If you have decided to come to Israel for Winter Break or Yeshiva Week, we want to say WELCOME BACK. Fun In Jerusalem has been working throughout the last two years to support our incredible tourism vendors and to help promote volunteer opportunities for locals and tourists.
We have compiled a list of activities that will be available for tourists this winter, as well as some great volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer Opportunities
Many organizations in Israel have stepped up to provide needed support for soldiers, their families at home, terror victims and farmers. Some organizations require a minimum commitment of time and others are happy for you to join them for the day. Be in touch with them in advance.
- Just One Chesed, has a a few incredible volunteer-based projects that make a huge difference! Choose from Build A Bed (for families in need), Pizza Making for Soldiers (craft, package and deliver fresh, hot meals, made with love to Israel’s incredible chayalim), Build A Rest Area (sponsor and help build a brand-new rest area on an army base, giving soldiers a place to relax, recharge, and know they are appreciated) and The Kindness Booth Experience (where you become the giver, spreading kindness to complete strangers). Based in the Gush.
- The IDF Birthday Project – A creative experience full of love, color and giving supporting milluim families and our soldiers. Based in Efrat.
- Leket – Leket has a variety of opportunities for tourists and locals to support the local farmers by volunteering to harvest or plant at locals farms across the country.
- Grilling for the IDF – provide cooked food to our soldiers during their most critical times.
- The Michael Levin Base – visit the base which provides programs and services to lone soldiers and lone b’not sheirut. It’s right by the Shuk.
- Pina Chama – is an incredible place in Gush Etzion where soldiers can come in and have a hot or cold drink, soups and snacks. You can arrange to come and volunteer.
- Ohr Meir & Bracha – pack food on Thursdays for families of terror victims. This takes place in the Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood.
- Pantry Packers – engage, have fun, and make a difference packing commodity food staples for Israel’s poorest families. Located in Talpiot which is a quick drive form the Jerusalem hotels.
- Kedma – On Tuesday, January 20, between 12.30pm-1.45pm, Kedma is hosting a special Food Packaging & Distribution program in Jerusalem’s Katamonim neighborhood. There’s still time to sign up. Full details, here.
Don’t Miss Activities (especially in the rain)!
White Pool is a revolutionary entertainment center in Beit Shemesh in Sha’ar Ha’ir mall! It’s a giant ball pit with over 220,000 pristine white balls complete with thrilling slides, challenging ropes courses, and a dance floor! Kids will love it, and adults won’t be able to resist it either. Stunning graffiti art and awesome lighting add a vibrant touch, with a built-in kosher cafeteria completing the picture. It’s great for younger families.
Meshek48 in Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim, Gush Etzion is a warm, welcoming space for hands-on culinary workshops and intimate cultural experiences rooted in food, craft, and community. All of their workshops are fully hands-on and designed to be welcoming and family-friendly, with participants actively involved from start to finish.
Nefesh B’Nefesh is hosting a Challah Dance Party, with The Challah Mom, at their campus just by Cinema City on Thursday evening, January 22nd, from 7.30pm. Whether you’re an Olah, a seminary student, or here for winter break, join them for an inspiring and high energy community-wide challah bake. Women only.
Kol Haot, in Hutzot Hayotzer (The Artist’s Colony) has hands-on, interactive artistic workshops explore various Jewish texts or topics and they are really great family fun.
The Jerusalem Cinematheque is a city icon. It serves film-lovers, Israeli and international members of the film industry, historians, scholars, and students of cinema and has an impressive weekly program of screenings – there’s something for everyone!
Beit Avi Chai is a real gem in Jerusalem. It’s a cultural center and gallery located on King George Street, to promote Jewish-Israeli culture, creativity and identity. They have wonderful, high-quality, programming for children & families
Unique Tours for the whole family
Nachliel Selavan, AKA The Museum Guy is giving private and public tours of the Israel Museum and the Bible Lands Museum. His unique and engaging style brings museums and Jewish history to life; connecting Torah, history, art, geography, and archaeology all in a fun and exciting way!
Join musical sensation “Yonina” and ensemble on a musical walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Experience stories and music from diverse Jewish cultures who have returned to Jerusalem over the past 400 years. Ask about Public and Private tour options.
Come and experience the wonder of bird migration at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, right by the Knesset or take a nature walk (in English) at the Gazelle Valley Park. It’s an oasis of calm, right in the center of the city.
Take a guided tour of the architectural wonder that is the National Library building. Explore the impressive new reading halls and survey a selection of the five million items stored in the Library: rare books, antique manuscripts, photo albums, unique maps, historical posters, personal archives, and more. They offer tours in English, every Wednesday. Another option is a self-guided audio tour, in English, available daily. You’ll need to pre-book.
