Favorite Photos of the International Jerusalem Marathon 2024

The International Jerusalem Winner Marathon was held on Friday morning March 8, 2024.

The Jerusalem Municipality decided to hold the annual marathon as planned, as a tribute to the IDF, security forces, and rescue teams, aiming to strengthen social resilience during the ongoing war on the southern and northern fronts.

As for the past 14 years, I was out there to see the thousands of people on the Jerusalem streets.

This is the 13th year of the full Jerusalem marathon, but before that, there was a half-marathon race.

Less than 48 hours before the first full marathon was run there was a deadly bombing in Jerusalem.

In 2011, the weather was a negative factor, as the grounds in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, flooded with mud.

This year the weather was ideal and cool as the lead runners went past the 7-kilometer mark on their way on the 42.2 K route around the new and ancient Jerusalem streets.

Place markers for a finish time of 3 1/2 hours were blue for the full marathon blue number tags.

It is just the beginning of the full marathon and this part of the race was similar to past years.

But this year there were more Israeli flags, and more IDF runners, one even ran in full uniform.

Women participate enthusiastically on pace with the men.

There were fewer international full marathon runners, but some local regulars were back on course.

Some appreciated having their photo taken, as this man wearing a tee shirt “Run for their Lives” group.

The Pineapple Marathon Runner was back again this year,

yes, he runs international marathons with a pineapple on his head.

There were fewer full marathon runners this year, but still plenty of excitement

and new colored shirts for new groups.

Marathoners ran in pairs,

or pushing a stroller,

it did not feel like there were fewer runners as they kept coming.

The young people giving out water along the way were enthusiastic as always.

The red on his number indicated half-marathon and he could have been the winner, the first one I saw.

And another leader of the half marathon was nearing the finish line.

But this bar mitzvah year Jerusalem Winner Marathon was different – some with the same shirts.

Others remember the hostages with photos pinned on the regular race shirts

and empty chairs with more pictures of those held captive in Gaza.

The booths for larger running groups were back in the park.

There were so many runners in the smaller races that it was hard to get to all the booths.

It was good to see that runners returned from overseas to participate again this year as in the past.

The Ari Fuld Project was back again in this booth.

OneFamily again had hundreds of runners in their red shirts, including international participants.

New this year were 300 red shirts for Team Hersh, “Bring_Hersh_Home” – 5 months being held in Gaza.

With the very early starting times, putting on tefillin while getting the best photos can be a challenge.

However, 40,000 runners and their supporters got up early and filled Gan Sacher on Friday morning.

More visible security than in the past years, and security was a constant presence.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion ran in a shorter race and was all smiles ready to greet the full marathon winner at the finish line in Gan Sacher.

Ready and waiting, arms up and with the first-place medal in his hand.

For the full marathon winner’s finish, a crowd was waiting and watching on all sides.

Cameras and phones were ready for Melkamu Jember to break the tape.

By checking the number on his shirt, I could tell he was not the lead runner in my earlier video.

There was not as much attention paid to the full marathon third-place finisher

or the first-place women’s full marathon winner.

Her family was there for a hug.

But the Jerusalem marathon has two finish lines, one in the park and another on the street next to it.

Here is where tens of thousands of runners of the other smaller races arrive.

And hundreds of others wait and watch.

Each runner after crossing the finish line gets a medal.

In the Jerusalem Winner Marathon this year, there were few costumes and many flags.

The supporters of the full marathon were able to cross with their runners.

There was the “Run for their Lives” runner who had stopped for a photo near the beginning.

Kol Hakavod to all the full marathon runners. This year there was short notice with the late decision to hold the races, and the lack of enough training time kept some marathoners away.

However, the Jerusalem “marathon” is more about the shorter 5K, 10K, and Family Races along with the good causes that are supported by the runners raising funds to help others.

This was a blue and white flag year,

A year where getting to the finish line was an accomplishment.

For some easier than for others to reach their full marathon goal.

Walking home – there he was with the pineapple on his head. Missed him last year, but got him twice this time, even though I missed the one person I was waiting to see.

You did not have to be running a full marathon on Friday to be tired.

Or to be an early finisher to be happy and proud,

or even to be running the full marathon to pose.

Supporters cheered on the marathoners still on the road after 5 hours.

Approaching the finish line after 40 kilometers on the hilly Jerusalem streets is no easy feat.

Am Yisrael Chai – #RunwithIsrael – the 13th International Jerusalem Winner Marathon was a winner.

It was also a day to pay tribute to the fallen, murdered, and captives.

On Day 154, with 134 hostages still captive in Gaza, to draw attention to the plight of the families suffering, with their loved ones held for so long with no word of their condition.

It was a good day for tens of thousands of people on the Jerusalem streets.

February and time for Presidents again in Jerusalem

Trying to keep an equilibrium as the weeks after the October 7 War continue.

The down feelings continue on the Jerusalem streets with too many funerals, and shivas to attend.

Can we also celebrate life events with joy when so many are in various stages of mourning?

