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We all would love to help you with resturant recomendations - when asking please specify which US hechsherim you eat - so we can give suggestions you would eat in!

Additional relevent threads

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Life In Israel Master Thread
Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
Israel Trip Report/Blog (I am there now! so tips appreciated)
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Vacation area in Israel similar to the Catskills?
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Chu"l  Minyan this Shevuos in Yerushalayim
Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat

Emergency numbers
Police 100
Hatzolah AND Ambulance 101 or 1221
Fire 102


Drivers - Yisroel - Executive Drives - 972-58 411 1671 - see page 654, post 9800 for review

Misc. Reviews
Shmelly

Activities

Jerusalem Area

Begin Museum- outside the Old City
Caliber 3- Shooting Range in Gush Etzion
Ramparts Walk- on top of the Old City walls
Tzomet Institute - Alon Shvut
Kotel Tunnel Tours/Old City Jewish and/or Muslim Quarter Tours (PM satturn if you want a private tour)
Old City Jewish and Muslim Quarter Tours (pm @satturn )
Churva/Ramban
Machon Hamikdash
Burnt house
Gichon
4 Sephardi Shuls
Old Yishuv Court
Shiloach/Gichon


2048 - Tlv - Incredible fun experience! Active Activities in each room. cool team game, electrifying, challenging and especially fun!
Time Elevator in Jerusalem- Don't waste your time.
City of David (Ir David)-Amazing-you must take a tour to fully understand the site.
Segway tour-interesting way to waste a few hrs-NOT an absolute must do
Biking - Beatiful trails in the valleys outside of the city. PM Drago if interested.
http://tmsifting.org/en/visitor-and-volunteer-information/
https://www.patbamelach.com/
https://www.galita.co.il/en
Yad Vashem
Martef Hashoah - Kever Dovid
Migdal Dovid- Museum of Jerusalem
Bibical Zoo/Aquarium/Ein Yael
Tax Museum
Gush Katif Museum
Science Museum
Bible Lands Museum
Israel Museum
Italian Jewish Art Museum
Beit Harav Kook
Underground prisoners
Kneset /Rose Garden/Bird watching
Shuk Machane Yehuda - Kever of Gerrer Rebbes
Mearat Tzidkiyahu/Rockefeller Museum
Belz Shul
Har Hatzofim
Har Hazeisim
Har Hamenuchos
Ammunition Hill
CHaggall Windows @ Haddasa
Chutzot HaYotzer/Park Teddy
Great Syn/Jewish Art Museum
National Library
Supreme Court
Jclay
Mamila
Gan Sacher - sports fields, picniking, exercise equpment, amazing huge kids climbing area

Tel Aviv/Center

Blind or Deaf Museum in Cholon- Blind, amazing. Deaf, good. Prior reservation needed.
Hagana Museum in Tel Aviv--15NIS per adult; students free; a bit disjointed and kind of fake acting in the videos, but mostly very interesting and educational.
Bullet Factory in Rechovot

Beit Shemesh to Modiin area (Jerusalem Corridor)

Escape the Machsan escape room (Rechov Nachal Sorek)
Stalactite caves
Renting bikes or the ezraider scooters for the Britannia/Adulam parks
Agrocafe coffee workshop
Several wineries in the area
Lots of towns from first Beit Hamikdash period in Adulam and nearby, worth getting a guide.
Caves from bar kochva period in Adulam
H/T Drago
Mini Israel- Love it or hate it
Latrun Tank Museum - Mini Israel
Slifkin's Tanach Museum
Park Rabin - hiking...
Park Begin - hiking...
Park Modiin -- great for kids
Derech Burma

North

"My Baby - Kids' Airport" - amusement park, mostly indoors, awesome for the entire family. Bowling, wall climbing that all ages can enjoy, bungee jumping, bumper carts, carousels, huge swings, Space Jump, tons, 2 huge buildings. Located in Kfar Yasif, Yarka. Near highways 70 & 85. https://www.mybaby.co.il/about
Kfar Kedem - https://www.k-k.co.il/?lang=en
Rosh Hanikra- Way up north

Golan Heights

Bereshit Apple processing center
Tel Dan nature reserve (similiar to Banias Waterfall -slightly easier & toddler friendly)
Banias Waterfall
Nimrod's Fortress in the Golan
Kayaking down the Jordan River
Mount Hermon Ski Lift
Mount Bental Overlook/Bunkers
Golan Heights Winery
Yehudiya Nature Reserve Hiking

South

Nachal Dragot (aka Darja)- an intense hike near the Dead Sea
Sunrise tour of Masada, Ein Gedi, and Dead Sea aprx $70

Good summary of many hikes:
http://hikingintheholyland.com/

FB group with many ideas of activities
https://www.facebook.com/groups/kidsdaysoutisrael

Separate Beaches - AS OF 2022!
The suitability of the area around the separate beach area varies.

