JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Jewish Passover holiday typically draws crowds of Israelis outside to burn heaps of leavened bread, commemorating the Biblical exodus from slavery in Egypt. <\/p>\n
But on Wednesday, a coronavirus lockdown meant the streets of Jerusalem and other cities were nearly empty on the first day of the week-long holiday, when they would normally be dotted with fires and columns of smoke. <\/p>\n
Israel this week imposed holiday restrictions to try to halt the spread of the disease. <\/p>\n
Jews may only celebrate the traditional seder meal that kicks off the April 8-15 holiday season with immediate family. Travel between cities is banned until Friday. <\/p>\n
A full curfew took effect on Wednesday, just before the seder begins, and will last until Thursday, prompting a dash for last-minute shopping, which saw long lines of Israelis wearing face masks outside grocery stores. <\/p>\n
Police have thrown up roadblocks and will deploy drones and helicopters to enforce curbs on movement throughout the lockdown, a spokesman said. <\/p>\n
But some areas found workarounds to keep festive traditions alive in a month that will also see Christians celebrate Easter and Muslims mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. <\/p>\n
The Jerusalem municipality on Wednesday collected leavened products from designated dumpsters outside peoples homes and took them away to be burned in a large open area on the citys outskirts. <\/p>\n
A rabbi accompanied by a firefighter tossed a long, fire-tipped stick onto a patch of flammable liquid leading to a pile of the leavened bread products, many still in plastic bags, engulfing the mound in smoke and flames. <\/p>\n
One Jerusalem man, Daniel Arusti, disposed of a paper bread box in one of the dumpsters outside his house, instead of gathering with his ultra-Orthodox community to burn it in public. <\/p>\n
Next year ... when there will hopefully be no (coronavirus) threat, well be able to come and redo public burning of chametz (leavened bread) together, as we should, Arusti said. <\/p>\n
Throughout Passover, Jews abide by special dietary laws which include eating unleavened bread known as matzo. The tradition marks a Book of Exodus tale that the Jews did not have time to prepare leavened bread before leaving for the promised land. <\/p>\n
But in the ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighbourhood of Mea Shearim, some Israelis flouted the restrictions and gathered in small groups or by themselves to burn leaven alongside the districts sandstone homes and concrete walls. <\/p>\n
Some ultra-Orthodox have heeded rabbis who, distrusting the state, spurned Health Ministry restrictions. <\/p>\n
Unable to gather in person, other Israelis plan to hold the seder with friends and extended family online by video conferencing platforms. <\/p>\n
The holiday restrictions added to anti-virus measures that have seen Israelis largely confined to their homes, forcing many businesses to close and sending unemployment to 25%. <\/p>\n
Israel has reported more than 9,400 cases and at least 71 deaths from COVID-19, according to Health Ministry data. <\/p>\n
Additional reporting by Suheir Sheikh; Editing by Alison Williams and Janet Lawrence<\/p>\n
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Israelis mark Passover, a celebration of freedom, in virtual isolation - Reuters<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Jewish Passover holiday typically draws crowds of Israelis outside to burn heaps of leavened bread, commemorating the Biblical exodus from slavery in Egypt. Continue reading