Rain was no deterrent to the annual Jerusalem March, which got off to a wet start Wednesday, in high spirits nevertheless.
There were thousands of participants marching and singing, and thousands more lined the streets to cheer them.
Jaffa Road, the city’s main thoroughfare, was closed to traffic at 1:30 p.m., when the parade reached the center of town.
The festive event occurs during the intermediate days of Sukkot. There is a choice of two routes — one of about 15 miles and another half that distance.
The parade is a mix of military and civilian marchers. Local shops, businesses and factories have a tradition of taking part. So do foreign groups, such as the Japanese Zionist Makoyo sect, Finnish Christian groups and a colorful group from the International Christian Embassy.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
