Goodbyes

Last night at 9pm we heard gun shots ... something similarly eerie like a month ago. This time an arab terorist stabbed a soldier at Bab Hutta, 25 meters from my window. Soldiers shot and killed him, but an innocent woman passing by was injured by a ricochet bullet. Let's hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Emanual R.I.P.

And another tragedy ... as I was going home from work, several catholic young men rushed passed me carrying a coffin across the road to the catholic mortuary. This rush is avoid offending muslims and jews who consider a dead person impure and which incurs grave impurity laws. I hardly had time to say a prayer for the soul. As the young men returned, I asked who it was. It was Emmanual, our loyal receptionist at Casa Nova for many years. He is well known to many pilgrims and guides who have stayed there. Emanuel was an old man now, over 85 yrs old with cancer and multiple heart surgeries. I often see him sitting at street corners and I'd chat with him. He always asked how my health was. Emanuel doesn't have to suffer pain or the winter cold anymore. May his soul rest in peace.

Another goodbye today ... our student Matthias graduated with his Licentiate a couple of months ago but could not go home due to the lockdown. Finally he was able to get a circuitous route to return home and will leave tonight. He left a lot of stuff behind in my office so I can pass it on to the next chinese student coming in October to study. As usual I am the caretaker of these students. And also suddenly a chinese sister said she'll be returning on the same flight as Matthias. We expected her to leave at the end of the month. But there was a seat available tonight so she took advantage and booked to leave. So our chinese community of religious will be reduced by 2. We'll have to hang on and support each other.

Jaffa Street getting crowded again

In a couple of weeks, jews will celebrate the high holy days including Yom Kippur, New Year and Sukkoth (Tabernacles). The corona commission is planning on a lockdown to prevent crowding. Let's see if they'll succeed. The rabbis after all have the last word. Meantime the arab counterpart of the israeli corona commission agreed that the arab sector was out of control ... gathering at weddings and prayers and not wearing masks. That accounts for the constant 4 figure infection rate every day. It's appalling but no one seems to be enforcing the law in the arab parts of the country especially East Jerusalem.

Grape blessing

Our Lady's altar

Yesterday the orthodox churches celebrated the Dormition or Sleeping of Mary ... which is equivalent to our Assumption feast day. It's associated with the harvest of the grape and after the liturgy, the priest blesses the harvested grapes and prays for the vineyards and vine-dressers. We had our own small liturgy at the Armenian Catholic Church. The laity prepared the fruit and songs, the acolytes from the White Fathers' seminary swung the incense, the organist also came after a 6 week holiday. It was very grand by our very small standards ... but everyone was so proud and happy. We had our own grape harvest and the blessing. That's one mile stone.

Tensions continue to rise at our southern border. 6 more fires were ignited due to incendiary balloons from Gaza. And Israel bombed Gaza's only electric plant. That means the 1 million residents in the enclave will have no electricity. This is dreadful as it will take months to rebuild the plant and reconnect the cables. Without electricity, ventilators in hospitals and other medical equipment will not work. Sick people reliant on these machines will die.

Altar of grapes

Another handicapped arab was shot ... this time at Qalandia checkpoint. He's deaf and mute and had walked into a restricted area. Soldiers shouted at him and shot his legs. In Bethlehem another arab was shot because he was throwing Molotov cocktails at passing cars. But an israeli soldier who shot an innocent arab in 2016 gets only community service. So the crazy cycle of violence seems to spin on and on.

The weather has turned hot and dry again ... nothing surprising as it's summer. Because winter was extra rainy, this year's fruit crop is really abundant. Lots of plums and peaches, grapes and dates. One of my summer plans is to taste a little of all the summer fruit.

My nightly asthma attacks have worsen. It's triggered by the phlegm blocking my windpipe. I've coughed up so much dry phlegm that it has blocked by washbasin pipe. This afternoon I had to use a plunger to clear it, while pouring caustic soda to dissolve it. It's that bad. I dread going to sleep because I know I'll wake up choking and wheezing. And my heart will overwork to get more oxygen ... so I have strong palpitations and dizziness. There must be a way to prevent all this.

Assumption Solemnity

Vigi

Today is mid-August, or the italians call it "ferragosto" characterised by the heat. Both latin and orthodox churches celebrate the feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven ... one of the rare feasts which all the churches unite to celebrate an event. The Tomb of Mary itself used to be franciscan but in the 18th century was taken over by the greeks. After Mary was buried in the tomb, she was assumed into heaven body and soul after 3 days ... that's one of the earliest traditions in church history.

