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Three Best Things That Happened in Jerusalem

Sharon A

After living in Jerusalem for several years, I was upset. The world did not see what was really happening, only sensational media images. So I started posting photos online on The Real Jerusalem Streets.

I decided to share events from this week you would not have seen as anti-government protesters captured world attention.

It’s a busy time of year, so keeping to the three best events I attended.

The new National Library building was lit up at night as I walked by on my way to the National Library currently on the Hebrew University Givat Ram Campus.

They say the new building is to open in the fall, and I’m looking forward to finally getting to tour inside!

The National Library welcomed NASA Astronaut Dr. Jeff Hoffman who donated his space diary and memorabilia to the Israeli National Library.

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Jewish Astronaut Jeff Hoffman’s flights on the Space Shuttle included the mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993.

He also took a Space Torah for a mission, explaining how he used velcro to attach the yad, and clamps to hold the parchment down in the shuttle capsule. Velcro was also used to attach a mezuzah to the sleeping cubicle.

Hoffman flew five missions, a patch was designed for each and was included in this donation to the National Library.

Along with new autographed stamp sets, the Israel National Library now reaches the moon and into space.

Amazing how quickly Jerusalem Marathon 2023 is old news. I am pleased when someone comes along and identifies a runner’s photo on Facebook days later. Did you know I updated the post with a video?

Two weeks ago, going past Hansen House, Primavera caught my attention.

Thursday and Friday, the Hansen gates were open for Primavera.

Not a new Jerusalem pasta dish, but a designer festival was being held.

Jewelry, clothes and bags, and a variety of wares were on display,

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to all types of clothing including this knit top

and diverse as Roota sprouts.

Ok, I stopped and laughed there, as I remembered the sprouted potato I found while cleaning under the dishwasher for Passover. New art form?

There were 36 more displays, MORE PHOTOS were posted on Facebook.

And for the third and biggest event, which ended Diaspora Week.

For the eighth time, from March 19 – 23, 2023, the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism held Diaspora Week events.

During the course of the week, Diaspora Week events and activities were held throughout Israel, in the education system, on campuses, in cultural institutions, in the IDF, and at this gala in the Jerusalem Theater.

The Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli introduced the program theme of unity and “loving one another.”

Israeli performers took to the stage, in a well-executed program.

Along with the IDF band, the performers were applauded by an enthusiastic audience for the #FOREVER_AM 2023 program.

There was an excellent video screen running in the background,

to the audience filled with representatives of youth groups and MASA.

After the show, which was broadcast live, ended, Chickli stayed around to the very end. As I commented to some passersby, he reminded me of the last one out of shul after sponsoring an elaborate kiddush.

Photos did not do justice to the night, so I made a short video with clips of the music, and there are more photos on Facebook.

Now on to the holiday season!

Whether you call Pesach the Holiday of Freedom

or the Holiday of Spring, new signs are up along the Jerusalem streets.

Easter and Ramadan coincide with Passover this year.

The important thing is it should be a Happy Holiday for all.

Hope to see you on the Jerusalem streets soon!

See Highlights of the Jerusalem Marathon 2023

Sharon A

The flags of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Marathon lined the Jerusalem streets for the 12th Jerusalem Winner Marathon races on Friday, March 17th.

The main routes go through the Old City, connecting the new and the ancient streets of Jerusalem with tens of thousands of runners.

As Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion mentioned at the Jerusalem Marathon launch, where else can you get 3,000 years of history in one race?

These mascots were cute at the opening event, but I did not see them on race day at Sacher Park or the starting line near the Knesset.

This is one of the elite international runners at the event. In the past, there had been many runners to meet and photograph. That was BC, before corona, but this year thousands of international runners were back again.

Security was in place. Streets were blocked at 5:30 am on race day.

The lead full-marathon runners with escorts were out early.

The fastest runners were led by a motorcycle.

Thousands of full marathon runners headed off around Jerusalem streets on their 42.2-kilometer full-marathon race.

Unlike last year when it was cold and way too wet, the day was sunny and warm and jackets were discarded before the starting line.

By the main finish line, spectators waited for the full marathon finishers.

He wasn’t the first-place winner, but the crowd cheered all those who crossed the main finish line in Sacher Park.

The Women’s half-marathon winner was again from Ukraine.

