Taking place between the 14th – 17th May at the Ganei Yehoshua Park next to the legendary Luna Park, the Ta’am Ha’ir festival will have its usual list of awesome Tel Aviv restaurants offering mini samples of some of their very best portions at dirt cheap prices (ranging from 20-35 shekels).

The action starts at 17:30 on the 14th, and at 18:00 the rest of the week, and lasts til the very last wee morsel has been gobbled down. Some of Tel Aviv’s best restaurants will be there (including some from our guide to the best Tel Aviv restaurants of 2011) so expect to be spoiled for choice!

It really is a great night out for all the family, with plenty of live bands to check out, celebrity chefs plying their trade, and even events for the little ones (including a chocolate mouse workshop on Monday the 14th, and a carpentry workshop that will run through the whole festival).

If you need to know what you’re letting yourself in for at Ta’am Ha’ir, check this little video out from last year’s festival…and start feeling the hunger pangs!

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the first week of May, the Israeli Society of Magicians are celebrating their 30th anniversary with two nights of awesome magic shows at the International Magicians Festival at Holon Theater (just outside of Tel Aviv).

There will be some big international names there (including kids magician Doug Scheer), as well as local talent pulling their rabbits from hats…and organizers are already describing it as probably the biggest and best magic show ever to be seen in Israel!

The magic runs over two nights, the 2nd and 3rd of May, with shows for all the family, as well as some more adult-oriented cabaret on the second night.

For more details and info on tickets, see the official site: www.magic2012.co.il (only in Hebrew) or call *9066. Tickets are priced at between 120-200 shekels.

With kids off from school and kindergarten for something like 3 weeks, and with many locals taking time off from work, Pessach can be quite the extended holiday! In order to make the most of your time during Pessach, we’ve gathered ten of the very best things to see and do…and one place to avoid like the plague (well, you did ask!)…

Related: Things to do in Christian Holy Week, April 1-7!

1. Ahava Dead Sea Music Festival

The 16th Ahava Dead Sea Music Festival is the rock festival to head for over Pessach if you’re into your Israeli bands. Taking place between the 7-11 April in the Dead Sea area, some of the bands you can expect to see include: Mashina, Avitar Banai, Yehuda Poliker, Shalom Hanoch and Bary Sakharov. For more info about tickets, call *8965 or 03-6045000, or try the site: www.TKTS.co.il

2. Bird Festival, Yaffo Port

Running for two days only, from the 8-9th April (10:00 to 18:00), this great little FREE festival (taking place in warehouse 2 in the port) is great for the kids, with creative corners, stories and lots of stalls. There is also an exhibition of photos of Tel Aviv birds taken by both old and young.

3. Design Week in Holon

Holon’s amazing Design Museum has become a magnet for top international design festivals ever since its door opened a couple of years ago. From 8-11 April, the Museum will welcome 15 design editors from around the globe who will attempt to gauge what Israeli design is all about, plus there is also the Designers Plus 10 exhibition, which lasts through til May 2012.

4. Zorba the Buddha Festival, The Negev

Taking place over 10-14 April, the Zorba the Buddha Festival, down in the middle of the Negev Desert, is a festival for the more adventurous! With five days of great music, love and meditation, this is the place to come if you’re looking to explore your inner-self, you love sleeping rough, and you love trance. For more info, see the festival website.

5. Live the never ending Pessach dilemma – HaShahar or Nutella?

Join the rest of a nation as it divides itself into two camps: the ones that love local chocolate spread HaShahar on their matza bread, or those that prefer the more refined and international Nutella. You can’t say you’ve experienced Pessach in Israel until you’ve had to make a choice…and no, we’re not telling you our preferred poison…

6. Haifa International Children’s Theater Festival

Another great destination for the kids is the International Children’s Theater Festival, which takes place every year in Haifa during Passover (this year it’s spread over three days, 8-10 April). This year the theme is based on theater from around the world, including a version of Pinocchio from Spain. For ticket info, call 04-8600500 or see the official website here.