There was a vigil procession last night. Because of Coronavirus restrictions, few people were allowed to join in ... some 50 in all. The liturgies of the vigil and feast day proper took place in the basilica of Gethsemane which is next to the church of Mary's Tomb. A statue of Mary in repose was carried around the garden of the ancient olive trees, and inside the basilica it was venerated.

Damascus Gate today

However on the national front, tensions with Gaza is rising very fast. Incendiary balloons are blown into Israel, burning up areas of farmland. Israel has bombarded Gaza at specific military sites and this morning we learn that Gaza has vowed to retaliate. Iran and Turkey are fuming over UAE's recognition of Israel and are vowing retaliation. We're now quite unsure what will take place in the next months ... when Israel celebrates Yom Kippur and Sukkoth. Bitter reminiscence of a former war have not been lost. Let's hope nothing comes out of this.

Kolbe feast

Police stopping people in the street

The big news is sending ripples in both sides of the City .... arab and jewish. That's the UAE and Israeli peace treaty and mutual recognition. The palestinians ... some anyway ... think it's a betrayal of the palestinian cause; while rightwing jews also say it's a betrayal but for the reason of suspending annexation of palestine. There were demonstrations inside the Al Aqsa compound today during Friday prayers ... and I could see them from my terrace. It wasn't big but it was representative of popular feelings. Mind you that doesn't mean that people will all come out to protest. The treaty won't change their lives so they accept it as a fact of life .... albeit unhappily.

For one thing police presence has shot up this morning throughout the City. Almost every other person was stopped and their identities checked by the police .... in anticipation of arab protests. Even my slovakian librarian was stopped by the police twice on his way to work. I don't think anything major will occur. People are more bothered about eking out a living under the pandemic restrictions.

An old friar in Syria has died of coronavirus infection, and 2 others are positive. There are many others who are asymptomatic throughout the Middle East mission ... so we try to live with it while helping the refugees in the war torn area. The franciscan Custody of the Hoy Land is calling out for aid.

First grapes of the season

Today is the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe ... the martyr of the Nazi regime. Our MC sister Kolbe was happily celebrating her feast day. I went over to wish her a happy feast day and chatted with her.  Let's pray that St. Kolbe will intercede with a miracle to end the suffering in our region. Tomorrow is the Assumption feast but armenians celebrate it on the Sunday closest to August 15th. It marks the beginning of the grape harvest so grapes will be blessed after Mass. Our armenian faithful are very excited. They have been planning this since 2 weeks back. I hope all will go well.

Aid

The horrible sound of fighter jets roaring overhead all morning tells us Gaza is being bombed. The Gaza's had released balloons tied to incendiary devices which cause vast patches of land in Israel to be burned in this hot weather. Israel since last night had been bombing military targets inside Gaza as a result. The border to Gaza has been closed. But despite all this posturing, both sides say they want to avoid a war. Likewise up north at the Lebanese border, tensions have not dissipated but Israeli army has pulled back because Lebanon right now is facing a major crisis after the port explosion and regeneration of the corrupt govt.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Hkuj8i1fP?fbclid=IwAR3HUZlUfmff0BTnRyd8LUnmwDNFn24rGYUZdI5omKbZBP5DBmMQuFobUhA

Crowds fighting to get into bank

Post Offices and banks are seeing massive crowds fighting to get in ... People are claiming their 750 shekels which the govt is distributing to all citizens to aid the worsening economy and pandemic lockdown. Nice gesture to help the poor but it cannot sustain the population is businesses continue to close. The crowds are usually of elderly women and fights break out every few minutes. Yesterday police came in to shove them into line and keep distancing but after one minute, chaos returned. Today armed military police were present and the crowd obeyed.

But with new infection rates hovering near 2000 (yesterday was 1875 cases), the govt realises its too late. They should have been decisive right from the start, and strengthen the track and trace system. Here they got it all wrong. Asian track-and-trace is super efficient and served to keep the pandemic under control. Here, like in Europe and America, it's a question of individual rights over public safety.

Today I had to go to the patriarchate to get a new book published by the patriarchate's archivist. An interesting book on the early liturgy (1st 5 centuries) in Jerusalem. There the sisters of the Divine Master who used to work in the armenian catholic church invited me for a bowl of ice cream. It was fantastic because it was hot today. Good to meet up with the sisters again.

Food donations

2 days back I brought food donationsfrom a protestant church, to the St. Vincent de Paul orphanage in Bethany. It's running short of food and donations due to the lockdown, and the superior is under chemotherapy for cancer. Only one old sister is trying to manage the huge orphanage. I'll try and get more donations to them soon.

