Pesach Activities & Special Events
Visit our Calendar of Events to see the details of all of the Pesach events.
There are so many fun activities for families to enjoy over Pesach (Passover) in Jerusalem. Here’s a taste of what’s going on in-and-around Jerusalem this 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.
Birkat Kohanim at the Kotel – This year, Birkat Kohanim takes place in the presence of the Chief Rabbi of Israel & the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites and with the participation of hostages who have returned from Hamas captivity.
Birkat Kohanim at the Kotel
Mimouna is a festival, originally celebrated by Moroccan Jews, which has spread into mainstream Israeli culture. One of the biggest gatherings is at Sacher Park where thousands of people are expected to celebrate the end of Pesach with a feast of sweet Moroccan pastries, sweets and music. The President and Prime Minister often drop in to join the celebrations! Motzei Shabbat, April 19, about an hour after the holiday ends.
Kakadu Festival
Holiday-themed Festivals & Special Events
This Pesach, reconnect with nature and celebrate the renewal of the seasons at Ein Yael’s annual Spring Festival. Or make your own unique Omer counter, at Kol HaOt’s “Counting Up” Festival. Take a journey of self-discovery, with Reut Shachar, owner and international artist at Kakadu’s special Pesach family festival. Or, if you’d like to venture out of Jerusalem, go and see the Mishkan come to life at Ancient Shilo! Looking for a fun and meaningful family activity? Register for The Amazing Race in support of Crossroads – race through Jerusalem exploring known and less known landmarks in a super fun and creative way!
The Amazing Race, Crossroads
Unlock Pesach secrets with Nachliel Selavan, AKA The Museum Guy who will be guiding private and public Pesach museum tours, of the Bible Lands & Israel Museums, in his own unique and engaging style. Also over chol hamoed, the National Library of Israel will take children ages 5-10 on a fascinating creative journey called Haggadot Stories – a unique family experience that invites families to discover the power of storytelling through three experiential stations! They also have daily, guided audio tours, in English, of their magnificent new building. The Jerusalem Film Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an exclusive exhibition featuring original costume design sketches, storyboards, and scene drawings from one of the most iconic films of all time, Gone with the Wind. And, at the Biblical Museum of Natural History (just outside Beit Shemesh), you can meet the frogs, wild animals and locusts of the Ten Plagues along with many other Biblical animals!
Biblical Natural History Museum
Learn to make your own unique Elijah’s cup in honor of the holidays at a glassblowing and flame working workshop in Jerusalem with Yael (a Bezalel graduate) and her team. If wood-working is more of your thing, Mandy & Jeremy Broder invite you to create a magnificent Elijah’s cup and other beautiful handmade pieces of Judaica at The Workshop, Gush Etzion. Just 10 minutes outside of Modiin, Yael from Artesana invites you to discover the magical world of glass and create an array of holiday-themed pieces and beautiful pieces of art including seder plates, bowls, trays, mezuzot, jewelry and pictures.
The Workshop Gush Etzion
New for Pesach this year
Some great new attractions have opened in Jerusalem and have activities in English for the Anglo community. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer.
Robby Berman, Tour Guide
This Pesach 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. You can hire him for half day (4 hour tours) or full day tours (8 hours).
Neoja, interactive entertainment complex, Beit Shemesh
Neoja, in Beit Shemesh, is Israel’s first interactive entertainment complex! It has futuristic basketball courts where you play real basketball in a captivating virtual world. It also has a first-of-its-kind DARTS system and an advanced Arcade Gaming Zone. (For groups of 50+ people the space can be exclusively yours). White Pool, in the Sha’ar Ha’Ir Mall (also in Beit Shemesh), 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. Or visit Nicole Friedman’s Beit Shemesh-based beautiful new studio. Create color-busting useable art and experience first-hand what the resin art hype is all about at her resin art workshop!
Resin Art Workshops, Beit Shemesh
The Night Adventure, with Nachshon Spiegelman is an unforgettable family experience in Park Ayalon, just outside of Modiin – spend a night in nature and learn survival skills, camouflage, stealth exercises, stargazing. history and more! If you’re in the Dead Sea area, check out Dead Sea Bikes. They have self-guided bike rides, trail rides and shorter trails for families. Ask about their non-electric carting and RIDERS and, for families with younger children, they have tandem, add on options for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers and family bikes, for up to four adults and four children!
Night Adventure, Park Ayalon (just outside Beit Shemesh)
Build A Bed, in Gush Etzion, 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. Caliber 3 have some awesome Commando Tourism packages – for a real “only-in-Israel” experience including an IDF Shooting Adventure, 360 Shoot House, Krav Maga and an Urban Combat Simulator. (Ask them about their VIP packages too).
Caliber 3 Commando Tourism Packages, Gush Etzion
Photo Credit: Barbara Shaw
