Catholic school dilemma

The weather has cooled a lot. In fact everyone finds it very pleasant ... sunny but not scorching, and a cool breeze constantly blowing. This is more like May.Managed to snap a shot of hyraxes basking in the sun ... shy creatures that look like rabbits with short ears.

Hyraxes basking in the sun

Friday passed without incident. It was rather calm this week. It'll be like this for the next month as Ramadan comes round. Last year was very subdued due to the Gaza war. There was no revelry at Damascus Gate ... no nargile stands, no music, no food stalls. Let's hope this year it'll be happier.

2 days back the first ever demonstration by catholic teachers and students took place in front of the Ministry of Education. They were protesting the discriminatory practices and rules that are leading christian schools to close down. The ministry has begun cutting subsidies to these "unofficial but recognised" schools as non-jewish schools are categorised. The 47 catholic schools have a matriculation graduation rate of 95% and 90% eligibility to universities - higher than any jewish school in the  country. Yet because the catholic population is too small to be politically beneficial to political parties, they have been relegated to the backwaters of society. Students of catholic schools need to pay 4000 shekels a year, which is practically impossible for parents who are struggling to find work. Unable to pay for school fees, children stop going to school in order to work ... and the cycle of poverty and powerlessness continues. With the reduction of subsidies by the ministry, there has been a marked increase of requests for help which many teaching religious sisters have approached me in desperation ... and I can only do this though your help. In the past, your generosity has helped pay some 48 school children's fees and enabled them to continue studying at least for one more year.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/.premium-1.658600 

End of heatwave

Intense heat drove people away
from the streets

The heatwave is finally giving way to cooler weather. A cool breeze was blowing throughout the day despite the 36 degrees that beat down the entire country. This came after several drizzles last night. It was good to hear drops of rain hitting the roofs. It cleaned the air. One good thing though, there were no forest fires. Most of the ground is covered by fine yellow sand blown in from the hamsin winds. It leaves your lips and eyes irritated and many people are coughing and wheezing. Even as I'm writing now, I can hear the scattered patter of drizzle on my window. Hopefully it will wash away the sand from the air.

It's exam time. Students are nervous ... those who actually care about studying though. But the thought of a long summer holiday provides good motivation for them to study hard for the exams. Many of our students and profs will be going home for the summer. I will have to work in the libraries ... lots of re-organisation and moving of books. I can't do it alone as my diaphragm hernia is hurting too much. I'll need to hire students looking for summer jobs. That means having to pay them ... and supervising their work as summer job students are famous for playing around and having a good time rather than seriously working. Not looking forward to this stress.

There was an article yesterday in the newspapers about frankincense water and its curative qualities. I know that local arabs chew on frankincense for stomach illnesses, but apparently by soaking frankincense in boiling water overnight and drinking it is good for arthritis, inflammation and even cancer. Only thing stopping me from trying it is if I'm allergic to it. I don't want to end up in the emergency room again.

Heatwave 2

Frying an egg on the road

Today's heatwave hit its peak at 40 degrees ... the hottest May in many many decades. You'd expect this kind of heat in August ... but in May?!?! Someone actually fried an egg on the road and posted the pic on Facebook. Forecast is for a gradual cooling tomorrow and possible some drizzle on Friday but by Sunday the heat should pick up again. If this were the summer holidays, the students will be having lots of fun by the beach or swimming pools. Unfortunately it's exam time ... and studying in this heat is not very helpful!

Fighter jets were roaring up and down the sky this morning for about an hour. It was like war time again. A little later we heard the news that Israel had bombed Gaza because Gaza blasted the city of Ashdod with missiles. It's a warning from Hamas in Gaza that they've re-armed after exhausting all their weapons in last year's war with Israel. I doubt it'll lead to anything serious because Ramadan is in 3 weeks time and the heatwave will make the muslim fast extremely difficult. Fighting a war under those conditions are certainly not the best.

The Mt. of Olives at night 

The new medication for my asthma is working well. I've not had any serious wheezing or attacks. 3rd day now. However my diaphragmic hernia has been excruciating the last 2 days. Had been moving some boxes of books in the library and the hernia began to hurt very very bad. Because the hernia is just below the heart, the hospital has advised me against sleeping on my left. So for the past 5 years I've slept only on my back or right side. I can't laugh or cough too much, nor eat till my stomach is full ... all these cause pressure on the hernia and the pain is bad. And because it's just below the heart, it gets more complicated. Because of the pain ... and heat, I can hardly sleep. A walk on the terrace last night allowed me to see the Mt. of Olives all lit up ... like a preparation for Ramadan. From the pic, the central unlit portion is a piece of land owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch. He has a huge bungalow there with large gardens all round ... as the dark patch in the pic shows. It's almost one quarter of the mountain top.

So that's the story of my life: one problem solved and another takes it place.

Stromata

Another very hot day. This time there'll be no miracle of the rain. We'll have to bear with this heatwave through the summer. One thing for sure ... the ice cream shops are making alot of money!!!

With the new right-wing / ultra-orthodox coalition in the govt, things are beginning to change ... in their direction. Kashrut inspectors are springing surprise checks into restaurants to see if they meet up to strict kosher laws. 2 inspectors were sacked because of their laxed inspections. The rabbis are tightening the noose now that they're in power in the govt. Scary. Don't know how long we'll enjoy chinese food or burgers or sushi once the kosher laws get tighter.

My first lilies blooming this year

I heard there was a big fight in the Christian Quarter last SUnday but wasn't sure what it was all about. Yesterday I got more news, and the local papers did carry an article on it: big fight between christian and muslim youths, several injuries and arrests. Apparently there were some christian girls dressed in a way that some passing muslim guys began making catcalls; christian guys came out and started beating them up, muslims called for reinforcement and an all-out fight started. Same story recycled each year.

