Winter storm

Full moon over
City walls

 The weekend was cold but a few hours a day we had bright sunshine. Then yesterday we were suddenly warned that a massive storm is going to hit us this evening. Temp fell all night to 6 degrees and the sky this morning was very dark. We had heavy drizzle but I see from reports that other places had hailstones. Reports also say it'll start squalling by 4pm when the storm, which is hitting Greece and Cyprus now, arrives on our shores. Local emergency services are prepping themselves, and people are warned not to go out nor tarry in underground carparks. Several years ago a coupled drowned when their lift was stuck on the ground floor and it flooded. I guess it's prudent to prepare oneself, but knowing Jerusalem, it'll only get 10% of whatever weather the rest of the country is going through. But let the rains come! We need it very much! Right now I can feel the wind blowing very strongly. 

Last night I had class till 10pm but a terrorist attack at Damascus Gate forced the police to close the City Gates and surrounding roads outside the Old City. I was out in the freezing cold waiting till I actually managed to get home at midnight. Maybe the cold has made me sick. I'm having severe diarrhea since I got back till now. I can't walk. It's very distressing. Anyway there's a full moon and watching it last night while waiting to re-enter the City was a consolation.

Meantime I read a report saying Christian leaders made a statement lamenting the disappearance of Christians in the Holy Land because extremist jewish settlers are attacking christians and burning churches with impunity. Just yesterday we read how a christian man was beaten up by 6 jewish youths in broad daylight at Jaffa Gate. No one did anything to stop them. The situation is appalling but the rest of the world doesn't care. Soon Israel will be like Syria and Iraq and Iran ... the cradles of Christianity without any christians. Once the original descendants of the first christians are gone, there is no way to bring them back again. Christianity will have no roots. 

Rain and cold

 

Another walk through the
Christmas bazaar

It started raining last night and the temp dropped to 6 degrees. It was very cold. Today it continues to drizzle and remains very cold. Feels wintry and Christmassy.

The Christmas Bazaar at New Gate was alot more crowded last night. It starts at our entrance so in order to go home, I must walk through it. I bought a doughnut to eat. It was fresh and warm so I enjoyed it. Guards at the entry to the Bazaar were checking for Green Pass but since most know me, they let me through without checking. Otherwise I'd have to walk home form outside the City Walls in the rain. And the stone pavements are very slippery. I'm afraid I'd fall going downhill. In fact I've slipped several times going to work these 2 days. What a hazard going to and from work.

I've not been following the local news today so I'm not aware of what's happening around the country. All I know is that from yesterday's news, a religious school here in Jerusalem saw a group of infections which ended with the school being closed down. Infection rates are really going up high though the serious cases are not rising. Still I'm not taking any chances, so I'll be avoiding crowds, including Bethlehem. I'm not taking any risks. Better safe than sorry.

Bethlehem

The Manger

 This morning I went to Bethlehem. The Basilica of the Nativity was empty. Not a single soul except for 3 german sisters from Jerusalem praying down in the grotto of the Nativity. They're my neighours, living only 200m down our road at St. Anne's Church. They came to make a day of retreat and it was very fit, because there's a silence I've never experience before. No tourists, no locals, no one. I prayed at the spot of the Nativity, and also at the manger; for all the living and dead. It was a wonderful experience. I spent an hour in the empty holy place, knowing soon the crowds will come for the festivities and the peace will be broken.

Grotto of the Nativity

News just in. Israel bombed Syria again early this morning, at a military post killing a soldier. We're not sure if Syria will respond. But I dread to think if a war should break out during this winter. Syria is but a proxy to Iran, which is the greatest threat to Israel right now. So these bombings are warnings to Iran rather than Syria.

Right now a storm is brewing locally because it came to light that the govt is allowing jewish tour groups to enter the country despite enforcing a total ban on all foreign visitors. Christians cry discrimination because no christian visitor is allowed to enter the country to celebrate Christmas, but jewish youths from overseas, in an all expenses paid trip by the Israeli govt, are allowed to enter the country. Well it's their tourist guides who will suffer in the end when christian groups don't come.

Christmas tree

Giant Christmas tree far up on
the Mt of Olives

 The rain finally came but during the night. It wasn't as heavy as expected but the ground is drenched enough. It was cold though, I think 6 degrees last night. And the wind was quite strong. Today however the rains stopped and the sun was up again. But it remained cold, which is fine.

