When I was first invited to spend a night at a zimmer (a wooden cabin) in Moshav Taoz, I was a bit surprised. Although I grew up in Jerusalem and in the nearby local council of Mevasseret Zion, I had never before heard about this community which I was told is located in the Jerusalem Hills.
Nonetheless, I was excited about visiting a place in Israel which I had never been to and which is relatively close to where I used to live.
Moshav Taoz, I learned, is a farming community on the outskirts of Jerusalem, north of Beit Shemesh. It was founded in 1950 by Jews who came to Israel from Yemen. The original residents later left the community, and immigrants from the Indian state of Kerala settled there instead.
The community, which today includes about 80 farms, is located between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, about 20 minutes by car from Ben Gurion International Airport.
Wooden house surrounded by trees (Photo: Sandy Livak)
We headed to Moshav Taoz from Tel Aviv in the early evening hours. We turned off the Ayalon Freeway at the Latrun Junction and drove toward the Nachshon Junction, where we turned left onto a narrow and very dark road. It was a pretty unpleasant drive in the darkness, and we were relieved to finally arrive at our destination, which was the second turn to our left.
We drove a few miles into the community, and then, out of the darkness, we discovered a large wooden house surrounded by trees and flowers. We parked in front of the house and were led to the family zimmer, one of the three cabins the guesthouse has to offer.
Perfect for cyclists
The family zimmer is a beautiful wooden structure which includes two bedrooms, a kitchen fully equipped with utensils, a refrigerator and a stove, a living room with a dining table, cable TV, a stereo system, and a bathroom with a shower. Outside the wooden door lies a private garden with a table, chairs and a pergola.
The other two zimmers on the premises are for couples. One is a wooden cabin which includes a green patio, a kitchenette with a refrigerator and a coffee corner, cable TV, a stereo system and a bathroom with a big bathtub.
The second is a stone structure which includes a patio and a private garden, cable TV, an equipped kitchenette, a coffee corner, a refrigerator, a stereo system, and a special romantic treat – a Jacuzzi built inside the room.
Pastoral view (Photo: Sandy Livak)
The Moshav Taoz guesthouse is also the perfect lodging facility for cyclists touring the Jerusalem Hills. The zimmer owners are more than happy to offer advice and guidance on attractive biking routes in the area, and also have bicycles for rent on the premises. At night, your bicycle will be kept in a safe place.
Apart from the pastoral view and the peaceful surroundings, guests can also enjoy various holistic treatments, art and food workshops in the area. Breakfast can be ordered to your cabin for a reasonable price.
The place is also pet-friendly, and parking is available on the premises at no extra charge.
Close to tourist attractions
A recommended place to eat in the area is the Tavlin Restaurant in the Eshtaol Forest, which serves dairy and fish dishes. It is, however, an open site, so make sure to dress warm.
Next to the restaurant there is a large shop of spices where one can buy dried herbs, bread, wine, jams, olive oil and different kinds of cheese.
Moshav Taoz is also very close to several tourist attractions, including the Mini-Israel site in Latrun, which displays hundreds of models that are exact copies of sites, buildings and landscapes from around Israel. In addition, it is only a few minutes drive from the Yitzhak Rabin Park and the Eshtaol Forest.
The family zimmer (Photo: Sandy Livak)
To summarize our pleasant stay, I would say the Moshav Taoz guesthouse is ideal for tourists who are visiting either Jerusalem or Tel Aviv and wish to get away from the big city and see some nature for a day or two, without having to drive too far.
However, because there is hardly any lighting on the road leading to the community, I would recommend arriving there in the morning or afternoon hours in order to be able to enjoy the beautiful landscape while driving.
Moshav Taoz 6 99725
Tel. 972-52-4546434
Telefax: 972-2-9998242
The writer was a guest of the Moshav Taoz zimmers