Vacation soon?

Beef noodles
from Mian

One thing I'm thankful for these recent months is the opening of the chinese noodle shop down the road from where I work. It is very close ... about a minute's walk from my office ... so I can have some warm food in the evenings whenever I have to work late ... which is everyday. I finish work around 10pm each night ... so usually around 7pm I take a short break to go down to "Mian" for a quick meal. It's reasonably priced ... a bowl of soup noodles is about 57 shekels (=US$15) which is normal by Israeli standards. You can't imagine how expensive life is here ... so a bowl of noodles priced like this is considered normal. The owner Billy is a nice christian guy whom I've known for many years now ... and his wife is very kind to me. Yesterday she boiled medicinal soup for me after she saw me in bandages and hobbling - I had fallen down Damascus Gate stairs 4 days earlier.

In the news - the strange flip-flopping of the Israeli educational system. Christian schools have been cut off from the subsidy scheme because it's not considered a real school (read "jewish school"). "Real schools" teach core subjects (maths, languages, science) which entitle them to receive financial subsidies. However many jewish religious schools do not teach these core subjects ... only Torah education ... and they get funded very very well by the govt. In fact I think the subsidy has been raised. Then yesterday we received news that a break-away group of religious schools have decided to teach secular core subjects because they see these courses as important for the education of their children - besides the Torah of course. They have now petitioned the govt. to allow them to develope schools which teach these options without getting victimized by the ultra-orthodox schools who only teach Torah. And of course they get financial subsidies. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Haredi-parents-initiate-petition-demanding-schools-with-general-education-studies-462670

Another bit of news from the newspapers: Israeli left-wingers are getting persecuted here. As the govt. and country become more rightwing, attacks on leftwing Israelis have become more frequent. They have become the enemies of the State ... in line with the arabs. This is not only sad but very frightening as tolerance for opposing views - a basis for democracy - is getting thin. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.733791

Anyway enough of politics. My twisted ankles and wrists are getting better. Only the left ankle still hurts badly when I walk down the stairs. Maybe its the heat ... but I have been very giddy and nauseous for several days now. Had several near faints in the street while walking to and from work. Had to sit by the road to steady myself. Some people say it could be hunger as I only eat one meal a day ... but I feel its the heat plus exhaustion plus stress. Just maybe ... in August I might get 48 hours of vacation. I'll have to start planning now.

Pokemon Go ... an ISIS agent???

Obama's speech last night at the Dem. Party convention was a masterpiece of rhetoric ... equal to M. Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. Calculated to the last syllable, following all the rules and tricks of classical rhetoric, it was very stirring and emotional aimed to make the audience decide. But the thing that stole the show wasn't Obama's speech but Bill Clinton's pin on his jacket - "Hillary" written in hebrew. It was extremely subtle but absolutely calculated to catch the world's press attention. Here in Israel, it's all over media. Powerful non-verbal communication. My students of communication should see the video of Obama's speech with Clinton's pin.  http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-s-election-2016/.premium-1.733846

Another hot topic in today's news is the PM's revisionist interpretation of the Holocaust to victimise his enemies. If anyone else had done it, he would be accused of anti-semitism, Holocaust denial and manipulation of the truth. In the article, the PM is accused of using the Holocaust to demonise the arabs ... saying that "Hitler was influenced by a Palestinian to kill the jews". https://www.thenation.com/article/netanyahus-holocaust-revisionism-actually-reflects-widespread-dehumanization-of-palestinians/

Yesterday's double bombing that killed 50 people and injured 170 others in Syria has gone unnoticed. Highlight has been the murder of Fr. Jacques in France. The tragedy in France is a daily occurrence in the Middle East. Priests, bishops and nuns are being slaughtered everyday here ... but it never makes it to the headlines like a western tragedy does. http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2016/07/26/a-priest-is-slaughtered-at-mass-in-rural-france-this-is-what-life-is-like-for-christians-in-the-middle-east/

My aquarium ... a little piece of
tranquility in a mad world

France should really learn from Israel in terrorist prevention. Instead it is so buried in being politically correct ... it has become a suicide wish. I couldn't imagine how extreme political correctness was until BBC interviewed a priest from the neighbouring Normandy parish, asking him what he thought of ISIS attacking his neighbour priest in a Catholic Church; his reaction? "It's not an attack on Christianity! It's not an attack on the Catholic Church! It was a random attack". I couldn't believe my ears!!! The old priest was made to kneel and had his head chopped off ... like the 21 Copts killed in Libya and other christians in Syria and Iraq. This type of political correctness - fear of offending Islam - is simply burying the head in the sand, pretending there is no problem ... which works to the killers' advantage because they have tacit permission to continue their massacre. As long as christians in France think that this is not a muslim - christian conflict ... they will continue to be killed one by one until reality slaps them awake. News media and the rest of the world, especially here in the Middle East are more than clear IT IS a muslim-christian conflict. That is the new twist in ISIS strategy. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Analysis-Islamic-States-first-act-of-war-on-European-Christianity-462442

