VIDEO: "BALABASTA Culture Event at Jerusalem's Machane Yehudah Market"

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Here is a little bit of the famous Machane Yehudah Market atmosphere. Today was also another day where the summer festival BALABASTA took place. 

Enjoy the short video ! I am going to put some more Balabasta videos into the blog. Nevertheless, the upload on Youtube is taking me a tremendously long time.

Bagele, Bagele

The Bagele are the same, only the light was different.:-)

Seen at the Jerusaleme Machane Yehudah Markt.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

BALABASTA Photos / 12 August 2012

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It is August and this means its time for the Jerusalem BALABASTA. The name of the event may sound crazy but what it basically means is a huge cultural event in the middle of the Machane Yehudah Market. 

Organized by the Municipality and boycotted by the Edah HaCharedit (to much Pritzut - immorality). Many stand owners hate the event because thousands of visitors from all over the country are coming to the market but hardly anyone is buying. Who wants to schlepp around apples or water melon when it is party time ?

In Hebrew, a BASTA is a market stand. The BALABASTA is taking place every Sunday evening (until midnight) at the Machane Yehudah Market. Jugglers, clowns, bands, attraction for children, anything you can imagine. Its a nice event and not that dirty (as the Edah claims) but it is definitely too crowded. 

Nevertheless, here are some pictures from yesterday's BALABASTA. Those who missed it, next Sunday will be another event. 
Oh, I almost forgot: No entrance fee !!!

The Lubavitcher (Chabad) Chassidim are everywhere. Even at the BALABASTA.

A funny show with laundry

Security Check

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Twilight in Jerusalem

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Many of my photos may give you the impression that Jerusalem is a nice, clean and romantic town. Only part of this impression is true, as Jerusalem also its has ugly sides. Dirty, neglected and neighbourhoods where strangers shouldn't necessarily go to. The most "famous" bad neighbourhoods are Gonen / Katamonim around the Bar Yochai Street and Stern Street in Kiryat Yovel. 

Usually no tourist is going there anyway but from what tourists definitely should refrain is walking around in East Jerusalem after the sun went down. If you have to, at least, leave your cash and smartphone in the hotel safe.

Nevertheless, here are a few more photos showing the positive side of Jerusalem:

A street where I used to live some years ago.  Deep downtown Jerusalem and I was really happy there. Once, Chavazelet Street used to be the main connection between the Russian Compound / HaNevi'im Street area but today, the entire street has turned into a shopping mall with nice little cafes.

Twilight in Jerusalem

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Jerusalem Grocery's go 24 Hours

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In Tel Aviv, the 24 hour grocery chain AM:PM (similar to 7:11 in the US) has become extremely popular in recent years. People finishing work late prefer shopping at AM:PM. However, you have to take into account that the chain opens on Shabbat as well as on most Jewish holidays. Except on Yom Kippur and the Eves of the Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom Ha'Shoah) and on the memorial day for Israel's fallen soldiers, Yom Ha'Zikaron. Furthermore, the prices at AM:PM are tremendously high and due to rise every other week. 

Jerusalem also had its 24 hour grocery stores in the past but recently, more and more of those stores have been opening. There are, at least, two of those 24 hour stores in Derech Hebron Street. Open on Shabbat too. A new store just opened in HaNevi’im Street (right outside the Avraham Hostel). Another new shop can be found in (Kuk) Street (between Jaffa Road and HaNevi’im). 

Just recently I went to one of those Jerusalem stores and noticed that their prices are even higher than their counterpart in Tel Aviv. 

You find them at almost every corner in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan: AM:PM Chains

Photo: Miriam Woelke

To the tourists staying at the Avraham Hotel: If you depend on a tight budget don't necessarily use the 24 hour stores but rather do your groceries at the nearby Machane Yehudah Market !

