Christmas in Israel can be magical and a truly spiritual experience. There are services in local churches (mainly in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem) as well as services held at the locations where Christmas events took place. Many tour buses leave Jerusalem on Christmas Eve to services in Shepherd’s Fields where an angel appeared to the shepherds on Christmas Eve. The tours continue to the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and end off at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem for the Midnight Mass.

Of all the Christmas celebrations in Israel perhaps the largest and most moving is at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, where gather in Manger Square to be a part of the celebration of Jesus’ birth on the spot where the events unfolded.

Roman Catholics celebrate on the 24th December at Saint Catherine’s Church in Bethlehem, as well as on the 5th and 6th of January when the Epiphany is commemorated. Greek, Coptic, Romanian and Syrian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on the 6th of January in Bethlehem. In Nazareth there are Christmas Eve parades and firework displays as well as church services. In all over 90,000 foreign visitors arrive in Israel annually to celebrate Christmas.
Christmas in Bethlehem includes processions through the streets, carol singing and religious services which can all be an extremely spiritual experience. It is important to remember that throughout the rest of Israel you could probably not even notice that it is Christmas as unlike America and Europe the streets and stores are not decorated, there is no Santa ringing a bell outside shops and Christmas music cannot be heard in the streets.

Naked Sea

Israelis of all ages ( between 18-77), creeds, colors, men, women, shapes and sizes rushed to apply to the Facebook request for volunteers to appear naked in Spencer’s photo at the Dead Sea. 1,200 volunteers arrived at the Dead Sea before sunrise on September 17th 2011 to take part. The 17th was a Saturday, chosen specifically to discourage protests by orthodox Jews who would be prevented from disrupting the shoot because they don’t travel on Shabbath. The final location was also kept secret until the last minute to avoid protests and curious spectators. The nude subjects posed in the Dead Sea water, on the shore and also covered in the Dead Sea black mud.
Spenser claimed that his photo shoot was intended to bring attention to the gradual destruction of the Dead Sea by man. The Dead Sea is probably the only site in the Middle East, or Israel for that matter, where this kind of artistic photography will ever be produced. When asked what prompted them to take part participants said they wanted to be a part of this once in a lifetime event and have a unique liberating experience!

Here many avid antique collectors scourge the second hand furniture stores, Persian carpet stores, and bric-a-brac stores which sell mainly old things rather than antique things. One street over there is a covered bazaar, a narrow row of vendors sell from hole-in-the-wall stores an assortment of clothing, old and new, jewelry and second hand goods. The clothes and other items for sale hang above your head and on every available stretch of wall. Outside in the open air the Jaffa market continues with household goods, DIY equipment, ceramics, toys, musical instruments and even the kitchen sink. You will also find local places to eat in this area which is safe to walk about in even if you are on your own.

The zoo’s visitor’s center is housed in a “Noah’s Arch” and includes audiovisual presentations as well as other educational medium.

There is also a mini-train which takes visitors around the zoo while commentary is given on the various animals. Also at the Zoological Garden’s is a petting zoo, sculpture garden, cafeteria and souvenir store.

The Biblical zoo is open 7 days a week and entrance is 47NIS for adults and for children entrance is free! The zoo is wheelchair accessible. There are trains and buses which reach the Zoological Gardens which is located at Derech Aharon Shulov 1, Jerusalem. For more information go to the Jerusalem Zoological Gardens website.

Not only the menu is unique but the store’s interior design is reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with chocolate filled pipes running along the walls and ceiling, barrels of cocoa beans and dispensers offering chocolate in all its variations. Coffee aficionados will also enjoy the range of coffee based drinks in the chocolate restaurant.

You can find the Max Brenner restaurants in Tel Aviv, Hertzalia, Rishon Lezion and Natanya. The restaurant is not kosher (because it’s open on Saturday not because of the food) and of course kid friendly!

Bein Harim Proud to present :the week of Caesarea – Haifa – Acre & Rosh Hanikra