Jerusalem marathon

A week with more than the International Jerusalem Winner Marathon

Sharon A

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.

Heroes and Hope in Jerusalem this Week

Sharon A

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.

10 New Things to See in Jerusalem

Sharon A

As usual, there is too much happening to share in one Real Jerusalem Streets photo essay.

This week it was again hard to cut down, but here are highlights of just 10 new events that may have not made your regular media headlines.

  1. The first of two Jerusalem Marathon 2024 finish lines is up over the Jerusalem street for all to see.

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organization’s annual National Leadership Mission, February 18-22, began with Minister Benny Gantz speaking to delegates at the Inbal Hotel.

2. The mission concluded at the StandWithUs Center with Michael Dickson moderating a panel on social media featuring the new success in numbers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Digital Diplomacy.

Check out them out, trying to combat the billions of hate posts out there.

It is worth a visit to the Jerusalem Shalva Center if only for the writings on the walls.

3. But this time a new sign was also worth noticing, happy that one of the hostages has returned home.

4. The Taub Center Conference at Shalva focused on municipal elections, with more women on a panel of experts than men.

5. New advertising boards are showing election posters for the February 27th Jerusalem municipal elections.

6. The new entrance to the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum is to open soon to the public.

7. Also new, is a public area to sit and enjoy the view outside. Notice the entrance is intentionally not visible from the street. The new modern look respects the old stones of the ancient walls.

On a personal note, I was surprised to see my photo in the informative session for media before the tour of the new entrance and Tower of David’s historic galleries.

The Tower of David is an iconic symbol of Jerusalem – used on everything, including cheese.

8. The new technology used in the exhibits could fill a book and fill the galleries.

Of course, a favorite when visiting the Tower of David is to climb to the top for the views.

Especially on a clear day after a few days of rain, the scenes are amazing.

9. But new to the view is the white Dome of the Tiferet Israel Synagogue nearing completion. The Hurva Synagogue is closer on the right side. In the distance, you see the mountains in Jordan over the Dead Sea.

The Tower of David Museum finished its accessible entrance near Jaffa Gate, and now plans are underway for the area revealed under the plaza outside of Jaffa Gate.

Some southern families are returning home, however, there are still thousands of evacuated people living in various hotels in Jerusalem and throughout the country.

An opportunity to be on the roof of the Aish Center Building in the Old City is hard to pass up.

In the dark is the model of the Temple shines, with the Dome of the Rock in the background.

10. New is the gold lighting on the Al-Aqsa Mosque at night, in contrast to how it looks during the day.

Rabbi Eitiel Goldwicht was inspiring a solidarity mission from the West Side Institutional Synagogue. 

11. Nearby on a rooftop, a new couple was posing for photos and video – mazel tov.

Akiva Turgeman and Ishay Ribo were at Aish for a benefit concert for soldiers and evacuated Israelis.

I didn’t get a video of their performance, but I did get a short video of one of the exhibits at the entrance of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum.

And it was good just to have a chance to walk through the Rova, Jewish Quarter, and see the golden menorah outside the Hurva Synagogue at night.

New things are happening on the Jerusalem streets,

hope you can come soon to see for yourself.