Robby Berman is a tour guide, journalist and stand-up comedian who loves teaching and guiding. Robby guides all over the country with an expertise in the Old City of Jerusalem (all the quarters), the Mount of Olives, the Israel Museum, the Old City of Tel Aviv, the Old City of Jaffa and the American colony in Jaffa. He now guides down South, in the Gaza Envelope and at the site of the Nova Music Festival where hundreds of young party-goers were murdered by Hamas on October 7. You can hire him for half day (4-hour tours) or full day tours (8 hours).
Debra Tours is offering an amazing selection of specialty walking tours in Jerusalem over Yeshiva Week. She’s a licensed tour guide, who made Aliyah from LA in 2007 and a self-confessed foodie who loves culinary & wine tourism. They have a Friday morning Ashkenazi Food Crawl, Thursday Night Cholent & Bakery Tour, Shtisel Tour, Hidden Gems of the Old City and of course the Classic Shuk Tour.
Museums
The Herzl Museum is a great place to start a trip to Israel. The museum gives kids, teens and adults the background to the founding of the State.
The not-to-be-missed activity for everyone coming for Yeshiva Week is a visit to the Biblical Museum of Natural History! Experience the animal world of the Torah with hands-on encounters in a guided tour. VIP experiences also available!
Be sure to visit the Zomet Institute in Gush Etzion to find out how rabbis and engineers solve techno-halachic problems. They have English tours where you’ll also learn about their amazing inventions for mobility, security and medical needs, allowing technology to be used on Shabbat and Yom Tov. All the exhibits are interactive! They’ve just opened a new exhibit called “Smart Technology in your Home” cool new halachically approved devices for household systems and products, making keeping Shabbat & Chag even easier!
Places to Explore Outside Jerusalem
Take a tour of the Yvel Factory, watch the artists while they work and learn more about the Megemaria Program and the Ethiopian immigrants who are learning the trade of jewelry making. Walk through a replica of an Ethiopian craft village with a student of the program and learn more about Ethiopian culture and their incredible journey to Israel. This is a great activity to do with your teenagers.
The weather’s always better in the Adumim region in the winter! Shelley, owner of Tour Adumim, will coordinate your visit and she’ll even accompany you if you want. Choose from the Mitzpe Yericho Lookout and “Coffee on the Edge Cafe”. Experience Desert Survival Skills, Drawing the Desert, Soap Making, and Shepherding Skills 101 – and so much more!
Take a factory tour of the Hollander Distillery, a unique family-run distillery in the Jerusalem Hills, specializing in alcoholic fruit distillation (liqueurs, schnaps, and brandy). Follow the production process and hear the family’s amazing story from Hungary to Jerusalem. Tastings are for adults only. You can pre-order pizzas and soft beverages for the kids.
The Hebron Fund runs a family-friendly tour. It’s unique, fun and inspirational experience for all ages, visiting Kever Rachel and Ma’arat HaMachpela – two of the top 10 most visited sites in Israel. It’s is a wonderful way to connect to Jewish history and heritage and a unique opportunity to link the past with the present, to feel attached our Jewish roots and to people and events that transpired over the millennia.
Moshe Braun, artist and sofer STaM will take you on a hands-on private family tour of a Sofer STaM’s studio and introduce you to the fascinating world of Safrut (scribal arts). He’ll treat you to in-depth explanations and demonstrations on how Torah Scrolls, Tefillin, Mezzuzot and Megillot are created. You can book a tour of his studio in Ramat Beit Shemesh or Jerusalem.
Step back into Biblical times with an ancient experience, at Eretz Bereshit (near Maale Adumim). Ride a camel, be greeted by Eliezer in the tent of Avraham, partake in hospitality, and engage in workshops like pita baking, pottery, or ancient Hebrew writing.
Dig For A Day is a wonderful way to get your hands dirty and connect with the history of the land! Participate in a real archaeological excavation in Beit Guvrin National Park. The activity is suitable for all ages.
Challenge yourselves to some local adventure
Gush Etzion is rich with history, adventure and family-friendly fun. Check out the water tours at the Biyar aqueduct, guided tours of the Hyrcania Fortress, (a hidden treasure in the heart of the Judean desert) and the hikes, natural spring, archeological digs in the area. There are loads of restaurant close by, too.
Caliber 3 is the leading Counter Terror, Defense & Security Training Academy in Israel and the world. They are based in Gush Etzion and have some awesome Commando Tourism packages – for a real “only-in-Israel” experience!
If extreme sports and adventure are more your thing, enjoy challenging, physical activities and help your kids boost their self-confidence at the Jerusalem Ropes Course with Yaakov, a real gever and runner-up at Ninja Israel, at Ammunition Hill. He also offers rappelling / snappelling down the walls of the Old City for an awesome adreneline-pumping experience!
Dead Sea Bikes is the only local tourism company in the northern Dead Sea with a variety of options for special self-guided or guided bike rides, trails and hikes. They have Riders – a totally new concept in bike riding. It’s like a Segway, which hovers just above the ground. And a huge array of different bikes for families to enjoy. If you have younger children, ask about tandem and add on options for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers!
