Fun In Jerusalem

Visit our Calendar of Events for a daily listing of Children’s events in Jerusalem.

Special Event:
Yeshiva Break Chocolate-and-Charity Tour in Jerusalem: Tuesday Jan. 26, 2010
A delicious and meaningful Chocolate-and-Charity Tour.  The day’s program includes a fabulous (and delicious) hands-on chocolate workshop in the morning, and a volunteer tzedaka project in the afternoon.  Price include all fees, including transportation, and a chocolate ‘treat’ and snack at the end of the day.
Ages: Tour is ideal for children, and best for kids 6 y.o. and over.
Prices (per person): $125 adults, $115 children (deposit is required at time of reservation)
Contact: Adina Mishkoff Kischel at holycook@netvision.net.il or at 972-50-633-7462

Nature:
Jerusalem Bird Observatory: Offers nature walks and hikes in the Gazelle Valley and Jerusalem Hills. Learn about Bird Ringing and the natural inhabitants of Jerusalem. Call Alen to arrange a nature walk or hike in English. 052-386-9488 
Jerusalem Parks: Jerusalem has a variety of neighborhood parks and themed parks. Click here for a full list and a map. Kids love the Monster Slide Park, Porcupine Park and Gan Sacher which includes an exercise equipment area and a skateboard park.

Self Guided Tours/Games for Kids (with Parental Help)
Botanical Gardens Treasure Hunt: using your phone and a treasure map, walk through the Gardens and SMS your answers to find the next clue (Hebrew)
Museum of the Underground Prisoner: “Mystery in the Prison Hallways” Interactive game that takes you through the Museum  (Hebrew)

Museums
Wolfson Museum at Hechal Shlomo:“Jewish Identity”. The Museum has wonderful dioramas of stories from Tanach (Bible) and a moving multimedia Vilna exhibit. Call to confirm 02-588-9010.
Bank of Israel: For kids ages 9+. Call ahead to request Interactive Video Games in English including “Find the Counterfeit Money” “Foreign Currency Exchange” and more.
Bloomfield Science Museum: Daily workshops usually starting at 4pm with topics including DNA, Fingerprints and Building. Call to confirm times.  
Israel Museum: Model of Jerusalem During the 2nd Temple (outdoors), Youth Wing includes a Recycle Workshop on Tuesday and Art Workshops on Mondays. The Museum is under construction and certain areas can only be reached via steps. Check our Calendar for activity times.
Islamic Museum: Magnificent watch exhibit (older children will enjoy), armor and weaponry exhibit.

Other Activities
City of David (Ir David) Just Dig It:Take part in a historic archaeological dig as you sift through dirt from the Temple Mount looking for remnants of pottery, ancient weapons, jewlery and more. This activity is free but requires a reservation. It takes place outdoors under a tent. Call *6033. 
Jerusalem Zoo: The Biblical Zoo is a MUST SEE activity. They recently opened a new Wet Side Story Exhibit featuring fish and marine life. On Fridays you can feed and ride the elephants. There is also a 3D movie called BUGS which is shown every 40 minutes until March. The movie is in Hebrew but if you call in advance they will show the movie in English for a group.

Theater
Jerusalem Theater:January Shows include “My Party” “Apartment to Rent” “King Ferdinand” . Shows are in Hebrew. Visit our Calendar for details.
Train Theater:Children’s Theater in Gan Hapaamon (next to the Inbal Hotel). They have story theater and plays each week in Hebrew.
Tower of David Light Show: Great sound and light show about the history of Jerusalem. 45 minutes. Dress warmly. Not for young kids.

Toddler
Yankuta:Wonderful and clean indoor play area for toddlers. Yankuta also has a variety of daily classes including baby yoga, baby movement and music classes. Its close to the hotels and a great place for parents to have a break as their young kids play.
Mall shows:Hadar Mall in Talpiot, Malcha Mall and HaPisga have a full list of kids shows, art workshops and baking workshops throughout the week. Check our calendar for details. The shows are in Hebrew but young children can enjoy the magic, music andlaughter even if they cant understand the Hebrew. Best of all its FREE.

Teens
For a full list of TEEN activities in Jerusalem visit our Teen post.
Segwayz, Rock Climbing, Bowling, Billiards, Paint Your Own Ceramic, Go Karting

The city has begun filling up with out of town guests, enjoying their winter vacation in Jerusalem. If you are a tourist then this post is meant for you. If you are a local then you can print this list and save it for the next time you have out of town guests. For a full list of Museums, Parks and Attractions in Jerusalem for Kids, please see our FUN LIST.

