Signs of Spring on the Jerusalem Streets

The Jerusalem, Israel, weather is slowly changing. Sometimes many times in one day.

Spring wildflowers are popping up around the Jerusalem streets as nature continues and seasons change.

Citrus fruits are full on the trees, like these seen walking through Yemin Moshe.

The U. Nahon Museum of Jewish Italian Art in Jerusalem has a lovely courtyard.

The splendid ornate synagogue in the same building is worthy of a tour.

But going on a media tour of the new Spring Biennale made it all the more special.

This is one of 20 locations of the 30 exhibitions of contemporary Jewish art.

One highlight was Andi Arnovitz’s What We Bring. The talented artist used her wedding dress and laser-cut names on the bookbinding fabric of women from biblical times to the present.


Jews on Paper, c
urated by Hillel Smith and Eli Kaplan-Wildmann, line the walls of Heichel Shlomo’s lobby.

Upstairs the rooms are lined with various contemporary artworks.


A Palace in Time
, the first architecture exhibition at the Jerusalem Biennale, has a Dresden relief showing the consequences of the destruction during Kristallnacht.

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem is another location for the Biennale.

Upstairs the Splinter from the Storm exhibition is still running.

Downstairs the Spring Biennale had its opening on Wednesday night.

Former head of the Israel Museum James S. Snyder arrived and was given a private tour.

Yes, I followed him until Jerusalem Biennale Founder and CEO Rami Ozeri escorted him out.

The theme of this 6th Biennale is a literal translation of the Hebrew phrase Tzon Barzel, Iron Flock, which gave voice to serious recognition of Jewish and Israeli women artists.

Curator Rachel Verliebter and artists, including performance artist Alana Ruben Free added an extra dimension to the opening night event.

Also at the opening of Ayelet Hashahar, or The Doe of Dawn, was former BLMJ director Amanda Weiss.

Friday in the Artist’s Colony, there was just enough time to catch a few minutes of the Biennale at Ha Ott.

Friday was the first of a month of special Ramadan prayers in Jerusalem, Israel.

Notice how thousands of Muslims were leaving the Old City by Jaffa Gate, and security was light.

After Shabbat a big basketball game was held at the Pais Arena Jerusalem.

Before it began fallen soldier Michael Gal was remembered by the Jerusalem fans.

My favorite action shot from the stands of Jerusalem players in red against Tel Aviv in white.

At half-time, the game was exciting with the teams almost tied.

Tel Aviv took the second half in a big way, but the projection overhead caught my attention.

Being a good sport, and a good person, is most important, as the coaches shook hands after the game.

Some construction has restarted after months of delay.

Flags are still flying and people are meeting at outside cafes.

Hamentashen are being served, as little princesses, brides, and multi-costumed young children walk the Jerusalem streets already, over a week before Purim.

Purim is coming. Jerusalem is planning to celebrate the holiday.

However, along with the signs of spring and the anticipation of Purim celebrations, the days of Israeli hostages held in Gaza are over 160 and counting and hard to ignore on the Jerusalem streets.

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.