middle east current events – Page 119 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Jerusalem Marathon 2013

February 28, 2013rjstreets

How it has grown!

The Jerusalem Marathon 2013 is a major sporting event with

20,000 runners, who come from 50 countries all around the world.

In 2010, there were 3,500 runners in the Jerusalem Half Marathon.

The work involved in transforming Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

into the gathering point,

the starting line,

and the special finish line for the full marathon has been a major project.

Jerusalem Marathon 2011 ended in a muddy mess that took months to repair.

With this new platform in place there should be no such problems.

For Jerusalem Marathon 2012 there was rain and hail,

but this year better weather is predicted.

Flags have been hung

lining the streets

along the route.

Direction signs around Jerusalem are hard to miss this year.

For weeks, runners have been training on the streets, but

first they have to check in at the International Convention Center

and pick up their number and official shirt.

These are the shirts that will fill the streets this year.

There are also several shorter races running with different start times.

Many worthy organizations are entered in these races to

raise money and awareness for their causes, OneFamily and ALEH

are just two that had special registration booths this week.

Some people will complain.

Traffic will stop as the runners take to the streets.

But everyone has to agree that Jerusalem Marathon has certainly grown.

No Harlem Shake, but 12 Favorite Signs

February 20, 2013rjstreets

Though most everyone seems to be doing the Harlem Shake,

we have not seen anyone doing it yet on the streets of Jerusalem, Israel,

so decided to share a few favorite signs instead.

Signs are an extremely important form of communication

in many neighborhoods.

Notices of the death of revered former Supreme Court judge Menachem Alon

and renowned thinker David Hartman were prominent this week.

1. This misspelled sign from last year is still a favorite.

2. No words needed here, but here’s hoping there are better directions for

the Jerusalem Marathon that is to run next week on Friday, March 1.

3. Do you really think a motorcycle will not go on a foot path because

of this sign if the riders think they have enough room to get through?

4. The first time seeing the signs at the tax offices can cause a panic attack.

The Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency met this week.

5. But how many people remember this United Palestine Appeal sign?

6. There are new street signs on “The President’s” Street.

7. But there are other Presidents’ streets in Jerusalem, these

8. two are named for US presidents honored on February 18 in the US.

9. A favorite sign this time of year is this street named for Queen Esther.

10. Here is a sign for the new exhibit at the Israel Museum on King Herod.

Arab violence has increased outside the Jerusalem area.

The new government still is not in place, however,

it is interesting that the Israeli press (not a Purim joke)

11. has reported that this pistachio ice cream is the Prime Minister’s favorite,

and he requested NIS 10,000’s worth of it in this year’s budget.

12. Purim is a few days away, so will end with an all time favorite sign

as the bus soon will say “Happy Purim.”

In Jerusalem 10 Signs of Purim Season

February 12, 2013rjstreets

You can never tell what you will find on the streets of Jerusalem, Israel,

and that is especially true at this time of year.

The month of Adar has arrived,

and though the Purim holiday is still two weeks away,

here is a sign of the season, a great mask I passed on the street.

Across the street from the Prime Minister’s residence

blue balloons were hanging and blowing in the wind.

At first I thought they were some sort of reminder of a terrorist attack

that had killed 10 people at this spot in Adar of 2003.

But, the number 18 was not about years or the number of victims of terror,

when I looked more closely, they said:

18 ministers in the new government is enough!

End of season sale signs are up in Mamilla Mall, where

the humor themed art is perfect for this time of year.

The giant sign for February sport events and the Jerusalem Marathon

at Jaffa Gate cannot be missed.

Even with signs, the construction of new sidewalks

can be hard to figure out, and it took awhile to get around this mess.

For months on this corner, there was a protest against racism,

in the same spot where Gilad Shalit’s family spent so many years.

Today it was cleaned up and clear of all tents and banners.

You can now see the sign that says that it is prohibited to hang signs.

However, there are new signs being hung

across from Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence,

“Honored President, Save Pollard.”

There are many more signs of the Purim season,

but two of my favorites

are the street signs named for Mordechai the Jew,

and of course,

those full plates of hamentaschen being served where ever you go.