Jerusalem Shopping Tips by gilabrand

Name of Shop: BELT IN

Now here’s an interesting souvenir to take back after a visit to Israel: a custom-made leather belt. It’s not that expensive, it doesn’t take up room in your suitcase, and it doesn’t sit around gathering dust when you get home, like the olive-wood camels and sardine tins of Holy Land Air that are so popular with tourists.

On King George Street in downtown Jerusalem is a little shop where they make leather belts for you as you wait. You can’t miss it. Outside, like a cigar store Indian, stands the statue of a man decked out in belts, and the store itself has a big English sign that says “Belt In.” Now that I think about it, it’s probably a play on words for “built in”!

A belt for keeping your jeans up will set you back about 90 shekels (about $20) depending on the width of the belt and the kind of buckle you choose. A row of stitching costs another 5 shekels.

I’m sure there are other belt shops in the world, but you won’t see one like this, which advertises itself with a quote from the Bible. A wooden plaque on the storefront reads: “And they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves belts” (Genesis 3:7).

The word in the Bible for the article of clothing devised by Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness is “hagorot.” Traditional translations of the Bible use the word “girdles” or “loincloths,” but in modern Hebrew, “hagorot” are belts!



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Theme: Local Craft
Phone: 02-6241702 or 02-6242327
Address: 31 King George Street, Jerusalem

Name of Shop: MALCHA MALL

Once upon a time, there were no malls in Jerusalem. Now there are at least eight and the number is growing. In fact, Israel is now third in the world in the ratio between population and mall space, right behind the United States and Sweden. I don’t know if I’d make a special trip to any of them if my time in Jerusalem were limited. As they say about malls, seen one, seen e’mall…

But if you do want to shop at chain stores and buy labels you see all over the world, the Malcha Mall, popularly known as Kanyon Malcha, or just “the Kanyon,” is a good place to go. “Kanyon” is a play on the word “kana” which means to buy, with echoes of the of the English word “canyon,” conjuring up images of a very large space.

What To Buy: With its hordes of shoppers, escalators, glass elevator and carnival atmosphere, the Malcha Mall is probably not much different from what you’d find in other countries. But there are a couple of unique features. Where, but in Israel, will you find a mall that has a synagogue on the ground floor, if you feel the urge to pray as you fill your shopping bags?

In the afternoons, especially in the summer and around holiday times, there are free shows, arts & crafts and other activities for kids. On the ground floor, outside a pet shop, is a glass cage with an assortment of birds and small animals.

And since this is Israel, the security at all entrances is worthy of note. You will be asked to open your bags, walk through a metal detector and possibly be wanded. If you come by car, you will be asked to open the glove compartment and trunk of the car for inspection. This is nothing personal, or a violation of your civil rights. It’s for your own safety. In recent years, shopping malls have been big hits with terrorists (pun intended). With this kind of rigorous inspection, you can feel very secure once you get inside.

After all that shopping you are bound to be tired and thirsty. There is a food court, of course, but my recommendation is to go up to the Aroma espresso bar on the 2nd floor and order a fabulous ice cappucino for 14 shekels. It’s cool and refreshing, and it takes a while to finish, as opposed to a cup of coffee that you slurp down in one gulp.


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Theme: Other
Address: Malcha neighborhood, across from Teddy stadium
Directions: Bus #31 from downtown Jerusalem (King George St.)
Bus # 6 from Central Bus Station

Name of Shop: DAVID COHEN'S PHOTO GALLERY

Nowadays everyone and his grandmother has a digital camera. You don?t run out of film anymore or rush home from your travels to develop your precious pictures only to find that your film never wound properly or got ruined by the airport X-ray machine.

But state-of-the-art equipment doesn?t guarantee beautiful pictures. Photography is an art. You can snap one picture after another and still go home with nothing presentable to show.

If you are about to head homeward with blurry, badly composed photos with washed out colors and bizarre lighting effects, I would suggest a detour to Mercaz Clal, a cavernous but sadly empty shopping center on Jaffa Road.

On the first floor, near the entrance opposite the Mahane Yehuda parking lot, look for David Cohen?s photo gallery. David is a photographer who sells copies of his own work. You can buy standard size photos for NIS 6-8, or enlargements, with or without matting. He has a huge selection ? Jerusalem landscapes, religious sites, flora and fauna, interesting architectural features, neighborhood scenes, local customs ? and it?s NOT kitschy tourist stuff.

On top of that, David himself is an interesting character. Engage him in conversation and you will find out lots of things about Jerusalem. The man is a walking encyclopedia.



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Theme: Local Craft
Phone: 02-6245644
Directions: Clal Center, 97 Jaffa Road, Floor C2, Shop 252/3
Website: www.jerusalem-photos.com