middle east current events

Favorite Photos of the International Jerusalem Marathon 2024

Sharon A

The International Jerusalem Winner Marathon was held on Friday morning March 8, 2024.

The Jerusalem Municipality decided to hold the annual marathon as planned, as a tribute to the IDF, security forces, and rescue teams, aiming to strengthen social resilience during the ongoing war on the southern and northern fronts.

As for the past 14 years, I was out there to see the thousands of people on the Jerusalem streets.

This is the 13th year of the full Jerusalem marathon, but before that, there was a half-marathon race.

Less than 48 hours before the first full marathon was run there was a deadly bombing in Jerusalem.

In 2011, the weather was a negative factor, as the grounds in Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, flooded with mud.

This year the weather was ideal and cool as the lead runners went past the 7-kilometer mark on their way on the 42.2 K route around the new and ancient Jerusalem streets.

Place markers for a finish time of 3 1/2 hours were blue for the full marathon blue number tags.

It is just the beginning of the full marathon and this part of the race was similar to past years.

But this year there were more Israeli flags, and more IDF runners, one even ran in full uniform.

Women participate enthusiastically on pace with the men.

There were fewer international full marathon runners, but some local regulars were back on course.

Some appreciated having their photo taken, as this man wearing a tee shirt “Run for their Lives” group.

The Pineapple Marathon Runner was back again this year,

yes, he runs international marathons with a pineapple on his head.

There were fewer full marathon runners this year, but still plenty of excitement

and new colored shirts for new groups.

Marathoners ran in pairs,

or pushing a stroller,

it did not feel like there were fewer runners as they kept coming.

The young people giving out water along the way were enthusiastic as always.

The red on his number indicated half-marathon and he could have been the winner, the first one I saw.

And another leader of the half marathon was nearing the finish line.

But this bar mitzvah year Jerusalem Winner Marathon was different – some with the same shirts.

Others remember the hostages with photos pinned on the regular race shirts

and empty chairs with more pictures of those held captive in Gaza.

The booths for larger running groups were back in the park.

There were so many runners in the smaller races that it was hard to get to all the booths.

It was good to see that runners returned from overseas to participate again this year as in the past.

The Ari Fuld Project was back again in this booth.

OneFamily again had hundreds of runners in their red shirts, including international participants.

New this year were 300 red shirts for Team Hersh, “Bring_Hersh_Home” – 5 months being held in Gaza.

With the very early starting times, putting on tefillin while getting the best photos can be a challenge.

However, 40,000 runners and their supporters got up early and filled Gan Sacher on Friday morning.

More visible security than in the past years, and security was a constant presence.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion ran in a shorter race and was all smiles ready to greet the full marathon winner at the finish line in Gan Sacher.

Ready and waiting, arms up and with the first-place medal in his hand.

For the full marathon winner’s finish, a crowd was waiting and watching on all sides.

Cameras and phones were ready for Melkamu Jember to break the tape.

By checking the number on his shirt, I could tell he was not the lead runner in my earlier video.

There was not as much attention paid to the full marathon third-place finisher

or the first-place women’s full marathon winner.

Her family was there for a hug.

But the Jerusalem marathon has two finish lines, one in the park and another on the street next to it.

Here is where tens of thousands of runners of the other smaller races arrive.

And hundreds of others wait and watch.

Each runner after crossing the finish line gets a medal.

In the Jerusalem Winner Marathon this year, there were few costumes and many flags.

The supporters of the full marathon were able to cross with their runners.

There was the “Run for their Lives” runner who had stopped for a photo near the beginning.

Kol Hakavod to all the full marathon runners. This year there was short notice with the late decision to hold the races, and the lack of enough training time kept some marathoners away.

However, the Jerusalem “marathon” is more about the shorter 5K, 10K, and Family Races along with the good causes that are supported by the runners raising funds to help others.

This was a blue and white flag year,

A year where getting to the finish line was an accomplishment.

For some easier than for others to reach their full marathon goal.

Walking home – there he was with the pineapple on his head. Missed him last year, but got him twice this time, even though I missed the one person I was waiting to see.

You did not have to be running a full marathon on Friday to be tired.

Or to be an early finisher to be happy and proud,

or even to be running the full marathon to pose.

Supporters cheered on the marathoners still on the road after 5 hours.

Approaching the finish line after 40 kilometers on the hilly Jerusalem streets is no easy feat.

Am Yisrael Chai – #RunwithIsrael – the 13th International Jerusalem Winner Marathon was a winner.

It was also a day to pay tribute to the fallen, murdered, and captives.

On Day 154, with 134 hostages still captive in Gaza, to draw attention to the plight of the families suffering, with their loved ones held for so long with no word of their condition.

It was a good day for tens of thousands of people on the Jerusalem streets.

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.