Jerry in Jerusalem

Mounted Police stop and search
a youth in the Park

Met a couple of old jewish security friends ... they're working still as security but in places outside our neighborhood. It was good to catch up with them. Despite the end of national festivities in Israel, security remains alert. Technically speaking the feasts have not ended because we are in the period of Lag Ba Omer ... which are the intermediate days between Passover and Pentecost. So security is still everywhere. Yesterday while on my way to work I saw 2 mounted police in Damascus Gate Park stopping and searching arab youths there. Well these arabs have no work and so spend the day in the Park, catching some sun instead of staying indoors in a windowless apartment.

Jerry in Jerusalem

Meantime in the western side of Jerusalem (jewish), buntings and flags continue to fly in the streets. The night market is open all week for the Independence Day celebrations. And foreign jewish students visiting Israel on the Birthright Program, swarm the streets having fun. All have minders who are armed. And yesterday evening as I had to go there on an errand, I saw Jerry (of Tom & Jerry) walking in the streets. Nothing surprises me anymore in this City. I had a good laugh and quickly took a pic. An ultra-orthodox guy coming the opposite direction saw me laughing, he also laughed, winked and shrugged his shoulders and continued walking.

Today the Nablus Road Open House Day begins. Unfortunately I have class and then adoration and confessions, then meeting up a group of pilgrims . My day will end at 10pm so I'll miss the Open Day today. Maybe I'll have time tomorrow. I have to take some pictures because Al our Indonesian student wanted to join in but has a compulsory excursion to the Neghev Desert these 4 days. I promised to take some photos for him to see. Better luck next year.

Ultra-orthodox jews continue to assault Israeli society by forcing shops to close on Sabbath in tel Aviv. In Jerusalem they have already succeeded in doing this. However ministers in the Knesset fought to prevent the law from being passed.  I would hate to think that Tel Aviv becomes an introverted exclusive City for ultra-orthodox jews like Jerusalem.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.786398

Nablus Road Open Day

Rubbish strewn in Sacher Park

When all the festivities of yesterday has fizzled out as people return to their daily lives.  Netizens have however posted photos of the parks and Squares where festivities were held yesterday ... full of garbage. No one bothered to throw away their own garbage in a dustbin. I think today should be called National Clean up Day.

Ultra-orthodox jews who do not submit to Zionism nor the State of Israel - they believe the State should be founded by the Will of God through the Messiah - burned the flag of Israel yesterday. I'm glad Resident Rivlin brought this up in his speech to the nation. He said that jewish infighting and division will be the downfall of the jewish people. http://www.timesofisrael.com/group-of-ultra-orthodox-jews-marks-independence-day-by-burning-israeli-flag/

Meantime more divisions in Israeli society ... this time on the economic front. Jewish tour agencies are getting upset by the govt. enforcing a ban on more and more tourists who defer from Israel's policy on the settlement, or support the boycott movement or simply staying overnight in Bethlehem. This has let to many cancellations in hotel bookings ... and restaurant bookings ... for a start. Not good for the economy of Israel.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.786494

Nablus Road Open Day poster

I have been having this acute pain in my right jaw since yesterday afternoon. I thought it was a toothache but as I had a sleepless night due to the pain, I grew slowly aware that it must be the inner ear. The pain is extremely acute and this morning I lost my balance twice. It's so painful I have to close my right eye. I'm not sure if I should see the doctor because I don't have insurance. It will be very expensive. But I must get well because I want to visit the Nablus Road Open Day. Last year it was organised and well participated. Churches, hotels, institutes along Nablus Road opened their doors to host cultural events, tours and stalls ... neighbours getting to know neighbours. This year more institutions are participating. It's going to be fun ... but I must get well first.

Independance Day

Fighter helicopters flying over
St. Peter's Church

It's Yom Ha'Atzmaut today ... or Independence Day of Israel. It's a national holiday in Israel and the custom is for families to go out barbecuing in the parks or at least on their balconies. It was very festive and some 50,000 people gathered at the beaches of tel Aviv to watch the airshow. This year there was the 3 new stealth fighter planes bought recently. Lots of oohs and ash from the crowds. And the aerial display by 4 fighter jets was much better than last year's. And of course the weather was great - sunny but a little cloudy.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4956430,00.html

3 new stealth jets

Our church of St. Peter in Jaffa has the best vantage point of viewing the airshow because it's the most prominent  building in Jaffa, jutting out on a cliff. The planes take the church steeple as a landmark where they end their fly pass.

