Things are very different in Israel this Pesach. The usual pre-Pesach excitement is subdued as we pray for the safe return of our hostages and an end to the war. But Spring is in the air and the city remains upbeat and committed to hosting special events, activities, concerts and shows throughout the Holiday.
There’s a full week of hol hamoed this year, so go out and have Fun In Jerusalem! It’s the best way to show our support for local businesses that have shown such resilience over the past year-and-a-half. Whatever you choose to do, we recommend that you book in advance.
Our events calendar will give you the full run-down of Pesach activities, and you can always check out our FUN Favorite activities for more ideas!
Just like the Four Sons in the story of our Hagaddah, all families are different. Which is why we have put together a really diverse list of family-friendly attractions this year which we hope you use and enjoy!
What kind of family are you?
1. Adventure Seekers
Spring is in the air and Pesach is the perfect time to get back outside and get the adrenaline pumping. Jerusalem has some incredible adventure activities. From Laser Tag or Water Tag, to Snappelling (Rappelling), Ropes courses, Climbing Walls, Off-Road Jeeping and Horse-Back Riding, there really is something for everyone.
Snappelling down the walls of the Old City with Challenge Tours
Or, how about you take an exciting tour with Robby Berman – tour guide, journalist and stand-up comedian who loves teaching and guiding. He has a special affinity for children and makes sure that they stay engaged and entertained throughout the tour.
Family-friendly tours with Robby Berman
If Night Adventure tours are more your thing, we’ve got that too! Or you can join a real archeological excavation in the Beit Guvrin National Park – it’s a great way to connect to the land and our history. How about gliding through the streets of Jerusalem with Smart Tour on a Classic Old City tour or the panoramic tour of Armon HaNatziv Promenades in the southern part of Jerusalem? And at Gan Sacher they have a new complex for renting bikes for all the family.
EZ Raider tours with Smart Tour
Just 20 minutes from Ma’ale Adumim there’s Dead Sea Bike Rides, with a huge array of different bikes for families to enjoy. For families with younger children, ask about tandem, add on options for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers and family bikes, for up to four adults and four children!
For a thrilling and meaningful activity with your entire family, there’s still time to sign up for The Amazing Race. Have an amazing time AND support Crossroads. Race through Jerusalem exploring known and less known landmarks in a super fun and creative way. Or how about spending the day at Kiftzuba, an amusement and adventure park suitable for family entertainment and designed for ages 1 to 14. Enjoy a family roller coaster, a storm boat, a ninja complex, a pirate carousel, a cannon complex, a mini Ferris wheel, giant inflatables, bumper cars, a ball pool, gliders, a variety of carousels and more!
The Amazing Race with Crossroads
If you are visiting the Gush Etzion region, spend time at Deer Land Farm which has a huge extreme sports area and adventure facilities for the whole family. Also, be sure to pop over to the Oz Ve’Gaon Nature Reserve during their 3-day family festival where they have loads of family-friendly challenges, activities and games. You can also enjoy a picnic, take in the blooming flowers and the forest, and hike along the new scenic road at the Kashuela Farm. Or you could take a fun and wet tour in an underground tunnel, 12 meters deep and 130 meters long at the Biyar Acqueduct.
Tours of the Biyar Acqueduct in Gush Etzion
In the Beit Shemesh area, check out Neoja, Israel’s first interactive entertainment complex which has futuristic basketball courts where you play real basketball in a captivating virtual world! They also have a first-of-its-kind DARTS system and an advanced Arcade Gaming Zone. And White Pool, in the Sha’ar Ha’Ir mall is a revolutionary indoor entertainment center. It’s a giant ball pit with over 220,000 pristine white balls complete with thrilling slides, challenging ropes courses and a dance floor!
Neoja Interactive Basketball Complex in Beit Shemesh
2. Creative Types
Our Arts & Crafts workshops are some of the most popular activities on Fun In Jerusalem – especially for families with younger kids. There are some awesome Pesach-themed options, including making an Elijah’s Cup project at The Workshop Gush Etzion, or your very own Kos Shel Eliyahu at a glassbowing workshop with Yael Vloch.
Glass Blowing workshops with Yael Vloch
At Kiyor Ceramics (right by the Shuk) you can paint-you-own artisanal functional art, and at Artsesana (just outside of Modiin) you can design your very own glass fused matzah plates and seder plates. Or why not create color-busting useable art and experience first-hand what the resin art workshop hype is all about at Nicole Friedman’s beautiful new Studio in Beit Shemesh.
Resin Art workshops with Nicole Friedman in Beit Shemesh
Just outside Jerusalem, in the Ella Valley Kakadu is holding their annual Pesach Festival where you choose from a variety of wooden art pieces to decorate and enjoy using for years.
