The shuk (market)was so lively today, only two days before Passover (Pesach) begins.
In the foreground here you see holiday cookies made with wine, peanut flour, or coconut. For the whole week of Pesach we are not to eat anything that has chametz. Chametz is any substance that contains leavening from any of the cereal grains wheat, barley, oats, spelt, or rye. The Ashkenazi Jews even extend this prohibition to anything which MIGHT have touched chametz, like rice and lentils. Sefardic Jews traditionally do eat rice, however.
Anyway, the fruit and vegetable sellers took this opportunity to almost double their prices today. I decided to stock up on photos instead of food. Prices will return to normal,i.e. quite low, after the holiday.
These live carp will probably be ground up by the Jewish housewives and cooked as gefilte fish for the seder table.
Two ultra-orthodox boys wait for the parents to come and fill the cart. They both have long peyot, sidecurls, but one has them tucked up under his kippa. Kids are out of school for Pesach vacation, and there were many in the shuk today.
Jerusalem's Shuk Machaneh Yehuda is a marvelous place. I love it.
Quite an interesting view of all the preparations! That market looks great, all except the higher prices.
ReplyDeleteR.R., wish you could come and see it in person. The prices will come down again in a few days, after the holiday feeding frenzy.
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing the photos of the market. All the food,people, buildings, everything was so interesting. It does look like a marvelous place and I can see why you would love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is all very interesting and your pictures are great. I've been reading your blog but sometimes I'm not a good commenter so I keep quiet. It's a shame they set the prices up but I guess they do that every where.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your great photos on Picture This
Do they shave the front of those kids hair off? Again, I've never heard of this before.
ReplyDeleteI'm learning so much of this site Dina!
The shuk looks like a place I would just love to wander through
ReplyDeleteI would love to be there and witness that scene. Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post, because I can see another country and culture. Love the dome of this market!
ReplyDeleteWow, I love markets like these, amazing pictures. I'm learning so much from your blog, thank you.
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