All of the best activities for Shavuot
Shavuot, the harvest fest, is almost upon us, with the scent of summer in the air, and it is time to fall in love with the Land of Israel all over again. Find out where you can go cherry-picking, participate in a treasure hunt, take an oil-lit twilight tour and a nature hike among sinkholes.
The Jewish festival of Shavuot will take place this week and brings with it a variety of activities for the entire family all over Israel. Pick a destination, pack some snacks, get the kids into the car—and go have some fun.
South
Shavuot at Ben-Gurion's Hut
Ben-Gurion's Hut at Kibbutz Sde Boker will hold a Bible-themed treasure hunt this year. During the hunt, participants will search the home of Israel's first prime minister for a variety of items from the world of the Bible, all personally selected by David Ben-Gurion himself, who asked in his will to have these items displayed in his home after his death. Among the hidden items is a statue of Yona the Prophet in the bowels of the fish, an engraving of the Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, a collection of Biblical quotes about the desert gathered by Ben-Gurion himself, a picture of the burning bush, and more.
When? Wednesday, May 31, 10am-4pm. Last admission at 3pm.
More details: Activity costs NIS 15 for children (under 18) and NIS 20 for an adult. Additional information at the Ben-Gurion Hut website or by phone: 08-6560469
North
See the blossom on the Hermon
The Hermon ski site invites visitors to discover the beauty it has to offer even when it's not snowing. For Shavuot, they prepared guided tours for nature lovers featuring the summer blossom unique to the Hermon Mountain. The tour includes an overlook of the Syrian Golan, a line of extinct volcanic mounds crowning the eastern edge of the Golan Heights, the Hula Valley and the eastern Galilee. It also includes a visit to the battle hills on the Hermon Mountain. In addition to the tours, other attractions will be opened, including extreme water slides, go-carting on the ski slopes (age 15 and older) and tubing (age 5 and older).
When? The guided tours will take places throughout the holiday, May 31-June 3, at 11am or 1pm. Other activities will be open 8am-4pm.
More details: The guided tours last about 90 minutes. Please arrive at the site half an hour before the designated tour time. Cable-car trip takes 15 minutes. For more information and booking, call 1599-550-560 or visit the website (in Hebrew).
Beit She'arim opens its gate
The Beit She'arim National Park is a unique archeological site, which was also recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. During the holiday, the park will offer guided tours that will expose visitors to the world of the Mishnah and the heritage of the Jewish people from the most authentic place there is. Among the main points of interest in the park are the synagogue, the basilica, the olive press, the Menorah Caves, the Museum Cave, and other recently discovered caves. Visitors can enjoy one of two hiking trails, the upper or lower path.
When? Tours are on Thursday, June 1, at 10am, 11am, 12pm.
More details: The activity is free for park visitors (entrance fee: NIs 22 for adults, NIS 9 for children).
Sunset tours at the Nimrod Fortress
Lovers of adventure, mystery and nighttime activities can take a star-lit tour in the depths of the magical Nimrod Fortress with oil lamps to light to way and stories to pass the time. For Shavuot, the fortress staff is organizing a unique twilight tour that includes secret passages, impressive halls, guard towers and water cisterns.
When? Thursday, June 1.
More details: Registration and payment is done in advance by calling *3639. Admission: Adults NIS 50, children NIS 40.
The cherry on top of Beit Jann
The pastoral village of Beit Jann in the upper Galilee is offering guided tours during the holiday ahead of the cherry-picking season. Local tour guides will show visitors around the village's main sites and tell them authentic stories about the place. The tour leaves from the entrance to the village and include visits to the HaAri Mountain observation point and a tour of the ancient village. Visitors could go cherry-picking at the village's groves independently.
When? May 31-June 1
More details: Please call in advance to book a tour: 052-4705956 (Salah a-Sa'ad, local guide)
The water festival at Hamat Gader
What's better than spending the water festival of Shavuot with the kids at the Bubbles and Water Festival in Hamat Gader? The festival will include a bubbles workshop, a soap opera and a variety of water activities including a 360-degree Splash water slide, fishing and pedal boats, mini safari, parrot and alligator shows, and more.
When? May 30-June 1
More details: Get tickets by calling *6393 or on the website.
Ecology and recycling in Manara
At the Manara Cliff, Shavuot will be celebrated with a variety of unique ecological activities focusing on nature and the earth. Among the activities is a recycling workshop organized by the Prehistoric Man Museum, a basket-making workshop using old shirts, mind sports, a guided tour to collect art materials from nature, and more. All of these activities will be on top of the site's regular activities, including a cable car ride, alpine slides, trampoline bungee, rappelling, a climbing wall, arching, barefoot trail and more.
When? May 31-June 1, 10am-4pm
More details: Call 04-6905830 or visit the website.
