We are usually a divided people, but after the kidnapping of the three young men, the people moved to complete unity. At the Mahane Yehuda market, those who come regularly know this unity from day to day. On Friday this week, we also met colleagues and journalists, whose share of the calm was evident. This is proof of how much the market does good for everyone, wherever they are.
A Flower for Shabbat • On my way out to the market, I come across a square where two yeshiva students are looking for a beautiful flower for Shabbat, perhaps to feel a sense of home in the yeshiva room. The sirens behind me left me no choice but to continue, and wish them in my heart that they would find one good flower.
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Missing Mom • At the entrance to the market, at the beginning of the street leading to it, I see through the lens journalist Yossi Elitov, getting out of his car, which he parked not far from Mom's restaurant. He is engrossed in his phone. Apparently new information about the kidnapped people.
A large sip • At the entrance to the market, there is an atmosphere of freedom. The beer brings hearts closer, the smiles transmit an atmosphere of joy, but every conversation ends with a blessing of hope that the kidnapped will be found - and quickly.
Yeshiva of Mateh • They are a group of yeshiva students who returned from the Dead Sea. "Don't take pictures, we just look like guys with helmets and towels and swimsuits." "Take pictures of the feet," one of them shouts. I took pictures, did you recognize any of them? Tell them.
Such a family • Moishe Porosh also went out for some small, complete shopping with his wife. The wife, who caught the camera, hid behind his back. He, on the other hand, went over to say hello to our companion.
Unity • "Don't put on tefillin, but understand that the universe is bigger than you," these were the words the Rabbi said to him while I was taking the picture. After that, the argument became more interesting, but I couldn't stay. I continued.
A man with a smile • Every time I see him, he always smiles. No matter where he is - whether it's in Belza, at the big wedding, or at the market, or just in the city. The smile never leaves Harshi Mann's face.
Colored Kippah • Last week I photographed him shopping in the market. I didn't know his name. This week he came up to me and said that if I publish his picture - I will write his name. I promised that it would happen. So his name is Shlomi Salem (in the top photo). Not far from there was another guy with a colored Kippah. I just hope that next week I won't have to write his name too...
Friday's Dad • We've already written about the babysitting phenomenon at the market. Apparently there's no father who goes to the market without taking the next generation with him. So here they are: of all kinds with all the strollers, shopping for Saturday at the market.
History • And so, inside the candy store, we found these little candies. Once upon a time, they were sold in tiny packages - they were called 'licorice.' Now they're back on the shelf, by weight.
The photographer in the photo • Kobi Har Zvi, a website photographer in Hadere Haredim, also came to the market to shop. Because come on, who would give up doing a market in Jerusalem? But the big surprise was that he came without a camera. We didn't give up a dreamy photo of the rugelach he bought.
President of your people • The president-elect of the state unexpectedly arrived at the Mahane Yehuda market - also to shop. Several boys recognized him, shouted at him 'Selfie, Selfie' - and he continued. Then he stopped, turned back, and called out to the boys: "Selfie! Selfie, come here." To passersby, it seemed as if the boy's name was Selfie. They took pictures.
Meeting of the Bad Guys • Yossi Elitov, who had already found parking near the market, sat down for a friendly conversation with a family journalist, Shimon Breitkopf, and the personal assistant of the Chief Rabbi Yosef - his uncle Amar (who tried to hide his face). They were just sitting with drinks. Why not eat? They explained that they were waiting for Shabbat food at home.
Market Lunch • And there are those who, even though they were supposed to eat at home on Shabbat, went out to buy pizza. The short waiting time, due to the small number of buyers, earned them an additional discount on treats from the seller - pizza with toppings, at no extra charge.
Leaving the market • In the midst of all the people in the market, we always recognize him, raised above the crowd, tall, his gaze piercing through his glasses.
A special smile • For years he has refused to let me take his picture - Hezi Farkash. I told him many times that I don't see any picture of him that doesn't come out well - and he refused. This week he passed by, I picked up the camera, and this time he agreed: "You can take a picture of me in the market." So here is Hezi Farkash, with an amazing smile.
