Funeral Day of former President

100s of black security cars to
transport heads of state lined the
entire King Solomon Street

Shimon Peres was buried today. It was the highest security event ever to be organized. Shin Bet the national security agency admitted that it was unprecedented in Israel's history: 70 world leaders including 20 presidents, 5 heads of state and royalty, 15 foreign ministers and many more dignitaries. The burial took place at 11.30 and the roads gradually reopened although some major routes are still closed, such as the highway to the airport.

It was good to see Palestinian president and Israeli PM speaking civilly at the wake. Even PM's wife spoke to the Palestinian president. I guess Peres succeeded in death what he sought for in life ... getting the 2 enemies to talk. Well Peres wasn't always the peace-maker that we remember him as .. he had had a long life - 93 yrs in all ... and the early years saw him as a tough zionist who started the settlement movement, displacement of countless palestinians, confiscation of palestinian lands ... things that palestinians today remember him for. But in the course of his long life he saw the need for moderation and change .... hence his move from rightwing to leftwing (center left is more correct). That takes political bravery in a volatile region like Israel.

I was laughing when I read The Straits Times' FaceBook article that Singapore will add 60 more CCTV for security reasons to the existing 70. In our Old City alone we have 320 CCTVs !!!! The moment you enter the Old City your every move is monitored ... you can't escape. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/60-more-locations-to-get-cctv-cameras-to-deter-illegal-parking-from-oct-6?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&xtor=CS1-10#link_time=1475140775

Via Dolorosa is
empty

With the sudden influx of political leaders from around the world in our neighborhood the security inside the Old City was equally high. The streets remained quiet and deserted despite being Friday. Via Dolorosa was empty even at 11am. All night and morning, security helicopters were flying overhead ... making sleep impossible. Poor Buddy was frightened all night and hid under my pillow till morning. Classes at Ratisbonne (Salesian Theological College) were almost cancelled as roads around the institute were closed. They reopened only much later and classes resumed.

My shoulder gave me a lot of pain last night ... I think it partially slipped out of joint again. The pain was excruciating and kept me awake all night. Good thing ... because Buddy was very afraid of the helicopters and noisy soldiers in the street. He flew to my bed and tried to hide under the pillows. So i stayed up with him and it was a good bonding opportunity. For once he was looking for food!!

Miracles do happen

Our former president and statesman Shimon Peres died last night at the age of 93. He's known as the president/statesman of hope ... that was his constant message. And he never took himself too seriously. When he stepped down as president, he made several video clips of himself searching for a job ... at the age of 90. Very funny. He can laugh at himself.  http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/shimon-peres-funniest-moments/

Flyer of arab food by delivery

High drama yesterday evening ... received a warning (we have phone apps that warn us of missile attacks, terrorist attacks, war etc...) that all roads in Jerusalem were blocked off and a terror alert was issued throughout the City Old and New). Only an hour later were we told that a terrorist had entered Jerusalem and evaded the police. A 15 yr old arab boy. Sounded bit exaggerated that the entire City had to be closed off because of a 15 yr old boy. We had older and worse terrorists than that and the City was never closed off. Anyway the alert was called of after a couple of hours. We're not told if the boy was caught or whether the entire event was just a drill.

Sr. Sophie's
roasted chicken

Miracles do happen. Yesterday evening I was very very hungry when I got home from work. Hadn't eaten anything since the night before. At our reception, I found a flyer of a new arab takeaway restaurant .... good food and relatively cheap. I wanted very much to eat a roasted chicken drumstick (featured in the flyer) .... it's been so very long since I tasted one. But I couldn't afford the delivery meal. Just then my phone rang. Sr. Sophie called to ask "Are you downstairs at the door? Don't go away; I have something for you". 15 minutes later a car drove up to our door and the driver gave me a bag from Sr. Sophie - one whole roasted chicken!!!!! God surely works in mysterious ways.

Tuesday

Body search at Palm Plaza
(newspaper photo)

Went to the doctor's this morning for a jab. The shoulder still hurts and I must stop carrying the backpack; the weight adds a lot of pressure on the shoulder joint. Doc said the weather is changing and I must be careful not to fall sick as it will exacerbate my asthma. I don't think I'll take a flu shot this time. Usually the doc gives me one when the weather changes. My headache has lasted over a week now. The nausea is less ... so I'm still wondering what is the cause. Doc said it's exhaustion - both physical and mental.

