July 23, 2023

A market, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, is “a meeting together of people for the purpose of trade.” And the Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem most certainly fits that definition.

Not only is it unrivalled for fresh produce, delicacies of all kinds and even coffee, drinks and restaurants, but above all it is a meeting place for the wonderful and diverse people living in the city (not to mention tourists and yuppie visitors from Tel Aviv).

100 years of photographs at Machane Yehuda market — Jaffa Road, nowadays home to the Jerusalem Light Rail and heavy pedestrian traffic, borders the Machane Yehuda Market. It is pictured here in the summer of 1950. Photo by Benno Rothenberg, Meitar Collection, The Pritzker Family National Photography Collection, The National Library of Israel

As the market celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year, we gathered photos showing its transformation over the decades.

The facilities, stalls and focal points of the market may have changed throughout the years, but scenes of its early days are still delightfully recognizable to the modern-day visitor, as is the strong resonance of the landmark as a meeting place for people from all walks of life.

Rather haphazard

The market began on an empty lot near the Machane Yehuda neighbourhood at the end of the 19^th century, when Jerusalem was under Ottoman rule.

Its first vendors were Arab farmers from nearby villages, who sold their wares to the Jewish residents of the neighborhood.

The market quickly became popular, saving both vendors and customers the long walk to the Old City market, but remained a rather haphazard affair.

Within a few decades, the market became a proper establishment, but to the dismay of the British Mandate governor of the city, it lacked proper planning. He ordered an architectural plan of the place, complete with drinking water, sewage and lighting points.

This never happened, reportedly for budgetary reasons. Meanwhile, new streets and stores were added to the market bit by bit.

Around the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the market vendors increasingly were new Jewish immigrants.

In the decades that followed, the market turned into how we know it today – complete with paved streets, lighting, rooftops and clean public toilets.

An attempt in the early 2000s to move the market a few minutes away into a more modern, indoor space was vehemently opposed by both vendors and visitors, testifying to its omnipresent appeal and charm.