Last night on my way home, I could see an enormous Christmas tree lighted up on the Mt of Olives. It was very bright and from the distance, it certainly had to be some 20 meters high. I couldn't make out where it's from but being a muslim neighbourhood there, the only possibility is the Mormon University. You couldn't possibly miss it .... it is enormous and very bright. Christians are really splashing it this year to make Christmas a happy event, after 2 years of lockdowns and subdued celebrations.

I noticed there'll be a Christmas market at New Gate this evening. It's a phenomenon that's taking place in every place where there's a Catholic Church. I guess it's a way to help boost the local economy as many families need a source of income now that tourists have stopped coming into the country. It's a little something to get by. I hope people do come and help.

This weekend will be hectic for me as I have several projects to do. I'm really exhausted and yesterday everyone said I looked extremely tired and pale when I presided over vespers. I certainly was. And I'm in pain as well. The abdomen is terribly bloated. I need to go to hospital for the colonoscopy but I'm putting it off because I'm afraid.

Storm?

Christmas lights at New Gate

 Newspapers are reporting a major storm today ... with heavy rain, hail and even snow on Mt. Hermon. I looked out of my window and it looks like summer ... very crisp and sunny. I don't know what to make of it. From experience, up here in the Judean mountains, we seldom get the kind of rain the weather reports predict. Maybe 30% of what actually happens down in the flatlands and coastal areas will take place up here in the mountains. Still we're looking for the little that comes. We need the rains.

Tomorrow nurses nationwide will go on strike against violence in hospital. There's been a rise in attacks on medical staff by patients' families, both arab and jewish. Well the police should arrest those attackers as everything is recorded on security cameras. Jail term and other heavy deterrents should be in place instead of a slap on the wrist. Our healthcare workers are overworked during these 2 years of pandemic ... and instead of getting a break, they suffer such abuse from the public. Terrible.

While non-israelis are not allowed to enter Israel, many of our guys want to go home for Christmas. Well, if they can't reenter, they shouldn't complain. They've been amply warned. 

Well, it's back to work now ... and waiting for the so-called storm to come. It's 11am and the sun is shining even brighter than before. Very little clouds in the sky. I'm feeling a little disillusioned.

Festive spirit

Entrance to Christian Quarter

 Last night there was a huge riot in the City centre. Some 400 jewish extremist youths attacked police over accusations of brutality. Trams and traffic were stopped and there was major disruptions. Most people in the outer areas didn't know what was going on as no buses or trams were arriving. People had to walk home from work or other business.

Temperature-wise, it's been down to 8 degrees in the nights. Very chilly. But daytime can get quite warm ... almost 18 degrees or more. You never know what to wear ... too little and it gets cold; to many and it gets hot. I noticed many people, even those in my house, are sniffling and catching a cold as a result. Well I'm certainly staying far away from everyone, and am waiting for my flu shot.

Crib at the
Patriarchate

The Christmas spirit is in the air, and I've not seen so many jews coming to see our Christian Quarter lights. The christian cafes are full of local visitors. Notre Dame Centre opposite New Gate is having a singalong of carols every afternoon. That includes live bands and singers, mostly filipino migrant workers who're very talented. The music is very loud, and from my library which is across the road inside the Old City, it sounds as if it's being played at our front door. And there was (at least I know) no objection from the orthodox jews. 

Omicron infections are rising and just half hour ago, the news reports say the govt is mulling another lockdown. Well from the streets, you won't know a 5th wave is upon us. Hardly anyone wears the mask. Crowds continue to gather in the market, parks, churches, mosques, synagogues, streets, cafes, restaurants  ... everywhere possible. Well I'm not taking any chances. Minimum going out and always wearing the mask, hand washing and alcohol gel. 

Cold weekend

At the YMCA

 The temp continues to be very cold though the rains have stopped. Our music school is playing Christmas carols on the PA system and they're lots of locals in the Christian Quarter viewing the Christmas decorations. It's the weekend here so secular jews are free from work and have come to see the lights. Orthodox jews on the other hand avoid our Quarter because they consider Christmas trees as idols ... the Old Testament "asherah".

I've managed to complete my work for this week so I started preparing the Christmas presents as I had planned. I hope the weekend will be slow and stressless. I need it as I'm finishing the course of prednisone which usually makes me quite sick from the side effects. It has however stopped my wheezing and asthma attacks and I've had several nights' sleep without waking up suffocating.

I've been thinking how many Christmases I've spent overseas. Too many. I'm not sure if I can go to Bethlehem for the Vigil Mass because I'm not vaccinated and the rate of infection is rising. In fact the Hebrew University claims a 5th wave has already started. I noticed there's a rise in people wearing masks. That's prudent.