Not everyone was happy though. Naturally the palestinians were not happy ... they lost their land when Israel was created. It was only expected that palestinians today marched in protest. But the highlight was from the ultra-orthodox jews. They do not recognise the State of Israel and many saw today as a disaster ... a country founded against God's will. And in late afternoon one of these jews tried to stab an Israeli soldier in the northern Jerusalem border with Samaria. He was shot dead.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4956479,00.html

And this morning we received news that bedouins of the Sinai peninsular killed ISIS soldiers as the desert tribes begin to fight back against the Islamic extremists who have infiltrated the peninsular, killing muslims and christians alike. This would be an important step for Israel's security in the south.    http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/egypt/1.786689

Celebrations

Beautiful tiny olive flowers

Summer is truly here ... the sun is up by 4am (5am daylight saving). It was sow arm last night I kept the window opened. At midnight it was so warm I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep ... which was lucky because I got a phone call from my italian teacher 25 years back . Haven't heard from him for over 6 years since he last came to the Holy Land. Good to catch up.

The country came to a standstill at 11am when sirens sounded for a minute's silence. It was to remember the fallen soldiers of Israel since its founding in 1948. Spoke with some of my jewish friends who lost friends and relatives to the wars and violence of the last decade. It's not been easy. I had no words. Just was with them to let them know pain knows no boundaries.

However on the political realm, it seems pain has boundaries. The only surviving arab child of a family that was firebombed and killed in the fire by jewish settlers was not granted compensation ... but this compensation is automatic if a jewish family suffered. Lawyers and activists are calling out the govt. for justice ... but sadly Justice here has eyes and ears for only some and not all. Even non-leftwing newspapers are crying out.   http://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-no-compensation-for-palestinian-child-firebombed-by-settlers/

And today on Remembrance Day, apparently only fallen jewish soldiers are remembered. A group of jewish and arab families who have suffered deaths in their families due to the wars were not allowed to commemorate the event because Israel barred 225 palestinians from coming out to Israel to participate. The families of this mixed group called out that pain has no boundaries ... but apparently it does in this country.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.786233  and when the remaining group of jews and arabs from Israel came to commemorate Remembrance Day, rightwing activists attacked them  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.786614

Perpetual Adoration at the
3rd Station of the Cross

Well the rest of the country is sprucing up to celebrate Independence Day this evening. Flags and other things are being sold in every street corner. I believe there will be a street party in Ben Yehuda Mall and perhaps later tonight there will be fireworks at Sultan's Pool. For christians especially religious, they'll be preparing for a big conference on Consecrated Life. I think it'll take place at the Notre Dame Centre. Talks and workshops in different languages are being organised for this event. If I am free from work, I might go there as well.

Remembrance Day eve

Sunset in Jaffa

It's Sunday and this evening Remembrance day will begin. At 8pm the sirens blared throughout the country and most people stood for one minute's silence. I think the count of soldiers who have been killed since the founding of the State of Israel is 97,000+. The country owes its existence to the tenacity of its army ... and every soldier is respected. Crowds have come to the Wailing Wall where there is a special service to remember the Fallen. Smaller ceremonies are being held throughout the country especially at memorial centers. Tomorrow at 10am another siren will sound for a minute's silence. Many of my jewish security friends have lost at least one friend, relative or comrade to the recent violence and wars. It'll be a sad day for them to remember the Fallen.  But eh way the border with Palestine was already closed yesterday night and will last till Tuesday midnight.

