Heatwave

Tired old man

It's the 2nd day of Eid al Adha and the streets remain eerily quiet. It's nothing quite like it. Police presence is definitely heightened. During midmorning a couple of food shops open and some people hurriedly buy their fruit and veggies and bread and rush home.

The weekend lockdown of shops, malls and places of entertainment is still in place ... but many shops and restaurants refuse to comply. And the police are not enforcing the closure. Newspapers are suggesting tat this weekend lockdown is a ploy by the ultra-orthodox parties to enforce observance of the Sabbath (no work to be done) instead of purely medical reasons. Like I've said before, these small political parties are very powerful as they carry the swing of any coalition govt. What they want, they get.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/some-stores-set-to-open-doors-in-defiance-of-weekend-shutdown-regulations/?fbclid=IwAR17D7WgLDnoYlKIdPApALdFr6h0OPmQjlQgQAyTt7Z3rrKuwIy1Vs1sLOU

This morning I had to rush off to the office to write a draft of a contract and then pass it to the lawyers for changes. I really did it in a hurry as I didn't want to stay out for too long. It's strange but with this pandemic, mentalities and lifestyles have changed ... and I prefer to stay inside my room where I feel safe. On my way home I saw an old man sitting at a doorway. It must have been tiring for him to climb all the stairs. he had a walking stick. And the heatwave is not kind to elderly people. I've not seen him before ... he's probably a pilgrim from another part of the country ... came here for the feast of Adha at the Al Aqsa Mosque which contains the spot where Abraham tried to sacrifice Ishmael/Isaac. Anyway I pitied the old man. He was hunched over. I know how it feels ... I myself must stop twice along the road on my way to work, to rest and breathe. Wearing  mask with asthma and under this heatwave is definitely not easy.  

Pigeons bathing in the fountain

I came home at lunchtime but fell asleep immediately. Totally exhausted. I didn't do much studying today ... just slowly cleaned the room and played with Buddy and JJ. They have been chatting a lot ... and I don't understand them. But it doesn't matter .... just mumble back a few words and they're happy and continue talking their chirps and words like "eat', "sleep" and "Bud-Bud". They're lucky to be staying with me indoors in this heatwave. This morning I saw lots of pigeons and crows cooling down in the fountain at Palm Plaza ... then sunbathing in the pavement.

Empty streets

Empty main road today

It's Eid al Adha today ... the muslim feast of the sacrifice. Usually the streets would be full of hawkers selling toys, food and any thing you can imagine. But today there was no one in the streets. An eerie silence and empty space throughout the City inside and out. It's frightening. A couple of small families that came from other parts of the country sit under the shade of the olive trees at Damascus Gate park. A few young people walking about. But it was just no one otherwise. Municipality billboards wishing muslim residents and visitors a happy Eid al Adha stand ironically everywhere ... with no one to see. Newspaper reports say sheep sales have dropped significantly this year as many people have no jobs and therefore cannot buy a 1800 shekel sheep to cook and eat. It's very sad.   https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rJGmPPeZD?fbclid=IwAR2s93SxmHxfkFO0BgflMrR879x_CxrU3MtSY50SG36A8qrv2_PLufxVvHA

Infection rates have fallen from 2000+ to 1700. That's a good sign but will it fluctuate up again tomorrow? Demonstrations last night ended peacefully though the 2 opposing rallies were kept far apart by the police. Thank goodness.

Empty Palm Plaza today

I wanted to stay home today ... because of the heatwave and also to avoid contact with people. I'm trying as much as possible to voluntarily isolate so as not to put myself at risk of being infected. Doctor's advice. But there was an emergency call to discuss a contract. And there were requests for books; and a consignment of 30 boxes of ancient books arriving from the Nazareth monastery. So much to be done. In all it was 8 hours of work today in the other library. Luckily the chinese sisters heard I was at work and they made a lovely lunch of cold noodles which I love. I intend to go to sleep early tonight. Tomorrow I'll have to go back and follow from the contract discussion.

Besides my summer plans to read and study ... I should really do something physical. My doc and pharmacist say vitamin D is important to prevent corona infection. So besides taking Vitamin D tablets, I spend half an hour in the sun on the terrace. My superior told me to go for a walk instead of staying in my room all day. Normally I would go ... but with this heatwave, my chest pains and fear of catching the virus ... I prefer to stay within the house.

