Holy Thursday ... again

3D art seen from
normal angle

And the weather continues to play games with us. After several very hot days, last night a cold wintery wind blew across the country. Suddenly woolen jackets and hoodies were out again. We're getting very confused by these extreme swings of temperature. It certainly is making a lot of people sick.

There has been skirmishes inside the Al Aqsa compound these few days as well. Jews were allowed to enter the Mosque compound as part of the Passover celebrations but several broke the states quo agreement by prostrating themselves on the ground to pray. A group of 7 actually brought in a goat to slaughter for the passover meal. Muslims reacted quickly and violently. The Israeli police were equally quick and so scuffles broke out. Security helicopters flew overhead as soldiers and border police stormed the area. Luckily no stun grenades or tear gas were fired. In this hot weather, the gas would have made my asthma even worse.

Same art seen from
a particular spot

The orthodox (christian) celebrate today the Ceremony of the Washing of Feet. This is done on a high platform in the courtyard of the Holy Sepulcher .... the patriarch(s) wash the feet of 12 clergy. Each denomination do it in turn: first the greeks, then the Armenians, then the copts, syrians. Then tomorrow is Good Friday. The Basilica will be closed. Then on Saturday it's the Ceremony of the Holy Fire. It also happens to be the last day of the Jewish Peach. We're expecting huge crowds in the Old City. Security is as heightened as it possible can.

Out in the New City, a different world. People are enjoying the Pesach holidays though most eateries are closed. No leaven allowed. But 4 3D artists have taken over the streets of the New City ... creating amazing pieces of floor art which at any angle are terribly distorted .... but when seen at one particular spot, becomes 3 dimensional. Really amazing!!!

Very hot day

The nights are becoming extremely hot ... tonight it's 27 degrees. I think I'll have to take out the portable air conditioner. It's just getting too hot too early this year.

Cutting the ome made cake

Yesterday the MC sisters surprised me with a lunch and cake for my 25th anniversary. It was very nice of them. Their sincerity and simplicity made it very enjoyable ... they sang a self-imposed song as well. We spent the morning in the St. Vincent de Paul convent in Bethany where Sr. Marcel and Sr. Noel hosted us graciously with lots of juice and brioche. They were very kind. We then went to Emmaus Qubeibeh for a visit and Mass. It was all very pleasant.

ponchski & pancit

Yesterday the sisters cooked pancit (fried noodles) and ponscski for my lunch. They are spoiling me. But it was nice nevertheless to have something to hot to eat during lunch.

The Orthodox are into their Holy Week and a stir is kicking up in the Palestinian newspapers because the Palestinian Authorities (government) has refused to recognised Easter as a national holiday even though a sizeable constituency is christian. A hard slap in the face for those christian religious leaders who suck up to the PA ... now they know the real face of the palestinian govt. They will never respect christianity.

Meanwhile the Jews are in Chol haMoed i.e. the intermediate days before the 8th day of Passover; in christianity we call it the octave period. Security continues to be super tight.

Orthodox Holy Week

Beef noodle soup

The Eastern Orthodox Holy Saturday coincided with the Jewish Passover. The streets were crazy down in our Quarter. Over ten thousand copts and ethiopians descended onto the Old City making the Palm Sunday procession on Saturday!!!!! And jews were flocking by the thousands to the Wailing Wall. Security was super tight especially because it was also the Muslim prayer day. I stayed indoors. Not that I'd avoid a clash ... I'm always one of the first there to see the action .... but because a hamsin is blowing - the hot sand storm with fine dust that causes my asthma to become extremely severe. My asthma attacks have become so frequent and severe I blackout several times a day.

Sunday was different. I had no choice but go out several times. Temp went up to 32 degrees, the dust storm continued to blow .... It was very difficult for me to breathe. There was so much to do, errands to run, I was utterly exhausted by evening.

Billy and his brother

I had the chance yesterday however to visit Billy, my friend's noodle shop just opposite Mamilla Hotel. It's a small shop and it serves soup noodles only. Really good. The beef stock is very rich and the simple food - no fancy sweet and sour pork and other stuff - is homely and reasonably priced. Hope to be eating there more often ... also because it's 3 mins walk from my office!!!

And this morning there was the Priestly Blessing at the Wailing Wall. Thousands gathered there to wait for the hundreds of jewish priests to give them the blessing of Aaron. A very ancient rite that has been preserved since the Temple was destroyed 2000 yrs ago. It will take place again on the 3rd day of Sukkoth in Autumn. I'll be going for that one.

Pesach

Full moon between
the palms

This evening the Jewish Passover begins .... just as the Samaritan Passover enters its 3rd day. The 2 communities use different calendars to calculate the full moon. Security has been super tight these days. The govt. has decided to close the frontiers with Palestine so as to prevent terrorists from entering Israel during the festival that lasts 8 days. Naturally the Palestinians are not happy as many have to lose their jobs in Israel for this week. Stop searches are also increased in the streets especially surrounding the Old City. Boys as young as 10 are stopped, made to spread eagle against the wall and body-searched just like any adult ... in full view of passersby, tourists and locals. It's very humiliating and engenders more hatred and violence. At least that's what every foreigner here has said to me. Girls are no exception ... they too are searched. This is because several cases of stabbings involved 12 yr old girls. Critics of this hardline treatment of arabs to the Exodus story of the egyptian treatment of the hebrews and their escape which is annually remembered in the Passover or Pesach.

