As Jewish women and activists, we know that when working towards social change we spend a lot of time…running.

There’s the running around to sort out logistics, racing to make deadlines, pacing to avoid burnout and working to keep inspired. The Women of the Wall are certainly familiar with running.

We are on the frontlines of the struggle against the exclusion of women in the public sphere in Israel: we race to get to Rosh Hodesh prayer on time, we follow alongside women arrested mid-prayer at the Kotel, and we have bravely stepped up in our legal struggles as well as in our current negotiations with the government. We are constantly pushing ourselves to reach our goals of equality, social advocacy, education and empowerment.

When it comes to making a difference, we have actually been ‘in training’ for years — as  mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.

As Women of the Wall, we have come a long way together in 25 years, in prayer and in sisterhood for our cause of free prayer for women at the Kotel.  There is no better way to show pride in the strides we have made than to run together in the Jerusalem Marathon! In the same way that running builds physical and emotional strength, Women of the Wall seeks to empower women within religious ritual to strengthen our own connections to our Judaism.

Our running team is already forming, and we welcome you to join us.  Stand with us at the starting line for unity and diversity, and just as we pray at the Kotel together each in her own tradition, all our Jerusalem Marathon participants will run their own distance at their own pace  in the 10k, the Half, or full marathon. With Jerusalem as our backdrop and motivator, we will run, walk or jog side by side with Jerusalemites and Israelis, celebrating the diversity that shines across the City of Gold.

Register now to join our team. We welcome all supporters – men and women, full-time runners and those just starting out – to join us for any of the tracks at the Jerusalem Marathon on March 21, 2014.

Register with us by Tu B’Shvat –Wednesday, January 15 – to represent Women of the Wall (and get the free t-shirt!). To join or learn about sponsoring our team, contact media@womenofthewall.org.il. For updates, ‘Like’ our Women of the Wall Run the Jerusalem Marathon page on Facebook. See you at the starting line!