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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!

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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 2283625 times)

Offline hocker

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10220 on: May 02, 2018, 09:06:13 AM »
They emailed me back right away:
הכשרות מהדרין אגוד רבנים הרב וסטיים מנסטר


Pro tip: Always cross check with the Kashrus agency, especially in Israel.

Offline skyguy918

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10221 on: May 02, 2018, 10:16:12 AM »
Pro tip: Always cross check with the Kashrus agency, especially in Israel.
That's what I figured. If you go back through the thread, I only discovered that they'd dropped OK because I contacted OK about whether they cover the visitor center, or only the products themselves.

I'm not commenting on whether or not a hechsher on the product is good enough for this situation, but personally we wouldn't have been comfortable with that alone.

Offline Boruch999

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10222 on: May 02, 2018, 02:33:06 PM »
the stops can still be pretty bad.
Regardless I would still "splurge" on the extra 75-100nis
To know I have a driver waiting for me and taking just my friends and i directly to my destination.
+1

The last thing you want after a long flight is a long drawn out ride with an aggressively nasty driver.

Offline RavChik

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10223 on: May 04, 2018, 01:05:12 PM »
We are planing of family trip to Israel in August. Are recommendations where to stay where to stay preferably in Jerusalem for family with several small kids under 8? Any "Israel experience" and kids-friendly activities away from heat? What is the best way to commute in Israel, is there a Uber/Lyft or other not very expensive options? Thank you in advance for any recommendations and Shabath Shalom!

Offline Dan

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10224 on: May 04, 2018, 03:24:15 PM »
Pro tip: Always cross check with the Kashrus agency, especially in Israel.
Oh well. Anything else like that with a hechsher?
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 Dan

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10225 on: May 04, 2018, 03:39:00 PM »
Going to take my 5th trip to Israel in the past 11 years and still no clue which restaurant hashgochas are good and which are not. So much simpler in the US...
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 Dan

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10226 on: May 04, 2018, 03:42:25 PM »
Politics aside, can I trust the hechshers under Israel here?
https://kosherquest.org/kosher-symbols/
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 e-Lawyer

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10227 on: May 04, 2018, 03:46:02 PM »
That's what I figured. If you go back through the thread, I only discovered that they'd dropped OK because I contacted OK about whether they cover the visitor center, or only the products themselves.

I'm not commenting on whether or not a hechsher on the product is good enough for this situation, but personally we wouldn't have been comfortable with that alone.
Noticed they had the oK, Does anyone know anything about the hechsher other than it isnt good or it sounds like cookie monster?
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Offline e-Lawyer

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10228 on: May 04, 2018, 03:46:42 PM »
Oh well. Anything else like that with a hechsher?

Galita? Rabbanut Mehadrin Mate Binyamin? Claims to be CY on their website...
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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10229 on: May 04, 2018, 03:48:54 PM »
Going to take my 5th trip to Israel in the past 11 years and still no clue which restaurant hashgochas are good and which are not. So much simpler in the US...

hotels are easier, but the idea, tedious it is, is to talk with the mashgiach and figure out how they handle truma, which meat they use, are they indeed truly CY, veggies gush katif, and which other hechshers are acceptable for use at the establishment. Am I missing anything?
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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10230 on: May 04, 2018, 04:16:25 PM »
hotels are easier, but the idea, tedious it is, is to talk with the mashgiach and figure out how they handle truma, which meat they use, are they indeed truly CY, veggies gush katif, and which other hechshers are acceptable for use at the establishment. Am I missing anything?
Why would hotels be easier than a restaurant?
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline e-Lawyer

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10231 on: May 04, 2018, 06:19:57 PM »
Forgot temidi for meat
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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10232 on: May 04, 2018, 06:22:02 PM »
Why would hotels be easier than a restaurant?
in my limited experience, I found that usually the mashgiach is always on site, regardless of milk/meat. Restaurant, usually only for meat restaurants are they onsite. Also, a restaurant is usually a much more hectic environment for a mashgiach, whereas a hotel has limited buffet mealtimes and hence easier time having a convo with the mashgiach...

As well, due to the nature of the hotels buffet, it is much easier to find food you *can* eat, than a restaurant...
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Offline emjee

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10233 on: May 05, 2018, 03:50:08 PM »
Politics aside, can I trust the hechshers under Israel here?
https://kosherquest.org/kosher-symbols/
For sure a lot of them but i wouldnt say all

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10234 on: May 05, 2018, 09:47:42 PM »
Worth going to Bahai gardens? Any halachic issues?
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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10235 on: May 05, 2018, 10:36:12 PM »
Worth going to Bahai gardens? Any halachic issues?
AFAIK, it's not an issue. Same as a mosque I believe. Definitely don't quote me on that though.
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Offline Abey

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Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10236 on: May 05, 2018, 11:49:32 PM »
Worth going to Bahai gardens? Any halachic issues?
def worth a visit if it fits you’re schedule and it’s not too hot. A few tips:entrance to the main garden(insta worthy) is only via guided tours they run tours in a few languages including English,tours run on different times each day and end as early as 3 (personal experience of showing up and only let in to a little patch ) entrance is free iirc. About the building, me and my friends didn’t enter as it’s a shrine to a dead man. The whole Baha’i culture is explained and is fascinating! our guide was an American,as all believers have to make a pilgrimage once in a lifetime to do work on the garden.they have a Congress where Baha’i matters are discussed.
Definitely go it’s not too long of a tour,maybe an hour or so,you start on top of the mountain and walk steps all the way down....
See my (edited) picture

Offline Abey

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10237 on: May 06, 2018, 12:10:50 AM »
def worth a visit if it fits you’re schedule and it’s not too hot. A few tips:entrance to the main garden(insta worthy) is only via guided tours they run tours in a few languages including English,tours run on different times each day and end as early as 3 (personal experience of showing up and only let in to a little patch ) entrance is free iirc. About the building, me and my friends didn’t enter as it’s a shrine to a dead man. The whole Baha’i culture is explained and is fascinating! our guide was an American,as all believers have to make a pilgrimage once in a lifetime to do work on the garden.they have a Congress where Baha’i matters are discussed.
Definitely go it’s not too long of a tour,maybe an hour or so,you start on top of the mountain and walk steps all the way down....
See my (edited) picture
https://www.ganbahai.org.il/en/tours/#currenttimetable

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10238 on: May 06, 2018, 02:11:42 AM »
Going to take my 5th trip to Israel in the past 11 years and still no clue which restaurant hashgochas are good and which are not. So much simpler in the US...
Is it really? There are many times more hechserim in the US then in Israel. There are roughly 10 standard ones in Israel.
Do you not have access to a single Rav in Israel that you trust and will listen to whatever he says?

Offline sky121

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Re: Israel Master Thread: Things To Do, Places To Eat
« Reply #10239 on: May 06, 2018, 06:57:13 AM »
Is it really? There are many times more hechserim in the US then in Israel. There are roughly 10 standard ones in Israel.
Do you not have access to a single Rav in Israel that you trust and will listen to whatever he says?
Most hechsherim you run into on a daily basis here are on your run of the mill modern orthodox - "yeshivish" Jews list of things they eat.


Same can't be said for Israel.

And in Israel you have many more hechsherim that some people hold and their neighbor doesn't even though they may be from same type of community. It gets complicated real quickly.
"Not all who wander are lost"