Despite the unpredictable weather in Jerusalem, Israel, in the past, the month of February was a very busy time for conferences and international visitors.

In the US it is President’s Day. In Jerusalem, we have Lincoln and Washington Streets every day.

We had cloudy February days that made for dramatic skies over the Jerusalem.

We had the return of Shaon Horef, the Jerusalem Winter Noise Festival on Monday nights.

With Purim coming soon, appropriately the first events were held on Shushan Street.

The idea is to draw people to these small, once-neglected, city streets for food and fun.

Monday nights in February were not prime time for outings, even with tourists or conference delegates.

Now for Shaon Horef high tech has advanced from “maps to apps.”

Music, live and recorded, played by DJs, unpredictable as the February weather.

The avant-garde art and music of Shaon Horef are usually hard to describe.

This year there were fewer light projections on the buildings, but a few stores were open. Many with the yellow “Bring them home sign” in the window. Even when celebrating with music, beer, and food, the hostages are not forgotten in Jerusalem.

The volunteerism goes on as strong as ever, with baking, grilling, and the Jerusalem city farmers markets.

The Israeli municipal elections were postponed from the end of October until February 27, 2024.

Will be interesting who gets elected to the new City Council with a disrupted time to campaign.

Current Mayor Moshe Lion continued his city beautification with tens of thousands of flowers planted around Jerusalem.

But, there are locations in Jerusalem with natural beauty and tranquility.

I wanted to get closer to take a better photo of the wildflowers but decided not to bother the women who found the spot before I arrived there.

The weather has been wonderful for the flowers and green grass to grow.

Those yellow ribbons are tied around many trees along Jerusalem streets.

Yet, Muslim women still walk freely and ride public buses as before October 7, even as signs for the return of hostages line many Jerusalem streets.

The protest tent area near Balfour Street has a sign that says “We want them alive.” As of now, 32 hostages are known to be dead, murdered on or after October 7.

Oh, the euphoria last week when two male hostages were rescued by the IDF!

It’s hard to forget Hamas holds 134 hostages captive and 574 IDF soldiers have fallen since October 7.

But, the citrus fruits are ripe for picking along the Jerusalem streets,

and even the simplest flower is a sign of spring beauty and hope.

Balancing the dark days, a simple bat mitzvah celebration with close family and friends brings light.

I will close with the annual – It’s Presidents’ Week in the US and the National Leadership Mission of the Conference of Presidents is back at the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem.

The CEO William Daroff, was smiling at the dinner at the Museum of Tolerance.

But notice, that he was wearing a yellow ribbon lapel pin and also one of the dog tags around his neck to remember the hostages in Gaza.

He had the challenge of finding the balance, the equilibrium between hosting a conference during a time of war and advancing good for the future.

Good to see friends back on the Jerusalem streets, hope you will come soon too.

New February Flowers and Flying Flags in Jerusalem

Another week wondering where to begin and what to include in what’s happening in Jerusalem, Israel.

When the rain stopped the clouds were impressive over the Israel Museum and the valley below. After the rain, green grass and wildflowers pop up from the ground to bask in the sunlight.

It’s always a good idea to take a moment to see the latest at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

The pink cherry tree blossoms burst out last week.

New Israeli flags were posted on the fence around the soon-to-open Japanese Pagoda.

New flags line many Jerusalem streets.

Some new flags and a sign for a fallen soldier were put up across from his former home.

Sadly, too many new flags with the loss of another soldier, killed in the October 7 War.

Finally construction work is slowly resuming on the Jerusalem streets. The new path to the starting line of the Jerusalem Marathon has to be completed before the March 8 starting time.

The 13th Jerusalem Marathon will be held during these challenging times, “based on the spirit of struggle, perseverance, determination, and the victory of the human spirit, especially in times of war.”

On a visit to the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem this past week, under this large welcome sign were smaller posters of hostages kidnapped on October 7.

Inside on the second level is a new exhibit ‘Splinter From the Storm’ where contemporary art is interspersed with ancient artifacts.

Jerusalem has creative works found both inside museums and along the Jerusalem streets.

The juxtaposition of old and new is constantly changing as new buildings tower over the old.

Some things in the Machane Yehuda Market, the shuk, appear the same and constant.

However, seeing bread and rolls packaged in plastic and not in the open is relatively new.

It’s time to sign up for next year in schools as signs along a busy Jerusalem street remind us.

No need for “Bring them home now” signs as a reminder, but they are posted in many windows.

Tens of thousands were at the Kotel, Western Wall on Thursday afternoon, before Rosh Chodesh Adar to pray for the return of hostages. It got less media coverage than other rallies even with both chief rabbis participating in the prayer service.

Some relatives were there also, Bring Him/Them Home Now! can be seen almost wherever you go.

As sad as much of the past four difficult winter months have been, the first lupins have appeared as another sign of spring, new growth, and hope as the days get warmer.

New Am Yisrael Chai banners have appeared on some Jerusalem streets.

It is a good time to get up and go out and appreciate the sunshine.

Seeing what’s new and what else is happening on Jerusalem streets can help improve your mood any day.