Jesus is up!

We caused a few chuckles at church when we tried to reply in Arabic to 'Christ is risen': 'al masiih qamm' - 'haqqan qaam'.

But on our walk home from church on Easter morning we were also able to have a chuckle when a passing motorist shouted at us, 'Jesus is up!' I'm not sure what the response should be, but before we could reply he had disappeared into the distance.

Our Easter has been busy, we've taken part in services in the hospital and church, and we've been able to visit other churches that celebrate Easter in completly different ways.

Now we're leaving to help at a youth camp, which will round off a hectic but interesting and enjoyable Easter. P

'Cakay Basjway'

There is a wonderful Arab tradition during the period of 'eid il fesah' (Easter time). There is a gathering of women - mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, distant Aunts and neighbours. The gathering is about cooking, reminiscing, meeting old friends and relations and creating kilos and kilos of these scrumptious cakes, known as 'Cakay Basjway'. They are made from figs and sweet lattice pastry. There are three different shapes - the crown, the spear and the sponge, all symbols from the crucifixion of Jesus. Despite the sadness they represent they are delicous. One of the delightful things about Arab culture, here in Israel, is the traditions that remain. Despite living in a first world country in the twenty first century, the women will always gather and create together. J