When visiting Israel, two of the most famous places to go are the Shuks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. These two places are filled with various foods, beverages, spices, restaurants, and nicknacks. But what exactly are they?
In Tel Aviv, there is another famous shuk called Shuk Hacarmel. This shuk is a lot smaller but still sells the same things. Some of the best fruit I have ever tried has been at this Shuk. They sell huge conatiners of strawberries, with berries overflowing off the top.
Lets start with Machne Yehuda, the shuk in Jerusalem. The concept of a shuk is an outdoor market in which merchants from all over Israel can sell whatever they want. Farmers would sell their produce, bakers their bread, and seamstressed garments. Since the 1800's this marketplace style has been allowing individuals to sell their goods to those that need it and create finacial gains.
Ok, so what is it like now? Well, Machne Yehudah is the biggest shuk in Israel and goes down a dozen blocks. It is full of food stands that sell various Israeli street foods such as falafel, shwarma, sabich, shakshuka, and various sandwiches. It also has merchant stands where people sell fresh fruit, vegetables, spices, pastries, bread, and even candy. You can get a juice or smoothie while browsing for household goods or clothing.
There is no shortage of bars or restaurants where you can sit down and take a break from the endless browsing. Thursday and Friday are very busy days at the shuk as many people use it as a grocery store and buy the neccessities for shabbat or holidays.
I know this all sounds amazing, and that it sounds like a beautiful farmers market. However, these places is not for the weak of heart. The shuk is always busy and crowded, you will need to speak loudly to get the attention of a merchant. There is haggling and negotiating happening at every corner. Big tourist groups trying to get around and people wandering asking for charity is not uncommon.
Every time I visit Israel one of my first stops is the shuk. It is a magical place full of culture and delicious options. I have beautiful pieces of jewlery from the shuk and photos of the best meals I have ever tried. My fondest memories of Israel and growing up all have ties to Machne Yehuda or Shuk Hacarmel.
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