Freeze

Cold empty streets last night

Syria fired 4 missiles into Israel this morning and reports are coming out that Israel struck near Damascus airport in response. While tensions are rising in the north ... the Gaza problem seems to have cooled down a lot. Never a dull moment here.

The temp has dropped drastically yesterday and we've reached 10 degrees in the nights. Daytime is 15 degrees but the wind is a lot colder. Scarves, woollen caps and thick winter jackets are worn by everyone. I caught a dreadful cold while going to class in the morning yesterday ... didn't wear enough. But today I'm prepared. 3 layers of clothes today. The sun is bright but it feels like 10 degrees. Yesterday's winds were very gusty. 2 people were injured by falling objects. It was very unexpected ... tis drop of temp. I'll have to start taking out my winter clothing. T-shirts are definitely out.

Strangely in this cold weather I'm not getting any pain in my ankle or wheezing. That's a good thing though I prefer summertime. I'm still very busy with classes. Yesterday I taught 8 hrs of classes in a row. Ended up like a zombie. Came home at 7pm and slept immediately ... a day starting at 2am.

Christmas is still a long way off but already shops are selling christmas decorations. It's unbelievable how merchants are catching the festive season to make money as much as possible. I'll do some window shopping though.

New week

Gusty cold wind at Palm Plaza

The ceasefire has certainly fallen apart as sporadic bombings continue on both sides of the border. But as I told my students at the White Fathers Sabbatical programme, we're in the safest place in Israel because we live next to the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Wailing Wall ... sacred sites to Judaism and Islam. No one would risk bombing either site ... and they're literally next to each other.

Politically a 3rd election is looming as the candidates of the last election fail to form a coalition govt. Locals don't look forward to it. And internationally it looks bad for the country as it shows the division and disunity in society.

And mind you ... here the war is nothing compared to the situation in Hong Kong. Entering a church to arrest people is against International Law on sanctuaries. It's a biblical law. And now I read that Sunday Mass was cancelled in Rosary Church as well. It doesn't look good.

Outdoor cafes at Jaffa Street

This morning I had another meeting with the UNISA profs. They wanted to see the library and museum. I was glad to see them again. Like I said, I feel at home when I am with them. UNISA was my intellectual home from 1990-1998. They offered me new horizons and approaches to old problems. I found an alternative from the traditional methods and perspectives in biblical science etc.

I did manage to go to the New City to buy the usual stuff for the week. The sun was very sunny ... but  the wind is very very cld. Everyone ... and everyone including tourists had hoodies and jackets on. The palms and trees at Palm Plaza were bending with the wind. And in Jaffa Street, you can see the people in winter clothes while enjoying their brunch in the roadside cafes. I rather liked this weather, it's good for my asthma ... but I prefer summer anytime.

A new week has begun ... I'm ready for it. Bring it on.

Stromata

Rain clouds at 1pm

The ceasefire definitely isn't working as Gaza fired 2 more rockets early in the morning into Beer Sheva, a southern city. Israel responded with bombings as well. Apparently there was an internal fight between Jihad and Hamas in Gaza ... Israel had targeted Jihad and when Jihad declared war, Hamas refused to participate. The internal conflict then seemed to be solved when Hamas fired the 2 rockets into Beer Sheva this morning ... to appease Jihad. Then we hear there was more internal conflict .. this time within Jihad's political wing that wanted a ceasefire and its military wing that wanted to continue fighting. Well as long as there's internal fighting, they have no time to bomb us.

1st Passionfruit

The weather has turned to winter ... very dark cloudy skies and cold winds. Looks like the heatwave is over. Let's hope it stays ... we need winter ... and lots of rain. It'll limit my walks around town as the stone pavements are very slippery when it rains ... but that's ok.

The change in weather has ripened the passionfruit in our courtyard. We ate the first one yesterday ... our indian sisters say it's a high quality fruit and the vine I bought and planted is a very good stock. Well I also took a lot of care by watering and fertilising it regularly. There are 17 fruit on the vine to date. Looking forward to harvest them all.

I hoping to get some rest this afternoon and then I'll have to prepare next week's lessons. Last night I met up with my U. of S. Africa group of profs and students. They're leaving tomorrow morning and we wanted to say goodbye. They're a great lot and I enjoyed the afternoon sessions and excursions with them. I might decide to pick up another degree with them again. UNISA is the largest distance learning university in the world. I studied archeology and greek and library science with them many years ago.

Drizzle

Blackout in E. Jerusalem

The night was relatively quiet despite the ceasefire being broken. Israel bombed Jihad targets in Gaza overnight but Gaza did not respond. This morning the local councils of the southern cities decided to go back to normal with schools and offices reopening. Egypt has been scrambling to negotiate between both sides to reach a settlement. Let's hope this quiet will last this time.

Funeral procession

It's started to drizzle now. I think the heatwave is over. It's chilly and everyone is wearing jackets and hoodies. This time winter better come ... we want more rain and cold weather. But that usually comes with electric blackouts. Like last night. There were 4 blackouts in a row ... and it affected the entire East Jerusalem ... both in and out of the Old City. I came home from home in the dark ... and it was dangerous. There're lots of steps and ramps to negotiate along the streets of the Old City. I had to walk very carefully. But I reached home safely.