Spring rolls, pao & fasting

Sitting at Damascus Gate plaza to
cool off

A violent rampage took place last night at the Wailing Wall ... 250 meters from my house ... as the mourning of Tesha B'Av started. Hundreds of ultra-orthodox jews broke security barriers to enter the plaza which is restricted due to the pandemic. But the ultra-orthodox will have none of it. Police were restraint but forceful to dispersing the crowd. This morning some tried to re-enter the Al Aqsa compound and police turned them away. They spat at me when I was watching our gate after throwing out the garbage.

Now they are planning for tonight's massive demonstration by the public in front of the PM's house after sunset when the fasting and mourning is over. Newspapers predict violence. But I certainly pray it won't. There's fear the rightwing counter-protesters might come back and harm the demonstrators as they did in Tel Aviv 2 nights ago ... using broken bottles and knives to injure several people. The country is more divided then ever before ... and couple that with the pandemic and and failing economy, military tensions with Lebanon .... everyone is feeling lost and desperate.     https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/after-western-wall-riots-police-prepare-for-violence-at-balfour-protests-636859?fbclid=IwAR3RXMbqOViHP6QjHdpxDwfG7-ejPyjDRHbA6UIHW2ZjRw7rhQWeqeqoPqw

Cleaning the church yesterday

The heatwave is hitting us ... daytime is well above 32 degrees and nights are 29 degrees. For jews fasting today, it will be hard. The Chief Rabbi has ordered that all who are sick must not fast, and all must wash hands ... which is forbidden bring the mourning of Tesha B'Av. Common sense rules. Arabs are sitting under any shade to stay cool while preparing for tonight's feast of Eid Al Adha. I've decided to stay at home today to avoid any problems. Being spat at by ultra-orthodox jews is bad enough. I don't need to invite more hostilities.

Homemade pao &
spring rolls

M. Teresa's sisters made chinese buns and spring rolls yesterday. It was very nice of them as I was hungry after spending over 2 hours cleaning the armenian catholic church. It has not been cleaned for half a year now. 2 seminarians from the White Fathers who serve as my lector and acolyte came to help me. Thank goodness because the church is relatively large and my asthma won't let me do everything by myself. Those guys are really great ... always helpful and cheerful. I'll bring then out for brunch after Mass this Sunday as a way of thanking them.

Today I'll just do some reading, teach the aussie youths and then clean up my room. Should keep me busy.

Eves

Jews at Bab Hutta this morning

It's the eve of Tesha B'Av ... the day of mourning for the burning of the Temple twice in history on the same day. I saw a group of jewish men gathered in front of Bab Hutta, one of the minorities leading into the Temple Mount (or the Al Aqsa compound as muslims call it) just 20 meters from my house. The soldiers refused to let them in, as it is established by law. Luckily there were no clashes. But there might be this evening and tomorrow morning when more radical youths will try to enter. Tomorrow being the eve of the muslim feast of Eid al Adha - there'll be many muslims coming into the Al Aqsa as well ... so a clash could be possible. But I certainly hope not.

A record number of infections in the last 24 hours ... 2,060+. Hospitals can no longer cope with the influx. Instead of considering a lockdown, the govt voted today to raise the payout to israeli citizens. It will make the people happy ... but it sure won't stop the spread of the virus. With the nightly demonstrations against the PM and the govt ... and a rightwing retaliation who attacked and injured the protestors last night ... the govt is thinking only of appeasing public sentiments and not addressing the killer issue ... a virus that's crippling the health system and claiming lives.   https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HJjDwe1ZD

Damascus Gate market today

And continuing to appease public discontent over the economy, the govt has now agreed to open entry to "green" countries ... those deemed free from covid19. Problem is though visitors from these countries can enter without quarantine and certification of health, they might not be allowed to come because Israel is not itself a "green" country to the rest of the world. In fact it's the 6th highest infectious country in the world.  

With the muslim feast in 36 hours, markets are packed with people buying food and gifts. The economy is bad so expenditure is a lot less this year. I doubt any family can afford a lamb which is traditionally roasted and eaten on this feast. A part of it is usually given to the poor. Well this year everyone is poor.

