middle east current events – Page 86 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Passover in and out of Jerusalem

April 8, 2015rjstreets

Passover time in Jerusalem, Israel,

sees a population exchange.

Many locals rent (or try to rent) their homes

to holiday visitors for large sums,

and go away for the week.

Even more take day or overnight trips

to one of Israel’s amazing nature spots

like this one near Zichron Yaakov in Ramat Hanadiv park.

Estimates were as high as 75,000 people

for Monday morning’s holiday annual

Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing.

But huge crowds were at

the Kotel, the Western Wall all day the next day as well.

Not only were prayer services held at the Kotel and at regular synagogues,

but impromptu minyanim for the afternoon prayers

sprung up just about everywhere.

It was good to see First Station busy again,

but this was the only sign of the new Luna Park.

The free shuttle bus service was finally being used,

with a full size buse to accommodate the crowds,

in addition to the special vans.

The route was different and it went to a different Old City Gate.

While walking to Kotel, you could see

people on top of the Walls looking down at Silwan below.

Streets were closed and blocked to cars,

while some places were even blocked to pedestrians.

I was not allowed to walk up this alley,

but the guy in white shirt was allowed to smoke.

The closings caused a lot of extra walking for people.

This little girl is watching a man from an Arabic tour,

who is taking a video of the hasid, religious Jewish man,

while I was taking photos of the Arabic writing on the back of his vest.

Warm, clear weather was perfect for

the large and diverse crowds,

and for photos in Jerusalem on Passover.

Mamilla Mall had extra balloon people

and we hear they did a great business.

And of course, there was food.

Parks were filled with picnics and BBQ grills,

and the sky filled with smoke.

Many food places were closed for the holiday.

The ones that were open did just about anything with potatoes.

However,

this pizza did not seem to be too popular

with one young family.

But, always popular

is the holiday greeting on Jerusalem buses,

Happy and Kosher Passover.

Israeli Opera in Jerusalem Shuk

March 25, 2015rjstreets

When Shakespeare wrote

that ‘the whole world is a stage,’

somehow I do not think a cheese shop

or fruit and vegetable stand was what he had in mind.

However, the Israeli Opera had

performers in Machane Yehuda Market,

the shuk on Monday singing arias.

The man selling nuts was smiling,

as was the green grocer across the way.

So was I after they found my cell phone.

Trying to get a good shot with so many photographers

pushing in the crowded and narrow alleyways,

I almost lost my phone there.

There was more than one place used as a stage,

some shoppers were determined to keep going,

while others in the market became part of the show.

“L’elisir d’amore” by Gaetnao Donizetti

is to be performed in the Sultan’s Pool the end of June,

and some Jerusalem shoppers got a preview.

As cameras rolled,

one girl in the crowd was serenaded to by this opera singer,

but after an hour the surprise show was over,

and it was back to time for holiday preparations.

Mountains of fresh garlic have arrived in the shuk

and piles of fresh fruits and vegetable are ready,

and one fresh fish store was really popular.

I loved this sign,

this store is ready for Passover and

NO ONE is to bring in anything that is not for Passover.

Now if only my house was nearly as ready.

Jerusalem Marathon 30 Photos

March 16, 2015rjstreets

Again this year, some love it and some hate it.

The Fifth International Jerusalem Winner Marathon

was run on Friday morning.

While I love some aspects of this event,

at the same time some parts are hard to like.

With over 26,000 runners from 60 countries,

in many various races, many streets were closed to traffic.

This year I tried to take fewer photos,

and ended up with over 300.

Then I hated trying to get down to just a few to share.

You see how long it took to publish this post.

Now I hope you will enjoy a few favorites.

My favorite selfie was of these two men

whose finish time was not as important as their photo.

There were many good causes that raised money,

but Shalva was the first.

Shalva took part in the half-marathons before there was a full marathon.

Walking with children of ALEH were uniformed police.

ALEH was first at the starting line for a special “race.”

Please take a minute to look and appreciate

the police officer and child on the left.

Amazing.

I am so proud to know the woman whose

design made it possible for that child to “walk in a marathon”

more ALEH photos here.

I hate that there were too many great causes

and charities, and I had to cut out many pictures.

Chai Lifeline had a large group with bunches of balloons,

lots of walkers and great spirit.

One Family’s red shirts could also be seen everywhere.

Karen Or was walking again this year.

These girls got my attention,

they seemed to be having a great time,

I am not sure which group they were with,

but photos of them are going viral.

The crowd in the park was so large

and colorful, but it was hard to get a good photograph.

So many people.

So many came from around the world.

The media was interested in the half-marathon winner.

But my favorites visiting runners were

this man and his wife from Philadelphia, PA.

They came with 6 family members,

just to run in Jerusalem marathon races,

to raise funds for lone soldiers,

and to celebrate his 80th birthday this week.

Thousands of runners passed the finish line,

and entered the Gan Sacher lined with water bottles.

In the park there were teams of supporters;

AACI,

the Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin,

and Yachad were just a few of dozens.

While the marathon winners were popular with the news crews,

there was more going on.

The annual hand bike race, for example,

and exercises and music and of course – food.

Two finish lines were confusing to new comers.

The finish line for only the full marathon was at one end of the park,

lined with supporters,

here as the third and four place Israeli winners came in.

The men’s full marathon winners had their moment of glory

and got trophies from Mayor Nir Barkat.

The 10K and 5K runners were coming

up the hill to the finish line,

with the Knesset in view in the background

in crowds of thousands.

I did not find all of my family members,

and I did not see friends from near and far who ran

for the first time,

yet this one man I had seen at the start,

there he was again as he came into the home stretch.

“If you can dream it, you can do it”

seemed like a perfect motto to start this day

and this smile a good one to end with.

Photos had to be cut to keep this from becoming another marathon.

If you want to see more of Jerusalem Marathon 2015,

additional pictures are posted on RJS Facebook page.