Jerusalem Streets Preparing for Passover, Protests, and Spring Holiday Time

The week before Pesach, Passover, many houses are turned upside down and kitchens are cleaned and changed over for the holiday.

Children are out of school – but are they ready to help and clean?

The current Knesset is on recess after a tumultuous session. 

The good news, the Knesset Museum is showing positive signs of progress.

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One place you did not find me was standing on the street across from Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence waiting to photograph Knesset Members coming and going for meetings on a judicial reform compromise.

I did pass by Natan Sharansky but decided not to put my camera in his face.

Not only pots, pans, and kitchenware are out on the Jerusalem streets, but large displays of toilet paper stand there next to the fresh produce.

Some streets were easier to access than others this week due to the protests.

Plenty of Israeli flags were flying above the streets, as usual before the spring holidays, while others were carried to protest locations.

People came from all directions, for both a protest against the government, as well as one supporting Judicial reform. Sorry for those who arrived in Jerusalem by train on Monday and had to walk, as buses were not getting through the blocked streets.

The fountain at France Square was behind a barrier. I will spare you photos of the stronger metal barriers found on more and more Jerusalem streets.

In spite of it all –

Signs have gone up on old buildings to go higher in remodeling projects.

The Jerusalem skyline is changing as new buildings go higher and higher.

One hundred and twenty-five years later, Theodore Herzl would certainly not recognize Jerusalem today.

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Beit Avi Chai has new posters announcing spring and summer events.

A new non-profit called OurPeople was established to help Russian-speaking Olim who have come recently in increasing numbers.

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This is one room in the new business complex that OurPeople opened this past week on King George Street in downtown Jerusalem.

Love those old tiled floors in all the rooms.

The spring weather has not been the best, but nevertheless, there were activities for young families in the parks on Shabbat.

And on Friday there was a bike ride around Jerusalem. Those Jerusalem streets were not closed for long when the dozens of bikes went by.

The Community Center on HaPalmach Street held a mini-fair on Friday. The weather was cold, but the families attending seemed to be enjoying the events, especially those inside. Notice the box outside for food donations of chametz, food not for Passover use goes to those in need.

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It seems as if all the Jerusalem flower beds are constantly dug up and replanted with new flowers for the spring holiday time.

And weddings! So many weddings with people coming from around the world to get married in Jerusalem before Passover.

The hotel had changed over to Passover-only food. But unless you saw the sign on the front door or missed seeing bread on the table you would never have known. Amazing what can be done using potatoes these days!

Government offices are to be closed from Wednesday, April 5, through Saturday, April 15, 2023. But the rest of the country will be busy exploring and enjoying nature parks and museums.

In Jerusalem, there are too many things happening to mention now.

Will have to see how many I am able to attend in the short time of Chol HaMoed, the intermediate days this year, starting with Birkat Cohanim, Priestly Blessing scheduled for next Sunday morning.

Happy Passover on the wall of Old City Jerusalem near Jaffa Gate

Happy Passover

from

The Real Jerusalem Streets

Three Best Things That Happened in Jerusalem

After living in Jerusalem for several years, I was upset. The world did not see what was really happening, only sensational media images. So I started posting photos online on The Real Jerusalem Streets.

I decided to share events from this week you would not have seen as anti-government protesters captured world attention.

It’s a busy time of year, so keeping to the three best events I attended.

The new National Library building was lit up at night as I walked by on my way to the National Library currently on the Hebrew University Givat Ram Campus.

They say the new building is to open in the fall, and I’m looking forward to finally getting to tour inside!

The National Library welcomed NASA Astronaut Dr. Jeff Hoffman who donated his space diary and memorabilia to the Israeli National Library.

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Jewish Astronaut Jeff Hoffman’s flights on the Space Shuttle included the mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993.

He also took a Space Torah for a mission, explaining how he used velcro to attach the yad, and clamps to hold the parchment down in the shuttle capsule. Velcro was also used to attach a mezuzah to the sleeping cubicle.

Hoffman flew five missions, a patch was designed for each and was included in this donation to the National Library.

Along with new autographed stamp sets, the Israel National Library now reaches the moon and into space.

Amazing how quickly Jerusalem Marathon 2023 is old news. I am pleased when someone comes along and identifies a runner’s photo on Facebook days later. Did you know I updated the post with a video?

Two weeks ago, going past Hansen House, Primavera caught my attention.

Thursday and Friday, the Hansen gates were open for Primavera.

