The Jerusalem bread rush of 2011

April 26, 2011 - 8:09 AM by David

The accompanying photo isn’t of Jerusalemites jostling for position to get into a Torah lesson, a performance by Matisyhahu or a sale on diapers.

It’s taken outside the Angel bakery in the capital’s Kiryat Moshe neighborhood at 1 am. on Monday night, a few hours after the Pessah holiday ended. Probably, a minute after three stars were sighted, the bakers lit up their giant stoves and began cranking out pita, rolls, rogelach, cakes and burekas – all the flour-filled delicacies most Israelis have lived without for the seven days of Pessah.

While the lines spilled out down the steps and onto the street, it moved swiftly, as the Angel family has plenty of experience with the post-Pessah rush. Like entering Fort Knox, a guard lets in ten people at a time into the house of treasures, where they’re free to roam around choosing the still-warm baked goods with its tantalizing aromas and being herded into the cashier’s checkout line.

The whole process took less than 20 minutes from waiting outside to paying and walking out the separate exit. While most tried, hardly any of the customers were able to get down the steps without breaking into their stash for a taste of the once verboten booty. It’s goodbye matza, hello bread once again.

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