Am Yisrael Chai • Three guys, three fingers, three kidnapped people. "Take a picture, so everyone can see that we remember the kidnapped people in the market too." And one of them later tells me: "Three kidnapped people equal three words in Am Yisrael Chai.".
Shabbat reading • To catch up on everything that happened this week, to go to the market to pick up the stack of newspapers, of all kinds: the Herald, the Herald, Yated Ne'eman and the Family Newspaper. This is what happens when there are no vested interests in the market, and all the newspapers are sold at one stand.
Radio Geula • Israel Berger, one of the founders of Radio Geula on the Internet, which is broadcast live here on our site, arrived at the market in distant Bnei Brak, where he went into temporary exile for a few years - and met in the market with Duci Gottstein, who had gone shopping and buying grains for Shabbat. And what about the child? Israel Berger's wife asked. So here, now you see him, how much he resembles his father.
Understands • The little boy on his mother's shoulders in a wine store. While the mother consults with her husband about which wine to buy for Shabbat, he already shows his understanding of wine - and reaches for a luxury wine on the shelf.
Fathers and Daughters • Avrimy Kliger, who also came to the market for a sixth round, said that he had already seen the article edited by the website's reporter Osnat Deitch with his mother Edna Navon. And now, what do you do with the girl? "I explain to her that it's black pepper, what she sees, and not quinoa like she thought.".
Where is the sense? • We met former MK Michael Ben-Ari shopping at the market only from Jews. "Write only from Jews," he requested. And are you going to get an early Shabbat? We asked, and he surprisingly replied: "Everyone will get an early Shabbat to rescue the kidnapped. But when will anyone here get a sense and understand that such events are handled differently?""
Be careful on the road • Shlomi Katz arrived at the market with his children. "Come on, seriously, are you going to take a picture of me like that?" he asked quickly, as he rushed to buy challah. "Be careful when you walk backwards when you take a picture." Then I remembered that he actually runs the organization 'Our Objects for Life,' which works to prevent road accidents in the country.
Cohen's appearance • Shlomi Cohen (in the middle and above with Salem, the red-hooded man), the photographer for the Shabbat Square site, who had finished filming at the Sacer Garden, also arrived at the market along with Rabbi David Lau's personal assistant (on the left). The atmosphere is unforgettable, and the photographer even more so, so I photographed the two of them together, as he rushes to the yeshiva to be ten minutes early for Shabbat.
Trained in looks • "It doesn't matter what a person wears. The main thing is that he has a kippah and reverence for God," he said when he saw me looking at his kippah. "I'm not a trained Nachman, but this is the biggest reverence for God hat in the store, so I bought it." He continued on his way, leaving me to ponder the size of my kippah.
Such a family • The Goldberg family came to shop at the market from faraway Mount Nof. It wasn't easy to find them in the entire market, and the hardest part was with the father of the family - who is camera shy. So the only picture was enough for us for the section.
Artists in the Market • Singer Amir Dadon arrived at the market with his family for some small shopping for Shabbat and posed for pictures with fans. On the other hand, not far away, the most well-known man in the alcohol industry in Jerusalem is walking: Shai Gabso - who arrived in the look of 'I just woke up'.
Workers in the market • The student taking pictures with this camera came from London to do a huge project to submit at the end of the semester. He sat down to photograph people in the market. We couldn't give up - neither the person being photographed nor the photographer.
In honor of Shabbat • Fresh challah, minutes before returning home. This is how Shimon Breitkopf was caught while paying for the challah. Hopefully he has guests, otherwise there is no explanation for why he bought so many challahs.
Shabbat is coming • They are in a hurry, the girl is dragging behind, the father lifts her onto his shoulders, everyone is happy, yeshiva students pass us with huge smiles on their faces. And at the Chabad booth - putting on tefillin for the benefit of the kidnapped, heartfelt prayers, and a huge Shabbat sign on a shop in the market.
Last reading • One minute before Shabbat, rushing home. I think about those who observe Shabbat in Meron and Safed, and I say to myself: Look what they are missing out on. They are resting and everything is calm, but where will they be able to read the huge ads that were hung at the start of Shabbat, asking the public to pray for the kidnapped?
And with a Shabbat Shalom greeting to all the people of Israel, from the north to the south, we returned home, to welcome Shabbat ten minutes early.
