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Favorites of the Popular 14th Jerusalem Marathon

Favorites of the Popular 14th Jerusalem Marathon

Sharon A

Jerusalem streets were lined with security and closed to cars and pedestrian traffic for the 14th International Jerusalem “Winner” Marathon held on Friday, April 4, 2025.

The event attracted 40,000 people from 50 countries arriving in Jerusalem from around the world.

This year’s races were opened by Karina Ariev, freed on Jan. 25 after 477 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

Then most of the media attention went to the full marathon and its finish line in Sacher Park.

One favorite was Yoel Levy from Manchester, UK, who ran the marathon in a Batman costume in memory of the murdered Bibas boys and for Shalva, supporting children with disabilities and their families.

Mayor Moshe Lion participated in the 5k this year. He strolled in the park with his wife and security.

All ages could be found in Gan Sacher, supporting 27 organizations with teams running.

A friend who ran to raise money for ADI posed as she neared the finish line in the 10k.

Another favorite was seeing Oma in the blue T-shirt for the Ari Fuld Project. I remember her from 15 years ago in the last half marathon, a year before the first international Jerusalem Marathon, running for Shalva.

Shalva had runners on its large team dressed in purple, as in the past.

I passed the full marathon runners near their start as I walked 1.5 km to get to Sacher Park.

And, as usual, pass the slower full marathon runners when I head home each year.

There were over 1000 full marathon runners, including those from Australia, Kenya, Morocco, and more.

And more than one Batman was running the full marathon this year.

In the park are tents for some of the organizations, in this one Ari Fuld h”yd looks over his family.

Sharsheret ran in the past, and is now in Israel. The organization originated in the US to help people facing breast and ovarian cancer, and an increased genetic risk for cancer.

The Michael Levin Base was another favorite. Many tents had food and snacks for runners.

I went back here to get a much-needed coffee after a few hours walking in the park.

The crowd was large enough to make it hard to find family and friends.

Security included the magnificent horses.

Thousands of soldiers and security personnel participated, but this was the only gun I spotted.

With 3 finish lines and 6 races of various lengths, it was impossible to be everywhere.

However, here are the 3 winners of the men’s half marathon receiving their trophies.

And I spotted Beatie Deutsch after she was awarded a trophy for the half marathon second place.

The first-place runner came in earlier than I expected this year, so I missed the ribbon breaking.

But the medical attention was right there for those who needed help.

All in all, it was a great day, with great weather, to celebrate life, freedom, and hope for the future.

But a little too close to Pesach, Passover, for some regulars to be able to participate only a week before.

Signs are up over the Jerusalem streets for new exhibits and holiday events. Museums are planning for families with special rates and activities on the intermediate days.

The Jerusalem Marathon launch with “Batman” Levy was at the Tower of David, where they will be having a long list of educational events for families.

The notes were cleaned from the Kotel, Western Wall, ready for two days of Birkat Cohanim this year.

The elevator for visitors will not be ready any time soon, but at least there are new signs.

The new large Israeli flags are going up before the spring holiday season.

While war is raging on too many fronts, the Jerusalem streets are preparing for holidays and guests.

This year in Jerusalem – Am Yisrael Chai.

Chag sameach

Oh What a Week in the Warm Jerusalem January

Sharon A

What did you hear happened on the Jerusalem streets this week?

Always something happening on the Real Jerusalem Streets that you might have missed.

It’s the end of Tevet. Tu Beshvat is over two weeks from now. But along the Jerusalem streets, the almond trees are blooming. It has been one warm and dry winter.

The dry weather has been bad for farmers but is good for road construction.

To and from Jerusalem, one must move mountains to make room for new roads.

In Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, a group of new young IDF soldiers were sitting in the midday sun.

I was walking home from the Gevura Tent or Tent of Heroes.

Families of fallen soldiers want their children not to have fallen in vain and be forgotten.

Many families came to Israel for the US Jewish school Yeshiva Week. Talks in English were scheduled from Sunday to Thursday night by widows and parents of fallen soldiers. I would have liked to have time to attend them all. But got to the first one on Zechariah Haber Hy”d – a young father of three who was extremely accomplished in Jewish and academic studies.

And on Thursday evening, Roey Weiser Hy”d was remembered by his parents. Roey was one of the first known causalities on October 7. He was killed defending Erez Crossing Base with too little ammunition against the hordes attacking from Gaza.

