Fun In Jerusalem

Run With the Children of SHALVA at the Jerusalem Half Marathon

This is a great opportunity for your children to participate in a memorable Jerusalem event this month. The Jerusalem Half Marathon on March 18, 2010 will include a special 400m track for the children of SHALVA with mental and physical disabilities. This is the first time in the 18 year history of the marathon that there will be a special track.

SHALVA has invited your children and teens to partner with a SHALVA child, give them a chance to get to know the child at the Har Nof campus in advance and then to run with them on the 400m track.  Help spread the SHALVA message that disabled children should have an equal place in society.

Run hand-in-hand with a SHALVA child and help them achieve their goals. SHALVA is expecting to have over 60 children running on the special track. The event begins at 8:30am and there will be a special end of the race ceremony as well.

SHALVA is a wonderful organization based in Har Nof. To get a full understanding of what they do you only need to walk around their campus. The building is filled with love and joy and you will see children of all ages from babies to teenagers enjoying the facilities. They have special facilities for physically and mentally challenged children including

• Music room
• Sensory room
• Special integrated Gan (which has a long waiting list)
• Arts & Crafts
• Indoor Pool for hydrotherapy
• Me & Mommy Classes
• Support groups for families
• Specially designed park
• Kitchen where children can learn to cook
• Bedrooms for sleepovers 

Children come to the center to enjoy the facilities, have therapy and spend time with friends, counselors and volunteers  in the afternoon.

The most special room in the building is the Beit Knesset where children with special needs can celebrate their Bar Mitzva. SHALVA often receives requests from families abroad requesting to use their Beit Knesset for their spacial needs Bar Mitzvas. For information about Volunteer opportunities for teens at SHALVA please call Talia Simantov 02-651-9555.

Contact marathon@shalva.org and let them know you would like your child to partner with a SHALVA runner. Please make sure to send us your pictures of the race!

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.

Yankuta Place: Parent & Child Activity Center in Jerusalem

33 Jabotinsky Street (corner of Ahad Haam)

Talbieh, Jerusalem 02-563-3073

When you walk down the quiet Jabotinsky St in Talbieh, a new center for parents and children awaits you in a beautiful old Arab house with high ceilings and arched windows. Yankuta, which means “Childhood” in Aramaic is a new center for parents and children which includes a mischakiya, rooms for chugim, nursing room, coffee shop and a unique baby shop. Make sure to taste their new blend of .8% caffeine coffee.

Yankuta has a variety of classes for babies and young kids including baby yoga, baby massage, children’s movement classes, storytelling and Music Together a wonderful new parent & child music class.

Hours: 9:00am-7:00pm

Ages: Babies- Age 5

Mischakiya Prices:40 NIS (Kartisiya 290 NIS for 10 clicks) The Mischakiya includes a gymboree, playmobil castle, trains, ride on toys, play kitchen and a kids sized climbing wall

Chugim: Baby Yoga, Storytelling, Drama, Movement Classes, Music Together (Mommy & Baby Music Class), Parenting Classes. Call 02-563-3073 for class schedule.

Peuton (Gan for babies aged 1/2 year-1 1/2) 2500 NIS/month 7:30am-4:00pm, Fridays till 12:00pm

Baby Store:Unique products for mothers and babies, kids clothes, nursing accesories

Coffee Shop:Yankuta will be serving a special blend of coffee with .8% caffeine, sandwiches and light refreshments

Parking: Paid Street parking is available on Jabotinsky and Ahad Haam 

Access to the garden and nursing room is free and mothers are welcome to come and bring their babies and enjoy the relaxing and supportive environment.

Tim Tam Mischakiya

Mall HaPisga in Pisgat Zeev 052-515-5564

This is an indoor play area for kids ages 6 months+. It includes a large obstacle climbing frame, ride on toys, pool of balls and more. It is a great place to host a birthday party for toddlers.

Times: Sunday-Thursday 11am-8pm Fridays 11am-3pm

Prices:25 NIS per child, Kartisiya for 5 entrances 100 NIS, Kartisiya for 10 entrances 180 NIS

Yankuta Mischakiya

33 Jabotinsky Street (corner of Ahad Haam)

Talbieh, Jerusalem 02-563-3073

The Mischakiya includes a gymboree, playmobil castle, trains, ride on toys, play kitchen and a kids sized climbing wall.

Ages: Babies- Age 5

Price: 40 NIS or 10 entrances for 290 NIS

ARTS & CRAFTS

Chad Vachomer: Paint Your Own Pottery

4 Kikar Safra 02-624-5329

Opening Hours:

Sun, Mon, Wed 2:00pm-7:00pm

Tues, Thurs 2:00pm-11:00pm Closed on Friday

Prices:

Choose from a wide selection of unpainted pottery which ranges from 30 NIS -120 NIS. The price includes 3 paint colors and there is an additional charge for other colors.

Haruzim

23 Emek Refaaim, German Colony 02-566-3002

Opening Hours:

Sun-Thurs. 9:30pm-9:00pm Friday 9:00am-4:00pm

Haruzim is a cute little bead store with a huge selection of beads, chains and castings. The owner will help you design your bracelet, necklace, ring, hair clip etc. You pay per bead and each bead is separated by price. This is a great activity for kids ages 7+ but they must be accompanied by an adult. It is located in the middle of all the great restaurants on Emek Refaaim.