See Highlights of the Jerusalem Marathon 2023

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.

Jerusalem Back to Normal: But what will happen next?

This past year has shown no one can predict what will happen next.

After well over a year with so little happening due to corona restrictions, last week was one very busy, “back to normal” week.

Finally, too many good things happened hard to decide what to share first.

The view in the distance from the footbridge over Hebron Road appeared the same as for centuries the sun reflected off the Old City walls.

But as the week began, down below in the Sultan’s Pool, the huge stage was lit for a major Chabad event at night for men and boys.

At the same time across the way on the Begin Center main stage, the final performance of Rebecca: Mother of Two Dynasties was being performed by women for women.

The Begin Heritage Center was also the site for special weekly Bible sessions.

Of course, the Jerusalem buildings keep going up and up.

The old entrance of the President’s Hotel was been cemented shut.

Goodness, even those famous steps from the Montefiore Windmill down by Yemin Moshe are gone.

Some of the street work is hard to explain, with pavement recently done – being redone and landscaped.

And those new blue historical signs becoming more common than the regular road closures.

But this week there was more happening in Jerusalem!

Postponed for a year, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are to be held this summer.

The Israeli Olympic and Paralympic teams were invited to Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence for a traditional sendoff and official photograph.

Large black & white photos of participating athletes were posted outside the main entrance.

The Japanese Ambassador to Israel attended and was interviewed by Walter Bingham, the world’s oldest active journalist at the young age of 97.

The Ambassador also posed with leaders from the Israeli Baseball team, playing for the first time in the Olympic competition.

The team photo was taking at Machane Yehuda Market, and two of the baseball players were at Beit Hanasi for the send off event.

Inside, the veteran Paralympic athletes had seats near the front.

For the first time in a very, very long time, the main hall was filled, over filled to capacity.

Ready to present a gift to President Rivlin was European gold medal winning rhythmic gymnast Linoy Ashram.

The traditional posed photographs were taken afterward outside, more HERE.

But how long has it been – two big events hosted at Beit Hanasi in one day?

And with full buffet tables!?

The same evening a business leaders conference included live entertainers.

Rows of invited guests, seated with the Israeli President, used to happen regularly, but not this last year of President Rivlin’s seven year term.

The round of farewells the past few weeks has been continuous.

The Israeli Business Roundtable had a cute image in their presentation.

President of Israel Reuven Rivlin spoke to full houses on Wednesday.

Then after Shabbat, he departed on a farewell visit to the United States at the invitation of President Joe Biden.

But he is to be back on Thursday morning, to hold a state reception ceremony for President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and his wife, on a state visit to Israel.

President Steinmeier of Germany will plant a tree in the Avenue of Presidents in the gardens of Beit Hanasi and will then sign the Beit Hanasi visitors’ book and President Rivlin will host a state banquet in their honor.

Jerusalem Israeli President House reception for Andrea Merkel and delegates

Three years ago, Beit Hanasi held a state dinner for Andrea Merkel.

A full schedule before July 7, 2021, when Israel is to get a new president.

Getting used to new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his emails. Since the airport has been a source of new corona variants, Bennett has appointed Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Ronni Numa: “who has been doing exceptional work in Bnei Brak and with the ultra-orthodox public. He will receive the responsibility to integrate and manage dealing with the coronavirus at the crossings.”

No certainty to when borders will be open and tourists will return.

And finally, I am slow today! How could I forget? This week also we had a reunion of former Virginians in Ramot Mall, as two couples were able to get into Israel from the US to see their children and grandchildren. So it’s happening, slowly.

Who knows what next will happen on the Jerusalem streets?

Hope we can see you here soon. Meanwhile, virtual tours are available.

Jerusalem Locked Down

In the middle of a conflict, later called the Second Lebanon War, I made aliyah and moved to Jerusalem, Israel.

I accompanied missions to southern Israel during multiple “operations.” We watched early Iron Dome successes over our heads at a rest stop café. From our van (buses were too big to exit in time) we ran to a ditch during a red alert. Crowded into a family’s bomb shelter in a border community during one warning siren, the mother could tell where the rocket landed by the sound. The bomb shelter was her children’s bedroom, they had never known another existence.

I used to really get around. Israel is really not so big.

There were northern border excursions during “heightened” alerts.

In an Arab town with Yassir Arafat and Abu Mazen photos looking down at me, I sat and listened to a woman’s land ownership story go unchallenged. For sure, I was very careful to stay with the group that time.

Even during the “stabbing intifada” I was out on the Jerusalem streets.

And then came along the microscopic novel coronavirus and I stayed home.

Finally, and for many weeks my morning walk was aimed to avoid people.

As the end of the second lockdown came to an end, I decided it was time to get out again and see what was really happening on the Jerusalem streets.

Some people used the time at home to improve their front porch gardens.

The building construction was so overwhelming, it requires a post of its own in the future. As you can see, there was no ban on building construction.

With less cars on the roads, road work closed and changed many streets.

Shops in Jerusalem’s Mamilla Mall were closed during the lockdown.

The end of February was the last time I had gone to the Old City.

Usually, this area outside of the Old City near Jaffa Gate is filled with traffic, day or night. Not during this lockdown.

Usually, this area outside of Jaffa Gate, is filled with people.

Jaffa Gate was closed, as it was during the first lockdown.

Security was posted at the entrance, checking vehicles and pedestrians.

I had to show my press pass to enter. There was security at all gates. With the one-kilometer distance restriction, only residents were allowed to enter.

The only crowd I saw was waiting outside the Old City post office.

The stores inside Jaffa Gate were closed, as they have been for weeks. The tourism business has been extremely hurt for months.

The Armenian way had more flags than usual, but what was a very busy road in the past, with people and cars, day and night, was mostly empty.

There is a new archeological stop in the Rova HaYehudi, Jewish Quarter, but no visitors to learn the stories of these ancient finds.

A couple of the food places in the Jewish Quarter had take out prepared food, but no sit-down dinners or the usual walking noshers in sight.

There were more construction workers than worshipers near the Kotel, Western Wall. Construction of the new elevator is finally moving along.

The 1-kilometer distance regulation was enforced with more security by the Kotel. Showing my press pass was not enough, the guard wanted me to get close and hand it over for inspection.

I decided not enter the empty plaza to get to the partitioned area.

Two workers were on the scaffolding doing repair work along the Western Wall near the Southern Wall. More on that later also.

Jerusalem’s usually vibrant Old City was locked down and quiet.

What a contrast to the the traffic on other Jerusalem streets last week.

The sounds of traffic could be heard as the sun rose this morning, October 18, as some restrictions were lifted. The idea is to open slowly to avoid the increase in coronavirus cases as happened after the last COVID-19 lockdown.

This morning the family Whatsapp had the smiling faces of the under 6-year-olds off to gan, nursery school for the first time – again – this year.

The “Time” exhibit opened at the Islamic Museum in August.

What a time it has been! This most unusual holiday season is over.

Despite these crazy times of political and health uncertainty, the sunsets last week were colorful spectacles.

Nature, the sun and moon, the seasons changed as usual, despite the pandemic.

Another day, I also walked into town for the first time in months – but will save those lockdown photographs for next time.

חודש טוב

This image from Yoel Salomon Street of the hanging umbrellas overhead waiting for the summer tourists who never arrived, was popular on social media as a Shabbat Shalom greeting.

So I thought to use it again for a new greeting of Chodesh Tov.

The new Hebrew month of Marcheshvan is here.

May it be a good month and good year for all.

Stay safe and well!