7. Arabian Nights Festival, Upper Galilee

Spread over three days, 9-12 April, the Arabian Nights Festival takes place in the town of Tuba-Zangariyye in the Upper Galilee. If you’re interested in experiencing some of the Bedouin culture, food, history and values, this little festival could be right up your street.

8. International Flower Show, Haifa

If you love your fauna, head to Hecht Park in Haifa (at the southern entrance to the city) between the 7-14 April (open from 10:00 – 22:00). A “world of flowers” awaits, spread over some 30 dunams. Some 120,000 flowers in total from around the world will be there – will you? Prices start at 65 shekels to get in.

9. Enjoy the Beach!

With April temperatures meaning spring weather that often borders on summer highs, the beach could be the perfect place to spend some time during Passover. The beaches of Tel Aviv are always inviting, but if you’re looking for something a little more exotic, how about the beach we rank as the best in Israel? Or perhaps this one, a close second and far enough away from civilization to turn it into an awesome family trip…

10. Jerusalem Ice Festival

The impressive Jerusalem Ice Festival has been getting rave reviews since it opened in March, and it will run through til the end of April. Read our full review of the Jerusalem Ice Festival here. Good for all the family, and even a first date!

And…one place to avoid during Passover, the Sea of Galilee!

Don’t get us wrong, we love the Sea of Galilee. Unfortunately, the Sea of Galilee, including all the beaches and camping grounds that are scattered round its coastline, is a magnet for the “ugly” Israeli through any Jewish holiday. So, if you fancy holding on to your sanity, and would prefer to experience the real magic of the Sea of Galilee, steer clear during Passover. Read more about why here…

Wherever you end up, Happy Passover!

Oh yes, an Ice Festival, in Jerusalem!

From 6th March right through to the 30th April 2012, this amazing festival means you’ll be able to ice-skate, ice-slide, and even drink at the ice-bar!

The festival will happen at the city’s old train station compound and will include an awesome display of legendary Jerusalem attractions sculptured in ice, including the Israel Museum’s famous Shrine of the Book, the Tower of David and the new tourist attraction in town, the Jerusalem Light Rail. The sculptures will be created by a team of famed Chinese ice sculptors (the Chinese have one of the most amazing ice festivals in the world, held annually at Harbin).

There’s no need to worry about the oncoming heat (yes, April can often be pretty warm!) because the festival will be housed in a huge tent built specially for the festival. Temperatures will be down to -10 degrees Celsius to keep all those icy goodies frozen.

For tickets and more information about specific event times, contact Bimot: www.bimot.co.il (Hebrew only) (Tel: 02-6237000). This is expected to be a hugely popular event in Jerusalem, so get your tickets now!

Recommended for children aged 3+. If your kids want to ice-skate, they’ll have to be at least aged 7, or a minimum shoe size of 30.

Hours: 10am-10pm Sun-Thurs, Friday till 1:45pm and Saturday 7pm-10pm
Price: 65 shekels (if you’re a Jerusalem resident, ask for the locals discount!), ice-skating tickets are extra and cost 45 shekels for 30 minutes of skating.

And here’s just a wee glimpse of preparations for the Jerusalem Ice Festival…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now in it’s 7th year, the Ta’am Kinneret Festival is a great opportunity to indulge in some of the culinary delights of the area – and there are plenty! The Festival runs from 21-31 December, and we’ve picked out some of the highlights below (for more details, call 04-6752727 or see the main site (Hebrew only)):

22.12.11 - Tamar BeKfar (on Moshav Kinneret) is holding a wine and cheese tasting evening, and will also introduce you to the delights of…sesame!

23.12.11 – The 3rd King of the Poyke competition hits town! Held at the Marinado restaurant in En Gev between 10:00 and 14:00, this is a great afternoon out on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and includes lots of grill cooking, beer on tap, and a show by Pablo Rozenberg.

21-31.12.11 - Galita Chocolate (on Kibbutz Deganya Bet) will be holding special Hanukkah themed workshops for kids and adults all through the Festival.

31.12.11 - Rotenberg restaurant (located at the Old Bridge, just south of the Sea of Galilee) will be holding an amazing fusion-themed New Year’s Eve celebration, kicking off at 21:00.