January 20, 2025, was Martin Luther King Junior Day in the US. Each year we acknowledge the Jerusalem street named for MLK. However, this year the US inauguration received much more attention.

The Friends of Zion hosted a mega-event to congratulate Donald Trump, with huge signs outside.

People lined up and crowded in before the announced opening time.

American-style food was served, including giant hotdogs and burgers, ending with donuts and waffles.

A few South American Ambassadors were seated in the front row.

In the main hall, the huge screen was ready for a live broadcast, after Emily Schrader interviewed Sharren Haskel, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President. We saw the ceremony and his talk but missed all the music.

There was a panel discussion and then the live music started with the Solomon Brothers doing US songs.

The crowds had filled every spot inside, the red hats and pins were long gone but the lights stayed on.

On the Jerusalem streets this week the hostage situation overshadowed most events.

However, one could only smile with the birthday boy Walter Bingham celebrating his 101 birthday. When you get to 101, one starts over with a ‘one’ balloon and friends and food.

I am not sure ‘until 120’ is appropriate – Walter is still working as a journalist.

This week in the sunshine and warm weather Gan Sacher was popular with young children.

Next week for the older young at heart, the Shaon Horef, Winter Noise Festival, is back on the Jerusalem streets on February Monday nights starting on Shushan Street.

Flights are to start and more tourists were around this week.

Are you coming soon to Jerusalem?

The time is good to book a Jerusalem Photo Walk.

January 2025 Hanukkah and New Beginnings in Jerusalem

Sharon A

For 2025, I saw a cartoon with two doors.

The one on the left says, “Disengage and hope it turns out ok for you.”

The one on the right says, “Fight for what’s right.”

RJS plans to keep engaging for 2025, as it has over the past years.

There were lovely days and nights over Hanukkah, with warm sunny days and cool nights.

So many lights lit up the Jerusalem streets for eight nights.

Crowd at Mamilla Mall for candlelight on Hanukkah

Crowds filled Mamilla Mall for live music, dancing, and donuts almost every night.

Programs for children were held in small venues and

Jerusalem Cinema City had special activities in addition to the regular holiday movies.

However, on the sixth night, it rained.

Rain poured down most of the day. Jerusalem managed ballistic missile attacks in the middle of the night better than the flooded roads and gridlocked traffic with cars and buses full of Hanukkah partygoers.

We finally got through the traffic congestion and arrived at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus –

but oops, we found the wrong Hanukkah celebration, in the wrong building.

Instead, our party was in the new Gandel Rehabilitation Center, for wounded soldiers and their families and the OneFamily volunteers who come each week to help from their war injuries.

Only in Israel? The basements of hospitals are ready for attack with underground emergency units.

Activities, good food, and music filled part of the lower level for the special Hanukkah celebration.

Nefesh Be’Nefesh held a special family celebration for Hanukkah.

When I saw this man at the party I thought he was an actor. When I saw him leaving, I decided to snap a photo of the best Hanukkah costume of the year.

There are still no nature photo walks at the still-shuttered Wohl Rose Garden near the Knesset.

“Bring them home now” signs line the Rose Garden and many Jerusalem streets.

Celebrations private and public, the war on many fronts, and the 100 hostages are always in mind.

The fallen Israeli heroes, over 825, include 85 since Sinwar was eliminated in Gaza.

Sitting home, reading the news, or scrolling on social media, the UN agencies’ lies and obsession against Israel are appalling. For over a year, the Red Cross has not helped Israeli hostages including children.

The clear weather is not good for farmers, but great to get out and walk and see what’s new.

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park has new information signs.

Old City walls near Jaffa Gate for second night of Hanukkah

Jerusalem Old City walls were illuminated with projections the same as two years ago.

“Hanukkah of gold and of light” was Jerusalem’s new Hanukkah message this year.

The Outline Festival 2024 is continuing into 2025. “Unknown” is what is ahead for the new year.

However, new buildings have risen above the Jerusalem streets.

Too many Jerusalem streets are dug up for construction and the future light rail tracks.

New bus stops are going up in new locations to add to the construction confusion.

The Real Jerusalem Streets aims to keep sharing what’s real, what’s happening in Jerusalem, Israel.

Not all is good, but with the sun shining and days getting longer, there is hope for better days.

If you want only good news, go to my friend Michael’s Only Good News Israel

However, to end with one good thing – the views and positive comments on this simple video from Sukkot Birkat Cohanim, keep coming.

May 2025 and 5785 bring blessings for all.