Black Friday? Try Buy Nothing Day! Yes, that’s right. This year’s Buy Nothing Day invites you to not buy anything all day to counteract the effects of the busiest shopping day of the year in the Western world.
Seeing as the vast majority of Israel doesn’t celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah isn’t as big a deal here as it is in more… competitively religious countries, I don’t think Black Friday is actually going to be as black here. This should make it easier for you to spare a thought for the evil that is modern consumerist culture and maybe not buy anything all day.
I’ll probably end up buying some food or something, as I always forget to do it the day before, but if you’re feeling alternative and rebellious, you can head down to Salon Mazal for 1:00PM and enjoy the free market experience – bring crap you don’t need, pick up crap you do need and all without any money changing hands. Books, clothes, toys, kitchen stuff, ideas are all welcome.
Don’t expect a huge flea market full of stuff, cause this is bound to be a pretty small event. On the other hand, expect a bunch of nice people and some community spirit fun.
While you’re in the swap meet mood, there will be another little free market at 2:00PM in the Kiriyat Sefer Garden area (entrance is from corner of Amram Gaon and Kiriyat Sefer St.). This one is organised by local residents who are campaigning (successfuly, it seems) to turn the place into a proper public garden. Feel free to bring anything you don’t want (books, toys, clothes, etc.) and you can also bring refreshments if you like. Personally, I see it more as a place to swing by for a few minutes on the way somewhere else, to see if there’s any interesting junk around.