Morning Rush Hour in Jerusalem

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Shabbat is right ahead

Jaffa Road in Downtown Jerusalem this evening. There are no barriers around the tracks of the towns tram and people just pass without always paying too much attention. Despite several traffic lights.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

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A burning hot day is coming to an end and I am glad that the sun has finally disappeard. Now the famous Jerusalem "cool summer breeze" is coming out and its nice to walk around outside. 

For those sending me comments: I haven't been able to publish them, as Blogger seems to have problems. However, I will publish them as soon as Blogger is functioning properly. 

To the person commenting on Chassidut Gur and how the group gained its wealth: What you wrote is true and there were quite a few Gerrer Chassidim settling in Israel in the 1920s. At the moment, I am reading the book "THE REBBE" (on Chassidut Chabad - Lubavitch) and even there, the two authors mention that Gur already had a functioning community in Israel during World War II. Chabad, on the other hand, had nothing due to the Rebbe's anti - Zionism (Rebbe Yoseph Yitzchak Schneersohn) policy. 

Quite a few readers sent me e - mails asking about the involvement of Chabad in Beit El and I haven't been able to answer. I was actually planning to go to Beit El this week but, in the end, it didn't work out, as I simply didn't find the time. Next week I am planning to go to two further events: A German organization located in Jerusalem invited me to an event where also Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat is going to participate. Secondly, I am going to Kever Rachel on Wednesday. I have never been to the Kever and will look around, take plenty of pictures and speak to the Jews around the Kever.
 

Now I will put a few words about this week's Parasha together and then enjoy the cool summer breeze !

Religion at the Machane Yehudah Market (Jerusalem)

Chabad Tefillin at the Machane Yehudah Market

Na Nach Breslover at the Machane Yehudah Market.

Chabad Meshichistim

Entrance to the Machane Yehudah Market

And again: Chabad

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Jerusalem of concrete

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Jerusalem is full of concrete. Israel is a tiny country with a growing population. People need space but when you build a house in Jerusalem, the amount of squaremeters of your property will be limited. It doesn't matter how rich you are, your house won't be much bigger than the neighbour's house. 

As a result of this, huge apartment complexes are beeing built. Apartment next to apartment. Everything squeezed is and you can look out of the window and almost see the food on your neighbour's plate. 

Top Photo: A new apartment complex between the Central Bus Station and haredi Ge'ulah. The tenants are mainly haredi.

And right across:

Hotels, office and apartment buildings. As you can see on the poster in the front, another apartment complex is being built. Luxury apartments for the wealthy. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have a serious housing problem. The growing population needs more affordable apartments but only places for the rich are being built. 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Springtime in Jerusalem

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After a couple days of sunshine, the weather is getting colder and rainy again.  Nevertheless, spring has arrived in Jerusalem.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Where to eat at the Machane Yehudah Market ?

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One of the best places to eat when you are walking around at Jerusalem's Machane Yehudah Market is the Fish & Chips place in one of the smaller alleyways, right across "Pasta Basta". The "Fish & Chips" is a small place run by a couple of young Sephardi guys. The place has a Hechsher from the "Rabbanut Yerushalaim" (Kasher Le'Mehadrin) and you can either order take - away or sit on one the chairs nearby. 

Personally I recommend ordering the 32 Shekel meal (approx. 9 Dollar) which is chips and fish sticks. Very fresh and great taste. All kinds of dips are included.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Jerusalem Tram at Night

Shopping & Restaurant in Nachlaot / Jerusalem

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Shopping and all kinds of places to eat in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Nachlaot. Including the Machane Yehudah Market and the surrounding areas like Bezalel Street. 

Those of you who love great and tasty bread should go to the TELLER Bakery in Agrippas Street. The bakery has a Rabbanut Yerushalaim Hechsher. True, some other bakeris in the area may have a "better" Hechsher shuch as "Belz" but the Hechsher alone doesn't speak for the taste of the bread. Neither for cleanliness (Teller is spotless) and customer service. Furthermore, every evening at around 6pm, Teller sells most products for 50 % !

http://ronpeled.com/jerusalem/RJ_small.pdf