And the sun set at 4.02pm today. The siren sounded to start the Sabbath and I thought it was very early. But then it's winter. Now an hour later the sky is all black like midnight ... except for the bright full moon.

One of our lay brothers died this morning. He was a very quiet polish and was the sacristan at Bethpage. The funeral procession from the parish church to the cemetery had begun when I arrived.

Time is ticking and no israeli govt has been formed yet. Looks very likely another election is inevitable ... the 3rd this year. That's not good as it gives the semblance of instability. That emboldens terrorists.

Ceasefire

Mass in the Empty Tomb
last Saturday

There's a ceasefire declared this morning ... and there's general calm ... though we hear reports of missile sirens sounding in southern parts of Israel still. Israel had retaliated with several bombings ... killing a jihadist chief in the process. 22 others have been killed including children. On the israeli side .. no deaths but 2 injured. I doubt Gaza with remain silent for long. Let's see if this ceasefire will last.

... and news just in ... the ceasefire was broken because Gaza fired 5 rockets into Israel. Let's see what will happen tonight.

It's another work day but I took it slowly since I didn't have morning class today. Celebrated Mass at the FMM convent for the filipino group led by our alumna.Then it was 2 meetings ... almost 3. Then work in the library followed by 2 hr class and 3 hours of eucharistic adoration, bible conference and confessions at the MC convent. Not as hectic as in previous days ... but nevertheless tiring as I haven't rested in 10 days.

Received news last night that not only are christians being slaughtered in Syria .... 2 armenian catholic priests were killed by ISIS as well. Then a new wave of attacks on christians in Iraq as well. The terrorists have regrouped and restarting their evil. When will the world stop them?

Full moon

Full moon

The night was quiet as the firing of missiles stopped. But early this morning the barrage of missiles started again. Last night a total of over 200 rockets were shot. One or maybe more landed near Jerusalem ... just north in Beat Shemesh. Rocket sirens were blaring and some people in Jerusalem could hear it. Israel had responded bombing Gaza military sites. Everyone thinks on Friday things will escalate and then it'll die down. Let's really hope so.  https://www.jerusalemonline.com/150-rockets-rain-down-in-israel-from-gaza/?fbclid=IwAR1hiCMLO-lRWCKyDQZT4RZujEkyHmcDiTp5pqO9FrMEuJjvV5vrB_LjXFo

The weather is still hot but the nights have suddenly turned cold again. I still wear a hoodie during the day as indoors get quite cold. And most locals are doing the same. You can tell a foreigner easily these days ... they're in shorts and t-shirts. Locals are always cautious as changes in weather here means coughs, colds and other illnesses. But healthwise I am quite good ... no illness, slight pain on my left ankle as usual and a bit of wheezing ... nothing serious. I only need to sleep as for the past 10 days I've been sleeping only 3 hrs a day. Too much teaching and work. The exhaustion is showing with mouth ulcers breaking out.

Morning class with African religious

This morning I finished the course on the Pentateuch with the African missionaries on Sabbatical leave. It's been very demanding. But it ended well and everyone was satisfied. I get one day rest tomorrow and on Friday we start with the prophets. The afternoon classes and excursions with the U. of S. Africa profs and students ended today also. Last visit to Mt. Zion - the Formation Abbey, the Last Supper Room and St. Peter Gallicantu church. They were exhausted after their excavation but still wanted to see these places.

So tomorrow I'll try to rest ... and prepare for Friday class. Provided the war doesn't spread into Jerusalem. If it does ... then no class ... I'll get another off!!

War

Full moon

It's war. Early this morning Israel bombed and killed Jihad chief in Gaza and also bombed another Jihad chief in Damascus. Jihad has declared war and since 9am rockets have been fired into Israel from gaza. Friends in Tel Aviv took photos of missiles flying overhead. Some have crashed into roads and a house was destroyed ... injuring an 8 yr old child. The whole country is on red alert. All offices and embassies and institutions are closed from Ashdod near Gaza all the way up to Tel Aviv. The IDF is ready for an escalation of attacks. So far Jerusalem has not been affected ... but for sure military presence will be upped in a few hours. The next few days will be crucial.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-jihad-declares-were-going-to-war-after-idf-kills-its-strongman/

Bedouin hawker in
the early morning

As the country prepares for war situations ... public bunkers are opened ... here I still continue with my work. Was up at 2.30am to prepare for 8am class with the African missionaries. Finished at 12pm and went to the libraries to catch up with a week's work that I could not do. Afternoon class with the S. African students has been cancelled so I have time to finish the backlog of work. Then I hope it's an early night's sleep for me.

Our alumna from the Philippines has arrived with a group of pilgrims. Since they have no priest, I go to their hostel at the FMM convent to celebrate Mass every morning. I hope the rising tensions won't lead to road blocks so I can't go there.