Not a new Jerusalem pasta dish, but a designer festival was being held.

Jewelry, clothes and bags, and a variety of wares were on display,

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to all types of clothing including this knit top

and diverse as Roota sprouts.

Ok, I stopped and laughed there, as I remembered the sprouted potato I found while cleaning under the dishwasher for Passover. New art form?

There were 36 more displays, MORE PHOTOS were posted on Facebook.

And for the third and biggest event, which ended Diaspora Week.

For the eighth time, from March 19 – 23, 2023, the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism held Diaspora Week events.

During the course of the week, Diaspora Week events and activities were held throughout Israel, in the education system, on campuses, in cultural institutions, in the IDF, and at this gala in the Jerusalem Theater.

The Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli introduced the program theme of unity and “loving one another.”

Israeli performers took to the stage, in a well-executed program.

Along with the IDF band, the performers were applauded by an enthusiastic audience for the #FOREVER_AM 2023 program.

There was an excellent video screen running in the background,

to the audience filled with representatives of youth groups and MASA.

After the show, which was broadcast live, ended, Chickli stayed around to the very end. As I commented to some passersby, he reminded me of the last one out of shul after sponsoring an elaborate kiddush.

Photos did not do justice to the night, so I made a short video with clips of the music, and there are more photos on Facebook.

Now on to the holiday season!

Whether you call Pesach the Holiday of Freedom

or the Holiday of Spring, new signs are up along the Jerusalem streets.

Easter and Ramadan coincide with Passover this year.

The important thing is it should be a Happy Holiday for all.

Hope to see you on the Jerusalem streets soon!

See Highlights of the Jerusalem Marathon 2023

The flags of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Marathon lined the Jerusalem streets for the 12th Jerusalem Winner Marathon races on Friday, March 17th.

The main routes go through the Old City, connecting the new and the ancient streets of Jerusalem with tens of thousands of runners.

As Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion mentioned at the Jerusalem Marathon launch, where else can you get 3,000 years of history in one race?

These mascots were cute at the opening event, but I did not see them on race day at Sacher Park or the starting line near the Knesset.

This is one of the elite international runners at the event. In the past, there had been many runners to meet and photograph. That was BC, before corona, but this year thousands of international runners were back again.

Security was in place. Streets were blocked at 5:30 am on race day.

The lead full-marathon runners with escorts were out early.

The fastest runners were led by a motorcycle.

Thousands of full marathon runners headed off around Jerusalem streets on their 42.2-kilometer full-marathon race.

Unlike last year when it was cold and way too wet, the day was sunny and warm and jackets were discarded before the starting line.

By the main finish line, spectators waited for the full marathon finishers.

He wasn’t the first-place winner, but the crowd cheered all those who crossed the main finish line in Sacher Park.

The Women’s half-marathon winner was again from Ukraine.

While Israeli Beatie Deutsch was happy with her family and second place.

But the Jerusalem Marathon is not just about the two long runs.

It is the smaller courses that have the biggest number of entries.

The participants out from ADI Israel participated again with a larger group this year on the smaller course near the Knesset.

The 10-kilometer race had two large groups of runners, most were not in costumes though, but dressed in shirts from one of dozens of good causes.

Not everyone sped over the finish line outside the park, but everyone who crossed it was a winner and received a medal.

Two long-time participant runners, as my friend from Team HASC, who was so focused on the finish line he did not hear me, though his companion did.

And this woman, my hero, who started running for Shalva before there was a full marathon, and was in the last half marathon. Now she was also running for The Ari Fuld Project.

There were short family races also, besides the volunteer supporters who act as a family to help those who can not run on their own.

The Sacher Park was filled with people and tents of various organizations.

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There were quiet spots and busy activities on the weather pleasant day.

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A drone hovered over the finish line.

But it was Friday, and time to get home, as the full marathon runners were still on their way to the park and finish line.

I’ll post some of those photos later, as I think everyone participating and reaching the line is a winner, no matter their official time.

But there was much more, and you can see those photos on Facebook HERE and HERE and HERE

UPDATED WITH VIDEO:

A wonderful day with wonderful weather and tens of thousands of smiles.

But, I wonder if anywhere else but in Jerusalem, Israel, would I be offered challah to take home for Shabbat – because there was no time to bake on Jerusalem Marathon Friday.

The Jerusalem Marathon is set for March 8, 2024 – so start training now. Hope to be able to find you in the crowd of tens of thousands next year.