Separate Areas for Men and Women:
Tveria - Kinar Hotel
Tveria - Chof Menachem
Tveria - near Chamei Tveria
Yam Hamelach - International Beach
Yam Hamelach - Chamei Zohar

Men: Mon, Wed, Fri - Women: Sun, Tues, Thurs
Akko X2
Ashdod
Ashkelon
Bat Yam
Chaifa X2
Hertzilya (only in the summer?? BZ only??)
Netanya - Kiryat Sanz
Rishon Letzion
Tel Aviv - Sheraton

Men: Tues, Fri - Women: Mon, Weds
Nahariya

Switches bet Mornings (7a-1p) and Afternoons (1p-7p)
Chadera '
Men Morning: Sun, tues, thurs  - afternoon: Mon, wed, fri
Women Morning: Mon, Weds, Fri - Afternoon: Sun, Tues, Thurs
« Last edited by Euclid on October 03, 2023, 11:46:22 AM »

Author Topic: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread  (Read 2284666 times)

Offline Emkay

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9500 on: September 26, 2017, 06:54:03 AM »
Seems to still be having growing pains.

Offline emjee

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9501 on: September 27, 2017, 03:37:24 AM »
Any suggestions what to do one day chol hamoed with two kids a 4 year old and a 2 year old. One day im doing the zoo i just need to fill another day
Thanks
Kef tzubah

Offline emjee

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9502 on: September 27, 2017, 03:38:43 AM »
Anyone have small crib gemach number or chasdei shmuel number?

Offline Dan

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9503 on: September 28, 2017, 10:02:13 PM »
Cross-posting:
He did reach out to me for advice and this is what I replied. Feel free to post what you would have advised :)

Hey Ben,

If you're booking with AMEX, don't miss this Matmid promo and don't forget to wait 24 hours after transferring to get exec rates: https://www.dansdeals.com/airfare-deals/mileage-deals/el-al-matmid-discounted-coach-business-class-awards-upcoming-matmid-devaluation/

I'd love to see a review of LY 787 J from EWR-TLV and LY 777 F from TLV-LAX, but I know that'll cost an obscene amount of points/cash :)
If you do fly F though, you should be able to have a travel agent make special meal requests from TLV...as long as they're kosher :)

A week is a tall order, especially on a blogger schedule. If you can swing it, I'd probably do a 5th night free award at the Waldorf Jlem, and then a night or 2 each at Sheraton TLV, Ritz, and SPG Design Elma Arts. I'm assuming you're going before March, otherwise the W TLV may be an option.

Just bear in mind that Israel does not have a service oriented culture, so a 5 star hotel will never exist there.

That being said, the Waldorf J'lem is in a fantastic location and does a decent enough job. I can put you in touch with the GM there if you need standard award space or to confirm a suite or a deluxe balcony room in advance.

Conventional wisdom is to avoid Jerusalem on Friday/Saturday, but I'd stick around. The experience of seeing an entire city in a hustle and bustle preparing for Shabbos (walk around the machne yehuda shuk or the streets of meah shearim) is neat and then seeing it come to a halt on Friday evening/Saturday is something you won't find elsewhere. You can still tour Christian/Muslim sights/temple mount in the old city on Saturday and if you're up to it, see the crowds filling in the western wall area on friday night.

-Definitively book a western wall tunnel tour well in advance: https://english.thekotel.org/western_wall_sites/western_wall_tunnels/

-And I love the ramparts walk in Jerusalem on top of the old city walls, you can get a birds eye view into everyday life in all 4 quarters of the old city from there.

-The holocaust museum is obviously a must do.

-City of David tour, be prepared to get a bit wet :)

Aside from that, Jerusalem is a good base for a fascinating day trips to::
-Masada tour/Dead Sea floating/Ein Gedi hike
-Dig for a day archaeology at Bet Guvrin
-A tour of Hebron and the cave of the patriarchs.
-If you want to take a tour of the west bank for a view of the conflict from both sides

TLV has beaches and a big bar and nightclub scene, but not much historical. I wouldn't focus too much time there. People love the dialogue in the dark exhibit, which has to be booked well in advance. :http://www.childrensmuseum.org.il/eng/pages/childrens_activity/dialogue_in_the_dark.aspx
And the Palmach museum is neat as well: http://www.palmach.org.il/Web/English/TheMuseum/Default.aspx

There are a ton of awesome wineries if you're into that. I can give you more info on those if you'd like.

