Shabbat Hagadol,
so much to do, so little time,
sending a few flowers to stop and smile,
and wish all
שבת שלום
11 Signs of Passover in Jerusalem
In the streets of Jerusalem, Israel,
you can feel the holidays approaching.
People are arriving from around the world,
tourists are everywhere.
OK, sometimes you can hear it too,
with people honking at rental cars unsure of their next move.
With a long list of things to do it was hard
to decide what to share first,
the Mummy at the Israel Museum,
or maybe the special Passover and spring activities
at the Bloomfield Science Museum?
The Matzah baking in Kikar Safra was great
it is unfortunately too late to see the Jerusalem Arts Festival.
However,
a sure sign Passover preparations are heating up,
large pots of boiling water can be found in multiple locations,
every last bit of chometz, bread products must be gone by Monday.
Children are out of school for the holidays.
A Spring Musicale is at the Train Theater April 12- 18.
36 museums and attractions around Israel will be
free of charge from April 12-16, thanks to Bank Hapoalim.
The Passover story at Menachem Begin Heritage Center
is one of the free events in Jerusalem,
also included are the Bible Lands Museum,
the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Botanical Gardens.
Signs are posted for the Shabbat Hagadol derashot of prominent rabbis,
many synagogues will have special lectures this Shabbat.
Look around and you will see signs
and smells of spring flowers along the Jerusalem streets.
Look up and these signs line the road,
Chag Aviv Sameach,
Happy Spring Holiday,
is happening in the Jerusalem.
See Passover Matzah Baking in Jerusalem
Passover is a special time in Jerusalem.
Before Passover you can find almost anything discarded on the streets.
This week I saw an old bed, a new can of flavored bread crumbs,
electrical appliances, and a single, brand-new white shoe out by the trash.
In Kikar Safra, Municipal Square,
a Matzah b’Kikar Festival was held outside City Hall.
The weather was perfect last week for the event.
Among the attractions were
a woman washing clothes by hand,
an old time junk dealer,
a spiffy tailor,
and a vintage photographer.
But the main attraction,
was matzah baking.
It featured four ovens fueled by gas tanks.
Aprons, gloves and perfect timing were mandatory
for those at the work tables in the preparation tent.
Staff in orange vests carried the
used stainless steel rolling pins
to be cleaned of every last drop of dough
between batches of baking matzah.
Dozens of wooden poles were lined up outside,
for the workers to rush the rolled dough to the ovens.
Boxes of the hand-made baked matzahs
were ready for the participants to take home.
It is a shame more people did not take advantage of this
public, free event held over two afternoons.
I’m glad I saw a full page ad in a Hebrew paper,
but I know many heard about the matzah baking too late.
The festival signs were up along some roads,
but it was impossible to read the small print from moving cars.
Baking matzah in Jerusalem, Israel, before Passover,
just one step in preparation for the holiday.