Prayer

Coptic monk in prayer

It was a violent weekend - many dead in various attacks. One terrorist attack even in Tel Aviv center. It's a disturbing summer .... the heatwave only exacerbates the tension. 

While the thermometer registers 34 degrees, it actually feels much more. Though I'm trying my best to stay in bed, I still have to go out some times to celebrate Mass or collect documents such as medical insurance. My hands and feet are still swollen. Walking is difficult but if it's flat land, it's alot easier. Govt advice in the newspapers is old people and those who have heart problems should avoid going out during the day. And truly it's serious ... when you walk out you can feel the oppressive heat.

One morning last week, I saw a Coptic monk walking in the shade of the huge cypress trees of Damascus Gate park, praying his prayer book. It was a good sign for the jews and muslims who walk pass. Well the heat was terrible even at that hour, so the monk did good staying in the shade. I guess at this moment of great upheaval, we can only pray.  

Waning moon

Full moon over
Dome of the Rock

The days continue to be very hot but the nights are a little fresh, with temp falling down to the 20s. We'll see how August will be. I'm preparing to stay indoors all August if the weather continues to be this hot. As it is, I've a splitting headache for 3 days now because of the heat. And my swollen hands and feet are not helping at all especially since I have to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. It's a vicious cycle.

I spend my time trying to read and write some work. But the heat and headache prevents me from doing too much.

One thing I couldn't put off was pruning the plants. Mid-summer is the pruning season for roses, trees, rosemary and lavender, even the basil and other herbs. I try to do it in the evenings when it's cool and the plants have the entire night to recuperate from the trimming. And they need plenty of water to keep from drying out. The roses have already responded by budding. I'll take some photos when they fully bloom.

The super moon is waning, but it nonetheless is still very bright and impressive. That's a little something to cheer us up. Evenings throughout the City are filled with activities - concerts, events, next week we have Shakespeare in the Park performing Julius Caesar. I'll definitely go ... except I have to see which day will be coolest. It starts at 5.30pm and the sun is devastating. 

Full moon

Full moon over 7 Arches

We had a brief respite from the heatwave on Monday as temps fell to the high 20s. But Tuesday the temp began climb again to the 30s and today at 7am you can already feel the sun scorching your skin. It was so hot the palm trees in our monastery in Bethany caught fire and fire-engines had to come and put it out.

A man died of dehydration in the Jericho desert after getting lost while hiking. His brother died under the same circumstances 20 years earlier. It's always dangerous to go into the desert in summer as the heat can strike you down suddenly. 

The full moon - a red super moon - was fantastic last night. It rose over the 7 Arches hotel at the end of Mt. of Olives and was utterly awesome. It was reddish yellow and very bright. The 7 Arches was built as a palace for Jordan's king before the State of Israel was founded. From there you can get a beautiful view of the Dead Sea, Mt. Nebo where Moses died and all the southern desert from Bethlehem onwards. 

My fall 2 weeks back has created a severe sciatica problem on my left side. It's painful to sit or lie down for long. I'll need to do some self-manipulation to get it adjusted. Meanwhile the wrist and ankle still hurt though it's not swollen as much as before. For a couple of days now I've been staying in my room to avoid the heat and also any further injury.

Retired

Ratisbon chapel

The weather continues to be relentless. And I read that it's all over the world ... the hottest July around the northern hemisphere. We don't know how long more will this heatwave last ... August has come and it might get even hotter. I can see how seriously hot it is ... my aquarium evaporates by one inch a day!!!! I've actually been measuring the water level and it is that drastic!

Tens of thousands around the country have protested in the 30th consecutive week against the changes to the law on justice and judges. It's been passed partially and it means ministers will be above the law, but not so for the rest of the country. It's a privilege for the privileged. Meanwhile newspapers say the govt is going to siphon 164 million shekels from other ministris to fund ultra-orthodox seminaries, because the govt depends on these ultra-orthodox groups to keep the coalition going. 

