Saturday events

Budding oak tress at 4am

So as the Sabbath began yesterday, a wholes series of demonstrations rocked the country. In the Palestinian Territories, one died and several injured as arabs clashed with Israeli soldiers over the planned embassy moves by USA and Guatemala; in the northern beach city of Caesarea, israelis protested and blocked the main road over plans to big a oil pipe line across the city and its pristine beaches ... one youth even threw a flare in to the PM's private house and got arrested; in Tel Aviv thousands of israelis marched to support african asylum seekers from being forcefully repatriated.

Bedouin hawkers at 4am

Today the City was much quieter, being the Sabbath. The police were expecting trouble I guess because there were lots of them in and around the Old City. I had the usual 2nd Saturday Mass in the Empty Tomb for our parishioners from Jaffa. 5 of my students also came to join in. I was quite dizzy and almost blacked out during the Mass. After that I had to preach a lenten retreat till 12pm. Then I took 2 hours of rest in my office while working. I had woken up at 1.30am last night and could not sleep due to the medication. My stomach was burning and I still feel quite sick all day. Sleeping only 2 hours a day for the past week is killing me. I took a long 4km walk to shake off the side effects of the medicine. At Damascus Gate at 4am bedouin women had already arrived to lay out their veggies for sale.

Women's Day took a step back yesterday when women soldiers had to relocate their barracks because orthodox jewish male soldiers came to do their reservist service and they demand gender segregation. So much for democracy and equality as Israel touts itself ... the final word comes from the rabbis ... they run the govt. Then a video ad for women pilots as taken down because the rabbi's frown on women in public. It's a scary thought that the all powerful army of Israel is now under the thumbs of the rabbis.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-after-religious-pressure-israeli-army-takes-down-women-s-day-video-1.5889071

And radiating the negativity outwards, an Israeli Justice Ministry official called for jews to invade and settle in arab East Jerusalem ... "take over" is the word. Such calls are now public and brazen thanks to Trump who declared all Jerusalem as the jewish capital. Arabs are now publicly targeted to be removed from their properties so that israelis can move in and calm their "right". I guess this also spread into the taxation of church lands and properties ... now that there is no limit to the Trump-israeli claim.    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-the-ministry-s-man-who-settles-jews-in-arab-east-j-lem-1.5888643

YNet News on the other hand offered an assessment of the sheer lunacy of an almost war between Israel and the Christian world by unilateral confiscation and taxation of church properties that led to the closure of the Holy Sepulchre last week. The narrow rightwing agenda will implode.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5150808,00.html

And we're receiving news of daily attacks by jewish settlers on arab farmers and shepherds. The incidents are rising on a daily basis and soldiers present have done nothing to stop these aggressors. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/soldiers-do-nothing-to-stop-settlers-throwing-rocks-at-palestinians-1.5888651

By the looks of these, this summer is going to be eventful ... to put it mildly.

Marathon Day

The biggest Marathon to date is just ending here in Jerusalem. Roads closed almost half the City at 5.30am and the half marathon started at 6.30am. The full marathon started at 7am. there was an estimate 35,000 runners with over 4000 foreigners participating. The largest group of foreign runners came from Hong Kong. The winner was a kenyan who finished in 2 and a half hours. But the majority of the participants were local jerusalemites. It was a family day for most people .... parents with kids in strollers, senior citizens in groups, classmates from schools .... all varieties, many in costumes from last week's Purim .... it was very festive.    https://www.timesofisrael.com/30000-race-through-jerusalem-in-capitals-largest-ever-marathon/

Dome of the Holy Sepulchre
at midnight 

And no ... I wasn't there or even near it. I saw the photos on the news and live videos. I have to work today despite my arhymic heart, so I couldn't go to take photos of the marathon. It's such a struggle everyday to walk short distances and especially up and down the stairs. I get so tired and dizzy. And the cocktail of antibiotics makes me so thirsty all the time, day and night.

The marathon was quite a relief from the tense demonstrations yesterday but the ultra-orthodox jews. However because of the traffic disruptions and closures of many shops, many locals are no less happy than yesterday. Well maybe things will get better next Monday when the Jerusalem Sounds of the Old City festival begins. As with previous years, musicians and performers will be found at various points in the different Quarters of the Old City. It's a 4 day event and it'll draw thousands of locals from other cities. As it's a night event, traffic won't be disturbed but parking certainly will.

Steamed buns today

And talking about night ... I don't think any of you have ever seen the dome of the Holy Sepulchre at midnight. The lights are all turned on and it looks stupendous. Every 4 hours deacons from the different churches take turns to incense all the altars in the basilica. It's quite an experience.

Yesterday our filipino parishioners came to Jerusalem and they brought some food for me. However I was out listening to confessions in the evening. They brought me steamed buns and biscuits ... and 2 sticks of durian cakes. That was very nice of them. All of them are domestic helps and health carers of elderly jews in Tel Aviv. They don't have much pay but they are generous with charity. That's what Lent is all about. I am privileged.

