Friday, March 20.
Our new daily rhythm is: firstly, find out what the latest restrictions are.
There were quite a lot this morning:
The new orders to be signed tonight, March 19, tightening
restrictions on movement will reportedly permit citizens to leave their homes
for the following activities - for the next 7 days:
1. Going to work and coming back
2. Stocking up on food, medicine, necessary products and to
receive essential services
3. Receiving medical treatment
4. Donating blood
5. Participating in demonstrations (when there are too many
people they’ll be fined between NIS 500-1000)
6. Going to court for a legal hearing
7. Unorganized sports activity in groups no larger than five
people
8. Brief walks for a short time and to a place close to the
person’s residence, without coming close to people they don’t live with
9. Going to a wedding, funeral or prayer (while adhering to
rules limiting such activities to just 10 people maintaining a distance of at
least two meters, or six feet)
10. Helping a person who due to their age, medical
conditions or a disability, requires assistance
In addition, no more than two people will be allowed to be
in a car at any time, unless they live in the same household. The restriction
will not be relevant to cases when there is a necessary reason for more people
to travel together or while driving a person to and from a vital workplace.
Because we had to buy medicines in the Old City Pharmacy, we
figured it was a ‘legitimate’ reason to be outside.
At “Shachar” our neighborhood supermarket, I asked owner
Chaim how they were holding up and praised their dedication and continued
service. “Will you be closed as usual during the Pesach holiday?” I asked.
The tired looking man responded they had thought about it,
but he decided to stay open. “Otherwise it would be as if we turn our backs on
the people needing groceries, especially during this crisis.” I had expected
nothing less from this special man whose staff always diligently works to keep
the store running.
The streets were deserted – we had to remind ourselves it
was Friday, usually a busy morning for Jerusalemites.
Wim stayed in the car while I walked through the Mamilla
shopping area towards the Jaffa Gate.
Knowing the bustling pedestrian mall on a regular day, it
looked like a shabbat – all the shops were closed and no people in site.
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| Mamilla before and during the crisis |
Even
when the weather is cold and rainy, like today, the plaza in front of the Yaffa
Gate is full of people. Now it was deserted and so were the always busy street
outside the Old City Walls.
Our pharmacist didn’t have much to do because there are so
few people outside. Yes, life definitely has come to a standstill.
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| The cats like to keep him company and explore the usually 'forbidden' room |
Back home I rearranged one of the guestrooms and turned it
into a workplace for Wim. He usually worked at the dining room table, but it
would be too cold to sit for a long time without the heating. So, each of us
now has a ‘quiet’ place to write.
I’ve decided to collect stories, encouraging quotes and testimonies
to put together a weekly online ‘magazine’ to send out to people who are
connected to Jerusalem Baptist Church. It’s wonderful that in this day and age
we are able to reach out to others via the internet, especially when we can’t
meet in person.
Each and everyone of us has to find ways to cope with this
crisis. We feel it’s important to keep a steady, daily rhythm and keep order in
our days. Even though we still have enough food in the fridge and pantry, but not knowing
how long it’s going to be, we’ve also decided to start living more frugally.
Composing the ‘newsletter’ and starting a regular blog with personal
news and updates helps us to use our time in a constructive way and at the same
time be an encouragement and blessing to others.
Personally, I try to read the news twice a day, not more
and not before we go to bed. It will only create anxiety and we need our sleep.
And how grateful we are for our treadmill, which is being used several times a
day now.
Because the living room and kitchen are getting colder, tomorrow I'm planning to cook and bake - that definitely will keep me warm.
The plan is to only write a blogpost when there is something to share, so it's possible the next one will appear on Sunday evening.
