Israel Travel Blog

During Israel’s summer season which lasts from June to the end of August there are a number of festivals and special events which are worth attending. Here are a few of the highlights of Israeli summer events and festivals.June 27 White Night International FestivalTel aviv white night 2013Spend the night in Tel-Aviv when the restaurants stay open all night and there are late night performances both in cinemas and on the streets. Craft markets and musical performances pop up on the streets of Tel-Aviv throughout the night and the main event is the International Marathon of Jazz and Avant-garde Music which is held in the Einav Culture Center.June 5-13 Jerusalem Light festivalThe streets and walls of the Old City are brought to life by displays of light sculptures, light designs, light statues, instillations, projected images and live performances. Entrance is free and visitors can wander the streets admiring the light displays,July 23-25 Karmiel Dance FestivalA huge gathering of over 10,000 dancers perform in 80 events in the town of Karmiel. Together with the performances there are audience participation dances, workshops, public folk dances where anyone can join in and other events like a market, food stalls etc. Over 25,000 visitors are expected to attend the annual festival in 2013.August 5-8 Israeli Wine Tasting festivalHeld at the Jerusalem museum the entrance fee gets you a wine glass for unlimited tasting, cheese tasting and entry to the museum galleries. The event takes place in the museum gardens and is accompanied by live jazz performances. The price is approximately 80NIS.August 15-28 International Arts and Crafts FestivalArtists and craft makers from around the world gather here to display and sell their creations. The event takes place just outside the Jerusalem Old City walls in the Jerusalem Arts and Crafts Art Amphitheater while concerts play in the nearby Sultan’s Pool. The festival takes place in the evening from 6pm to 11pm and is closed on Friday.August 6-8 International Klezmer Festivalklezmer festivalThis uniquely Jewish form of music is celebrated for the 23rd year in several venues throughout the country, the best known being in Safed where 45 performers showcase “Jewish soul music”. In Safed 8 stages are set up throughout the city and other events are held like craft fairs, tours and kid’s shows. Klezmer music is from the Hassidic tradition of Eastern Europe and groups of musicians play classical instruments to a unique rhythm. Entrance to all performances is free.August 22-23 Jerusalem Beer FestivalJerusalem is not just a holy city it is also a great city for the young who want a good party, for example the annual beer festival offers a chance to sample beers from around the world and enjoy the street party atmosphere. Both craft beers and mainstream beers are served from stands set up in the Old Train Station compound. There are food stands, live performances and stalls selling souvenirs and crafts. The beerfest takes place from 6pm until midnight and entry costs 30NIS which doesn’t include beer.August 22-25 Red Sea Jazz FestivalIf you happen to be in Eilat during this period you can attend this annual festival now in its 26th year. Each night there are about 8 concerts and during the day master classes, workshops and jam sessions. Artists are national and international and perform a range of jazz styles from Blues to Latin jazz in three Eilat venues. The exact dates for the 2013 festival have not yet been published.

HanukahHanukah is the Jewish festival of lights when each home displays an eight pronged candelabra in the window and lights an additional candle each night. The festival commemorates the events of the 2nd century and the Maccabean revolt against the Greeks, when the Jewish Temple was destroyed and only a small jar of oil remained to light the temple “menorah” or candelabra. A miracle occurred and the oil lasted for 8 nights until more oil could be found. If you’re in Israel during Hanukah 2013 you can take a walk through the streets of Jerusalem to see the flickering lights of the Hanukah menorah in each window. Nachlaot and the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem are two of the oldest neighborhoods where you can see the traditional oil and wick candles in glass cases (to protect them from the wind) in each doorway, window or courtyard.Christmas Tree DecoratingAlthough Christmas is not as evident in Israel as in the western countries it is after all the birth place of Jesus and as such the small Christian community goes all out to make the festive season memorable. In the lobby of the beautiful YMCA building in central Jerusalem the general public are invited to join in decorating Christmas trees. The trees are Arizona cypress trees donated by the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund. On Christmas Eve (December 24th) at 7pm, you can also attend a Christmas carol family service (in English), share light refreshments and take communion (if you choose) at the YMCA. For more Christmas carol singing and a multilingual Christmas Midnight Mass visit the Pontifical Institute (Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center) at 11:30pm on December 24th.Humor and SatireThe best artists in Israel were asked to create sculptures that reflect happiness, laughter and joy. Their brief was to reinvent laughter and illustrate it is a spectacular way. This is as yet the largest outdoor exhibit in the country featuring 210 sculptures by 63 artists which will be displayed in rotation.