Experience an exciting, guided, off-road ATV ride through the beautiful landscapes of Binyamin, just 40 minutes from Jerusalem, with Boaz and the team at Shilo ATV Tours.
Have a real “havaya Israeli” (Israeli experience) with Jeep & Trekking Tours. Each certified tour guide has a personal touch so you can enjoy the nature and experience with Hidden Valley.
EZ Raider is a new concept in off-road mobility, by Smart Tour. It’s a strong, lightweight, electric-powered ATV for individuals who can handle any kind of terrain. Glide through Jerusalem and see the famous sites and landscapes from a completely different perspective. They’ve just moved to a new location – you’ll find them right across from the King David Hotel. And their bike rental compound is conveniently located in Sacher Park.
Take the unique opportunity to ride horseback in the Jerusalem Hills at the King David Stables, right near Jerusalem. They offer trail rides for all levels, with a trained guide and pony rides for younger kids and horse care classes. It’s located in a yishuv called Yad Shmona just a 15 minute drive outside of Jerusalem off Route 1.
Walk the paths of Ancient Shiloh, discover the Bible stories and the different periods among the stones and the fascinating archeological findings.
Crafts you can bring home with you
Arts & Crafts workshops are a firm favorite for families with younger kids. All of the workshops we recommend are run by artists who have opened up their studios to tourists. Many of the workshops have an Israeli or Judaic theme, making them unique experiences.
BRAND NEW ON FUN IN JERUSALEM
- Salome Stone Workshop
- Gita’s Painting Workshop
- Salves of Jerusalem – Biblical Salves Workshop
- Nili’s Photography Workshop or family Photo Shoots
For older kids, we recommend the Glass Blowing & Flame Working workshop with Yael, a Bezalel graduate.
Roochie Sinai, owner and artist at Rave Mosaics has a studio the Artist’s Colony St. (Hutzot Hayotzer) where you can create your own unique piece of art from broken pieces of glass.
Chaya Esther Ort gives a unique ceramics workshop inspired by the Holy Land. Kiyor Ceramics is located just opposite the main entrance to Machane Yehuda Market.
Studio Kliche, offers Sun Printing and Candle Making workshop in a beautiful studio in the Jerusalem House of Quality, just across the street from the Har Zion Hotel. The family-friendly workshops are run by artist and owner Liana, who is a Bezalel graduate.
Spend some time at Hadara Ceramics, an air-conditioned studio in Emek Refaim Street. Hadara offers classes, workshops and welcomes potters with all levels of experience. The studio is perfect for adults and for kids ages 3+.
Take an incredible woodworking workshop and walk away with handmade pieces of Juaica at The Workshop Gush Etzion. Jeremy and Mandy Broder will teach you how to take wood from its’ raw form and create it into a finished piece, learning all aspects of the process along the way. Cutting, sanding, filing, gluing and varnishing by hand using custom woodworking machinery.
Come and visit Dana at the Creative Crafts Studio in Gush Etzion where you can choose from a variety of projects. We recommend their Family Projects. Ask about special option for evening workshops as well.
During a Mezuzah workshop with Uri Kalfa he’ll will teach you about the mitzva of Mezuzah as you create your own mezuzah case. His studio is located in Maale Adumim.
Nurture your creative side at a Resin Art Workshops at the Nicole Friedman Studio in Beit Shemesh. Come experience first-hand what the resin art hype is all about. With private and group workshops available, participants create color-bursting useable art.
If, like mine, your family loves chocolate then treat yourselves to a fabulous chocolate workshop at Galita. It’s a chocolate-lovers paradise and a really fun (and tasty) family activity. All their chocolates are Mehadrin. Galita’s located on Kibbutz Tzuba, in the Jerusalem Hills just after Ein Kerem. It is a beautiful 20 minute drive from the center of Jerusalem.
Take time to treat yourself
For a real treat book yourself a spa day at the Clarins Theatron Hotel Spa , equipped with a heated indoor pool and Technogym center.
If you’re lucky enough to be in town when David The Servant King is on, book yourselves tickets! It’s a show by women, for women.
The iconic YMCA invites families for warm indoor swimming sessions during Yeshiva Week. Enjoy dedicated family swim hours, beautiful facilities, and a fun, active break from the cold.
Book an upbeat laughter workshop with Debbie Hirsch – designed for families and kids. These joyful workshops help reduce stress, boost energy, and add a burst of fun to your time in Israel.
Tamarim Concierge Services – From Winter Warmer packages to personalized gifts, Tamarim is your one-stop-shop whilst you’re here. Whatever you need, give Tamar a call and she’ll make it happen, leaving you to relax and have more fun with the family.
Concierge Me offers personalized support—from activity planning to stress-free logistics—so families can enjoy their quality time together.
Looking for a different activity? Take a look at our FUN Favorites page to see all of our recommended family activities in Jerusalem