Misheol Hagvurah 1, 02-623-3166

The Museum of The Underground Prisoners is in the “Russian Women’s Pilgrim Hostel” behind Kikar Safra. During the British Mandate the hostel was transformed into a prison for underground fighters from the Hagana, Etzel and Lechi. Today when you visit the Museum you will see exhibits of how the prisoners lived and worked. There are guided tours in Hebrew and in English (by reservation) which include a historic overview of the prison, theatrical performances and exhibits including stone chiseling, guard quarters and a room dedicated to Rabbi Aryeh Levin. During the tour visitors learn about the founding of the State of Israel.

Activities:
Tour (Ages 5+): History of the Prison and the founding of the State of Israel (1.5 hrs)
Workshop: Plaster Carving & Carpet Weaving (30 Minutes) -During school vacations only
Movie: “The History of the Prison”, “The Story of Feamle underground Fighters” (Hebrew & English)
“Mystery Of The Prison Halls”: Self guided Scavenger Hunt for Children around the Prison visiting 8 different areas in the museum to collect clues and perform activities (Hebrew).

The Museum is not wheel chair accessible because there are steps but strollers are ok. The Museum is available for Bar/Bat Mitzva’s and they have a special program where they train the Bar/Bat Mitzva child to lead part of the tour. There are areas of the Museum where they can host a Bar/Bat Mitzva party with food and music. For details ask for Hadar 02-623-3166.

Fun In Jerusalem Reader Feedback:  “I wanted to tell you that my kids LOVED the underground prisoner museum on Chanukah. It was fantastic, great tour and also crafts were excellent. The kids who went were 7, 9, and 11. Thanks for telling me about it!”

Opening Hours:
Sunday-Thursday 9:00am-5:00pm
Tour & Workshop Times: 12:00pm & 2:00pm on school holidays (call to confirm)

Ticket Price:
Adult: 15 NIS

Child: 10 NIS

How To Get To The Museum Of The Underground Prisoner
By Car: It is not advisable to drive since there is alot of construction in the center of town. If you chose to drive them you drive behind the Russian Compound to the Municipality Parking Lot (Kikar Safra)
By Bus: 6, 13, 18, 20, 21

The Wolfson Museum focuses on teaching visitors about Jewish Identity and Jewish Heritage. The Museum is located on King George St next to the Great Synagogue and is a great place to stop on your way in/out of town. The Museum has 5 rooms with a variety of exhibits. Each object tells a story and if you call in advance tours can be arranged in Hebrew, English, or Russian.

During school vacations, the Museum offers tours for families that include live actors, acting out stories of the objects in the museum and art workshops. They often have Hebrew shows for kids in the auditorium as well.

Don’t miss the view from the roof where Hechal Shlomo presents summer music on the rooftop. It is one of the few 360 degree views of Jerusalem.

Exhibits that children will enjoy:

• Who Am I?: Bar/Bat Mitzva Exhibit
•  Wanderer & Dreamer: Dioramas depicting stories from Jewish History (My Children Loved This)
• “and the letters soar heavenwards” : Multimedia exhibit about Jewish Identity in Vilna including scrolls saved from Vilna. Ages 14+ By reservation only.

Other Exhibits include:

• The Story of the Binding of Isaac
• “and I may dwell among them” : Exhibition of synagogue materials and ritual objects 
• Jewelry From Within: Exhibit of Jewelry and love songs.

Fun In Jerusalem Reader Feedback:  “On Hanukka it was FANTASTIC. I sent an 11 y.o., 9 y.o, and 7 y.o. with their grandparents and they came home absolutely thrilled. The play was apparently amazing, my kids LOVED it, and the activities were also very high quality. We will definitely be going back every chag”

Opening Hours:

Sunday-Thursday 9:00am-3:00pm

Ticket Prices:

  Adult 15 NIS

Child 10 NIS

How To Get To The Wolfson Museum…

By Car: At the end of the Begin Hwy (near Malcha) make a left on Herzog. It turns into Aza St and take it up the hill. Make a left on to King George and Hechal Shlomo will be on your left. It is difficult to park but there is a parking lot further along King George at Bet Avi Chai.

By Bus: 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, 19, 22, 31, 32