Jerusalem – Page 198 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Marathon Ready Set

March 12, 2015rjstreets

It poured overnight, but the skies are slowly clearing,

and those who prepared early are very happy,

Tomorrow is the big day,

this has to be drier that the first rain soaked Jerusalem marathon.

The Jerusalem Marathon is hard to miss,

and just like last year’s run,

a finish line has been up and ready

across a major street for a couple of weeks.

These huge signs are displayed in multiple locations.

Not only will the races close

many Jerusalem, Israel streets all Friday morning,

but there is also a Sports Expo

in the Jerusalem International Conference Center.

Runners have three days to come and get their kits,

with their official shirts and numbers.

Entering the Convention Center lobby

it is all about marathons.

But inside the large halls,

it is all about sportswear marketing.

Aleh is one of the many organizations with teams of runners

who will raise thousands of dollars for charity.

The full marathon attracts runners from around the world.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park is the main venue.

The times for the different runs are posted here.

With those early morning start times

it is good that the synagogue is easy to find.

The serious marathon runners will race up and down

the hilly Jerusalem streets in amazing times,

with the first awards ceremony set to start before 9:00 am.

The finish line for the full marathon is in the park,

each year it gets a little better organized,

the large park is filled with runners and supporters.

With major roads closed to traffic,

many residents do not like this sports event

that shuts down the city.

But maybe the music and street theater

on Emek Refaim Street this year

will keep some of those not running and cheering

in a better mood.

What a difference a few years makes:

who even remembers those half marathon runs?

Purim Old, New and Ignored in Jerusalem

March 8, 2015March 23, 2024rjstreets

Purim celebrations went on for days and days,

in Jerusalem, Israel.

As usual, the bus signs said, “Purim sameach.”

Families celebrated with carnivals and rides for the kids.

Groups like the scouts had loud parties.

For the first year in Cinema City an ice skating rink was open,

and this woman had her face painted to purrfection.

People in costumes,

and well, even this whatever it was.

There was a lot happening on the streets,

with people in a good mood having lot’s of fun.

Celebrations and huge meals,

and yes, many people drank too much.

News film crews were out

and got videos of drunken men on the street.

But, not one international film crew came on Purim

to the Israeli Foreign Ministry Building,

where for the first time, some Israelis working overseas

were able to vote in advance of the March 17 election.

A live feed from Tbilisi, Pretoria, New Delhi and Berlin,

showed some of the locations where diplomats were voting.

Israel Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran,

chairman of the Central Elections Committee,

on Purim, Thursday, March 5, 2015,

visited the situation room in the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem

to observe the elections taking place at Israel’s diplomatic missions abroad.

A prominent Arab juridical figure overseeing Israeli elections,

discussed Israel’s being a democracy.

This topic may not fit the media narrative,

but it is what was happening in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Prepares for Purim

March 4, 2015rjstreets

Purim is a big deal in Israel,

Especially in Jerusalem, where celebrations go on and on,

not for a day or two like the rest of world,

but starting at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar

and continuing for two weeks.

This year it has been hard to figure out,

what is real.

What is Purim nonsense?

What is satire?

What is a joke?

You can see trucks like this one driving around

all the time blasting happy music.

This van, however, is also promoting a political party running for Knesset seats.

No joke, and there is an official pot party too,

as in marijuana, in the race for our new government.

This year an Anglo Vote Event was held in Cinema City,

two of my favorite characters were with the hot chocolate cakes.

Some of the political parties were represented

and candidates answered questions in English.

As one friend noted, no female candidates were in attendance.

However, there is one new party where women do have a voice.

Ruth Culian (right) and Noa Erez are two of four women

running in a new party of religious women,

בזכותן B’Zehuton which means “in their merit.”

To their credit, this is trail-blazing effort.

It took a lot of guts for Ruth to go to law school

and start a political campaign in her community,

maybe even more than for the Prime Minister

to make a speech in Washington, DC.

.A sign wishing Bibi well was hung on the String Bridge.

There were more talking heads in the media,

for and against the speech,

than I could count.

Here former Ambassador Yoram Ettinger

was headed to the Jerusalem Press Club for one pre-speech debate.

The speech is over.

The Prime Minister is back,

but the talking is still going on and on.

And on the real streets,

the snow felt like ancient history,

as a new ice skating rink opened in Cinema City.

The cats enjoyed the warm weather,

and wild flowers exploded in open spaces.

However, the real color and excitement was for Purim.

Children are wearing their costumes everywhere.

Adults wearing Micky Mouse ears while driving in cars.

People dressed in wild outfits and

crazy hats while eating in restaurants.

Most anything can be seen this week on the streets,

at least through Shushan Purim and the weekend,

we can assume it is all in the holiday spirit.

Happy Purim.