Shakespeare in the park

Merchant of Venice

 I've spent the day at home ... mostly ... due to the tensions caused by yesterday's attack. I had however gone back to my office because I left some important documents which I needed today. I entered the complex though the back door though. Going home, I decided to go through the front gate were the bloody attack took place. A group of christians were standing and chatting there, a sort of security team to make sure no further violence takes place. 

Merchant of Venice

Meantime there was another clash as jews went to the tomb of Joseph (the Old Testament brother who was sold into Egypt) and local muslims rioted. Nablus that was nearby was raided and I think 1 local was died, though I'm not sure of the details. Nablus has been a hotbed of violence these few weeks and I have avoided going there to bring aid to the MC sisters there. It's a dangerous road across the mountains where jewish settlers and local arabs would throw stones or shoot at cars.

Merchant of Venice

Several days back I went to see the annual Shakespeare performance in the park: this year it's the Merchant of Venice. Open air performance is fun, and the crowd was much larger than before. Each scene moved to a different part of the park, following the sunset, The Merchant of Venice is a touchy topic here in Israel, being blamed for anti-semitism. Hence the production company organised several talks to settle any questions and doubts. It was well thought out, pre-empting possible problems with the jewish audience, who I must say was quite open. Anyway it was a good summer event for me which I enjoy.

Violence at our door

Stabbing today

 It was a violent morning at our main monastery today. Our doorman was attacked by 2 muslims with a knife. All 3 were injured in the struggle. What I learned was the muslims insisted to parking their car in our monastery parking lot which is limited only to our workers. I was on my way back form the bank when I saw police cordoning off New Gate. There was blood all over the floor in front of our security post. The superior and others were out there talking to the police. It was all too shocking that such attacks have reached our very doorsteps. I believe there're police stationed at our security post now because later today at 5pm, a mob of muslims returned to cause trouble but were repelled by the police.

My workers have decided not to work tomorrow for fear of being attacked. I myself will not go because I'm an easy target ... being here and known for so long, and I'm unable to run away. I'll have to stay home for the next few days and work from home. There's a general perception among christians in the Old City that we're being targeted by the muslims. Some of my muslim neighbours have expressed that they remain friends and disagree with this violence. Others have said that we're pro-Israel. It's a tense and difficult situation right for us.

Full moon

Full moon

 With all the violence in and around the City, I decided to stay home yesterday. And it was too hot anyway. There was another attempted stabbing by an arab. And ultra-orthodox jews were rioting because an autotopsy was ordered for the murdered jewish toddler strangled by his uncle. It's forbidden in judaism and burials must be done within 24 hours of death. So overall, there was unrest in the country. My bedroom is the safest place to be .... so far. The ceiling above my bed is cracking and a huge piece of cement might fall and crack my head one night while I sleep. 

There was a beautiful and enormous full moon shining over the past nights. It's a pity such natural beauty in the sky is unnoticed by all the chaos and violence on earth. It's very cool and breezy in the nights which compensate for the intense heat during the day.

Last Sunday I was asked to lead a workshop for leaders of the filipino community here in Jerusalem. It was a nice group of participants - eager and receptive. But 9 hours of talks and activities with only a 40 minute lunch break was simply very exhausting. My voice was hoarse and my feet swelled due to the standing. I need a long rest from that. 

Tragedy

Last night's fighting

 The past few days appeared calm after the ceasefire was declared, but last night a new level of violence erupted in the Old City. At 11.30pm two group of Arabs were fighting in front of our main gate. It was quite violent and the police arrived only 20 minutes later. Arrests were made. Not quite sure what it was all about. I think there was an accident between 2 motorcycles .... but it included a woman who was screaming non-stop and was finally arrested and handcuffed. Another man was arrested. One motorbike was lying in the middle of the street while another was thrown agains the wall. A car and its driver was also affected. The driver had to be rushed to hospital. 

I was still awake and went up on our terrace to see what happened and took some photos. Luckily only stones and iron bars were used ... no guns. I was up on the 5th floor and I could have been shot by a stray bullet. 

And that was just the start. Within an hour, a deadly shooting took place at the Wailing Wall. The gunman escaped but many were wounded. A manhunt was ordered but right now we learn that the gunman surrendered himself to the police with his weapon. Otherwise the entire village would have been searched and punished collectively.

Yesterday afternoon newspapers report that a man had strangled his nephew. The boy died this morning. Tragic.  It seems this summer is as violent as it is hot. Let's hope it'll end soon.

