a disaster. And they took 6 phials of blood for tests ... and my blood was so dark and thick it looked black. The nurses were surprised and made no comments. I have to return on Friday to get the results and the specialist from a northern hospital will come to speak with me. Anyway the injection of medicines made me feel very sick and I'm resting for the rest of the day. Nausea and giddy.

Almost the end

Empty Damascus Gate ... everyone
eating dinner at home

The metal barriers ... hundreds of them in and around the Old City have been stacked in street corners after yesterday's Jerusalem March. They're not likely to be removed because tomorrow is the last day of Ramadan and there will be hundreds of thousands of muslims flooding the Old City again .... and the metal barriers will be re-employed to control the crowds. So we're almost at the end of the fasting season ... the Ramadan cannon will stay quiet till next year ... and life goes back to normal. Or as normal as we can get in this country.

I'm quite worried, to be frank, because tomorrow I must go to Nazareth hospital for several tests and am not sure if I will be able to go out and come back if the City Gates are packed with muslim pilgrims. It's a scary thought ... or as someone said ... it's a nightmare going out.

All types of cherries

And talk about nightmare ... Israel bombed a 2nd time Syria's military bases, killing several people. Russia and Iran ... Syria's allies ... are certainly not happy. Let's just hope things do not flare up and this summer becomes a tragedy for everyone.

The heatwave has created chaos in our fruit industry. Fruit have ripened before they reach their mature size. And those which reach maturity have all turned mushy due to the heat. So the plentiful cherries and plums are all very small and red and colourful but still dry and sour because they had no time to develop juices. What a pity. The farmers must be facing a big lost ... except those growing watermelons. Due to the heatwave, melons become sweeter. Strange but true.

On a happy note, Israeli scientists think they might have discovered a way to help victims of pancreatic cancer.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-researchers-find-potential-hope-for-some-pancreatic-cancer-patients/?fbclid=IwAR13spvH4xVLRQyuOFcRGLfgFetmaeNIKh0NrCCRSBHkejfvqUFuHJLOesQ

Sunday

Toppled mobile toilet

It's Jerusalem Day and the morning was broken with clashes inside the Al Aqsa Mosque. Police had allowed 1200 jews to enter the Mosque and muslims, celebrating the last days of Ramadan, were furious since no one except muslims are allowed inside during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Clashes broke out and arrests were made. I could hear security helicopters flying above the mosque compound at about 7am. But wisely the police did not hinder the muslims from continuing to pray in the mosque, allowing free access to all. That certainly averted any further violence. Not everything was totally peaceful though ... a toppled mobile toilet outside Damascus Gate testifies to some clashes there.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-and-police-clash-as-jews-allowed-into-temple-mount-on-jerusalem-day/?fbclid=IwAR3MBsYxSjNQi87D22ac4BRZUOs-p6c7diyLSVStgLMsktmyPv1RjytSel0

Meanwhile the exchange of fire between Syria and Israel continued ... Syria landed missiles inside the Golan Heights and Israel bombing Syrian military bases. We're not sure if things will cool down.   https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Syrian-air-defense-confront-enemy-targets-near-Damascus-591333?fbclid=IwAR15VFAbc6DEGmUk5SaOav1cH1EzVkyiBgPUOps7imUF9F3lobiYJPucijA

Seminarians at liturgy

I had to go celebrate the Armenian Mass this morning. The road was full of police and muslims going to pray. The liturgy was well done ... all 3 armenian seminarians can to help sing and respond while the White Fathers' seminarians came to help serve and read the 1st reading. The singing was very good ... and one seminarian even played the flute accompanying the organ. Everyone was very pleased.  

I spent the rest of the day at home, filing its of document, cleaning the room and trying to block out the noise of the israeli settlers marching and chanting and provoking local residents along out street.

Anyway I'm glad it's all over and tomorrow we're back to routine again.

Tense but peaceful

Packed streets today

Despite the violent stabbing attack yesterday, the Last Friday of Ramadan passed off peacefully. It was the wise move of the Isreali police not to impose a closure or restriction to permit only muslims 50 yrs above to enter the Old City. By allowing the crowds to continue entering and praying without hindrance, the police averted riots and demonstrations and possibly more violence. This was something I was convinced the past decade when police enforced collective punishment and preventive restrictions after each attack. Well done, police!

Last night was Laylat el Khader ... which commemorates God giving the Koran to Mohammed. But it also celebrates the opening of heaven and God granting pardon for sins and granting all prayers. At least 300,000 muslims from around the country and world gathered in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque throughout the night ... to partly pray but more to celebrate the feast. Shops opened all night till this morning ... making brisk business. And the streets continued to be packed with crowds all morning to noon. Unbelievable.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/260000-muslims-pray-peacefully-at-al-aqsa-mosque-after-terror-attack/?fbclid=IwAR2ncsY7PJwzi4P7JiyKpH4Yl2bjNrY72Zh2MhpWsVqmoPuLgnu4650ZhJs

Waiting for oral exam

What is scaring us is tonight, when the Sabbath is over and Jerusalem Day begins and extremist jews will march into the Muslim Quarter and East Jerusalem by the thousands ... literally thousands. We all believe they will wreck revenge on the arab quarter and property because of the 2 stabbings yesterday. We're staying home for the next 36 hours to avoid being collateral casualties.

Well the checkpoint and road blocks and huge crowds are no barriers for our students as they fought their way to school this morning ... they have exams. Good luck!