And tragedy on a different level - the rise of Pokemon Go. Utterly destructive ... yesterday a 17 yr old Israeli fell into the sea (from a cliff) while chasing a pokemon. Was unconscious and nearly drowned if not for his brother who pulled him out of the water. http://virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=22953  Who knows? Pokemon Go might be an ISIS invention to kill the Western infidels.

Summer .... good and bad

On-going news right now .... french church occupied by 2 armed assailants ... both apparently shot dead by french police. Priest hostage killed .... throat slit. Waiting for more updates to get a clearer picture.

Thanks to Pres. George Bush and his lies about weapons of mass destruction ... muslim extremists have destroyed the Middle East and now are causing chaos in Europe every week.

Street performers
at Ben Yehuda Mall

On the local side, we had some tense moments when Syrian missiles were shot into the Golan Heights. Israel responded with air fire. Not the first time. Though the govt or at least the newspapers have been hinting of an eventual war in the north (either Lebanon or Syria), this is most unlikely. They have enough internal problems to deal with and can't afford a war with Israel.

Here in the south, there has been no attacks for quite some time. It feels like a calm summer holiday after all. Summer camps on both east and west are taking place .... excursions to museums and national parks are popular. Parents have to find ways to keep their children busy while the parents are at work. Can't leave the kids at home for 3 months doing nothing ... so summer camps are very popular ... it's actually daycare. Unfortunately it's costly and most parents cannot afford. Parishes and school try to subsidize but looking for sponsors is difficult. And sadly its during this summer vacation that most children learn to get into trouble. With no one to care for them during the day, no summer camp, no supervision ... these kids get into contact with bad people, bad habits, drugs, stealing etc.... It's a vicious cycle of social evils.

Injured again

Dawn at Tel Aviv 4.30am

So it was a long weekend .... celebrating 2 masses 100 km apart. I managed to stop by Jaffa to sleep as the Mass in Netanya ended at 9pm and the 1 hr ride to Jaffa became 2 hrs because the driver lost his way. It was too late to get back to Jerusalem so I decided to spend the night at Jaffa. It was a good choice. The sun rises at 4.30am (3.30am solar time) and the golden glow over Tel Aviv across the bay is amazing.

Sprained wrist

I spento the morning sleeping as I needed it very much. Afternoon was doing some chores for the community in Jaffa. Found a car to bring me home at 6pm but the Chinese called to insist that I stop by for dinner .... they made dumplings. Ate 30 of them as I was very hungry .... I didn't eat all day because of the 1.5 hr journey back to Jerusalem. The IBS is one major problem for me traveling.

Anyway after dinner I walked home. When I reached Palm Plaza near Damascus Gate, I met the community of Ecco Homo sisters - all 6 of them - on their way home. Decided to walk home with them through Damascus Gate (I usually ago home from Herod's Gate 500m further east). At 10pm hawkers were still in the street selling fruit and vegetables. Along the grimy steps I slipped on some grapes ... sprained my right hamstring again, my back and right wrist. And left ankle. The sisters practically carried me home.

Today it's all pain and swelling. Bound whatever I could with bandages and guards to keep the swelling down. But still have to go to work .....

Sabbath

It's the Sabbath again. Busy today. Am preparing for the Indian Mass now at St. Savior's Church (not St. Francis Xavier but the latin name for "Holy Redeemer") and then later in the day I will have to travel 100 km to Netanya - a city by the coast - to celebrate the Filipino Mass. In between there're lots of chores to do.

Suspicious package in orange
on the left of the photo

Yesterday while on my way back to work - I had to go buy food for our workers because we planned a thank-you lunch for one of our volunteers who will be leaving today - there was a familiar scene at Jaffa Street. Road cordoned off. At the tram station in front of the Municipality Buildings there was an unattended package. The bomb squad was called in. It looked all too familiar ... like the last 2 Intifadas. It took about half an hour when the bomb squad decided it was harmless and reopened the road. Well you can never be too careful. Better safe than sorry. The recent attacks in Germany have made us here more aware of our surroundings. Sometimes it gets paranoid ... but it saves lives.