Israel has a number of international film festivals but Docaviv is the biggest. The festival is exclusively for documentary films typically featuring about 80 films each year. 2013 will be the 15th annual Docaviv Festival. The films come from both Israel and the rest of the world and the festival attracts professionals from the international documentary film industry. Many films make their debut at Docaviv with their premier showing and others come directly from prestigious festivals like the Sundance Film Festival. The subject matter covers a broad spectrum of topics including political, cultural, social and anthropological.Apart from the rich variety of documentary film screenings at the festival there are also a number of events and attractions put on during the festival. The 2012 Docaviv featured outdoor screenings of iconic musical performances and a video art exhibition and similar attractions are expected in 2013. Several awards will be given including an award for Debut Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Student Film. For the final closing of the festival there will be a free event open to the public held in the Habima National Square.When: Annually for 10 days in Spring. May 2 – 11, 2013Where: Tel-Aviv Cinematheque, Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, ZOA House and other venues in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Once a year the Old City of Jerusalem reverts to the Middle Ages and visitors can wander the narrow cobbled lanes and encounter scenes with knights doing gallant and valiant acts! The theme of this year’s Knights of the Night Festival is “Knights and Dragons” and entrance to the fun family event is free!As you stroll through the streets of the Old City you may see musicians performing medieval music; dancers in medieval costume; magicians who look remarkably like Merlin and Jesters offering comic relief. Knights and dragons also feature prominently, with re-enacted jousting, sword fights and duels. Town criers ring their bells to beckon pedestrians to the various stages set up for performers and above the streets flags fly. In previous years there have even been performances by costumed “knights” battling as they hang from wires and fly through the air with the ancient city walls as their background.You may see medieval blacksmiths or the local executioner with his big axe waiting in the shadows! In previous years performers from other countries have joined Israelis in the many street shows and in 2013 artists from the Venice Festival will be participating in the event. Peddlers in medieval costume and fire eaters perform as the medieval music permeates the air. You may even see a performance from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet performed from a real balcony or a knight in shining armor rescuing a princess. Get your fortune told by a soothsayer and cheer for the troubadours!For the 2013 Knights Festival some of the stations planned include a knight’s banquet at the Jaffa Gate; a victory parade; a battle between knights and dragons where the audience will be invited to join in; a treasure hunt with audience participation and a half-man-half-dragon chasing after a maiden in distress along St. Peter Street. Adults can purchase a wooden goblet and enter the Knights Bar to quench their thirst.To experience this slice of living history enter the Old City of Jerusalem through the Jaffa Gate and follow the circular route to the Muristan Square and back again to the Jaffa Gate. The fun and games will occur from 6pm to 11pm in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City and will be held on the 31st October and 7th, 14th and 21st of November 2013 (consecutive Thursdays). Entrance is free and the event is suitable for the whole family.

This years Tel-Aviv Gay Pride Parade will take place on the 7th June 2013, tens of thousands of spectators and participants are expected from Israel and abroad. This will be Tel-Aviv’s 16th annual parade which is part of a week-long celebration of the LGBT community in Israel. The Pride Parade was originally called the Love Parade and when it began there was much disagreement and controversy due to the large religious community in Israel and conservative viewpoints. At the time many of the participants were prominent political and cultural figures who helped to promote equal rights and freedom of expression. Today the atmosphere is much more liberal, the gay community is embraced by most Israelis and the parade is no longer a political issue. The huge celebration of love, equality and freedom is attended by gay and straight people alike and an incredible party atmosphere prevails. The Tel-Aviv Pride Parade was the first in Asia and there are now other Pride Parades held (on a smaller scale) in other Israeli cities, like for example Eilat. Tel-Aviv’s parade is also the largest in Asia, in 2012 150,000 people participated.

The Pope’s Holy Land Pilgrimage will include a visit to Jordan, followed on 11-15 May by a visit to Israel and the holy sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem. The Pope will also meet with religious leaders during his five day visit. The highlight of the Pope’s visit to Israel will be Holy Mass at the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem, where thousands are expected to participate on the afternoon of 12 May. The Pope will also visit Yad Vashem (11 May) and the Temple Mount, Western Wall, Mount Zion, the Cenacle and Gethsemane Church on 12 May. After a visit to Bethlehem and Mass at Manger Square, (13 May), the Pope will deliver another Mass in Nazareth at Mount Precipice and pray at the Church of the Annunciation (14 May).Bein Harim offers you 1-3 days pilgrim tours.Mass in the Kidron Valley Jerusalem May 12TH 16-18 :00 PM.Mass on Wednesday May 13th in Manger square Bethlehem at 10 AM.Mass on Thursday May 14th on Mt. Precipitation in Nazareth. 10 AMDay 1. Mass in Jerusalem: May 12thPick up from Herzlliya hotels : 9:00 AM.Pick up from Tel-Aviv hotels : 9:30 AM.Pick up from Jerusalem hotels : 10:30 AM.Overview from on Mt. of Olives for view of the Old and New city. Walk Via the Patre Nostre and the site of the Ascension, . Walk down to Dominus Flevit, where Jesus foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem. Continue to Gardens of Gethsemane, Church of all Nations, Valley of Kidron to see the tombs of Absalom, Jeosphate and Zaccariah from 2nd temple Descend to the Valley of Kidron to participate at Mass.Return to bus and drive to hotels.Recommended comfortable shoes, water and hat.Lunch boxes, sandwiches and fruits available for 12$ (advanced booking required).Sequence and route subject to change due to traffic/route detours.Day 2. Mass in Bethlehem May 13th:Pick up from Herzlliya hotels : 6:15 AM.Pick up from Tel-Aviv hotels : 6:30 AM.Pick up from Jerusalem hotels : 7:30 AM.**Passports mandatoryMass at Manger square at 10:00-12:00 AM-1.Drive direct to Jerusalem-Bethlehem check-point.Bus change at Check :Point .Entry to Bethlehem (Palestinian transportation services)Visit the Church of the Nativity(Subject to PA regulation) .Drive via Ein Kerem and visit Church of Saint John the Baptist. Overlook the church of the visitation where Mary visited Elisabeth. Entry to churches may encounter times limits on this day. Return to hotels in Jerusalem . Therafter Tel Aviv travelers will go via the ancient village Emmaus where Jesus was seen for the first time after the resurrection. Passports mandatory, we recommend comfortable shoes, water and hat. Sequence and route subject to change due to traffic/route detours.Day 3. Mass on Mt. of Precipitation in Nazareth May 14th:Pick up from Herzlliya hotels : 6:00 AM.Pick up from Tel-Aviv hotels : 5:45 AM.Pick up from Jerusalem hotels : 4:45 AM.We depart via the ancient via Maris to the valley of Armageddon, from the book of revolution (chapter 16). Drive.Depart from there by foot to buses driving up to Mt. of Precipitation. Coordinate with guide meeting place and return to group bus. Drive to Cana and in the Galilee there was performed the first miracle (John chapter 2).Drive by to overlook from the foot Mt. Tabor Mathew (chapter 17) identifies this Mt. as the site of transfiguration.Sequence and visits subject to change by Police authorities.Return to hotels. It is recommended on this day to bring snacks, light meals and water.Sequence and route subject to change due to traffic/route detours.Tour conditions and reservation information

Plan Your VisitOpen Times:24/7Prices:FreeAverage Visit Duration:30 minutes to 1 hour.Popular Times:The Square never sleeps but is most popular during business hours and in the early evening.Special Events:Dizengoff Square hosts concerts, special events, and festivals, often during local holidays.Relevant Tours: Many Tel Aviv tours will take you there, being a very popular spot.Dizengoff Square (which is a circle) or Kirkar Dizengoff, is Tel Aviv’s most iconic public square. At this traffic circle Dizengoff Street, Pinsker Street, and Reines Street meet and encircle a beautiful area where people can hang out and relax under shady trees. There are benches, a cycle path that surrounds the central circle, and in the middle of the circle is an iconic fountain.Dizengoff Square (Image source: Ovedc CC BY-SA 4.0)This location in the heart of Tel Avivhas witnessed historic events, protests, and celebrations and has continued to be a vibrant hub of social gatherings and entertainment. This is the perfect place to stop for an Israeli breakfast at one of the cafes that surround the Square, or just to sit on a bench and soak up the local atmosphere.Note thatthe internet is full of photos showing the former colorful fountain that stood in Dizengoff Square, and streets going under the center of the Square. Today's fountain is gray, and the design has been changed so that traffic goes around the central area rather than under it.History of Dizengoff SquareThe square is named after Zina Dizengoff, wife of Meir Dizengoff - the first mayor of Tel Aviv. The idea for a grand public square originated in the 1930s when a competition was held to decide the Square’s designer. Genia Averbuch’s design was chosen and construction began. She created a sophisticated design that blended with the surrounding Bauhaus buildings.The original design was replaced in the 1970s by Tsvi Lissar’s design featuring a split-level configuration to alleviate traffic congestion. An elevated central area connected to the adjacent sidewalks by ramps and Dizengoff, Pinsker, and Reines Street ran beneath the elevated center.Dizengoff Square in 1960It was during this period that construction began on Dizengoff Center, just 300 meters from the plaza, and one of Israel’s most iconic shopping malls. In the 80s, Yaacov Agam’s landmark fire and water fountain was erected, at the center of the elevated section.In 2016 a new design brought the center of Dizengoff Square back to ground level and the entire area was renovated with the addition of tiled sidewalks, and new paving. The fountain reappeared in 2019 but without its technological mechanism or artistic colors, and the entire central area of the traffic circle was given an upgrade.Heart of the White CityDizengoff Square is considered the heart of the White City, where there is a high concentration of Bauhaus buildings. The round space is considered to be the only Bauhaus plaza in the world, with its characteristic simple design and curvaceous elegant design elements such as the lawns, and central circular fountain. Surrounding the Square are buildings that are nearly identical in design and with distinct Bauhaus features such as the horizontal slit balconies.Pro Tip: To learn more about this area and this type of design and architecture, visit the Bauhaus Center.What to See and Do at Dizengoff Square?Dizengoff Fountain: The fountain at the center of the traffic circle was once the creation of artist Yaacov Agam and an example of kinetic art. It began operating in 1986 and featured colorful strips around the circular basin as well as moving parts. Over the years it fell into disrepair and was eventually replaced with a deconstructed version of the original, without the color, and without the technical mechanisms that had made it famous. Today the fountain is a contemporary modern gray landmark. It still delights onlookers with its dancing water, and at night it is lit up.Relax: Surrounding the fountain are lawns with colorful chairs under palm trees where people can relax.Dizengoff Square is lit up at night and remains busy and safe until late.Cycle:Tel Aviv bike-sharing is a great way to get around town. There is a cycling path around the Square, and there is also a bike-share so you can rent a bike.Eat: Sidewalk cafes line the streets that look onto the Square making them perfect for people watching.Entertainment: Dizengoff Square is often the venue for street performers, and also festivals during Israeli school holidays.Pro Tip: On Fridays, the Square comes alive with live entertainment, an adjacent farmers’ market, and a dynamic atmosphere.

Plan Your Visit Location: Yemin Moshe neighborhood, JerusalemOpen Times: 24/7. Montefiore Windmill Visitor Center is open Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 to 17:00 (19:00 in summer) and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00.Prices: Free. Entrance to the Montefiore Windmill is also free.Average Visit Duration: 1-2 hours.Notes for Visitors: If arriving by car you will need to park nearby and enter the neighborhood on foot as it is mostly a pedestrian-only area.Special Events: Although Yemin Moshe might be a sleepy quaint neighborhood, it is surrounded by beautiful parks where there are several outdoor performance venues. The parks, plazas, and open-air performance venues are often used for festivals and special events including the Chutsot Hayotser International Arts and Crafts Fair, and the Jerusalem Film Festival.Tours: Combine a private tour of Jerusalem with a visit to Yemin Moshe. Pro Tip: There is a free tour of the Montefiore Windmill on Fridays and Saturdays that must be pre-booked on the Windmill website.Yemin Moshe is a charming Jerusalem neighborhood reminiscent of a quaint European village. It offers cobbled lanes and stone houses draped in vines and bougainvillea, with colorful window boxes and quaint eateries. Today it is one of the gentrified, luxury residential neighborhoods overlooking the Old City. This is a haven in the busy city yet close enough to walk to from the Old City. And if you’re wondering about the name it means “the right hand of Moses” not the biblical Moses, but Moses Montefiore who was responsible for the establishment of the neighborhood.Pro Tip: Yemin Moshe is not far from The First Station, and you could easily walk between both sites.Yemin Moshe and Mishkenot Sha'ananimIn 1859, Mishkenot Sha'ananim (Dwellings of Tranquility) was built across from Mount Zion, just a few steps from the Old City. It consisted of two elongated buildings, one was a shared space that answered the needs of the community and included a hospital, two synagogues, and a bakery with a communal oven. The other building was divided into 28 tiny apartments. The neighborhood was inhabited by the destitute.Pro Tip: The two original long buildings still exist. One is home to the Jerusalem Music Center and the other building is used by the Jerusalem Municipality to host honored guests. Among those who have stayed here have been Jean-Paul Sartre, Marc Chagall, and John Le Carre.Although MIshkenot Sha'ananim was built to accommodate the poor it was not enough, and soon the neighborhood needed to be extended to make room for new residents.History of Yemin Moshe, JerusalemAt a time when the residents of Jerusalem lived within the Old City walls, a crowded, yet expensive place to live, Yemein Moshe was built beyond the walls as a neighborhood and was intended for the poor who could not afford to live inside the city. The year was 1894, and the first two buildings constructed were called Mishkenot Sha’ananim. The project was funded by Moses Montefiore (1835-1874), perhaps the most famous British Jew at the time.Yemin Moshe was a simple neighborhood with larger homes than the original two Mishkenot Shaananim structures. The homes were one-story stone houses with red brick rooftops. The community shared an oven, and they supported themselves by running a printing press, textile factory, and windmill for grinding wheat.In 1948, the State of Israel was established and the War of Independence broke out with neighboring countries attacking on all sides. Jordanian forces took East Jerusalem, and Yemin Moshe found itself on the edge of the barbed wire fence that divided the city for 19 years. The neighborhood was abandoned as it was too dangerous to live in.In the 1960s the Yom Kippur War saw the entire city of Jerusalem return to the hands of the Israelis. After the war, the neighborhood underwent a complete makeover, the poor were moved out and luxury properties were built. Thankfully, many of the original structures as well as the character of the historic neighborhood survived.Points of Interest in Yemin MosheThe neighborhood isn’t overflowing with attractions, but it is worth visiting to enjoy the ambiance which is something unique and different from other areas of Jerusalem. The best way to explore Yemin Moshe is to simply wander along the picturesque alleyways.Pro Tip: The neighborhood has a lot of stairs that connect the different levels of the neighborhood which is built on a slope. It is not wheelchair-friendly. Many of the alleyways are pedestrian-only with no access for cars.Montefiore WindmillYemin Moshe’s most famous attraction is a beautiful stone windmill, built in 1857 three years before Mishkenot Sha’ananim was established. The windmill was built by Moses Montefiore using funds from the estate of Judah Touro. The intention was that the windmill would encourage the residents to make a living by running the mill and help them to become self-sufficient, grinding their own flour. The mill wasn’t a success because of the lack of wind in the area, and pretty soon it was abandoned. The stone windmill is perched on a hill offering breathtaking views of the city and serves as an iconic symbol of Jerusalem's past. Today the windmill houses a small museum dedicated to Montefiore, a visitor center, and a wine-tasting center.Pro Tip: The plaza by the windmill is sometimes used for outdoor performances by the Khan Theater’s repertoire company.Jim Angleton CornerThis quiet spot is an observation point overlooking the walls of the Old City. It is situated near the Confederation House (also in Yemin Moshe). The observation point is in memory of Jim Angleton, a former Chief of Counterintelligence of the CIA, and it stands where the barbed wire fence divided the city for 19 years.Pro Tip: You’ll find at least three other memorial gardens around Confederation House, including the Amschel Rothschild Sitting Corner where there are benches for you to rest after climbing all the stairs in this neighborhood!Great Sephardi SynagogueBuilt in 1897 to be used by Yemin Moshe residents, it is built out of the same characteristic Jerusalem stone and has been restored. This is an active synagogue where services are held.Mishkenot Sha'ananimAs the first Jewish neighborhood built outside the Old City walls, Mishkenot Sha'ananim exudes historical charm. Its cobblestone streets, galleries, and quaint cafes create a picturesque setting, inviting visitors to explore and relish the unique atmosphere that defines Yemin Moshe. The buildings have now been turned into a cultural center and a music center as well as a guest house.Pro Tip: The closest Old City gate to Yemin Moshe is Jaffa Gate so you can very easily walk from the Old City to Yemin Moshe.Restaurants and CafesYemin Moshe's culinary scene adds a flavorful touch to the neighborhood. From charming cafes serving aromatic coffee to exquisite restaurants offering a diverse range of cuisines, the dining options reflect the rich tapestry of tastes within this historic enclave.Pro Tip: On two sides of the neighborhood there are some of Jerusalem’s best parks.