My feet are terribly swollen and makes walking difficult. And my left wrist continues to hurt. I've been told many times and I'm seriously considering getting a small transporter to get me going around. I am no longer very mobile. But others are saying if I rely on that, I'll only get worse. I must instead continue walking to keep the muscles and organs going. Well this heat and the amount of work stacking up is not helping. I've retired from one job as of last month as my health can no longer manage it. The Custos agreed and released me. Things should technically be easier on me. But that remains to be seen.

Baffling

Ethiopic christian

Last night and today saw a spike in spitting and hate related crimes against christians. It's the jewish feast of tesha b'Av that commemorates the destruction of the 1st ad 2nd temples on the same day 500 years apart. The jews accuse christians of helping the romans destroy the 2nd temple in AD 70 so they come to attack christians on this fest day. Lots of video documentation by groups on the watch for such crimes. Ultra-orthodox jews believe the temples were destroyed as punishment from god ... well, that's what we believe too. The unjustified hate crimes committed by jews or sinat hinam as the ancient rabbis say.

The country remains in tense division and a cease in demonstrations for the next 24 hours due to tesha b'av observances ... which is mainly fasting and reciting the book of Lamentations. But anti-christian hate crimes do not absolve their sins. Since early last night I could hear police shooting stun grenades at Damascus Gate and Herod's Gate for the jewish provocation against christians and muslims. The the whole night, groups of jews shouted and chanted as they marched through out streets, spitting and cursing at us till the early morning when the muslims gathered for prayers at 4am and the jews quickly dispersed.

The heatwave continues, scorching anything alive or dead. Walking in the stone streets, one get get suffocated by the heat emanating from the stone walls and ground. You can literally fry an egg on the road. My aquarium loses an inch of water a day ... that's how fast the evaporation rate is. Let's hope this heatwave would change soon ... it has become unbearable. One thing that mesmerises me ... I wonder how ethiopic Orthodox Jews can wear al those layers of clothes and veils under this 40 degree heat. It baffles science.

Heatwave

The weather continues to be extremely hot. Much as I wanted to stay home, I had to go to the money changes, then to the bank 3km away and then to the dentist 5km away all in 3 hours of walking. I'm feeling very sick now and my feet are very swollen. I'll need to rest for the next 2 days. The dentist was worried about my heart and insisted I make an appointment with my cardiologist immediately.

Ice cream and figs

In this heat, I only eat fruit chilled on the fridge ... and ice cream once in a while when I can afford. Yesterday I bought some fresh figs and vanilla ice cream. In the near 40 degree afternoon, it was the best thing we could have eaten. I'm lucky this summer I'm celebrating Mass everyday at the Ivrea convent. Once in a while the nuns give me a stipend of 50 shekels which I can spend on ice cream and fruit! This makes summer special!

Sad and shocking day yesterday as the parliament voted to give itself the right to dismiss investigations on ministers by simply the ministers saying it's "unreasonable". Judicial independence is now at risk as the supreme court can be dismissed by the parliament who now is going to be more powerful. Tens of thousands of protesters clashed with police all over the country. The police who are supposed to uphold justice, seems to be supporting the govt to be above the Law. That's very strange. Meantime many sectors of society are on strike today. From doctors and health workers to lawyers. The country is deeply divided and clashed violently. Far-right orthodox jewish parties will take advantage of this chaos to push for more anti-christian measures.

Mad

Beggar with "hat"

The hot weather is not abating. It is scorchingly hot ... the skin burns under the sun. There is a breeze but it's dry and hot as well. Most people have stayed out of the heat. Street workers wear hats and long sleeves to avoid being burnt. There's alot of road work right now, so the air is dusty dry and hot. Even beggars are using boxes to shade themselves while others hide under trees and lose out on the takings.

I'm told the weather will continue to be like this for the coming week, so I'll be staying home most of the time. My ankle still hurts after the fall, and last night I had a severe cramp on my right leg. It still hurts to walk.

Anti-christian attacks and harassment continue big scale today. Orthodox jews try to take other the Carmelite Monastery in Haifa, saying it contains the tomb of the Prophet Elijah. It's been like this for several weeks now. The jews want to take the church over and convert it into a synagogue. When will this madness end?