The weather has been very pleasant : not too hot and there's a cool breeze blowing all the time. But this has not drawn in the tourists. Visitors and pilgrims have fallen in numbers drastically ... some shops have even closed because it's no longer worthwhile keeping the shop open when no one comes in. Shops closed in summer? Unthinkable! The last time this happened was during the Intifada. And that explains the disappearance of tourists - the fear of war, bombings and violence. Just remember the poor Hong Kong couple who was attacked on the German train last week. Wrong place, wrong time.

We continue to pray for peace in our region. With all the attention focussed on the violence in Europe, the world has forgotten that here in the Middle East christians and minorities are being killed by the hundreds EACH DAY. Yes the world has forgotten us. http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/syriac-catholic-patriarch-warns-western-politicians-and-media-mislead-world/#.v5iqa0lmhqa

See https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/765493613592148/

Help: Solar lamps+smart phone chargers

Needed: solar
lamps

It's been hitting home here in Israel that extremism isn't just limited to Islam but also in Judaism. The increasing instances of ultra-orthodox attacks on other jews and non-jews have been noted by Israeli society and occasional backlash from the latter have taken place.

Such was the case in yesterday's parade. over 25,000 people took to the streets ... not so much to support the LGBT community ... but to express their anger at ultra-orthodox judaism's stranglehold on Israeli society; its intolerant attitude to all other people which had led to the murder of the 16 yr old girl in last year's parade. Yesterday it was revealed that the ultra-orthodox murderer who is in jail actually planned another attack through his brother ... who was himself arrested a day earlier. In fact some 40 people were arrested during the march yesterday ... including 2 who carried knives. Apparently it is perfectly alright for a Torah-abiding jew to kill others (including jews) who do not interpret the Torah in a similar way. Well for the record, there was a precedent in history: the Maccabees. It strikes me as frightening that a religion actually endorses the right to kill others of the same belief only on the grounds of different interpretation. This is a totally different ball game from muslims killing christians and yezidis and mandaeans etc.... that is one religion against another. Over here it's all within one religion ... torn within itself. What did I say about an implosion?

Needed: solar
lamps

Can anyone help me get 10 of these solar lamps/smart phone charger? They're really helpful especially in reducing electric use. The poor students and families here will truly appreciate this. And I'll give 3 to the Chinese sisters as well as it will cut back on their electric bill. Of course if it's possible, it'll be better to get more, like 20 or so .... provided some group is willing to transport them over to us. Would really appreciate this. Am awaiting eagerly for some miracle to happen.

Full moon again

The big joke in today's headlines is: a small bag of marijuana was found in the toilet of the Knesset (Parliament House). Apparently a lot of red faces as police undertake an investigation. Some poor chap will have to be the scapegoat.

Full moon over
Damascus Gate

Today the controversial Gay Pride march will take place in Jerusalem. It's a very heated subject as ultra-orthodox jews and some others are violently opposed to it taking place in the Holy City. It doesn't affect the arabs and muslims because it's organized in the Israeli side of the City. Last year a 16 yr old girl was stabbed to death and 8 others injured when an ultra-orthodox jew went on a rampage during the march. He had attempted the same thing a year earlier and was arrested and put in jail but was released one week before the next parade where he killed the girl in broad daylight and in front of thousands of people. She was there in the crowd to show her support when she was killed. The murderer's family has been prohibited to enter Jerusalem today ... and the brother of the murderer has been arrested for planning an attack today. Others who had no interest in this parade are joining in - mainly as a sign to oppose the violent ultra-orthodox community who cannot tolerate any view of life other than their own. Jerusalem ... and the country ... is badly divided. Like I have been saying all the while ... it's an implosion waiting to happen.

Segregated bus in Jerusalem

As an example of how much influence the ultra-orthodox have on daily life in the City, yesterday I happened to take a photo of a bus running in front of Damascus Gate. The front part of the bus was crammed with ultra-orthodox men ... up to standing room. And the back of the bus, it was practically empty except for a few women seated there. That is a segregated bus ... one of the many in the City. And if they would have it their way ... everything else would be segregated too.

The moon is full again and it shines brightly over the City Walls these few nights. Must be having quite an effect on people ... lunatics that is ... just got a call from a taxi driver asking me to help talk to a spanish-speaking woman passenger. What did she want? To go see the Tomb of Jesus in Talpiot!!!!