The first Shabbat after Passover, spring is showing its signs. We went out to search the Mahane Yehuda market and surrounding areas for those who had already finished making 'challat metha', which is capable of earning a living, and went out to complete some last-minute shopping at the market.
We began the tour with a short prayer for the memory of the late Pnei Menachem of Gur, on the alley leading to the market. There stood a beggar dressed in a turban, swaying alone, and preoccupied with prayer.
We joined and petitioned for surfers Haredim10, so that the virtue of challah may be beneficial.
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From there we continued to the open market and found 'Gulbenzitz.' No need for a first name, that's how everyone knows him. He finished his shopping trip at the market and was on his way back home.
"What is he taking pictures of?" asked the man walking beside him. Now he could tell.
Not far away we met Michael Yifrach. "What's the point of taking pictures?" he asked, smiling at the camera. "You photographers don't advertise it!""
So here, you can send him a link. By the way, the claim that it didn't come out well is completely unjustified.
""You're not taking pictures of us?" Nahum Septner asked. Ummm, I'll take pictures of them, but your wife won't agree to us publishing the picture, I said. "Why wouldn't you agree? Here she is joining the picture!""
One click, and we immediately moved to the next image.
""In honor of the holy Sabbath! In honor of the holy Sabbath!" was the cry from all sides. The watermelon and the tapping on it aroused the senses.
I hurried to take a picture, without the juicy sound. I realized that it's not just young people like the Dickman brothers (who we reported on here this weekend) who buy watermelons for family reunions.
Crowding is part of the market experience. The familiar phenomenon is the struggle over what to buy and the question of why we came here.
Journalist Manny Gira is seen walking back and forth as he enters the Ya'ale bakery, struggling and hitting his forehead, trying to remember what he has left to do here. Later, we will discover what was so important to him to accomplish, and what he ended up buying in the end of his wanderings.
While we were talking, journalist and manager of the 'Shabbat Square' Moti Lavie passed us. He ignored us, as he always does. We, who grew up on Rabbi Akiva's saying precisely during these days of the Omer - "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man" - did not ignore it. We added a photo of him buying crackers from the 'Maran' who comes to the center of the market - 'Moreno' crackers.
I'm not talking about Dov Eichler, who's standing on the left of the picture. He's been popular enough lately. I mean the one standing on the right: Ido Keinan, the director of the blog EROR 404. He's also a member of Haredi WhatsApp groups, and is no less knowledgeable about the 100-word story than you are. He's considered one of the most interesting and witty characters on the virtual network, and if you haven't met him yet - it's time.
And from room 404 we will move to site 24. He is modest and follows the path of Breslov Hasidism. He does not stand out, and he does his work quietly and without unnecessary pretension. His works grace almost every newspaper and every article on websites and in the Haredi press, his soldiers are deployed and reporting and filming news 24 hours a day.
Didn't you recognize the man? We can't help you. He asked that we not publish, so we respected that. We will only bring his part, hidden next to his companion.
The most exhausting thing at the market is buying all the last "pitzpakeks" for Shabbat. From crackers to safety pins for pants that ripped at the last minute. Yehuda Rubinstein is at the market buying his last "pitzpakeks": challah for Shabbat. Didn't you bake challah in the shape of a key? We asked. "My mother baked it, I bought it as a backup.".
We reached the end of the market, and found journalist Meni Gira again. He seemed calmer. He found what he was looking for: red roses for his wife, Attorney Rivka. This time he invested more than once and bought two bouquets. Let's hope Rivka appreciates it.
""Journalist Itzik Halperin is sitting at the Azura restaurant," the report said. To our disappointment, it turned out that he had already done his 'tawami' and left the place. In his place, we found an improved lookalike of journalist Mandy Grozman (Ma'ariv) wearing a hat similar to Halperin's. We documented it, for the segment.
The father carries the heavy cart, and the son carries the bags. Where did Bara Mazchia get his reward? Role reversal.
As Shabbat approaches, the sirens in the neighborhood echo. Cantor Dov Heller received a huge delivery from his mother-in-law - the mother of journalist Shoshi Heller. His children waited on the porch, expecting surprises. Heller went down to pick up the heavy delivery, and we waited for him there. It seemed we couldn't help, so we treated you to a picture, both of him and the children, dripping with sweetness.
In Mazal Tov • On Shabbat, a wedding reception was held for Dutsy Gottstein and his partner Rina Klein at the 'Shabtai' synagogue of the Kabbalist Rabbi Gamliel Rabinowitz. The wedding will take place this coming Tuesday at the 'Hadar Dimol' halls.
A son has come to us • You won't read this in 'Yated Ne'eman': On Shabbat, a wedding was held in Jerusalem for the son of 'Yated Ne'eman' reporter Israel Rosner. The wedding, which was held at 'Carlin', was attended by everyone. And if you are up to date on the baby's new name, you are welcome to tell us.
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