Pesach – come experience Jerusalem
This week we celebrated the feasts of Pesach, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. This meant that we did not prepare a study. However, as we did previously, we will try to share the Jerusalem experience. During the first part of the feasts we have taken a number of pictures for you to see what happens in Jerusalem during Pesach.
Pesach, like Sukkot, is always an extremely busy time in the city. Police implement crowd control measures that mean that some streets get closed off and some passages are converted to one-way traffic. Of course, this means that traffic backs up in all sorts of places and tempers start to rise.
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- The traffic in front of the Old City blocks up as the police start closing the streets for the crowds expected in the Old City.
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- The streets of the Old City become crowded as the tourists start flocking in.
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- As more people arrive the narrow streets of the Old City becomes very busy and difficult to navigate.
The Jewish Quarter in the Old City is where you really experience the feasts.
New sign at the entrance to the Jewish Quarter.
It is always interesting to watch all the people prepare for the feast of Unleavened Bread. The bakeries start to sell off all their baked products, and then replaced them with new biscuits that contain no leaven. All shops are cleaned, homes are swept clean and even the cars receive a clean.
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- The days leading up to Unleavened bread. All bakeries sell off their leavened goods.
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- As the shops are being cleaned of the leaven, the sale continues on the sidewalk.
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- Buying the last leavened bread at the market.
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- Selling off all the wonderful baked goods.
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- Trays full of baked desserts are also up for grabs.
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- Even the car receives a good clean before the feast starts.
Before the First Day of Unleavened Bread, the last leaven is burned outside the Jewish Quarter. This is also the time that the palm branches left over from Sukkot are burned.
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- Outside the Jewish Quarter, by the outside wall, large fires are started to burn the leaven.
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- All inhabitants of the Old City bring their last leaven plus the palm branches from Sukkot to these fires.
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- The boys always like to play with the fire.
The shops have a very “interesting” way of getting rid of leaven. They simply cover the shelves that contain leavened products during the seven days. We have also heard that they actually sell the leavened products to a non-believer for the seven days.
The next step is to buy the products required for the Seder.
Enough products at the market for all the Seder meals happening in the city.
The shops also start selling the unleavened products.
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- Shops clearly display that they now sell Unleavened products.
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- First unleavened bread is ready! Let the feast begin!
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- In the Christian and Arab Quarters of the city the bakeries continue as normal.
On the day of First Fruits we also look at the wild barley on the outside of the Old City on our way to the City of David.
The barley next to the wall of the Old City on the way to the City of David.
As usual, the streets are filled with musicians. This always gives the city a feeling of festivity.
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- Musician sitting in Jaffa Gate
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- Lady playing the harp in the streets of the Old City.
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- Flute player.
The city is also a place of variety. What ever you need to buy, you can have it in almost any color.
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- Kippot you can get in any color, pattern or size.
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- Have you aver seen so many different styles?
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- And colors to choose from?
At the Jewish market you can have your pick of fruits, vegetables, fresh produce, spices or any other product you may need.
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- Fresh fruit and vegetables
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- Fresh eggs
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- Any spice you can think of. Fresh or grounded, mixed or plain.
But the biggest variety of all you will find in the people of the city.
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- Friendly Russian Orthodox Jew.
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- Orthodox man sitting in the Old City.
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- Christian monks.
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- Christian ceremony in the Old City.
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- Arab men enjoying some coffee in the sun.
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- Shop owners in the Arab quarter in conversation.
Last, but not least, let us not forget what country we are in. Security is always a concern for the people of Israel.
Soldiers walking around remind you of the threat that this nations lives under.
Next year in Jerusalem! Have a blessed 7th day feast.
Further reading
Tags: First Fruits, Israel, Jerusalem, Pesach, Unleavened
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Comments (12)
Elmie
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Thank you so much for all the beautiful pictures. So wonderful to know our Messias is alive and He rejoice with us in all of these festivities! Shalom
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Sheila Lemieux
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Chats Sameach
Thank you for those great pics
I can smell and hear the sounds of each one
Did Pesach in Portugal but will see you in the Sukkot celebration in Jerusalem
Shalom
Sheila
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Wendy
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Thanks for the lovely photos it brings back many memories
We are in Lisbon now getting ready for Shabbat.
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Stephen
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Shalom Schalk and Elsa! My family and I are here in Jerusalem also. Would you have time to get together on Shabbat? Is there a place you like to go on Shabbat? (Believers meeting, synagogue, etc)
Yah bless you!
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Schalk_and_Elsa
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Shalom Stephen,
We are in the Jerusalem hostel. We usually go to independance park on shabbat around 14h00. You are welcome to look us up at the hostel or meet there with us. There are usually many believers with us in the park.
Blessings, looking forward to meeting you and your family
Elsa and Schalk
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Wendy
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Elsa, we were talking this afternoon about preparing for next year. Here’s our question.
If we have purchased our breads, crackers and alike before Aviv. of 2016. And then we are into the 14th day of the first month and have to get rid of the leavened things in our house.
We were trying to figure this out. What are your ideas on this.
Thanks and blessings
Wendy
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Schalk_and_Elsa
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Shalom Wendy,
I would wait and purchase those items after the feast of unleavened bread is over. Otherwise, you could buy the flour etc and bake your own bread. Yeast and baking powder I would definitely buy only after the end of the feast. The feast of first fruits starts the barley harvest and wheat is harvested after Shavuot, so you would still be able to buy produce from the previous year’s harvest, so you won’t be transgressing if you do this.
Hope this helps and thanks for your question,
Shalom,
Elsa
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Sue
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I am thinking of visiting Jerusalem for Sukkot.
Is there only one Jerusalem hostel?
If not, which do you recommend?
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Sue
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Sorry – that was a bit brief!
Shalom Schalk & Esla!
I hope you had a great time in Jerusalem!
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Schalk_and_Elsa
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Shalom Sue,
There is only one Jerusalem hostel, but it already fully booked for Sukkpot. You can also look at the Abraham hostel or the Jaffa gate hostel.
Shalom,
Elsa
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Craig
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Very nice visual presentation and explanation – Thanks!
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Danilo Perez
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Great to know how this Biblical Holy Day is being observed….thanks for your pictures…I am learning..and hope to learn more through your site…
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