Flu

Elderly parishioner sheltering
in our church hall

The flu bug is around. And one old guy in our house is with it for over 2 weeks now ... refuses to stay in his room and has now affected one third of my community. Me included. I had a high fever, sore throat and lost my voice since yesterday. The head is all stuffy and muddled. I tested for Covid. Negative. But I'll stay in room so as not to infect others. 

Our friars continue their tireless work with the thousands of refugees sheltering in our churches and schools; feeding them and providing blankets against the cold. The elderly are most vulnerable now. Since the 2 quakes yesterday, more families are coming for shelter because their houses that survived the first quake, have cracked due to the 2nd and 3rd. Pray for them.

Jerusalem has been rocked by tens of thousands of Israelis flocking to the PM's house to protest his attempt to override the Supreme Court's powers. That way the pending court trial against him for corruption would be overruled, as would other cases against other ministers; or convicted ministers can come back to serve in parliament; or laws against arabs or others be curbed. It's a very scary prospect for all minorities as our rights can overnight be cancelled.

But yesterday there was one more protest and riot ... by ultra-orthodox Jews against the police for arresting one of their own because their vandalised a cellphone shop that is not kosher. The City center was at a standstill as traffic and tramways were blocked by thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews.

All these balagan (chaos) ... and it's not even summer yet!

Another quake

 There's been a new afterquake this morning in Turkey-Syria. It was 6.3 on the Richter scale and many buildings collapsed. The misery of the refugees are intensified. While the day time is a little warmer now, the nights are still very cold. Without electricity and heating, the people are freezing in the cold. Our friars are dong their best to shelter and feed them. A couple of nursing nuns I met yesterday offered to go and serve those needing basic medical aid. I hope they get their visa.

Little children

Refugees in our church hall

Earthquake aid

Our Fr. Khukaz, ordained last
year, serves food to our refugees
of the earthquake in our
parish hall.

Our young friars have left for our 4 churches in the Orontes Valley affected by the earthquake. There are over 4000 living in our school and parish hall in Aleppo alone. We serve 2500 meals a day. Flour, oil, salt and other basics must be bought from other cities unaffected by the earthquake. Our parish in the village of Knaye is the worst hit. We have no news so far due to lack of electricity. The village is under ISIS control so it is extremely difficult in there right now. Pray for them.

Thanks to everyone for your generous support of our work with these victims in Syria. We will pray for your kindness. I received news that M. Teresa's convent was only a little affected ... 2 cracks that are superficial. They are sheltering 2 families in their convent which is already full of handicap children.

Yesterday our Old City was almost under chaos as thousands of muslims came to the Al Aqsa to pray. It was the feast of Mohammad's ascension to heaven ... which took place in the Al Aqsa mosque so that place was the center of the celebrations in the entire muslim world. Israeli police were out in force. The eastern City gates were packed with people. Moments of tension and provocations were sporadic. Riot police drove to break up the crowds ... who regathered to jeer. I had to pass by there yesterday as a visiting priest and friend came. As I cannot walk fast or run, being around Damascus Gate at that moment was a little dangerous. 

Franciscan volunteers

 Franciscan friars volunteer to bring aid to our parishes in Syria in relay teams

Aid

Another cold wet day ... grey skies and gloomy. I was thinking of our people in the earthquake. How they lack warmth and food and medicine. It's awful. This morning I received some photos f our young friars bringing food to the 4000 sheltering in our schools and church halls. It's very sad. There's a big need for aid and everyone is trying their best to do what they can to relieve the pain and tragedy in our 4 towns in Syria. A short prayer, a moment to ask God to have mercy ... it makes a difference to our poor people in this cold winter.

Cold

Herod's Gate plaza ... cold

 The weather is cold and damp. But there were sunny moments ... and almond blossoms are blooming so the cold spell should be over soon. I just wish we had more rain. It's been a very dry year. We need more water otherwise water prices will rise in summer and drought taxes will be reenacted. Tonight and tomorrow there'll be drizzle.

There are fewer people in the streets due to the cold. Only school children going to and from school fill the streets with noise and some life. Shops open late and close early. Only the food shops are busy selling hot meals and drinks.

But the cold hasn't stopped the protests continuing against the govt's plan to reform the judiciary. And there was a fire near or in a hospital right in downtown. Warnings to avoid the surrounding streets flooded social media. Roads had been blocked.

I've been forgetting to take my medicine the past 3 days. I've been bogged down by so much work I hardly have time even to eat. And I'm down to a veggie diet with occasional egg or chicken and rarely fish. I found fish fingers sold in some shops so I bought a pack to try. Not a great meal but it gives me some protein from an otherwise veggie diet. Everything is so expensive nowadays. The sisters just told me a carton of eggs is now US$10.  Thank goodness it'll be Lent soon ... fasting and abstinence will reduce our food expenditure.

Scouts and Guides

Scouts & Guides collecting
donations

The City is packed with tens of thousands of protesters from all over the country ... gathering at the parliament house Knesset to protest the govt's plan to overhaul the judiciary so the govt is above the law. Streets are blocked with cars and protesters crowd the city center, bringing the city to a standstill. Despite all that, the extreme rightwing govt pushed ahead with the 1st reading and is now tabling it for approval. It is very scary in a democracy to have the govt and its ministers above the law. They can do anything with impunity.

Yesterday there was a car ramming attack which killed several people at a bus stop just outside of Jerusalem. The violence is not abating. The country is torn by internal and external forces. The earthquakes last week were like premonitions of the internal upheaval of the country.

The earthquake death toll has risen to 40,000. I was told there are 2,500 refugees sheltering in our Aleppo school and monastery. We still don't know how many more in Lattakia, Jacoubieh and Knaye because ISIS controls these villages.

Last Saturday night as I was coming home, I passed by the main street of the Christian Quarter and met a group of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. I asked them what they were doing in uniform out in the night. They said they were knocking door to door asking for donations for the earthquake victims in Syria. This group of students was made up of ethnic Syrians whose parents or grandparents had fled Syria years ago and came to live in Palestine. I found it very touching that they remembered their homeland and were doing something to help.