Sunday

Blessing the bread

 It's Sunday and my original plan was to go visit Bethlehem with our 3 Indian sisters. They're working hard in our sacristies and kitchen and have had little time to go visit the other churches. However at 2am I was told in a message that the car has broken down; and today is Eid el Adha so there's no public transport to Bethlehem ... so we had to cancel our trip. What a disappointment.

Anyway it was a blessing in disguise. I'm still running a fever and have a bad sore throat. I spent the morning sleeping ... which I needed badly. In the afternoon which went up to 35 degrees, I still have a fever despite staying indoors. I think I'll go back to sleep it off.

It's been a violent week last week ... 4 killings in 3 days. All crime related. Locals are bewailing that law and order is no more ... gangland killings in open daylight take place and police are doing nothing. In some towns, people are afraid to even go out of their houses. And now with the 4 day muslim feast in progress, tension is higher than usual.

Meantime here's a photo of some Tigrinya kids waiting for me to bless a traditional bread eaten at breakfast immediately after Mass. The Tigrinyans are very pious and it's always a joy to celebrate the liturgy for them.

Feast day

Eid at Damascus Gate

 The Muslim feast of Eid el Adha will begin tonight. But already for the past nights muslims from everywhere have been congregating into the Old City and Al Aqsa Mosque. The muezzin has been singing the prayers 2 nights back for the feast which is very long and loud ... at 2.30am (solar time).

Large muslim crowds from all over the country and even overseas such as Indonesia and France and England have been gathering for the feast in the Al Aqsa. Children stand at street corners early on the morning at 6am offering hot tea to worshippers going home or their hotels after the early morning prayers. I have to go to the Convent of Ivrea sisters for Mass at that time so they offer me tea as well.

Tea on the road

This morning was hectic as I left for Tel Aviv 65km away to celebrate Mass for the Tigrinya catholics and a second Mass for the Chinese community there. It was tough because I have something in my right eye that's making it red and swollen. Could be a bit of sand. But it's hurting me very much. I tried washing it out but it's not working. I need to close my eyes. 

When I got home my feet were swollen and I fell asleep for 3 hours. I guess I'll do that for the rest of the day. No more energy left.

Stromata

Busy cafes

 Another week has gone by and we're approaching the weekend. This Saturday is the muslim feast of the Sacrifice (of Ishmael) called Eid el Adha. Sheep are slaughtered and cooked families share it with the poor. But this year the police security in the Old City are around it will be high. Even now police are stopping and searching people and cars. It'll get worse tomorrow.

I stopped vomiting and the diarrhea is reduced. But the fever remains. I get tired easily and have lost my appetite. The heat is not helping, as it gives me a headache. It feels terrible to be constantly sick.

I'm trying to rest in my office and be on standby if the Custody Chapter requires any documents for consultation. It's a long wait. And in between there're university students coming in asking to use the library ... national universities that is. With my fever running, I try to sleep or rest in between all the requests.

Yesterday night Is aw a news posted on social media informing that a well known book seller died. I've known him back 30 years ago during the 1st intifada. A kind american conservative jew who loved books and was always available in recommending the latest in research in Judaica. He was a good friend, genuinely interested in my health and always inviting me to his house for Sabbath meals. We will surely miss him.

Still sick

Fried chicken meal

 My fever is still high though I've stopped vomiting. The coughing is bad though ... so much that I've got stomach cramps. I guess I need to sleep more and drink more fluids. The medicines don't seem to be working. And I feel really sick. My eyes are red and yellow and itch alot too. 

This morning there was a car bombing in a northern coastal city. It's not terrorist related but probably gang related. There's so much of it going around that people are afraid to go out in certain cities and towns. It's quite different from the terrorist attacks here in our parts of the City.

Despite being sick, I still go to the Ivrea convent 1km away to celebrate Mass. On the way there on Monday evening, I noticed a new restaurant opened. It sells fried chicken and I was really hungry so I bought some and ate it and didn't vomit. That was a good sign. Because practically everyone has gone home for summer holidays there's little food and leftovers in the fridge when I come home from work, so to have a hot meal I need to buy something from outside. However everything is expensive. The meal consisted of 3 pieces of chicken, potato wedges, a bun and garlic butter. Coleslaw was an extra 5 shekels. That costs US$10. People have been complaining about the inflation ... and last week there was a protest in Tel Aviv. But it's a global inflation right now so there's little the govt can do. We'll just have to ride this one out.

Covid wave 6 is dying out, so the ministry says in the newspapers. However a new variant is out and the ministry is on the watch out. And I'm not taking off my mask anytime soon.

Sick

Hawkers in summer

 I rested the whole of Sunday as I felt really sick. And it was hot. I didn't want to go out. So I stayed in my room. The cook made a small meal of egg noodles and fishballs and shrimp cakes which was very delicious, but I vomited after that. I can't seem to keep food inside me. This morning I had half a cup of coffee and a small piece of bread ... and I threw up everything again. I'm really not feeling well.

Our Custody chapter began this morning. I'm on standby in case they need documents and reports form the archives. Then at 4.30pm I must go to the Ivrea convent to celebrate Mass for the nuns there. Then I'll go straight home to sleep. 

Meantime lots of groups are here visiting the country. Last month alone, 1 million visitors came .... so reports the Ministry of Tourism. So come! There's nothing to be afraid of. 

Saturday

DMC at Tel Aviv

 This morning was an early ride out to Tel Aviv. There's a small chapel next to the central bus station where migrant groups organise Masses and other sacramental celebrations. This morning I went to celebrate Mass for the Eritrean community. It's my first time with the community in Tel Aviv; usually I celebrate with the community in Jerusalem. It went well, though the Tel Aviv community kept more to their rite with the hymns and prayers than do the Jerusalem community, so the Mass was longer than my usual time.

The chapel is called the DMC or Divine Mercy Centre. It was rented and maintained by the various migrant communities, which show how much faith they have. They're self-organised without any clergy behind them. The clergy only comes to provide the sacraments. That's the resilience and creative initiative spirit of the migrant workers.

The govt collapsed. The 5th in 3 years. We'll be back to elections in November. Let's hope situations change and we'll get a stable govt. 

Meantime I'm still not feeling well, despite my long journey to Tel Aviv this morning. Diarrhea and terrible coughing with phlegm. Tomorrow I'll ask my doc to change the medicines. They're not working.

Visit

 Still feeling sick though the fever has gone down a little. Still nausea though I'm able to eat a little more than before. Dr. John stopped by to see me yesterday. He said I am suffering from two infections - gastroenteritis and another respiratory. So I'm on more medication. I thoroughly dislike it but I need to get better soon.

Israelis at the library today

Though I'd love to rest today as many have told me to, I had to go to work because a group of local israelis came to visit the library. I had to bring out some ancient books to show them and explain the history. It was an interesting group asking questions and engaging in dialogue. This time I brought out a recently discovered book that's not been catalogued or inventoried. In fact we didn't even know it existed. Now that's an interesting find.

The weather is nice and breezy at about 29 degrees. Not too hot. Quite enjoyable for a walk outside. I might just go for a walk during lunch break, provided I don't vomit. Fingers crossed.