Bedouin women
hawkers

The country will come to a standstill this evening ... because of Pesach in the Jewish side and because it's Prayer Day (Friday) on the Muslim side. Most shops have closed, offices are not functioning, streets emptied by sunset when families gather at home to eat. The open market was opened in the morning but by noon police drove out the hawkers ... clearing the streets just in case a riot broke out and these hawkers impede the police from easy access in and out of the City. In fact the newspapers carried a police warning that they were expecting skirmishes, riots and violence these few days.

Thanks to the all who have sent their greetings, well wishes, prayers and gifts on my birthday and jubilee: Irene Tech, Paulette Santos, Cavero family, K. Wong, Auntie Yvonne, Vincent & Angie, mum & Auntie Cecilia, B. Chan,

Thanks from the Chinese Sisters

Sr. Marie Anne & Sr. Lucie

Dear friends and benefactors, we are very happy and privileged to be able to come to the Holy Land and serve the local and migrant christians. All this was made possible only through your kindness, support and generosity. We assure you of our prayers. May God may bless you all and keep you all in His Love. Gratefully yours, The Chinese Sisters in Jerusalem.

主内亲爱的弟兄姊妹们好! 非常感谢大家的慷慨捐献! 是好天主借吴神父赐予我们来圣地服务华人的恩宠, 而大家的捐款支持也是对此神圣使命的共同参与和建设! 愿好天主多多降福大家, 恩宠满溢, 平安喜乐!
你们的中国修女

A 3rd sister will soon arrive when her
visa is approved

Chers amis et bienfaiteurs, nous vous remercions de tout coeur de votre aide pour la fondation de notre petite communauté à Jérusalem. Nous ferons tous nos possible pour rendre service aux chrétiens et non chrétiens qui vivent et qui viennent à Jérusalem. Nous prions bien pour vous tous en ce lieu de grâce. Vos sœurs chinoises qui sont à Jérusalem.

PM Lee in Jerusalem

The bus bomb the other day south of Jerusalem, in the suburb of Talpiot, has brought back dreaded memories of the Intifada. Luckily (sic) it was an amateur attempt, wrongly timed so few serious casualties. It was planted in an empty bus and the explosion only affected the other bus behind ... with 17 hurt by shrapnel and glass.

Full moon over
Damascus Gate

Despite this, the big news is that Singapore PM Lee HL is here in Jerusalem. In fact right at this moment he is in the Al Aqsa Mosque opposite my house. Security is super tight in the Old City as he crosses on to the Wailing Wall. I doubt he'll go to the Holy Sepulcher. In public PM Lee spoke publicly about Singapore's defense rapport with Israel ... something taboo for the past 50 years. And it was mentioned that Lt. Gen. Winston Choo is the ambassador to Israel ... something I never knew. But he's non-resident in Israel ... so how do I get in touch to renew my passport?

The infighting among jewish rabbis is escalating. The ultra-orthodox who hold the Chief Rabbinate is now blacklisting orthodox and conservatism rabbis .... effectively declaring them invalid so they cannot perform marriages, conversions etc... that pertain to jewish life. The backlash will be quick and painful ... especially from American jews who are for most part are progressive, liberal or reform. The Chief Rabbinate does not consider them jews at all. When they stop donating money, the sting will puncture the ultra-orthodox bubble.

The Oratory

And talking about donations, thanks a million for the kind donations to the Chinese Sisters' Convent. Everything is in place and the sisters have started their work. First success: a university student has requested catechism and baptism later this year. They have also other students gathered once a week for prayers, sharing and a meal once a month. More activities will be organized. The sisters will also be praying for you all daily in Jerusalem.

Today the Samaritans celebrate their Passover. The moon is full. But the jews prefer to wait till tomorrow to make sure the moon is totally full.

Samaritan Passover

Together in Bethfage

The past few weeks have been so hectic. Have been accompanying a group of junior M. Teresa's sisters from Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan on an intensive journey of healing and encountering the Word of God. The murder of the 4 sisters and 17 workers in Yemen has deeply affected us all. It was an emotionally, psychologically and physically demanding journey. We prayed, studied the Bible and visited the Holy Places together. I think this had made some moves in forwarding their lives.

Anyway the Jewish Passover begins this Friday evening. The Samaritan Passover begins tomorrow evening. In a striking move, the Jewish religious powers have decided that rice is kosher for Passover so it's ok treat it during the 8 days of Unleaven Bread. Newspapers are touting sushi meals for Passover. I don't mind that!! The Samaritans will have nothing of that though!!

Well the City will shut down for the jewish feast soon. Must go to the supermarket and buy necessities to cover the weekend. One good thing is the traffic free streets : less pollution and noise.