Valley
of Springs Israel offers many attractions. On the night of July 21st,
2016, a full moon night festival will take place. During the festival many
attractions will be open for night tours for 10 NIS. This includes: Springs,
museums, tours, workshops, etc.
Naharayim
at Gesher
Kibbutz
Gesher used to be located just near the Jordan River on a strategic point.
During the independence war in 1948 the fighting took place here and the
kibbutz was ruined almost entirely. The place has turned into a museum (the
kibbutz still exists but it was relocated to a nearby area). There are a number
of exhibits here including the old kibbutz dining room, remains from the history
of the ottoman train and the dam. Guided tours are offered here, including one
that crosses the border fence to walk along the Jordan River from the other
side of it.
A new
showroom was opened here recently – the Children’s House. In the kibbutz in the
old days, the children did not live with their parents; they stayed in a
Children’s House and were raised by the community. They still visited their
parents in the afternoons, but they slept and spent most of their time in the
Children’s house. The idea behind this was that there was a lot to do in
building the country and the parents had to concentrate on it rather than be
busy with the children, so the Kibbutz gave them the help in taking care of the
children.
The
Children’s House in Gesher was ruined to the ground during the war, and only
the foundations left, and a rusty baby-bath with bullets holes. It was
reconstructed recently and now shows the Children’s House as it existed then.
The tours here tell the story of the communal living and child rearing in the
Children’s House and the story of the evacuation of the children on the night
of the children on the night of April 28, 1948. The children were evacuated to
the nearby Ashdot Yaakov kibbutz and were sent to Haifa for almost 2 years. One
of the children told the story, he was 6 years old and he couldn’t find his
sandals in the dark. So he walked all the way bear footed. He’ll never forget
the thorns on the way…
A mosaic in Gesher telling the story of the
evacuation of the children
Using ComeToArt
app you can download a guided tour of the Children’s house using your
smartphone.
Naharayim
at Gesher is open daily for tours. During the full moon festival nightly story
time will take place with the old days ‘magic lamp’ at 20:00 and 21:00 (price:
10 NIS) and the local bakery (which uses an old – original brick stove of
Gesher) will offer Focaccia workshop at 19:00 for the price of 30 NIS.
International
Birdwatching Center of the Jordan Valley Israel at Kfar Ruppin
The
Birdwatching Center at Kfar Ruppin is the first of 4 International birdwatching
centers built around Israel these days. 500 million birds pass bye here between
September and May. Because the swamps were dried in the Israeli coastal plane
and the urbanization that took place, the natural habitat of these birds was
narrowed to the Jordan valley area. During the migration period they fly above
the area and stop to rest and freshen up (and eat!) in this area, which is like
an oasis.
bird migration charts
The
Birdwatching Center is an educational center, where you can watch a 12 minutes
movie that explains how they can sustain agriculture (including fishponds) when
500 million birds pass bye, considering that a hungry pelican can eat up to two
pounds of fish in one meal!
The birdwatching center at Kfar Rubbin
We met
here David Glazner who told us about the special activities of the center. In
addition to the movie and the information they provide, they offer guided
tours. In the summer it is hot so the activities are in the evening, night or
early in the morning, but it is also hot here during the winter, and the tours
are offered during the day year-round. The tours show the agriculture, include
guided birdwatching and the fishponds. At night they show the bats, the owls
and the sounds of the night.
David Glazner – Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin
During
the festival, a twilight tour (18:00), a night tour (20:00) and an early bird
watching tour (7:00) will be offered for 10 NIS.
Bio Tour
at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu
Kibbutz
Sde Eliyahu specializes in organic agriculture since 1974. The Kibbutz, located
in the Valley of Springs Israel, promotes Ecological farming such as useful
insects. For example, they grow sterile flies who mates with the female flies
and prevent their reproduction in order to extinct harmful flies. They also
grow here bio bees that are used for pollination.
As part
as the education mission that they have, they offer Ecological tours including
workshops. When visiting Sde Eliyahu you can see the bees (don’t worry, they
are in a box), collect vegetables in the fields and cook, or make your own
herbs mix.
At the
local coffee shop “Café Basade”(coffee in the field) you can have a light meal
and buy local produces.
And if
you’re here, if they haven’t taken you during the tours – ask where the Ficus
Benghalensis Forest is and go there. The Ficus has air-roots which makes
it interesting and nice to look at (or even climb on). It is famous for the
large amount of shade it provides.
Ficus Benghalensis Forest
During
the festival, Bio Tour will offer workshops at 19:00 and 21:00 for 10 NIS.
Rozalia
Café at the old Beit Shean,
Rozalia
is a coffee shop and restaurant located in an old house dated from the Turkish
regiment that was refurbished in the old area of Beit Shean. Hannah, the owner,
called it after her grandmother Rozalia. This is a family run business and they
serve here light meals and good coffee. The place is lovely and the service
comes with a big smile!
Roalia – Beit Shean
Rozalia
is Kosher Mehadrin and they always have gluten free courses available.
During
the festival they will have a special on children’s meals (39 NIS) – buy one
get one free!
Gan
Garoo and the Springs Park
One of
the main attractions in the Valley of Springs Israel is the Springs Park
located near Kibbutz Nir David. The park includes Ein Shokek, Ein Mudah and
Kibbutz river. But before going to the park, I highly recommend a visit to Gan
Garoo Park. I already wrote about it in the past. Gan Garoo is an Australian
zoo and there are many animals there with the most interesting ones being the
Kuala bears and the kangaroos. The visit includes a free entry to the Kangaroos
yard where you can pet and feed the kangaroos – and the kangaroos will eat from
your hands! You can read more about it in the article: Gan Garoo.
During the festival three special night tours will be offered – at 20:00, 22:00
and at 5:00 am. The guided night tours are more intimate and give a different
viewpoint on the night life of the animals. Gan Garoo have nights in the park
in July and August where they open the park at night for camping, including a
night tour, bonfire with Australian Aborigine tales and an early morning tour
before the park is opened to visitors.
To the
Springs Park people come to swim in the springs and to have picnics and rest.
At the Full Moon night the park offers guided tours in Golf cars
including a night swim at 20:00, 22:00, midnight, and at 5am. One of the fun
attractions that night is the Mobile Pub that is available for booking for
groups. During the festival two tours on the Mobile Pub will be available at
22:00 and ad midnight, including a glass of beer. Each activity will cost 10
NIS.
Mobile Pub
In
addition to the above, there will be many workshops (bread making, cheesmaking,
cooking, etc.) shows, and special events in the parks and visitors centers.
During the festival, information will be provided in all the information
centers in the Valley of Springs Israel.
Disclosure:
I was a guest of the municipality of the Valley of Springs Israel
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