Bon appetit!

From Sunday to Wednesday 25-28th December (from 10:30 to 16:00) you’ll be able to step back in time to the Hasmonean period in Jerusalem’s history at the impressive Tower of David Museum. Characters from the period will meet you at the door and accompany you on an interactive guided tour of the citadel.

Along the way, you’ll meet a pilgrim at the top of the Phasael Tower overlooking Jerusalem, new and old; examine the Hasmonean wall that stretches out into the courtyard of the citadel; discover the ballista catapult stones from the time period that were excavated next to the walls of the citadel; enter the moat that will be open during Hanukkah and there participants will receive training in catapult throwing! The guided tour ends with a meeting with Miriam the Hasmonean (the second wife of Herod renowned for her beauty).

There’s also a Children’s Story Hour with Guy Alon as he tells stories and legends of light, magic and miracles, in Hebrew, plus Arts and Crafts workshops.

Prices: Child – 35 shekels, Adult – 25 shekels.
Prices include entrance to the Museum and the permanent exhibition of the history of Jerusalem.

Recommended highly for families with kids aged between 5-10.

For more info call 02-6265333 or *2884.

Click here for more great Hanukkah activities for all the family!

Those of you counting the calories will be sorely tempted by the wide variety of donuts on sale everywhere (see our explanation behind Hanukkah to understand why donuts are a major part of the holiday), while local kids are off school and badgering parents to take them to one of the variety of shows and performances targeted for kids over the holiday.

So, besides stuffing your kids with sweet donuts, or dragging them round the Christmas sites (here’s our guide to the top things to see and do at Christmas to feel festive!), how about one of these five things we’ve picked out below (and yes, we’ve chosen not to include the traditional BIG kids show at Hanukkah, the Festigal, as it’s just one big commercial juggernaut these days). They’ll probably only be in Hebrew, but for some of them it’s all about the entertainment, and less about the language…

* The ticket prices listed below are before any discounts; you will quite often find tickets at half-price through one promotion or another. We recommend you ask about discounts when purchasing.

The Israel Ballet performs Cinderella

Take your kids for some top-class culture – the Israel Ballet are on tour! From 19th-29th December you can catch performances in Modiin, Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheva. Tickets are priced at 179 shekels. For more info, call 03-6046610.

Momentito

From the guys behind the long-running Mayumana, this musical, creative and humorous show runs from 20-31st December in Haifa, with up to 4 shows a day. Recommended ages: 2-10. See the clip at the end of this article for an idea of what to expect. Tickets are priced at 170 shekels. For more, see www.mayumana.com or call *2274.

Bamba Factory Tour

Learn all about Israel’s national snack, Bamba, that peanut-flavored delight, at the huge Bamba (Osem) factory in HaMelacha Street in Holon (Tel Aviv suburb). FREE to join the tour, you MUST reserve a spot in advance: call 1-700-707676. Ideal for ages 5+. And for any Bamba addicts…

Prodigy Festival

This festival of very talented singing kids (yes, child prodigies), aged 9-14, will be held at the Diona Center in Ashdod. The one-off show on 25th December will be a tribute to much loved Israeli songwriter Uzi Hitman, who wrote and sang many classic children’s songs. Tickets are 20 shekels. For more info, call 08-8648585.

Home Alone

The Hebrew version of the Macaulay Culkin classic, so even if you don’t understand the lingo, the scenes should be familiar. This one you can catch between the 19th -30th December in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Beersheva and Ashkelon. The show features many Israeli TV stars, and tickets are priced (initially) at 180 shekels. Call *6226 for more info.

Honorary mentions…

And in addition to the above, we’d also recommend a trip to the magical Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, the Tower of David Museum (including catapult throwing!), Mini Israel, or even the old classic, the Luna Park amusement park. Bear in mind these three sites are some of Israel’s most popular, so may well be packed to the rafters during Hanukkah…

Here’s that clip we promised of the guys from Momentito…

Click here to view the embedded video.

