Jerusalem’s Palestinian Youth Are Earning an Income and Energizing the City during Ramadan

Munther Jamal, a young man from the Sa‘diyya neighborhood in Jerusalem’s Old City, decided to embark on a new experience—his first attempt at running a business. During the month of Ramadan, he set up a small stall at Bab al-Asbat, the main and most important entrance for visitors to enter the Old City from elsewhere in Jerusalem and beyond. To fund his initiative, he borrowed money from his father and purchased prayer beads, mats, and white prayer hats from a merchant in Souk al-‘Attarin in the Old City. These items were in high demand, particularly on Fridays and during rainy weather, as Muslim worshippers sought essentials for their prayers.

“I never expected to attract such demand,” Jamal said.1 “People bought prayer mats and often left them behind after Friday prayers for others to use and earn blessings. Even beads sold well. By God’s grace, I made a good profit this holy month, repaid my parents, contributed to household expenses, and saved some money for myself.”

Since he does not regularly work during the year, Jamal saw this as an opportunity, just like many of his unemployed friends in the neighborhood, to earn some money on his own. Some of his friends sell hot yellow corn in the evenings, others sell fresh juices, and some sell fried potatoes near Bab al-Zahra, starting after maghrib prayers until the end of tarawih prayers.

However, setting up stalls in Jerusalem is challenging. Jamal explained that vendors in Bab al-Amud, Bab al-Asbat, and Bab al-Zahra must obtain a permit from Israeli authorities to operate. Since he only opens on Fridays and during prayer times, he opted not to apply for a permit due to the bureaucratic difficulties involved.

During Ramadan, every alley, street, and lane in Jerusalem is filled with young vendors selling seasonal specialties. One sells bread in its distinctive forms, another offers colorful juices in hues of yellow, red, black, and white, and other vendors sell fried falafel in a large pan and traditional Jerusalem sweets.

Youssef Saadi, a resident of the Old City neighborhood of Bab Hutta, believes that these stalls are a blessed and profitable activity for youth. “Everyone is provided for by God,” he said.2 “Personally, I prefer to buy bread, juice, hummus, falafel, and barazeq (sweets) from these young vendors—it’s an opportunity for them to earn extra income.” Before leaving one of the alleyways of Sa‘diyya, he added, “Jerusalem is blessed, and that blessing grows during Ramadan. Everyone earns their share; we deeply believe that sustenance is in God’s hands.”

In the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina to the north, outside of the Old City, a group of young men took a more organized approach and worked together to set up a Ramadan tent on a side street. A man named Wajid cooks falafel, another prepares hummus, and others sell bread, display barazeq, and offer an assortment of pickles—so tempting that even those who don’t usually eat pickles find themselves drawn in.

One of the young men, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Jerusalem Story that this is their second year running this initiative. “We are friends in daily life, but we only work together during Ramadan. Believe me, we end the month with smiles on our faces—not just because we provide customers with high-quality food for iftar, but also because we made a surprising amount of profit; it’s fulfilling in every way,” he said.3

“Over time, we’ve built a loyal customer base, not just from our neighborhood but from other areas as well. Our location, on a less congested side street, has made us a convenient choice for many escaping the heavy traffic of Beit Hanina’s main road.”

Ziad al-Hammouri, director of the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights, views this phenomenon as part of the resilience and perseverance of Jerusalemites. He explained how important it is that the people of Jerusalem are putting in great effort to survive and remain steadfast despite the immensely daunting challenges they face in their daily lives. “Young people, in particular, have it the hardest, but Ramadan offers a real opportunity for them to support their families and earn a livelihood—especially in light of the severe restrictions imposed since October 7, 2023,” al-Hammouri said.4

“These Ramadan street stalls lining Jerusalem’s roads and alleys, especially the routes leading to al-Aqsa Mosque, play a role in reducing unemployment among both young and older residents,” he added. “They help generate income and alleviate poverty in the Holy City. These initiatives ease economic burdens and cover expenses, which are especially high for families living on minimal incomes in Jerusalem.”

Hijazi al-Rishq, a renowned economist and merchant, echoed a similar sentiment:

Like many cities worldwide, Jerusalem has seen the rise of a public-space economy, where young entrepreneurs create economic opportunities—even if only seasonally—during Ramadan. These self-sustaining initiatives breathe new life into the city, particularly the Old City, East Jerusalem’s commercial center, and northern neighborhoods like Beit Hanina, which has increasingly become a secondary commercial hub in the evenings.

The determination of Jerusalem’s youth has contributed to the city’s vitality, albeit in a seasonal capacity. Deprived of stable job opportunities and hindered by rising unemployment and a struggling economy, these young entrepreneurs have found a way to inject energy into the city—proving that even in hardship, they can find ways to thrive.