Summer almost gone

Ivrea sisters' chapel

Today is the feast of St. Clare, the first female follower of St. Francis. Most of us had gone to the Poor Clare monastery south of Jerusalem about 4km away. Tuesday is my no go out day so I stayed home. Celebrated Mass alone at 4am before starting work. St. Clare is less popular than the carmelite saints. I guess it's because she lived much further back in time, and she never left many writings except for a couple of letters. Yet she was the first female religious to have a Rule. Other female religious follow the rules of male Orders. She broke ground for future female Orders to have their own rules. And she's the patron saint for television and films. Google and find out why.

Last week I had to go to the Ssters of Ivrea convent for Mass at 5.30am. The walk there is always pleasant in summer. The sun rises at 4.30am daylight saving (really 3.30am) so it's not dark at all walking the 1 km. And it's cool at that hour as well. And the 4 sisters are very kind. I enjoy it very much going there.

Bibimbap from kirean friend

We're still not clear about which pandemic restrictions have been reimposed. Can we go back for Mass in churches - limited to 10 persons? Are restaurants opened? We don't have a list and nothing has been published in the newspapers ... so it's a guessing game.  

I was looking forward to join the Theatre in the Rough ... a local theatre group that brings performance to public areas so everyone can gain from it. Last year they performed Shakespeare's Measure for Measure in Bloomfield Park, moving from one part of the park to another in each scene. It was very enjoyable. This year they'll perform Shakespeare's Henry IV ... rather intense. But it got postponed because of the pandemic restrictions and lockdowns. I see it's now tentatively scheduled for September 1 and 2. From 5 days it's cut down to 2 days ... and restricted to 20 persons. I sure hope  I get a place to join in. It's one of my summer plans unfulfilled.

One unplanned event is eating korean bibimbap. Angela a korean tourist guide who lives in Jerusalem has been making it for me once a month during this pandemic lockdown. So kind of her. Well "summer vacation" will be over in 2 weeks ... I still have yet to do some things I had planned. Let's see if there's still time.

Rain in August!!

Cold damp morning

The weekend was so busy I had no time to update the blog. Everything was rushed because our custody government shut down this week beginning today for the summer holidays. I had to get all the documentary work, transfer from banks for buying books and magazines, salaries for the workers ... all done by Saturday evening. It was a mad rush and 90% of what I needed to do was accomplished. But it was hectic. My left ankle continues to be swollen from all the walking.

The rate of new infections continue to be over 2000 a day so the new commissioner for the pandemic has reimposed restrictions including indoor gatherings to 10 people, cars with only 3 people maximum, closure of pubs and entertainment places. And if in 2 weeks the numbers don't fall to 3 digits, then a nationwide lockdown will be reimposed. I'll have to prepare to stock up these 2 weeks.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkDN00Ka11v?fbclid=IwAR2EHk_SFrLmy8ZeX2WEA7Aqp_I-7q5O62yYqrNargeWp2hCqmLpHMzcVgo

And news papers say a police probe is under investigating thousands who attended the wedding of a prominent rabbi's grandson .... all without wearing masks and distancing. A blatant flouting of corona regulations. Any wonder why the infection rate is over 2000 daily?   https://www.timesofisrael.com/criminal-probe-opened-into-mass-ultra-orthodox-wedding-in-jerusalem/?fbclid=IwAR1MXAhWrMiICqu8hHlQzZyF3vZpNSq8Gj-h31D-O1T7rLXVL31RF7AvO7g

And crowds continue to gather to protest the PM and the handling of the pandemic. Last Saturday night some 15,000 alone gathered in Jerusalem while thousands of others ... estimating 35,000 around the country demonstrated. That's what the newspapers tell us. And they say israelis living overseas also demonstrated in various cities throughout the world. In terms of containing the pandemic, its a nightmare.  https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/anti-government-anti-netanyahu-protests-gain-momentum-outside-israel-637844?fbclid=IwAR297PY-gt4ij_fm2TIUZSPlgVxR9TTBfKz4PDaGKGSDD0IC_yAqKvSsd4A

Cold damp weather

But on a surprising and positive note ... it rained!!!! For the past 48 hours, rained poured in the morning in several coastal cities due to a very low pressure situation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. In the night, the wind was cold and very damp. You can actually smell the damp ground like as if it had just rained. This cooling effect had softened last week's heatwave and the weather is very pleasant now. Let's hope this will last for the next weeks to come.