Yesterday I was called to work as sacristan at our Jaffa monastery. Everyone there was out on their chaplaincy work so no one was available to watch the sanctuary and prepare for pilgrims to celebrate Masses at the various altars. I left Jerusalem at 5am but there was a dreadful traffic jam. Managed to reach Jaffa only at 6.30am. Started work at 8am till 5.30pm with 3 Masses booked, and one special tour inside the Crusader section of the monastery by an australian group. There was also another australian group originally from Egypt ... and one of the members left her backpack in out church. I brought it out to the group before they left but everyone said it's not their bag. 3 hours later the guide called to say the bag belongs to someone in his group. So how stupid can tourists be? You can't recognise your own bag when I brought it out to you 3 hours earlier? Well the group lives in Bethlehem and will not come back to Jaffa so I had to carry the bag back to Jerusalem and leave it at St. Saviour's monastery and the guide would pick it up the next morning.

My 4 students who professed
their promise yesterday

Yesterday morning 4 of my students professed their promise to their congregation "Missionaries of Africa" or popularly called "White Fathers" (not because of nationality but because of the white habit they wear). Really proud of them. This morning some of them came to help me with the Armenian Mass at the 3rd Station. The other students - Salesians - will make their profession mid-year. Pray for them.

Schindler's birthday

Mounted police patrol the streets

Friday again ... tense as Israel's National Day approaches. Police presence is markedly stepped up. But likewise the arab presence in the Old City. Being Friday, lots of muslims from around the country came to the Al Aqsa Mosque ... as a non-verbal expression of arab claim over the City even as Israeli flags are being hoisted in every corner, every street lamp, every door.

And things happening around the City and country are not helping to dissipate the tension. Israel is going ahead to occupy land in arab East Jerusalem to build a jewish welcome center. This only ignites arab anger ... who see Israel's National Day as simply land-grabbing.  http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.785546

Tensions at the Israeli-Syrian border is not getting better. After the alleged Israeli bombing of the airport in Damascus, Syria sent a drone into Israel. Israel bombed it out of the sky, then late last night we learn Syrian sent its army to the Golan Heights to the Israeli border. Things are escalating ... all on the eve of Israel's National Day.  http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=25953

As every year since the founding of Israel in 1948, the eve of National Day is always preceded by a census of the nation. Israel today as over 8 million inhabitants. It's a form of stock-checking.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-at-69-has-8680000-citizens-43-of-world-jewry/

Not that everyone knows or cares, but today April 28th in 1908 Oskar Schindler was born. He is buried in our Franciscan Cemetery on Mt. Zion.

Strike

Shops on strike

East Jerusalem shops and businesses have gone on strike today. It's a show of support for the Palestinian hunger-strikers in Israeli jails. I don't know about the strike's political usefulness but it certainly was a breath of fresh air ... the streets are finally cleared. Walking down the streets are without hassle, jostling and tourists blocking every 3 meters. Shop keepers of course are not happy but they are forced to join the strike ... or risk having their shops burned by extremists.

It was another hectic day for me. Because of my confusion over Wednesday and Thursday, I had a lot of meetings clashing. 2 meetings with the lawyers plus a meeting with a chaplain in the morning, another meeting with a student in the afternoon, then class and bible conference/adoration and confession with the nuns. When it finishes at 7pm I have to go meet a group from Singapore at the Rosary sisters. It was a very tight day. Just my luck ... the lawyers were busy and cancelled the meetings. The nuns called to say they want to postpone the confession till Saturday. Class was cancelled. Utter confusion. Just didn't know what was happening today. My brains must have gone on strike.

Sunset at Palm Plaza

I only came home at 11pm now. When I first returned to my office in New Gate to keep some books so my backpack is lighter, I heard lots of ambulances and police cars with sirens racing down toward Damascus Gate. I thought there must have been another stabbing ... that means the police will close the City Gates and I will be stuck inside. Panic. I rushed out as fast as I could of New Gate. Thankfully the problem was not in Damascus Gate ... the ambulances and police cars went east toward French Hill area.

Troubling news this afternoon when we learned that Syria and Iran are accusing Israel of bombing the airport in Damascus. This will definitely rise the tensions in the region. Don't know how this will play out as Israel's Independence Day is celebrated next Tuesday. But certainly military presence in the City will be super tight.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Syrian-government-Israeli-airstrike-near-Damascus-airport-confirmed-489115

And right now, more troubling news: a Syrian drone flew into Israeli airspace. Israel shot it down.   http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.786119