Liberty Bell Park – Page 2 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem: Parades, Runners and New High Flyers

May 21, 2014rjstreets

Many were worried that the three-day (Saturday night through Monday)

Lag B’Omer celebrations with their smoky medurot, large bonfires,

would cause worse air quality than the usual holiday pollution.

But thanks to Israeli basketball team Maccabi Tel Aviv

playing in the Euroleague Championship basketball final,

so many people came inside to watch the exciting game

that there seemed to be a lot less smoke this year.

Maccabi Tel Aviv won in overtime!

The team has already been to the Prime Minister’s office

and is invited for a special reception today in the President’s House.

Lag B’Omer and International Museum Day were celebrated on Monday.

Thousands of school children on school holiday filled museums

which had no entrance fees in honor of Museum Day.

We had a great time in the Bloomfield Science Museum as always,

with lots of new exhibits and activities.

Lag B’Omer gatherings and parades Sunday in the Rechavia neighborhood

and Monday in Teddy Park near the Old City were just two of many events.

There was one unique event on Monday afternoon.

In a first-ever Run for Peace,

Australian ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer (in the blue shirt)

and a few of his supporters arrived at the end of his 1500-kilometer run from Lebanon.

After running around 80 kilometers a day,

athlete Pat Farmer’s advice was to “put one foot in front of the other.”

Following a small press conference at Jaffa Gate,

Australian Ambassador Dave Sharma told another gathering in honor

of Farmer at the King David Hotel how proud Australia is

to support sports and all efforts for peace.

All was not sports and parades.

The week-long International Writers Festival opened in Mishkenot Sha’ananim.

But the real action was found outside,

just down the road from these two venues.

People were in the air, flying high

after Mayor Nir Barkat cut the ribbon of the new Skate Park Jerusalem.

The large rink is located in a section of the Liberty Bell Park.

Though some may not think of this as popular sport,

hundreds of people from all over Israel came for the opening,

children with skate boards tucked under their arms,

and others watched as the best riders from all over Israeli showed their moves.

While the runners raced along the Jerusalem streets without getting a second glance,

and the parades stopped traffic for a bit,

this Skate Rink is really something!

Additional photos: Peace Run and Skate Park

Inspiration for 2014 in Jerusalem

Inspiration for 2014 in Jerusalem

January 1, 2014rjstreets

I was having trouble finding something positive to share,

as the clock ticked to the end of 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Everyone has heard enough kvetching about the snow

and the massive clean up which is still going on.

The protest against prisoner releases was sad enough,

but the “March with Umbrellas” in the cold, wet dark night,

found many depressed by this “gesture of good will.”

The next morning the sun was shining,

and the fresh blue paint in the Liberty Bell Park looked good.

It was interesting to see how 100 years after

Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak Halevi Herzog z”l wrote on his dissertation

about Tekhelet, that maybe a “student of chemistry may be interested”

that a conference filled the auditorium at The Begin Heritage Center.

But it was still not what I wanted for an inspiring blog to end the year.

However, I was back at The Begin Center the next day,

for another conference with another long list of impressive speakers.

And then,

Noam Gershony stood at the podium and started to tell his story.

How he was so close to death the doctors held little hope for him.

How he lost his leg and almost his life in Second Lebanon War.

How his friend Dov next to him was killed.

How he slowly came back to life,

to play tennis,

to ski on Mount Hermon,

and to ride a bike.

By the time he finished his story of winning a gold medal

at the 2012 Olympics in London with the music of Hatikvah playing,

there was hardly a dry eye in the room.

After he finished and received a standing ovation,

Noam walked to the elevator surrounded by admirers.

That was it,

what I want to share,

what the world must see.

Certainly not everyone can win a gold medal in the Olympics,

but Noam Gershony exemplifies the Israeli spirit.

After what happened to him,

he did not become a suicide bomber,

but he does blow people away.

He inspires them to get up and get going,

no more excuses, too tired, too busy.

Now let’s make 2014 a good and positive year for all.

Jerusalem Formula One – Peace Road Show Photos

June 16, 2013rjstreets

Jerusalem came to a stop for two days,

as thousands upon thousands of people came to see,

this Ferrari Formula One race car.

Some people paid a fee and sat in the stands constructed for

the Jerusalem Formula One Peace Road Show.

Special video cameras recorded the event,

which was projected on screens at several locations along the track.

Several Ferrari GT Challenge

sports

cars

and a black Lotus LMPZ zoomed around the track.

Each lap took these cars around two minutes,

but this was a show, not a race.

Many residents were furious that so many streets were closed,

but people came early and from all over to find a good spot.

Large crowds could be found

at every one of the free vantage points,

from high on top of walls of The Old City

to along the street across from the Liberty Bell Park.

Huge crowds lined the track both days.

Remember that guy on top of the bus stop?

The only “action” from the sports cars,

a deliberate smoke producing spin took place in front of us.

He had the front row seat and got the shot

and it was so loud, I still do not have normal hearing in one ear.

The Formula Peace Road show was promoted for the racing cars,

but there were also motorcycles,

and by all accounts the show stopping favorite

was the dare-devil stunt routine of Chris Pfeiffer on a BMW 6800R.

And as always, I thought that the police horses were beautiful.

Was this Jerusalem Formula Peace Road Show

worth all the inconvenience?

Getting stuck on the inside of the track,

it took me over an hour to walk what is normally a ten minute distance.

One girl I saw was literally in tears trying to get to her destination.

Some loved it, some thought it was a total waste of time.

I do know, it was a very diverse crowd and there was no violence.

And Italian race car drivers,

Ragazzi Riccardo (left) who drove a Ferrari GT Challenge 430

and Daniel Mancinelle who drove a Ferrari GT Challenge 458

were very excited and happy to be in Jerusalem for the first time.

And I know a lot more about race cars.

Who would have thought that would happen in Jerusalem, Israel !

More photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page, HERE.

And Ferrari video from on the car, and more see HERE.