So beat the crowds with these five awesome activities we’ve picked and know well, an hour or two’s drive out of the big cities. You’ll probably still come across some crowds (not sure there’s anywhere crowd-free during the holidays!) but these are a nicer type of crowd, we promise!

Kite Flying at Gan Guru

This Aussie park (Gan Guru – Kangaroo, get it?) at Kibbutz Nir David, close to Bet Shean, will be holding a huge kite flying festival, both for pros and amateurs. There’ll even be workshops to help build your kite (15-25 shekels a pop). It all happens between 09:00 and 17:00 on Friday 30th September. The Gan Guru park, which is strangely (!) full of kangaroos and koalas, will also be open to visitors (costs 43 shekels per person). For more info, call 04-6488060/1.

Marzipan Museum Workshop

The Marzipan Museum at Kfar Tavor (on the road to the Sea of Galilee) will be holding workshops throughout the holiday, as well as tours of their museum (you won’t believe some of the items are made from marzipan!). The museum will be open every day, including the holidays itself, and usually open from 10:00 to 17:00, though closing slightly earlier on Wednesday 28th and Friday 30th. It will cost adults 20 shekels, children 37 shekels. For more info, call 04-6772111.

Honey Festival at Devorat HaTavor

It’s almost impossible to avoid honey during a Jewish New Year, and here’s the perfect spot to overindulge: the Devorat HaTavor center on Moshav Shadmot Devora (right next to Kfar Tavor). Over three days, from the 29th to the 1st October, you can enjoy a two hour tour of the resident beehives and learn all about the sticky stuff. Yes, of course, you get to taste some honey straight from the honeycomb! It’ll cost you 22 shekels, and your kids 45 shekels. For more info, call 04-6769598.

Derekh HaEtz (Path of the Tree)

Get back to nature and enjoy a tour of taste of trees and their environment at the Derekh HaEtz park (see our review here), also on Moshav Shadmot Devora. Especially for the Jewish New Year they’ll be open on Wednesday and Friday this week from 09:00 to 15:00. For adults 20 shekels, the kids 39 shekels. For more info, call 04-6620606.

Sweet happenings at the Spice Farm

Head to the Bethlehem of the Galilee (yes, there are two Bethlehems in Israel!) for some sweet activities at the Spice Farm there (Havat HaTavlinim). You can experience the joys of honey, plus take a free tour of the fields of herbs and spices. The New Year events run from Thursday 29th to Saturday 1st October. Each day at 11am learn about bees and honey, and among the many workshops available, learn to make honey (mixed with halva, yummy!). Kids will cost between 20-50 shekels, but adults are free. For more info, call 04-9533405.

Wherever you end up, Happy New Year (Shana Tova)!

Taking place during the Sukkot holiday on Friday 14th October, the Winner sponsored Crosstown bike ride is the perfect event to keep all happy.

And it’s also going to be the safest time ever to take a ride round Tel Aviv (apart from Yom Kippur) as the main streets will be closed off.

The routes (and there are 3 of them: the 7km family route, the 21km medium route and the 40km advanced route) all start and end at Kikar Medina. So not too exhaustive, however capable your kids are…

There will also be lots of goodies to enjoy, including a concert by the Girafot, bike shows, and a spinning marathon for those preferring not to cruise the streets of Tel Aviv.

For details and registration: http://www.shvoong.co.il/minisites/sovevTLV/ (only in Hebrew unfortunately)

Every year the guys from Jerusalem Hug, an organization aimed at bringing peace, freedom and joy to all, hold an event at the walls of the Old City in an attempt to do their bit for Peace in the Middle East.

It’s a very relaxed thing, with songs, music, prayer and a few things the kids can do (finger painting for example). Expect Jerusalem residents both Israeli and Palestinian to be there, as well as anybody interested in peace…

Might not be for all, but we love the enthusiasm, and hey, doesn’t everybody want Peace in the Middle East?

And just so you know, this time next year the planets are aligned and many believe that this will be the time for peace (what, you don’t believe me?). Jerusalem will be a major focal point for this peace effort, with many pilgrims expected to visit the Holy City.