Bit of a mixed emotion day ... had a surprise visit from a good friend and colleague, Tiago, from years past. He was my cameraman and editor when I was director of the Media Center; then he went back to Brasil and got married, has a baby girl ... and this week he came back to the Holyland leading a group. It was good to meet him. Same time had to say goodbye to one of my Israeli security friends Aviho. Today is his last day on the job. However he wasn't posted in the tunnel security for well over a month now so we never actually met to say goodbye. Just a couple of messages on the phone. Hope life will treat him better with his new job. He deserves a break. He's a great friend.

Sunflowers

The heatwave is back ... so hot today 2 baby finches died from the heat. Terrible. I must provide a lot of water for them. Miss Bird is also getting very grouchy in this heat. She bites everyone that comes close and she refuses to come out of her cage.

I wonder how this heat is going to affect the political situation here. Usually when it gets so hot, violence is kept at bay ... it's too hot to even go out and cause trouble. In 2 weeks Ramadan will begin. With the heat and fast, I doubt any trouble will brew.

Beautiful sunflowers: a
gift from a friend

I think the only thing that's enjoying this heatwave are the sunflowers. The fields in the Sharon plain near the airport are simply gorgeous with thousands of sunflowers blooming. It's a lovely sight. A friend visiting me from Tel Aviv brought me some. They certainly brighten up the indoors.

My change in medication is proving to be good. The asthma is mostly under control these 2 days. And I've avoided eating/drinking flour products and sugary foods/drinks in the evenings - it really cuts down on the asthma attacks in the night. No more Coca Cola. Just water. No coffee either. I've been drinking lemon-honey every morning for 2 months now. Don't know if this helps though. For dinner I eat one apple. I usually eat a brunch, but sometimes if there are guests, I might have to accompany them for lunch. Not eating till a full stomach is also a good asthma prevention ... at least for me. And all my food has to be fresh, at least without preservatives. My allergy to chemical preservatives is severe. I haven't gotten round to seeing the allergy specialist yet. Have been too busy at work. But within this week definitely I'll go.

Pentecost

Jews protesting catholics celebrating
Pentecost at the Last Supper Room

This year our Pentecost clashes with the Jewish Pentecost ("Shavuot"). Vespers will be sung in the Last Supper Room. Unfortunately the jews will be downstairs in the so-called "David's Tomb". I say "unfortunate" because the jews say we are committing idolatry and defile the place for jews downstairs, so in the newspapers they have called for thousands of jews to come and block christians from entering the Last Supper Room. So much for tolerance. Now if christians blocked the jews from entering the "David's Tomb", there'll definitely be accusations of anti-semitism; and the usual western countries with deep-seated guilty conscience will echo these accusations. But it's being done to christians today here ... and thee countries are deadly silent. Like they're deadly silent over ISIS killing of christians these few months ... 400 in Palmyra yesterday. If only the Holy Spirit can come down and enlighten these darkened hearts and minds.

Vespers in the Last Supper Room

And as if this un-called for intolerance and hatred is not enough, last night there was a stabbing at Damascus Gate. The 4th in 2 weeks. This summer spells trouble. In a week, Ramadan will begin and so more tensions can be expected.

St. Peter's Church in
Jaffa at night

Yesterday was a tiring day for me as I had to go to Jaffa to celebrate Pentecost Mass for the Konkani catholics. I don't speak Konkani so I did it in english but they responded in konkani. I know the congregation well because the past 5 years I've celebrated with them Holy Week. Then I stayed back to work as sacristan till the last Masses (spanish and hebrew) were finished, closed the church and then returned to Jerusalem. By then it was almost midnight. Was very tired. This morning I had to celebrate Mass at the Armenian Catholic Cathedral. My armenian is not good but I can recite the Creed, Our Father and other parts of the liturgy in that language.

And I've switched medicines again for my asthma. Doc put me on anti-histamines instead asthma steroids. It seems to work. Had only 2 attacks last night. On Monday I'll have to see an allergy specialist. It's going to cost alot as I have no insurance.

Hamsin

Newspapers are reflecting great consternation over the new govt, that was sworn in and presented to the President yesterday. A very diverse coalition united in one thing : far right nationalist agenda. And the first regulation it tried to pass was segregation of buses for palestinians and jews. It's Rosa Parks in the US mid-50s all over again. It's South African apartheid all over again. But the saddest thing is these were also ancient discriminatory acts made against the Jews themselves ... and now they use it against others. Leaving aside the humanitarian questions of this segregation act, Israel must be prepared to face world reaction to this decision. Well apparently this rule got shot down pretty quickly ... on the first round at least. But the Defense Minister swore he'll pull this rule through and enforce segregation at all cost.

Pomegranate flowers

The weather is still crazy ... very hot in the daytime but tonight we're expecting a 10 degree drop again. Not at all fun. My asthma is a little better ... none of the severe attacks although I do tend towards a blackout. It's a very frustrating illness as it makes me scared of going out or being alone as I don't know if I'll actually blackout. If in the streets, I'll definitely get robbed; and if alone I'm afraid I'd bash my head somewhere. What a life.

The heat is making the fruit trees flower profusely. So much olives blossoms, pomegranates and grape flowers ... I think this autumn the fruit harvest will be bountiful ... if the heatwave doesn't last too long. This heatwave is typical of this season ... called the hamsin or "50" (Pentecost / 50 days). Dry dusty, it carries the pollen to other trees and pollinate the flowers. Let's hope this is symbolic of the coalition govt. and its policy toward peace ... it may be dry and dusty but it'll bear fruit in the end.