Cheese and wine in Rosh HaNikra
In addition to the tour of the site and the cable car taking visitors down into the grottoes, the upper Galilee geologic site has prepared a festive farmers' market especially for Shavuot. The market will host artists and wine and cheese makers from the Galilee region, performances by local acts, workshops and other activities for children, liquor, dried fruit and other surprises.
When? May 31, 9am-6pm
More details: Call 077-9964433
Shavuot hikes at the Achziv Nature Field School
The Achziv Nature Field School and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel are offering guided nature tours for Shavuot in several destinations in northern Israel. Among others, visitors could take a guided tour of the Achziv Stream, a tour of the important sites in Acre, a tour of the Sinkhole Path at Goren Park, a tour of the Keshet Cave and a tour of the Night of the Bridges site.
When? May 31-June 2, tours leave at different times
More details: Tickets are NIS 30, with discounts given to those staying at the field school. For additional information, call 077-9964443
Drawing water at Spring Valley Park
The Nir David Experience is inviting visitors to celebrate Shavuot at Spring Valley Park. Visitors can travel between the springs in golf buggies, bicycles or a train that shuttles back and forth, swim in the cool water and enjoy "Joyfully Shall You Draw Water," a game for the entire family at the Minus 100 aqueduct. There is also an escape room.
When? The family game will take place on May 31, 11am-2pm, along the aqueduct.
More details: Entrance is free. Golf buggies and bicycles can be rented out at the site. For more information, call: 04-6881427
Accessible tours in Ein Afek
New concrete paths were recently paved at the Ein Afek nature reserve to allow easier access to all. The paths take visitors from the Ancient Flour Mill to the springs, the water pool and the Garden Shelter for Endangered Plants. During the holiday, visitors will be able to enjoy a play for the entire family titled "The Miller's Daughter and the Catfish" and participate in a variety of nature activities, such as bird banding, guided tours and more.
When? June 1, 10am-3pm
More details: Free for reservation visitors (entrance fee: NIS 22 for adults and NIS 9 for children)
Jerusalem area
Harvest fest at Neot Kedumim Park
The Neot Kedumim Park used to be where massive fields of wheat were grown for the Shavuot harvest. Therefore, to celebrate the holiday, the park is offering a special tour based on the holiday's many different names. During the tour, visitors will be transported to the past and experience how the people of Israel used to prepare for the holiday with a variety of activities, such as writing on parchment, trying out ancient handicrafts, wheat harvest, visiting a granary and more.
When? June 1, 9am-12pm. The tour leaves at 9:15am sharp.
More details: Advanced tickets only, which can be bought by calling 08-9770770 or online.
Live The Bible
Live The Bible brings Biblical stories back to life in a magical photographic experience in the Old City. Visitors can dress up like Biblical figures and take their photos with a variety of background and props. Among the stories featured: The Book of Ruth, David and Goliath, Moses in the cradle, the priests at the holy Temple, and the Twelve Spies.
When? Sunday-Thursday 10am-8pm; Friday 9am-2pm.
Where? 58 Habad Street in Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter
More details: By phone: 054-5327286 or online.
Singing and hiking at the Ben Shemen Forest
There will be special activities and tours at the Ben Shemen Forest during the holiday, including a unique guided tour on Wednesday led by a singing actor who will play the accordion and take visitors with song and dance along the magical pathways of the Ben Shemen Forest.
When? The musical tour will be held on May 31 at 11am, 2pm and 5pm.
More details: Call 1800-350-550
For more activities in the Modi'in region, visit www.thm.org.il
Ein Hemed National Park
On Shavuot eve, the Ein Hemed National Park invites visitors to a nighttime experience in nature for the entire family, which includes sleeping in tents, cooking in nature, and an oil lamp tour of the crusader castle in the park. At the end of the tour, visitors will meet nature's kings of the night, the bats, and learn about their fascinating life and how to preserve them. The next day, visitors are welcome to stay in the park until 5pm.
When? Shavuot holiday eve, May 30. Visitors must arrive no later than 4pm. The oil lamp tour leaves at 7:30pm.
More details: Tickets cost NIS 42 for adults and NIS 32 for children.
Center
From the Village to the City at Dubnow Garden in Tel Aviv
Activities at Dubnow Garden in Tel Aviv will include water slides (tubing) for the entire family and water slides for infants, Bikkurim (first fruits) ceremony, a "soap opera" symphony, soap bubbles workshop, a café, acrobatics, Big Band march with accordions and a lot of surprises. Also includes bread and pitta making from scratch, starting with removing the seeds from the stalks of grain, grinding them into flour, kneading the dough and baking it in an outdoor stove.
When? Tuesday, May 30, 10am-4pm
Where? Dubnow Garden in Tel Aviv
