The holiday feeling is in the air in Jerusalem. The local bakeries have started to compete with their gourmet sufganiyot flavors. You can find traditional donuts in the following flavors; banana cotte, Irish crème, pistachio, Crème Brule, biscotella and more. It’s worth a trip to Israel for Hanukkah just to see all the gourmet options.
Once you have tasted your perfect choice, it’s time to plan your activity itinerary. Instead of our traditional daily itinerary we would like to offer you lots of great suggestions for Hanukka activities in Jerusalem.
- Candle Lit Scavenger Hunt: Race through the back alleyways of the Old City or Nachlaot and enjoy this interactive game with your kids as you learn about the history of the neighborhood. As a bonus on Hanukka you will be able to see all of the neighborhood Hanukiyot lite up the night sky.
- Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Game: Come and see the new Jerusalem Arena located next to Teddy Stadium. The arena hosts the local Jerusalem basketball team, Hapoel and they will be playing over Hanukka. Nothing compares to sitting in the bleachers and hearing the crowd scream a “Go Jerusalem” chant. They even have VIP Bar Mitzva experiences where you can sit in a special box where you are served a kosher dinner, meet the players and play with Tamir Goodman, the “Jewish Jordan.”
- VIP Movie for Kids: So you might wonder what is a VIP movie for kids? At Cinema City Jerusalem a VIP ticket includes a full dairy “kid friendly” buffet meal, all you can eat ice cream, popcorn and drinks. The seats in the theater are extra comfy with massage features and this Hanukka you can enjoy a special showing of “Night at the Museum” in English with a VIP ticket on Sunday December 21.
- Origami Workshops at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory: This is a hidden gem in Jerusalem located on a hilltop next to the Knesset. Learn about the birds who migrate through Israel and how to create origami birds.
- Bambu:This incredible unique exhibit at the Israel Museum has been extended till April. Visitors (ages 6+) climb through the interactive art installation in the Sculpture Garden. Made entirely of Bamboo and climbing rope this exhibit was created by the Starn brothers and allows you to climb up the steps and the paths and view the Jerusalem Hills and the top of the Israel Museum.
I can’t possibly list all of the activities over Hanukkah because there are so many. Candlelighting ceremonies, children’s shows, concerts, museum events, hikes, and so much more. I hope this blog post has given you the inspiration to spend your next Hanukkha in Jerusalem, especially with your family.
For more ideas of activities and events in Jerusalem for your family, contact [email protected], and I would be happy to give you some personalized recommendations.
To see my other ideas for a Day In Jerusalem click here.
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