Daylight saving is on March 23rd. That's Holy Week and so our liturgies will be an hour earlier.

Eventful Day

Women's Day event at the park

It's International Women's Day today. There was an event at the Damascus Gate Park ... arab and Israeli women gathered to talk about peace. Well when I walked past, it had just ended and workers were removing the chairs under the olive trees ... but there was still a small group remaining and chatting.

Well that was one event .... but the really big one that is happening now is the thousands of ultra-orthodox jews demonstrating and blocking traffic in and out of Jerusalem for almost 3 hours. Happening right now as I write. Border Police have tried to remove the demonstrators but it doesn't look like they're succeeding. The ultra-orthodox are protesting the compulsory drafting to military service of their young men and this is one of the largest mass protest organised. Their leader the 100+ yr old rabbi died last week and people thought these extremists would be too disorganised to do anything ... but how wrong they were. A council of 4 of the oldest rabbis now take control of the community's leadership and they have pulled this one off .... so massive the police could do nothing for 3 hours.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Haredim-protest-in-Jerusalem-over-proposed-draft-law-544605   and   https://www.timesofisrael.com/ultra-orthodox-draft-protesters-block-entrance-to-jerusalem/   and   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5150846,00.html

Calla lilies blooming in our garden

And still another event to disrupt our lives tomorrow is the Jerusalem Marathon. Thousands are expected to participated in this event. Half the City will be closed and traffic will stop all morning. Already people are worried ... those who need to get to work or to the airport or to go home from night shift. I am confined to home ... thank goodness. Still on medication and feeling sick, though I can breathe a lot better. The 2 antibiotics that 'm taking are very strong and seem to be working. Yes it's a cocktail antibiotic course ... not something I like but doc thinks I need a super cocktail to kick this infection. The heart is still weak and I fatigue easily climbing up and down the stairs. I would have loved to go out and take photos of the protests and marathon ... but for not this time.

Midweek

Sunset over Notre Dame de Zion

Today is the 3rd Wednesday of Lent. That means a pilgrimage Mass at Gethsemane. It used to be at our Flagellation but because the following Wednesday the pilgrimage Mass would have been also our Condemnation Chapel, we have to shoulder twice the responsibility, so they changed the Condemnation for Gethsemane. I won't be able to walk down the Kidron Valley and up again ... so I'll stay and rest at home. But that's always a utopia ... whiten one hour of rest, phone call comes to say a chinese group is downstairs and wants to see me.

Still feeling very sick. There's this heavy pressure on the chest for a week now and makes my walking the staircase or long distances very difficult. Today I'm mainly confined to bed with minimum movement. Sheer lethargy or necessarily recuperation? Later I'll have to go to the pharmacy to get medicine. So much for rest. As the doc and nurses said ... I must leave Jerusalem otherwise I will never recuperate ... I guess they're right.

Waning moon over Damascus Gate

Traffic entering or leaving Jerusalem is in total chaos as the main junction is under major construction. Buses have been rerouted and many people found themselves going to places other than their destinations. And to top it off, the buses no longer accept cash or top-up payment cards. Suddenly people found themselves entering and leaving buses immediately because they cannot pay or top-up. Fixed centres to top-up the cards have queues so long people complain waiting 3 hours for their turn.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-bus-drivers-will-stop-accepting-cash/

The war in Ghouta is still continuing and I have no more news from Damascus ... apparently our hospital has been bombed. UN aid convoys were not allowed to bring in medicines. The situation is terrible for our christians. Let's hope there is at least some respite from the bombings.  https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5146364,00.html

And everything was about pig yesterday. There was a news article about malaysians laughing at a foreign celebrity because she called her father in her own language "babi". Then within 12 hours a wild boar charged into a malaysian mosque and allegedly attacked a worshipper. Here in Tel Aviv a restaurant sold and cooked pork instead of advertised beef and was made to serve free food for 30 days to all customers as a penalty. I hope to go there soon for free lunch.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-tel-aviv-eatery-settles-to-pay-hefty-price-over-pork-scandal-1.5868960

Check up

Pineaaple tarts at last

The day started really early. I was up by 3am to clean my room and shower because at 4.30am I had to start my long journey first to Tel Aviv and then to Nazareth. Luckily at that time there was little traffic so the one hour journey to Tel Aviv was smooth. I had to meet a group that bought some home-made Chinese New Year cookies .... yes the New Year is quite over but cookies are always valid anytime of the year. There were pineapple tarts among them ... my favourite.

4.30am journey

After that it was an hour and a half journey to Nazareth up in the north. I had to go for a check up as I haven't been feeling well since the last allergic attack. A whole series of tests and results which lasted 4 hours. I was quite tired I actually fell asleep. I guess I must have been quite a mess because as I was drowsing, the guy who brought his old father in for a check up in the opposite bed, came over and pulled the curtains so I could sleep without getting constant peeks from strangers passing by.