Arrest in a street corner probably for
not possessing an ID or legal papers
(newspaper photo)

More police action in the streets these days as the Jewish New Year rounds the corner. Lots of stop and search at every corner inside and outside the Old City. It's a scare tactic to deter potential terrorists. There's an interesting article on an online newspaper about the recent arab violence: it's especially markedly different from previous attacks because they were perpetrated by very young children, and the analysis is frightening: they are doing it not for nationalistic reasons like before but simply to commit suicide. Several of these children did not even carry knives or weapons ... they just walked right up to soldiers in order to get shot dead. Life has become so unbearable and hopeless it is better to die. This is so sad, so tragic, so frightening.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4859239,00.html 

Just had a nice chat with my old classmate from '92. It's good to catch up once in a while ... can't imagine him now with grey hair and 3 teenage kids. How time flies. We chatted about our other schoolmate who is now archbishop and apostolic administrator of the Holy Land. All our paths have changed. God has his plans. Always mysterious ...

Autumn has come

Sweet consolation or death by
diabetes

What a terrible day .... have been feeling very very nauseous and dizzy all day. No idea why. Definitely not the heat as it's quite cool. {perhaps it's all the tensions building up. School starts next week .... more pressure. Summer holidays are over and I haven't had one day of vacation. And the anxiety of riots and more violence next week when the Jewish Holy Days begin .... I'm cracking up. Life seemed a lot easier in the past, not because there were no tensions and wars ... it's just that my stress-resistance has worn down. There is only so much I can take ... and the last straw always breaks the camel's back.  Then again someone suggested that it could be the side-effects of the medicine I'm taking for the subluxed shoulder. It's still hurting but not as much. Sleeping remains an agony as I cannot put any weight on the right shoulder ... it'll pop out of the socket again.

Today the new "obedience" was released. It's the transfers and new jobs that each of us will get for the next 3 years. Many have been fretting over the weekend because no one knows what to expect. Today we all got the news. Happy for some, sad for some. But it's an obedience ... we have to follow it.

Olive trees are
pruned

Yesterday I took some time to walk to East Jerusalem to say hi to a friend. Haven't seen him for quite some time ... he runs a bakery and usually has fresh bourekas (puff pastry stuffed with various things) and all other sorts of treats. His wife and baby were also at the shop ... first time I've met them. I noticed there was a tray of doughnuts ... very very tempting. But the thought of rising sugar levels and its consequence stopped me from buying one.

It's autumn ... fruit are being harvested and trees are being pruned. The olive trees in the parks have been pruned already. It's a bit early because usually the municipality allow the poor arab families to come and pick the olives first. This year nobody had any as the trees and fruit were pruned and discarded quickly away.

26th Sunday of the Year

Palms overloaded
with dates at Palm
Plaza

There was a slight drizzle last night as I came home from work ... it was getting cold even just at 9pm and small drops of condensation could be felt. It really feels like autumn. The autumn crop of fruit are due for harvesting. That includes, dates, olives, grapes, pomegranates .... the 7 species mentioned in the Book of Deuteronomy. The palms at Palm Plaza are heavy with huge loads of dates. And the wild parakeets are enjoying eating them. Same thing with the olive trees in the parks ... most are ripe and purple but here the poor local arabs go to collect the olives.

As the Jewish holidays near, police and military presence are getting heavier. Lots of police dogs and horses as well. The annual tension of these holidays never die down.

Israeli implosion continues as the Israeli Chief Rabbinate annulled the conversions to judaism made by american rabbis. In effect the Chief Rabbinate in Israel is declaring itself the sole legitimate authority to enact conversions and other matters. The Chief Rabbinate is acting as if it is the High Priest and Sanhedrin ... both of which have no effect since there is no Temple. It's like a Pretender to a long lost throne. Well tensions have arisen because  of this. The actual system of rabbis is that all are equals ... but it doesn't seem so now.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.744063

And more implosion to come as the Jewish Holy Days are round the corner. A huge public concert to http://www.timesofisrael.com/women-left-off-the-bill-for-tel-aviv-unity-concert/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Mounted Police and the local tram

celebrate unity and forgiveness for Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is now the turf of discontent because no women performers are included. Apparently an anonymous donor of the event is religious (read "ultra-orthodox") and does not allow women to perform in public (any difference from Islam?). Not much of "unity and forgiveness" ... that's what everyone is complaining.

On a nicer note, there's an Oktoberfest here in Palestine in a  totally christian village called Taybeh. It produces the best palestinian beer also called Taybeh. Apparently it's getting famous around the world and international beer-lovers are flocking to it and praising it. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/watch-oktoberfest-in-west-bank-23846

And another positive news - tours of the Old City are being organised for muslim, christian and jewish students to overcome prejudice and misinformation about each other. It's a very positive step and I think it should be encouraged.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Christian-Jewish-and-Muslim-youth-from-Jerusalem-take-a-stand-in-the-Old-City-468615

More on the new Archbishop

Archbishop Pizzaballa's solemn entry
into the Old City

It did rain yesterday !!! Not in our mountain area but down in the plains further north and west. It was a drizzle but it was a good sign that autumn has come. The temp. is pleasantly cool today and I'm sure the nights will slowly get colder. Sunrise is much later now ... about 6am and sunset is earlier, around 7pm. I'll have to check when daylight saving changes back to solar time. A quick browse through the Internet tells me it should occur on Oct. 30th. That's well after the Jewish Holy days.

