Members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community gathered in Jerusalem on Monday to burn pieces of leavened bread as part of the Biur Chametz tradition ahead of Passover.

Footage shows orthodox men in long black suits and wide-brimmed hats gathering with their families, before beginning to burn all leavened products.

The tradition is considered a symbolic act in which people are encouraged to rid themselves of bad character traits.

The Passover celebration, a cornerstone of the Jewish calendar, marks the liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage more than 3,000 years ago.