While Israeli Beatie Deutsch was happy with her family and second place.

But the Jerusalem Marathon is not just about the two long runs.

It is the smaller courses that have the biggest number of entries.

The participants out from ADI Israel participated again with a larger group this year on the smaller course near the Knesset.

The 10-kilometer race had two large groups of runners, most were not in costumes though, but dressed in shirts from one of dozens of good causes.

Not everyone sped over the finish line outside the park, but everyone who crossed it was a winner and received a medal.

Two long-time participant runners, as my friend from Team HASC, who was so focused on the finish line he did not hear me, though his companion did.

And this woman, my hero, who started running for Shalva before there was a full marathon, and was in the last half marathon. Now she was also running for The Ari Fuld Project.

There were short family races also, besides the volunteer supporters who act as a family to help those who can not run on their own.

The Sacher Park was filled with people and tents of various organizations.

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There were quiet spots and busy activities on the weather pleasant day.

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A drone hovered over the finish line.

But it was Friday, and time to get home, as the full marathon runners were still on their way to the park and finish line.

I’ll post some of those photos later, as I think everyone participating and reaching the line is a winner, no matter their official time.

But there was much more, and you can see those photos on Facebook HERE and HERE and HERE

UPDATED WITH VIDEO:

A wonderful day with wonderful weather and tens of thousands of smiles.

But, I wonder if anywhere else but in Jerusalem, Israel, would I be offered challah to take home for Shabbat – because there was no time to bake on Jerusalem Marathon Friday.

The Jerusalem Marathon is set for March 8, 2024 – so start training now. Hope to be able to find you in the crowd of tens of thousands next year.

The Best of Purim in Jerusalem

Sharon A

Purim in Jerusalem, Israel, is so very strange every year.

Purim is celebrated the day after the rest of the world- on what is called Shushan Purim. The street sign for Queen Esther is not really upside down.

Shushan Street sign in Jerusalem, Israel

There is also a street called Shushan Street – it’s near Safra Square.

Things feel different as the rest of the world has moved on and in Jerusalem, we are just finally getting started with the upside down.

Clowning around and colorful clowns abound.

The demise of Haman was announced but not mourned on this sign posted on a message board at a local community center.

After weeks of preparation, Shushan Purim went by with too much happening to capture it all. Nachlaot and many Jerusalem streets were bursting with costumed crowds, but here are a few favorites…

Best little guy costume

and an even cuter littlest one!

Not only little dinos, but space men were popular this year.

NASA better watch out for these future astronauts.

Best big hair,

Best big blue mask,

the very best big ears,

and the best underwear for a hat.

Jerusalem synagogues were filled for the readings of Megilat Esther.

Beer, wine, and booze were found inside and outside on the streets.

Chabad again sponsored multiple Megillah readings at night and all day long on King George Street and around.

But also in Jerusalem community parks hundreds assembled to hear the story of Esther repeated at night.

And there were musical events before and after the Megillah was read. How nice to see that on the Jerusalem streets where protesters usually shout against the Prime Minister, people sat quietly together to celebrate Purim.

The Megillah is read by night and by day,

Photo credit: Heddy Breuer Abramowitz

and more young women have undertaken the reading of the Megillah at special readings for women.

This year Jerusalem’s Shushan Purim day of celebration coincided with March 8 and International Women’s Day, so no new piece this time.

Therefore, I thought I’d share a women’s event held on March 9th at Shalva.

A Playback Theater experience with workshops especially for women.

Led by Toby Klein Greenwald and her expert drama and therapist cohosts, right after Purim, 100 women impressively participated in performance and movement and powerful improv workshops.

Plus, the Shalva building has many inspirational sayings lining its walls.

Where else on Purim would you enjoy such a lovely view while delivering a Mishloah Manot dinner to a friend, when stopped at a traffic light?

Purim is finally finished on Jerusalem streets.

Now the Jerusalem Marathon signs for Jerusalem street closings are up.

Tens of thousands of runners are registered to fill the Jerusalem streets on Friday, March 17, 2023. One of the finish lines is ready and the full marathon finish in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, is being built.

My Purim hair/costume is put away until next year.

Pesach prep has begun.

Always something positive happening on the Jerusalem streets, when are you coming to see it?