Anyway the results came in and I was able to go home again. It was already noon. I slept for most of the trip home. I've a severe lung infection and will continue the heavy dosages of of medicine. That makes me very sleepy ... so the rest of the day I was asleep. Let's hope I can rest a little for now.

Journeys

Religious sisters gathered in
the German chapel

Continuing to recount my 36 hour sleepless day ... yesterday morning ... the hour long walk to the German Sisters' convent was lovely, the sun was shining, a cool breeze was blowing and the wild flowers were swaying all along the streets. I preached what I had prepared to the religious sisters from the Judah region gathered for the Lenten recollection. There was quite a crowd but not as big as last year. After morning prayers in 4 languages, the sisters broke into their respective language groups and the talks began. I finished mine in an hour although we were given 2 hours.

Coptic deacons
incensing our altar

After that at 12pm, I walked home to Jerusalem Old City. But my knee was hurting too much so I stopped and rested at my office in the library. After an hour a student came to pay me a visit. I decided to go for a walk in the New City to breathe fresh air instead of book dust and silverfish. I walked very slowly around the Ben Yehuda Mall when I passed by Eretz' optical shop. It's been 3 years since my last optical test. So I stopped and Eretz the owner got an assistant to test my eyes. Everyone was surprised that after 3 years my eyesight and astigmatism did not degenerate but remained the same. However I needed a new pair of frames as I had broken 2 previous glasses by accidentally sitting on them (old age problems ... forgot where I put them ). Then I realised I didn't bring any money with me ... but Eretz was kind enough to let me come back any other day to pay for you. I didn't feel alright with that, knowing how forgetful I am, so I walked home 1km to get the money and back to Eretz's shop 1 km uphill and then back home again. I think all in all yesterday I walked almost 15 kms.

Armenian orthodox incensing
our altar

I'm still having breathing difficulties this morning ... very shallow breathing. The burning sensation in my stomach area continues. But today my throat is very very sore. The doc who saw m last week insists I go to the northern hospital and I think I'll do it. Problem is transport ... I need to go by car due to my IBS problem. But it'll cost US$200 to go and US$200 to return. And if the car waits for me at the hospital, it's another US$150 per hour. Believe me ... seeing the doctor is very very expensive here ... and it's just transport cost. Today I'll just stay home and try to rest. No energy to do anything.

Anyway I've posted 2 photos of orthodox deacons incensing our altars inside the Holy Sepulchre basilica. 5 times a day deacons from the various churches take turns in incensing all the altars inside the basilica. It's very ritualistic ... well choreographed and timed so no church will have to wait for the preceding one to finish the rite. If you haven't seen .... you should.

Night stroll

Musrara night market

I slept for 2 hours last night and was awake by 2am. I didn't go to the Vigil at the Holy Sepulcher as I really felt weak. But staying awake all night wasn't very nice ... it was warm last night, just about 12 degrees. And the moon was full. But I couldn't watch the moon all night ... so I began to play mental games just to pass the time. Well by 3.30am I was getting bored ... so I decided to walk to the all night shops at Musrara to buy bread. Most of the guys who went for the Vigil and celebrated the Mass were on their way home. The road was quite crowded ... as muslims were also coming into the City for daybreak prayers. Like I said, it was warm so the slow walk was pleasant. I am still very breathless and the medicine was upsetting my stomach so the walk took my mind away from that.

The amazing pink
tree in the park

And I met many people ... at 3.30am outside Damascus Gate. The night market was gone, the street was cleaned. The security guys were making their rounds and I had a short chat with them. They reminded me that my best friend Sharfi, who used to do security, is celebrating his birthday today so I quickly send him a message. Then further up near the grocery  several men were drinking coffee and chatting ... one of them the mute grave-digger at the Muslim cemetery. He was signing to the grocery owner that he knows me and he once found a small snake and gave it to me ... which is true. That was about 4 years ago and I released the harmless snake into the Umayyad cemetery south of Jerusalem. Anyway I went further down the street to the bakery to buy 3 "kaik" which are long sesame seed bagels. At 3.30am they're piping hot from the oven.

I walked back home as the streets began to fill with pilgrims ..... 4am. But before I could go home I received a call from a neighbor who needed to talk. He was arrested the day before and later today at 10am he has to go to report at the Police Station. He was upset and nervous so I spend half an hour being with him, chatting and listening. When he felt better, I went home and ate a small piece a "kaik" with Marmite before taking the dreadful medicine which leaves a horrible bitter aftertaste.

It was almost 5am and it was time to shower and clean the room and prepare for Mass and then it was a very long walk to the German Sisters' convent in the German Colony to preach the retreat. But I'll leave that for tomorrow's blog. Right now I just want to sleep. It's 36 hours and I slept only 2 hours. I am utterly exhausted. I hope tonight I can sleep so I don't need to make night strolls again ... hoops I forgot ... tomorrow is Monday: class at 4am. Nightmare.