Jerusalem Marathon and More

The US Vice-President went home.

The Israeli President went to Russia to meet Putin.

The flags for the Romanian President’s visit are gone,

but othere flags are lining the Jerusalem, Israel streets.

Flags and more flags are flying in gusting winds,

flags ready for the Jerusalem Marathon.

 25,000 runners of all ages,

2500 of them from out of country are expected.

Day and night,

they have been seen training for the Friday morning race.

Weather has been cold, then hot and sunny, and then rainy,

all in the same day, the same hour!

But come Friday, major streets will be closed,

 and schools, businesses, even the Israel Museum,

will not open as usual.

Large posters at Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, 

have been put up near the starting line,

and another is at Jaffa Gate.

One finish line next to the park

has been ready for days.

The Sport and Health fair leading up to race time,

is at the Jerusalem Arena this year.

Meanwhile, there is another marathon,

the Purim marathon keeping many families busy.

Purim ‘lead up’ has been well under way,

with an extra Adar leap-year month to prepare.

Azza Zazza promises megilat Esther reading every hour on Friday,

March 25, for Jerusalem’s Shushan Purim celebrations.

Buses display banners of Purim festivals.

The streets are not as crowded,

and Mamilla Mall is not bustling as usual.

But it is still the weather that keeps me inside,

first dust, then rain.

Today’s rain should clean the air for the runners.

I was glad to be out in the Old City as the sun was setting,

 to find men dancing at Kotel, the Western Wall,

 singing and live music to dedicate a new Torah scroll.

Life goes on in spite of the security situation.

Sports and Purim and if that is not enough,

there is a Bach Festival this week,

with music, events, lectures and art,

over several days in multiple locations.

 These new tape art designs are for Purim?

The Jerusalem Marathon route goes by this intersection,

but being so close to the finish line, I doubt most people will notice.

You never know what you will find next

on the Jerusalem, Israel streets,