Ceasefire

 A final barrage of missiles was launched from Gaza, many toward Tel Aviv last night at 8pm. Sirens were blaring and people were running for cover. Anti-missile rockets were fired not far from our place and we could see the lighted projectiles heading towards the south where they destroyed incoming missiles. Louis explosions, I counted 6, were heard and smoke filled the evening sky as the sunset. An hour later we heard form the news that a ceasefire was being brokered by Egypt and finally at 11.30pm the ceasefire took effect. We could finally sleep without fear of having to run to bunkers for shelter when sirens blare.

Chinese fast food

But life more or less goes on as usual in between the sirens. Here we have no dinner in our house because most of the guys living here have pastoral duties with the numerous migrant communities in the evenings. Feeling very hungry, me and the Ethiopian chaplain and 2 seminarians decided to go down to the new Chinese fast-food restaurant to get Chinese food. It's not anything like Chinese food, but its one of the few food shops opened because yesterday was Tisha B'Av, the Jewish day of art and penance to commemorate the destruction of the Jewish Temple. It's a franchise with the name "wok" ... each shop making up a pun for its name. So this one is "wok to walk", others are "wok away", "wok the walk", "wok and talk" etc. Pretty fancy play of words but the menu is the same. There are 4 categories to choose from: Starch (choose rice or different types of noodles), Vegetables (choose any combo of veggies), Protein (choose one type of meat) and Sauce (chilli or soy or whatever). Then the cook throws your combo into a wok and fries it. That's it. Rather ghastly but this is Chinese food Israeli style. And it costs US$10. When you're hungry and there're no other shops opened, and missile sirens blaring around, you'll have to settle for that. If you buy the same thing in a restaurant (not fast-food), it'll cost US$20. That's how expensive life is here. Unbelievable.

I've been getting a sore throat this evening and was afraid I might have caught the virus (here no one wears the mask) so I quickly did a text. result: negative.

Missiles

Sunset in Jaffa

 I've been offline for almost a week. Had gone to see the doctor and been resting a lot. Apparently my sugar level is unstable because I only eat one mea a day, and also due to exhaustion and stress. I've transferred to our other house in Jaffa by the sea to hopefully recuperate. The sea breeze and warmth is wonderful and I haven't had an asthma attack so far. The community makes sure I eat regularly and on a proper diet.

However the heat is atrocious so I stay in my room mostly .... to sleep. For the past days I sleep over 12 hours a day to recuperate. Well as much as possible ... because war has started between Gaza and Israel. For 2 days now missile sirens have been sounded here. One exploded 1km away in Bat Yam south of where I live. It was loud and it shocked us because it was at 9pm. Everyone is on the alert here because Jaffa is only 68 km away from Gaza and is within striking range of missiles.

It's summer and very hot and many people are at the beaches along Jfaa's coast. But each time sirens sound, everyone runs off to take shelter. The Israeli army says its planned attacks on Gaza will last a week ... so we expect a week's instability and sirens. Not a very nice rest and recuperation. But that's the way it is here. This morning I read from the news that missies were also aimed at Jerusalem and sirens there were also sounded. That's because it's the jewish fasting day of Tisha B'Av and the police have allowed extremist groups to enter the AL Aqsa compound where the jewish Temple once stood. Tisha B'Av commemorates the destruction of the temple wits in history, once by the Babylonians in 587BC and again in 70Ad by the romans. Muslims in the mosque see it as a provocation. Well I'm glad I'm not in Jerusalem today. Too much tensions. Too much stress.

Summer

Street in Jerusalem in summer

 The intense heat during the weekend made me stay mostly indoors. Much time was spent watering the plants because their withering in this heatwave. But the evenings are very cool and breezy and lots of people come out just to enjoy the change of weather. Shops are also closing later in order to catch the evening crowd.

The summer spirit is in the air. In East Jerusalem families go to the park, children go to summer camp, the streets are busy with shoppers. In West Jerusalem, musical events are popping up at every street corner. Street parties happen at shopping malls and plazas. There seems to be relaxed atmosphere.

But beneath that there is tension. Fears of attacks form both sides belie the festive spirit. Yesterday for example, thousands of hardline ultra-orthodox marched through Musrara outside Damascus Gate down to Gethsemane where the Jewish cemetery is situated because a revered rabbi of theirs died at the age of 95. These rabbis have very long lives. This sect of Judaism does not recognize the state of Israel. nor its laws enforcing military conscription, and adheres strictly to dietary laws. So police were out in force to close off the roads, but clashed with these ultra-orthodox jews who refused to recognize the state authorized police.

Last night was bad as I blacked out 3 times while in bed. Woke up and felt very light-headed ... typical whenever I begin to faint. But this time I was still in bed, tried getting up and blacked out. Maybe the blood pressure is low. I'll need to get a checkup but getting specialist appointments are a long wait.