A week with more than the International Jerusalem Winner Marathon

It was a real marathon week again in Jerusalem, Israel!

Jerusalem was busy preparing for the 13th International Winner Marathon.

But other international events were happening that received less media coverage.

The new National Library of Israel has become a popular tourist stop for locals as well as visitors.

The view from near the main entrance has become a favorite photo op for almost everyone.

Taken from the conference room, the birds have found spots to get the best views.

Bird’s eye view of the Knesset building across Kaplan Street.

USC Shoah Foundation Executive Director Robert J. Williams and NLI Chairman Sallai Meridor signed an exclusive partnership on March 4 to include testimonies from more than 52,000 Holocaust survivors and hundreds of survivors of the October 7 terrorist attacks in an ongoing “Bearing Witness” historical documentation project to be archived at NLI.

Images of the murdered are projected on the screen in a room off the main entrance.

Photos of the hostages are on chairs in the main reading room positioned by the other entrance.

As I was leaving a large group of Arab high school students were arriving at the National Library of Israel where Arabic is used in all the sections.

The Southern Californians were not the only international visitors to sign official documents.

To conclude the Israel Allies Foundation Annual Chairman’s Conference, 20 global parliamentarians met with Israel’s Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel. The coalition of global leaders presented a signed resolution denouncing Iran-sponsored terrorism and war crimes against Israel.

Another delegation was not political and did not sign documents, they sponsored a special Bat Mitzvah celebration for 22 bat mitzvah girls who lost a close relative to terror.

United Mashadi Jewish Community of America (UMJCA) women’s solidarity mission participants from Great Neck, New York, brought gifts and joy to the families who have known so little since October 7.

OneFamily once again brought smiles to the faces of all attending the Jerusalem event.

Much more on that story another time.

The International Life Science & Health-Tech Week in Israel 2024 was held at the Jerusalem Convention Center. It felt like the good old days before COVID-19 again in Jerusalem with a live conference.

The report by Omer Gavish of Israel Advanced Technology Industries was mostly positive.

One participant was on screen from Dubai, along with close to 2,000 people over two days in Jerusalem.

The usual booths, interactions, and great food added to the upbeat atmosphere. One startup for every fallen on October 7 is the goal for the future.

The main event of the International Jerusalem Winner Marathon began with an Expo at Cinema City.

After registering online, runners arrived to get their shirts and numbers for the Friday morning races.

Ok, not all the signs worked in English,

and some of those without words were unclear as well.

But the full marathon finish line in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park was ready ahead of schedule.

With so many shorter races, it is impossible to be everywhere, or even at most places on Friday morning.

But Mayor Moshe Lion was at the finish line to give the medal to the first-place full marathon winner.

With 40,000 people and 500 photos to select from, I decided to do a separate post for the Jerusalem Marathon. However, some photos were posted on Facebook on Friday.

Was wonderful to see so many people on the Jerusalem streets this past week.

Photos of Special Israeli Women for International Women’s Day

In 2011, the RJS post for International Women’s Day titled Israeli Apartheid? went viral.

I was such a novice I had no idea what was happening, as I watched the numbers of views skyrocket on the hotel lobby computer in Eilat.

The next year was 15 Real Photos of Arab Girls. It is still getting views after more than a decade.

This year, however, I decided it was time to highlight special Jewish Israel women!

Not in any special order, and there are certainly many more wonderful women that could be included. All of the photos below were taken since the beginning of January 2024.

A favorite image is of Fleur Hassan Nahoum in Weizmann Hall with all those men in the iconic photo behind her at the end of her term as Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and start of new leadership roles.

At the Conference of Presidents’s opening evening, there were three new Presidents: Hadassah, Naamat, and the American Zionist Federation led by women.

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Tova Dorfman Deputy Chairwoman of the World Zionist Organization at the Jewish People Challenges.

Back at the Jerusalem International Conference Center this week with leaders in Health-Tech.

Women in Science and business with multi-lingual language solutions.

And women who are patent lawyers who assist those health start-ups.