The guys from the Jerusalem Hug team have already got permission to set up a pyramid of light (see here), in next year’s Festival of Lights. Could be interesting!

So what are you waiting for – go hug!

This is what they hugged about a couple of years ago…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now celebrating it’s 15th year (wow, I remember going to the very first one!), Ta’am Ha’ir kicks off tomorrow evening (13th June) and lasts til Thursday night (the 16th). The action starts at 18:00 each evening, and lasts til the last belly is full…or the last morsel has been wolfed down.

Tel Aviv’s best restaurants (see our guides to the ten most awesome Tel Aviv restaurants and the very best restaurants, cafes and bars of 2010) and wineries will have samples of their best dishes and drinks on offer, all at special prices (the average dish will be something like 30-35 shekels!).

It’s a great night out, with lots of people, lots of food, live bands, celebrity Israeli chefs plying their trade, and even workshops for kids. And all mixed up with a heavy dose of summertime vibes…

Here’s a taste of what Ta’am Ha’ir is all about…yummy!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Officially known as the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem gets its name thanks to its heavy play on wildlife from the Hebrew bible, alongside a program of breeding endangered species.

The Jerusalem Zoo is today jointly managed by city authorities and the Israel Ministry of Tourism and its main message remains true to its founding principles of education: if you want to learn about nature, animal protection, preservation and wildlife environmental awareness in Israel, the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem is the place to go.

A little bit of history…

The Jerusalem Zoo that visitors see today covers over 62 acres and is a far cry from its humble beginnings. Originally founded in the center of Jerusalem by Hebrew University zoologist Prof. Aharon Shulov, it moved between various sites in the city until it was relocated in 1951 to a 15 acre site in Romema.

For much of its time it was actually a place where university students could augment their learnings and gain hands on zoology experience but it also started to attract visitors and tourists who heard about the wide variety of animals there. Finally, in 1993 the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo was reopened on a spectacularly large man-made lake near the Malha Mall and the new railway station.

The Zoo today…

The Jerusalem Zoo is basically on two levels and easy to walk around (for those who need it, you can easily get around on the Zoo train which is wheelchair friendly). Landscaped with trees and plants mentioned in the bible, you can see over 170 species of animals, again closely associated with the bible but also additional animals that any respectable zoo would have…

On the lower level just inside the zoo, there’s the lake and its two monkey islands. The waterfall at Moses’ Rock feeds the lake and the water is crisscrossed in places by ropes where you can see the monkeys swinging (and often making a lot of noise!).

In other areas of the Zoo specific exhibits are purposely built to be representative of the species, such as the house for the Lesser Kestrels based on buildings in the Morasha district, formerly a nesting ground for these birds. From alpaca to zebra, from pelicans to parakeets and from giraffes to snow leopards, there’s bound to be your favorite animal to see at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, and where it’s an animal with a biblical reference there’s also a verse in Hebrew, Arabic and English included on its information sign.

Other attractions are in keeping with the biblical theme. The Visitor’s Center resembles Noah’s Ark and the jungle gym is in the shape of animals, while there’s also a sculpture garden featuring large, mosaic and mirrored animal representations.

The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo presents its educational programs at the Visitor’s Center which also has an auditorium, computer stations and also houses special temporary exhibits.

If you’re taking the kids, check out the days the zoo is holding special “hands on” shows where they can get up close and personal with the non-dangerous animals. Elsewhere, the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo caters for children with a petting area, plus there are 3D films of animals in a small theater.

There are several snack bars and a coffee shop and there are picnic tables and benches throughout the zoo. With an art gallery and gift shop, you can always take home a unique souvenir of your visit.

Expect to spend a good 2-3 hours here, even more if you’re with kids who adore animals!

Current Ticket Prices
Adults (age 18 and up) -  47 NIS
Children (3 – 18), Seniors, and Soldiers – 37 NIS
Children below age 3 -  FREE

Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Friday and Holiday Eves: 9:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Saturday and Holidays 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Note that the ticket booth closes one hour before closing time.

And yes, the Biblical Zoo has a Facebook page!