Up north along the Mediterranean sea, you've got the Roman ruins in Caesarea, the high-tech companies in Haifa, the grottoes in Rosh Hanikra.
Inland north there's Tiberias on the sea of galiliee, the ancient city of Tzfat, and the Golan Heights. I love Nimrod's fortress and Baniyas waterfall in the Golan.

There are more authentic israeli possibilities, like staying in a kibbutz for a night or staying in a "Zimmer" https://www.zimmeril.com/

And that's ignoring the possibilities of goind down south to Mitzpe Ramon, Eilat, and trips to Petra or Sinai...

Anyway, I hope that wasn't too overwhelming. Happy to follow up on anything.

Enjoy,
Dan
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline grodnoking

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9504 on: September 30, 2017, 04:12:22 PM »
Anyone have extra schach? Any schach gemach? Anyone want to rent schach to me? Anyone want to buy schach at a steep discount off me after sukkos (it'll only be used once, and I'm getting a steep discount to buy but I won't be here next year and don't want to spend that much money). Pm me
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Offline mendy613

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9505 on: September 30, 2017, 11:37:31 PM »
Cross-posting:

Very informative for the rest of us too, thanks for sharing!

Offline nafnaf12

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9506 on: October 01, 2017, 02:44:07 AM »
Any decent cleaners for a bekitcha? In Jerusalem
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Offline jmz

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9507 on: October 01, 2017, 02:49:25 AM »
Anyone have extra schach? Any schach gemach? Anyone want to rent schach to me? Anyone want to buy schach at a steep discount off me after sukkos (it'll only be used once, and I'm getting a steep discount to buy but I won't be here next year and don't want to spend that much money). Pm me
How much do you need?

Offline grodnoking

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9508 on: October 01, 2017, 04:27:38 AM »
How much do you need?
27m^2
20.5 by 14 square feet
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Offline mgarfin

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9509 on: October 01, 2017, 08:19:17 AM »
Any recommendation for Jeeping?  A family of 7, based in Yerushalayim, but can travel.

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9510 on: October 02, 2017, 04:16:41 PM »
Anyone have a list of best restaurants in Israel? Wiki has a long list but not ranked as the best...

Friend is going and he wants to do a restaurant tour of Israel...

(Feel free to mention dishes too)
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Offline sky121

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9511 on: October 02, 2017, 05:20:51 PM »
Anyone have a list of best restaurants in Israel? Wiki has a long list but not ranked as the best...

Friend is going and he wants to do a restaurant tour of Israel...

(Feel free to mention dishes too)
What hechsherim are we talking generally?
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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9512 on: October 02, 2017, 06:11:44 PM »
Anyone have a list of best restaurants in Israel? Wiki has a long list but not ranked as the best...

Friend is going and he wants to do a restaurant tour of Israel...

(Feel free to mention dishes too)

Dairy/ meat ?
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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9513 on: October 02, 2017, 08:44:31 PM »
What hechsherim are we talking generally?
Basically any in the wiki look good.

Dairy/ meat ?
Both it's a 9 day trip...
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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9514 on: October 02, 2017, 08:52:01 PM »
Try: skyline, Lechem basar, or waffle bar,  Luciana
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Offline Hjay

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9515 on: October 02, 2017, 11:37:48 PM »
Try: skyline, Lechem basar, or waffle bar,  Luciana

Remove waffle bar from that list, imho.
Gabrielle’s
Joy - mamilla
Red heifer
Picollino
Grill bar (not so fancy but great food & it’s great for experiencing an Israeli restaurant).
Crave and/or ishtabah in the shuk.
Hasandak - dairy, shuk. Great for a lunch
Ahavat hayam
L’entrecote in Tel Aviv
Sumesa (never been, heard good things) ramat gan
There’s a kosher dairy place in zikhron Yaakov

Offline grodnoking

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9516 on: October 03, 2017, 06:30:41 AM »
How wide are the sukkah panals here?
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Offline emjee

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9517 on: October 03, 2017, 06:33:57 AM »
How wide are the sukkah panals here?
Panels are all different sizes. The most common ime is 80cm

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9518 on: October 03, 2017, 06:44:13 AM »
How wide are the sukkah panals here?

IINM the standard ones are 87cm.
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Offline Boruch999

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #9519 on: October 03, 2017, 08:27:52 AM »
Panels are all different sizes. The most common ime is 80cm

+1 IME