One Day before Pessach

B"H

Jerusalem is full of Jews from abroad arriving for Pessach. At the same time, thousands of Christians are spreading all over the Old City because they are celebrating Easter this week. Most Christians are staying in Arab hostels or hotels in or near the Old City. A rip - off place, as the Palestinians are aware of the tourist's desire to celebrate a holiday. If you stay at a hostel near Jaffa Gate or Damascus Gate, the owner will charge you double or more for a dirty and sometimes even moldy room without windows. So, watch out in order not to loose too much money. And don't buy the so - called handmade items in the Arab market. The salespeople call it "handmade" but if you have a closer look, you will see the little sign on the bottom "Made in Taiwan".

Next Sunday morning, during the morning prayer Shacharit, the famous "Birkat HaCohanim - Blessing of the Cohanim) is taking place. An hour or so later, the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu is giving a speech at the square in the Jewish Quarter.

I am spending almost the entire Chag (holiday) in Tel Aviv and thus escaped the Jerusalem pressure and chaos. And as most of you know, Tel Aviv works different; many stores sell Chametz (forbidden grains during Pessach) and the atmosphere may be not too religious. Nevertheless, Pessach is also vacation time and I am going hiking. At the coast, in the north ...

Chabad in Shenkin Street is offering some Pessach events. They even hung out a list with all the "kasher le'Pessach" places in Tel Aviv. A great idea and in case that you are in the "city which never sleeps", go to the Dizengoff Center or the Azrieli Tower and you find many kosher restaurants. Not everything is treife (impure) and, as I saw this morning, even the boycotted (by Chassidut Gur and the Edah HaCharedit) chain "AM:PM" is cleaning for Pessach.

The worst for me as an Ashkenazi is finding proper food during Pessach. Additionally, I don't eat Gebrochts which makes it even more complicated. Potatoes, vegetables, fruit, fish, meat and eggs. That's all.

Sounds like enough food but in Israel you need to pay attention: Many products contain Kidniot and sometimes it takes a while until you find something eatable. Especially cold meat, sausages or canned food.

At least I am not Vishnitz; otherwise I wouldn't be allowed to eat fish. Many (not all) Vishnitzer still follow and old custom not eating fish during Pessach because in the Middle Ages, fish was packed in the same bags as flour. Anyway, I heard that the Satmarer have the same custom.