Women who help other women, One Family together.

Women leaders who get things done and done right,

Women with style who get things done.

Women who get the news out.

Love how women hug when they find their friends.

When women put their heads together – wow.

This woman was a child in the Kindertransport who left Germany for England without family.

This woman, the mother of a daughter murdered on October 7, started speaking to groups.

The mother of a kidnapped son also speaks to keep her son’s story known.

The sister of those who cannot speak for themselves, speaks below those images we cannot forget.

Her father and brother were killed on October 7 and talking about their good deeds keeps her going.

She is still reluctant to speak but is lucky to have survived the October 7 massacre in Ofakim.

Oh, the all too familiar faces of the young women held in Gaza after over 150 days.

Then there are the smiling faces of those who have organized special solidarity missions to Israel.

Women who came and sponsored a bat mitzvah celebration for 20 girls who lost a close relative to terror.

There are those organizational leaders who seem to be everywhere working to support Israel.

A woman who led WIZO for decades and is ready for her next challenge.

New young Israeli leadership in the realm of social media.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel was in one of my first media photos years ago, is still going strong.

Another Israeli Member of Knesset Idit Silman has stayed active over the years.

Women runners with a story.

Women from Sderot doing their laundry at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem.

Back in Sderot after 5 months, school started, and another rocket was fired at them from Gaza.

So many women fell and broke their hips while running to shelters in the south over the years, ADI’s rehabilitation center near Ofakim has a special department for them.

Mothers, daughters, and sisters support each other one day at a time working for a better future.

On the wall, seen through a window, in a destroyed home in a southern Israel kibbutz – Viva ISRAEL.

A special shout-out to all the Israeli women who have kept their homes and the home front going over the years, especially over the past 5 months with tens of thousands evacuated and serving in reserves.

And thank you to the women who have come on solidarity missions in support of Israel.

Heroines one and all!

Am Yisrael Chai!

Heroes and Hope in Jerusalem this Week

At the end of February in Jerusalem, at least nature returned to normal with a few warm sunny days.

The almond blossoms were in full bloom.

The flowers along the Jerusalem streets were colorful against the winter green.

The election that was to be at the end of October finally happened at the end of February and resulted with Moshe Lion getting another 5-year term.

The stairway in our local school where we voted, still has not learned how to spell orange.

On the morning of October 7, Rami Davidian, a 58-year-old farmer from Moshav Patish, an Israeli farming community near the Gaza Strip, is credited with saving hundreds from the deadly Nova Festival site.  He drove back and forth between the site of the festival and the moshav for four hours, picking up and dropping off 10 or 12 young people each time, risking his life, unarmed and outnumbered. 

At the Jerusalem Prizes, he received an award, the audience rose to give the hero a standing ovation.

IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari received a standing ovation as he entered the stage to be interviewed at the Jerusalem International Conference Center at the Jewish People’s Challenges Conference of the World Zionist Organization – Jewish Agency.

Hagari has become so popular he was stopped repeatedly for selfies while trying to leave the building.

Another reluctant media personality or hero, is Thomas Hand, father of former hostage 9-year-old Emily.

His international attempts to draw attention to the plight of his daughter and other hostages were acknowledged and appreciated.

At the conference center, the hallway was lined with images of the October 7 destruction.

The past 5 months have been a battle on the field in Gaza and on social media where lies go viral.

So as time goes on, the hostage families work day and night to keep the flame going, not to forget their loved ones held by Hamas in terrible conditions in Gaza.

Jerusalem is united in wanting to bring them all home now.

How is the question?

Friday, March 8, is the 13th Jerusalem Winner Marathon, running somewhat as usual, revealing the color of the official shirts for the first time.

The event in the Givat Ram Stadium was set for the presence of the Mayor and other officials, in honor of the IDF, security forces, and rescue teams, and raising awareness for captives in Gaza.

The number 134 was in view.

The number of hostages still in Gaza.,

How nice it would be to greet them at the Jerusalem Winner Marathon as thousands run to raise money and awareness for good causes and hope for their return.