Back online

So I'm back online after yesterday's disturbance in my blog. And it's another national crisis today ... up north a war almost broke out. Last week Israel had bombed Lebanon ... accidentally killing a soldier. Lebanon threatened revenge and Israel rushed the army to the border. Yesterday apparently lebanese soldiers entered into Israel and Israel retaliated with bombings. Now the UN is calling for a cessation of aggression.   https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Hk114ZD6ev?fbclid=IwAR2_4jXGwHRR073XV2DR6yyAuErZNSCCCIsTcwaTSzO8A1Wr25ITZQEk3sQ

Busy market at Damascus Gate

Meantime a group of religious leaders in Jerusalem met to pray for the end of Covid19. Though a few of such meetings have been organised already in this half year, this time it occurs a few days before Judaism and Islam celebrate their very important feastdays. On Thursday the jews will fast and lament for the destruction of their temples, once in 587 BC and again in 70AD on the same day. The muslims on Thursday evening start their feast of Adha or the sacrifice of Ishmael by Abraham. Both religions will fast ... and their leaders have called for a better understanding of each others' religions and tolerance and "baseless love". That word is a play on "baseless hatred" which the ancient rabbis blamed for the destruction of the temple. By the way, the temple was built over the rock where Abraham tried to sacrifice Ishmael (Isaac in the jewish-christian tradition).  https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sheikh-rabbi-hope-baseless-love-joint-fast-will-stop-covid-19-636492?fbclid=IwAR1t5a888gsGDPPxKSLtcr7pYllqC-U-N02XOM-SxfhltgOJaw33p7pfe3E

Sr. Pelagia sells hosts

Because of the upcoming feasts, jews and muslims are buying up food to cook in advance because they cannot work on the feast day itself. The markets inside and outside Damascus Gate were very busy. I had to pass through it ... with a lot of trepidation in case I catch the virus in the crowd ... while on my way to the Spanish Sisters' convent to buy communion hosts. It was good to see Sr. Pelagia who makes and sells communion hosts. Because of the lockdown, I hardly see the sisters any more. I bought 100 small communion hosts from her and she added several more gluten-free hosts as a gift. Then I walked to M. Teresa's sisters to help the old sister who had the ankle operation. I wore the mask all through that. Not taking any chances.

Whaaaat???

Yesterday blogger changed my blog's format such that I couldn't upload anything new. What a disaster.

Small world

Mass today

Another Sunday celebration of the Eucharist at our little armenian catholic church. We're a very small community ... a dozen armenians, half a dozen african seminarians and myself. Our 2 armenian seminarians are in Greece studying the language and will soon be back with us when the airport reopens in September ... we hope. Still we're so happy to meet every Sunday and sing with all our hearts during the liturgy. We're restricted to 10 persons in the church but we're ok with that. The elderly parishioners don't come ... which is prudent.

And our african seminarians have learned to sing in armenian. Everyone appreciates that. It's a very difficult language but by joining in the singing, they showed they're part of the community. After Mass I brought both acolytes (today several of them couldn't come as they are making their retreat) to have brunch at a nearby cafe. We had lots of time to chat and laugh .... a good break for them from being locked down at home.

Last night over 5000 demonstrators battled police with water cannons and horses which went late into the night. Newspaper reports say protests erupted all over the country as never before. And everyone has noted there is no arab in sight. It's a totally israeli movement. The arabs have no interest in it as they gain nothing ... whether a new PM is elected or whether the pandemic is under control. It's quite a phenomenon.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-protest-against-netanyahu-government-across-country/?fbclid=IwAR3iXvLEEnE4HPapxEtjqeKeQCVVpBMZRQfKBb8y3NcLF901xmgzzI0QhNE

At the Post Office

I'm quite excited today because I've registered as an audit student to do a course on Coptic Christology with a coptic orthodox institute in Australia. Lockdown has given me lots of opportunities to discover more things, learn more things ... the world gets smaller even as I voluntarily isolate myself in my room.  

And talking about a small world ... I noticed at the queue to the Post Office a microcosm of Jerusalem: a catholic nun, a coptic monk, muslims, religious and secular jews, lay christians all wearing masks and waiting their turn to enter. No social distancing of course. A little world where there's no time for conflict ...