Guide to Shopping for Passover in Israel

Passover is one the few Jewish holidays that is strictly observed by Jews of all religious affiliations and backgrounds (considered that they minimally had a Jewish upbringing). While some wait a week before the holiday to clean their houses, others begin shortly after Purim. You may have already prepared a menu or you may still be contemplating what to buy.

On that notion, shopping for Passover can be overwhelming and emotionally taxing for most consumers. Aside for having to turn their houses upside-down and having to forgo certain foods for 7 days, their biggest complaint is the escalation of prices on items designated for Passover. Another common complaint is a certain group of Jews not being able to eat legumes that are invariably sold at every store in Israel.

There are ways to avoid the hassle of not being able to find what you are looking for and stay within the budget. If you are of Ashkenazi origin (Jews of western and eastern European descent), the best place to look for foods that you can eat are at Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) stores. The prices tend to be low, kitniyot are carefully labeled and kept apart, and you can get everything you could possibly need in one stop including kitchenware, clothes, small appliances and even shoes. Produce is usually cheaper in the shuk, but not always.

Then it's time to run to the store to get all those specialty Passover foods and products. There are so many kosher for Passover cakes, cookies, and cereals to choose from. One can almost last the whole week without missing chametz too much. At the same time, these specialty Passover products tend to be expensive and fattening. If you want to keep your money with you and extra pounds off you, buy extra fruits and vegetables to eat during Passover.

To minimize return trips to the store and stay within the budget, make a careful and detailed shopping list. What you will be serving for the seder? What dishes do you plan to make during the week? Once you have your seder and weekly meals planned, try to create a shopping list that enables you to do all your Passover shopping in one stop. Only purchase what you need and not more. While meals are suppose to be more extravagant on holidays, simplify your menu if you are on a tight budget.