Sr. Rose places a garland on him

I wanted so badly to finish renovating my office because a lot of the office  they had learned when junk and stuff are cluttering the school hallway. But doing it alone with a subluxed shoulder, and constant asthma because of the dust (20 years of dust ... don't blame me, the people who work there never cleaned the room) was nearly impossible. So I got the help of the Missionaries of Charity (M. Teresa). 3 of them came over to help clean the office and put in place all the files and equipment and other stuff. We finished most of it in 3 hours. Thank God and the sisters for the help. I still need to rest my shoulder as it hurts very much.

Here's an interesting article on the new Apostolic Administrator of the Holy Land. You should read it. https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2016/09/22/popes-potential-masterstroke-takes-charge-holy-land/

Patriarch Theophilos of the Greek
Orthodox Church

It's not easy for the diocesan clergy or Rosary Sisters (diocesan congregation) or some laity that the Vatican did not appoint a Patriarch for the Latin (read "Roman") Church here. But it's a necessary move to reorientate the diocese and revive its spirit. Other churches such as the Orthodox and Eastern and Protestant are very hopeful that things will get better on the ecumenical level as when Piazzaballa was the Custos. he managed to unite the churches and got everyone to work on common projects. The best example is the restoration of the Empty Tomb of Christ ... a very complicated place with ancient rules and traditions among the ancient churches. Still it got ahead and the other Orthodox patriarchs are very pleased.

Orthodox and protestant bishops
welcome the Archbishop

On the national level, tensions are rising on the northern border with Israel as Syrian rebels begin to gather there. More missiles have accidentally fired into Israel. Everyone is preparing for war. In fact 3 days ago the entire country had a war drill when the sirens blared twice (once in the morning and once in the evening). And the heavy bombardment of Aleppo is very distressing .... many there are christians. And many have died in the past few days. There is no water or food or electricity. No shelter either for the cold weather in the night.

And one final piece of news: extremist jewish groups rioted when an Armenian Choir sang in a public event. It was the Jerusalem Arts Festival and many religious groups performed at various corners of the city streets. The Armenians have regularly been targeted by the jews because they live next to the Jewish Quarter and so are easy prey. Jewish intolerance for christians are on the rise ... and left unchecked by the police. Slowly it will become like Syria. Christians in the Middle East carry the Cross everyday ... to die on Calvary.

Rain tonight?

Rain clouds over the
Old City

The sky was cloudy and gray today. Rain clouds from the west (Mediterranean Sea) have been blowing across the country all day, bringing in a lot of humidity. The temperature has also dropped. Forecast was for rain but we got nothing. People are saying it will tonight. Well let's hope so.  The drought is killing us here.

Notwithstanding the subluxed shoulder that's healing, there was a lot of heavy lifting of books, cabinets, shelves, tables and files the whole day.  We're renovating the library office and lots of accumulated stuff of the past 20 years needed to be cleared off. The dark and crammed office is now bright and clean ... well almost. There's still a lot of work to do and I'm practically doing it myself. Magdulin our cleaner helps to clean up while I organise everything else.

News has leaked of a group of soldiers in Hebron beating a Palestinian. This is very common but almost never reported or filmed. This time it was filmed. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4858196,00.html  Soldiers have also been filmed setting fire to arab storage in the northern city of Nablus. There seems to be a lot of military violence against arabs ... probably as a revenge for the stabbings of last week. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/military/idf-soldiers-set-storage-unit-on-fire-in-nablus-23803

Office renovation

Meantime some justice is being seen to be served: 5 jewish youths were arrested for assaulting and harassing an arab boy. However as we all know ... nothing will come out of it. They will be released because "there is not enough evidence". http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4858234,00.html

And once again another chutzpah event: the Israeli Culture Minister walked out of a films award ceremony because an arab poem was recited. Now if an arab walked out when a jewish poem were recited, it would be branded anti-semitism. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/politics/culture-minister-leaves-film-awards-venue-over-palestinian-poem-23807

But I'll end off today's blog with something from the Pope. He called fear-mongering and gossip in journalism as a type of terrorism. The spread of exaggerations and lies causes fear and suspicion, dividing communities and creating hatred. That is terrorism at its roots.  It's terrorism that the common folk in the streets engage.  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-media-idUSKCN11S26D?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=57e45c9604d30161488db9c9&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook