Fun In Jerusalem

Help Your Teenager Study For The Bagrut…And Contribute To The Community At The Same Time

Today, a very special community program is starting for the 7th year in a row. The ICCC on Emek Refaim invites teenagers in 10th, 11th grade and 12th grade to come and participate in a wonderful Bagrut tutoring program after school. Teenagers can come to the Nature Museum, in Jerusalem, to work with volunteer teachers and university students, who help them study for their Bagrut including English, Hebrew language and Math.

The program is in memory of Tani Goodman z”l, who died tragically in 12th grade in 2002. Tani’s life was cut short and he was not able to finish his Bagrut studies. Therefore his parents Maggie and Jerry Goodman, local community members, created this successful program to give local teenagers a head-start in their bagrut studies in Tani’s memory. The program attracts boys and girls from a variety of communities and schools within Jerusalem. The atmosphere is warm and fun, as the students learn in small groups and even begin to help each other out. The program includes over 20 adult volunteers, who come to teach the teenagers the skills they need to excel in the bagrut.

In return, students are asked to volunteer once a week in the local community.  Students can choose their own volunteer program and can rely on the ICCC to help them find a good place to volunteer. For many of the students, it’s their first experience volunteering in the community. By the end of the program students who have been through the program and continued on to the army, have returned to see if they could help out. The success of the program lies in the volunteers and the students. It’s a win win situation. To find out more details and to join the program, please contact Ran Lefler.

Location:Nature Museum on Rechov Hamagid
Hours:
Sunday 6:00pm-8:00pm (English & Hebrew Language)
Thursday 6:00pm-8:00pm (Math)
Program Coordinator: Ran Lefler 054-635-5901 ran@m-tarbut.org.il

The Temple Mount Sifting Operation in the City of David is one of Fun In Jerusalem’s favorite “FUN for the whole family” activities.

On a hot Friday morning during Succot 2009, I took my kids (ages 6 and 3) along with their cousins (ages 8-3) to the Emek Tzurim National Park for a great Sifting Activity. After a brief description of the location and instructions, the sifting began. The kids were given buckets of rubble to pour into their sifting nets. They were then given hoses of water to use to spray on the dirt to begin the sifting process. Experienced guides and archaeologists were on hand to teach us how to tell the difference between regular rocks and precious pieces of pottery and mosaic. (The green glass from a modern day beer bottle was quickly set aside in the junk pile.)

The kids were then able to sort the items they found which included ancient glass, mosaic stones, pieces of jewelry, pottery and even nails and pieces of weaponry.  The rubble that is sifted comes from the Temple Mount and visitors are given the job to begin the sifting process. It is a win win situation for the archaeologists who are able to teach the visitors (adults and children) about ancient artifacts and to use the extra manpower to begin the sifting process. The entire activity takes 2 hours but you are able to leave earlier if you need to.

My 6 year old was definitly disappointed when he found out that he couldn’t keep the treasures that he found, but he was equally excited to receive a certificate that said that he played a key role in the Temple Mount Antiquities Salvage Operation. It was fun for the whole family and even my 3 year old enjoyed it, although I had to keep a close eye on him.

Visiting Tips

• Parking is at the top of the valley and there are over 200 steps to take to get to the work tent (my son counted them as he came down )
• The site is not stroller accessible.
• The work area is covered with a tarp but even on a hot day it felt cool in the tent
• Wear clothes that can get dusty and muddy.
• Drinks and Ice Cream are available for purchase
• There are port-a-potty toilets next to the work area.
• Tours are available in Hebrew and English
• Reservations are required

For hours and reservations please call the City of David Reservations at *6033.

Mount of Olives Archeological Experience
Emek Tzurim
Adult: 15 NIS
Student: 15 NIS
Senior Citizen/Child: 12 NIS

How To Get To The Emek Tzurim National Park…
By Car
Take Route 60 past the Old City towards French Hill. Make a right when you see the Hebrew University Sculpture. Drive straight and stay in the right lane. When you see a tunnel stay to the right and DO NOT enter the tunnel. Make a right at the Mormon University sign. Free parking is available on the street and enter the valley at the City of David sign. Look for the black tent at the bottom of the steps. (This path is not wheelchair or stroller accessible). 

By Bus:
19, 28, 26, 23, 4, 30, 48

For other great City of David Activities for kids, teens and adults visit our City of David Post.