Time to make seder in the house,
then to set the table.
חג שמח
Have a great Pesach!
Happy Holiday!
Jerusalem
Sounds of Music on Jerusalem’s Old City Streets
There seems to be a constant stream of festivals in Jerusalem, Israel,
and this week is the annual music festival, Sounds of the Old City.
Nighttime music festivals are not the best ops for photos,
but some of these backdrops and stages are indeed spectacular.
Starting outside of Jaffa Gate,
the Na’am Ensemble was the opening act,
followed by a performance by Gole Anar.
Most of the names of the folk singers are not familiar to Anglo audiences.
On the stage next to The Tower of David, the Alaev Family
included family members dressed in colorful Bukharan clothing.
There were over 11 mapped out performance locations,
the Dilijan Ensemble was #4 along the route.
A few locations were standouts,
like #3, down in the Tower of David moat!
The show with the music of Taverna band, hosted by Shimon Parnas,
was almost secondary to the site.
Built for protection so many years ago, who could imagine this musical scene?
Ketem Paz, a group of religious and secular artists,
who sing Yemenite melodies from traditional texts,
performed in the Open Cardo as the opening act.
What a stage!
Also, students from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance
were playing along the route.
Signs showed the way through the Muslim Quarter
and the shuk, market,
but as usual I got lost.
They need more and better signs.
By a photo in the free information booklet (available in English, Hebrew and Arabic)
it seems that I saw Lelot HaMizrach and not the Sahara trio.
Finally, I ended up in Muristan Square where
the Hebrews of Dimona were belting out
some old US favorites from the Four Seasons that even got the attention of even the very young.
Not everyone out at night was interested in live music,
and some were shopping in Mamilla Mall.
Thousands and thousands of people,
from around the world were on the Jerusalem, Israel streets.
But if there is no violence, just sounds of music, then it is not news.
Be warned though, that not only is the Old City closed to vehicles,
but some streets in Old City were even blocked for pedestrians,
like the street by the new still not quite open Waldorf-Astoria.
Sounds of the Old City runs from March 31 – April 3, 7-11:00 pm.
Jerusalem Marathon 2014
The sun was shining for the 4th International Jerusalem Marathon,
as 26,000 runners raced through the Jerusalem, Israel streets,
and the winner came in with a record-breaking time.
Streets were closed,
so everyone had to walk to get to check in and the starting line.
Once a year the graffiti is white-washed away and
a new banner is hung near the full marathon finish line.
Besides the full and half marathons there are other popular races.
Thousands lined up at the starting line for the 10 kilometer run.
The young and not so young, most dressed in colorful shirts,
and their enthusiasm off the start was contagious.
Entertainers on stilts were dressed in flag-colored costumes,
near a special course for shorter races for the young and disabled.
Supporters lined the streets watching and waiting.
Along the routes were
water stations.
It was hard to get through the crowd in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park
at the start of the 10 K race.
With so many events running at once, it was hard to find family members,
but we did see the winner of the women’s full marathon.
Over 50 countries were represented, and many religions,
but we only saw one runner from Brazil kiss the finish line.
Separate awards for Israeli winners were presented for best times.
Loud music pumped through the park, which could be heard kilometers away.
The runners at the end of their races and arriving for medals,
were separated by fences from the crowds of spectators.
But some proud grandmothers knew how to get around barriers for a special hug.
And then there was the walk home.
The sun was hot.
Some runners were still approaching the finish line,
even as the streets were opened to traffic at one o’clock.
Thousands of shekels were raised for charity.
Everyone who participated was a winner.
Many have been inspired to try next year,
to enter or to train for a longer race.
The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook
Jerusalem Marathon album has many more photos HERE.
I wonder how many faces you will recognize?
Remember last year? If not see:
Did you Hear About Jerusalem Marathon 2013?