Glass Fusing workshops with Yael at Artesana
Rave Mosaics has a wonderful studio in Hutzot Hayotzer (The Artist’s Colony) where owner Roochie teaches the technique of taking broken glass and creating beautiful pieces of artwork. And Hadara’s ceramics studio on Derech Beit Lechem is the perfect place for families to relax, be inspired and create. If you are in the Gush, pop into the Creative Crafts Cafe in Kfar Etzion for some fabulous family workshops including slime-making and shriky dinks for younger kids. Or take a hands-on family-friendly tour as you learn all about the fascinating world of Safrut (scribal arts) with Moshe Braun, international artist and sofer STaM (he has studios in Jerusalem and Ramat Beit Shemesh).
Creative Crafts workshops in the Gush
Build A Bed is a fabulous hands-on experience, perfect for families, where you to work together, building sturdy bed frames that will comfort families in need across Israel.
3. Information Gatherers
Nachliel Selavan, AKA “The Museum Guy” will be at the Israel Museum this Pesach. Join him on a journey of discovery, exploring archaeology, Judaica, illuminated Haggadot and other pieces which will transform your holiday. Alternatively. The Biblical Museum of Natural History has wonderful family tours where you’ll meet the frogs, wild animals and locusts of the Ten Plagues this Pesach along with many other Biblical animals. Or, how about taking a family-friendly Pesach tour called Haggadot Stories of the new National Library of Israel? They also have guided tours, in English, throughout hol hamoed.
Experience the Ten Plagues at the Biblical Museum of Natural History in Beit Shemesh
And the Zomet Institute in Alon Shvut, is having a family extravaganza this Pesach where you’ll find out how rabbis and engineers solve techno-halachic problems! Or take a unique, fun and inspirational tour for all ages, visiting Kever Rachel and Ma’arat HaMachpela – two of the top 10 most visited sites in Israel, with Hebron Tours.
Solve techno-halachic problems on the Zomet Tour in Gush Etzion
Take an amazing trip as you enjoy a multi dimensional movie experience at the Time Elevator Jerusalem located inside the Mamilla Mall. Take a journey through the rich 3,000 year history of Jerusalem beginning with the City of David and ending in the 1967 Six- Day War.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the mitzvah of mezuzah, Uri Kalfa’s workshop in Ma’ale Adumim is just for you. For the ultimate learning experience, transport yourselves back to Biblical times and spend the day at Eretz Bereshit, on an incredible experiential tour of Abraham & Sara’s camp. Enjoy camel riding, workshops and taste of our ancestors legendary hospitality!
Go back to biblical times at Eretz Bereshit
4. Cultural Connoisseurs
Ein Yael the breathtaking outdoor museum, nestled in the Jerusalem Hills, is holding its annual Spring Festival.
Spring Festival at Ein Yael
Kol HaOt is hosting a day of crafting and creating based on their new exhibit “Counting Up” where you can make your own unique Omer counter, with workshops and artists on hand too. Also, Ancient Shiloh has a three-day Festival, where you can see the Mishkan (ancient Tabernacle) come to life this Pesach.
Pesach Festival at Ancient Shiloh
The Jerusalem Film Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an exclusive FREE exhibition featuring original costume design sketches, storyboards, and scene drawings from one of the most iconic films of all time, Gone with the Wind (1939). The displayed pieces required extensive conservation due to the ravages of time—aging, wear, and tear and are being displayed, for the first time, over the holiday at the Jerusalem Cinematheque.
FREE exhibit celebrating Gone With The Wind at the Jerusalem Cinematheque
Whoever you are, treat yourself!
If you’re searching for an exceptional afikoman gift for yourself or someone special, consider visiting the Yvel Jewelry Factory and Visitors Center. You can learn about jewelry-making, enjoy an authentic Ethiopian buna coffee ceremony, and immerse yourself in the world of exclusive all-Ethiopian Jewish jewelry crafted by the talented artisans of the Megemeria School of Arts. In Amharic language, “megemeria” means “in the beginning“.. It’s a wonderful place to begin your Pesach holidays!
English tours of the international jewellry brand YVEL
Energize your day by making it more fun through interactive and practical positivity games. Debbie’s laughter workshops can be done virtually or in-person.
For all chocolate-loving families, we highly recommend the chocolate workshop at Galita on Kibbutz Tzuba. All their products are Mehadrin, non-kitniyot. Enjoy a visit and wine tasting of 4 types of wines produced by the Tzuba winery
Mehadrin, non-kitniyot chocolate workshops at Galita
Best Bites
Looking for information about restaurants? Visit Debbest Israel’s Pesach Restaurant Post where Debbie lists some of her favorite restaurants across the country with kashrut information.
Are you looking for our Fun In Jerusalem Pesach Family Guide?
Although we won’t have a printed magazine this year – you can find all the great information you are used to on our calendar and in our listing of Things to Do.
Message from Fun In Jerusalem
The municipality is investing is some serious building projects to modernize our ancient capital city and improve our infrastructure. For now, that means more traffic, congestion and delays. We suggest you download the Moovit App to help you map out your journeys. Plan ahead and leave more time than usual to get to places.
We hope you have Fun In Jerusalem this Pesach!
Photo Credit: Avigayle Adler Open Studio
