What to do on the last day of Hanukka

A few fun ideas for the last day of Hanukka that won’t break the bank.

By MEITAL SHARABI
The port of Caesarea (photo credit: BOAZ OPPENHEIM)
The port of Caesarea
(photo credit: BOAZ OPPENHEIM)
After trying to keep the kids occupied for a week – performances, attractions, sufganiot, and meals at restaurants, many parents have run out of ideas of what to do with their kids until they go back to school.
Here are a few ideas for fun things to do on the last day of Hanukka that won’t break the bank.
Carmel
Hanukka is the Festival of Lights, and in celebration of the holiday, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund is holding an ecology festival for all ages. “Hiking in Boots” – along the Carmel Coast – in conjunction with the Israel Electric Company, has put together an energizing program with KKL-JNF volunteers.
Starting Saturday morning, visitors will learn what energy is, what role it plays in our lives, and how we can use it wisely in a way that doesn’t pollute the environment. Volunteers are organizing interactive, fun games to teach all these lessons.
Location: Hagit Forest.
Date: December 31 at 10:45 a.m. Program is free of charge and lasts four hours.
Preregistration required: 1-800-350-550.
Hamshushalayim
Hamshushalayim offers a variety of activities in Jerusalem during Hanukka. Visitors who add the hashtag #Hanukkahjlm to their Instagram photos will be able to see their faces on giant screens in the capital’s Zion Square. Among the activities are a two-hour dramatic tour of the Bible Lands Museum, during which visitors can join Jonathan and his Hasmonean brethren who are busy preparing for the Great Revolt against the Greeks. Another great adventure will take place at the Old Yishuv Court Museum in the Jewish Quarter, where visitors can view its incredible hanukkia collection, including one made from beads that was given as a wedding gift and a Jerusalem hanukkia made from packs of cigarettes. There will also be lots of dreidel games and art projects.
Date: Sunday, January 1, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Price: Children, NIS 35; adults, NIS 20.
Old Yishuv Court Museum will be holding guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Price per family: NIS 40.
Details: www.itraveljerusalem.com.
Caesarea
There will be colorful, unique attractions for the whole family at the ancient port of Caesarea this Hanukka. Every evening during Hanukka, there will be a spectacular light show on the ancient crusader fortress. Guests will be invited to take part in the show and participate in the Hanukka candlelighting ceremony.
Date: Last night will be December 31 at 6 p.m.
Free entry will be allowed from 4 p.m.
Hava’s Farm
At Hava’s Farm, grandparents (actually all senior citizens) are welcome to join festivities for free. Visits to the 2-hectare farm provide a therapeutic experience for all. The animals living on the farm were injured while living in the wild throughout Israel and then rescued, and are currently being rehabilitated on the farm. Hava and her staff do their best to nurse the animals back to health, so that they can be released back into nature. Some of the animals end up staying on the farm for the rest of their lives. In addition Hava offers programs for the whole family, including Hanukka activities such as milking goats, donkey rides, pressing olive oil that can then be used for hanukkiot, frying sfenj doughnuts, visiting the local museum which houses ancient tools, riding on a tractor, petting zoo, and jumping in a moon bounce.
Dates: December 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and January 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: Children, NIS 47; adults, NIS 25.
Location: Kibbutz Hafetz Haim, near Gedera.
Masada
Masada National Park is inviting visitors to come watch an original performance by Asphalt Theater actors.
The show, which will take place on top of Masada in Herod’s Western Palace, tells the story of the Jews who sought refuge on top of Masada and involves a bit of circus acrobatics. At the end of the show there will be a guided tour that will involve discussions about ancient pottery shards, pay stubs and parchments that were found in the synagogue.
Location: Masada National Park.
Dates: December 30 & 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
No additional fee on top of regular park entrance fee.
Peki’in
The public is welcome to join a Hanukka tour of the village of Peki’in, which is located in the hills of the Galilee. The tour, which begins on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., includes a visit to the Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai Cave and Beit Zeinati Visitor Center, where there will be activities for the whole family. The 45-minute tour is free, but preregistration is required. There will be a Hanukka candlelighting ceremony at 4 p.m. at Beit Zeinati House. Another fun activity available is the Peki’in Nature Secrets program, during which participants will make soaps out of olive oil. In addition, on Saturday there will be a musical performance and activities for kids at Spring Square.
Date: December 31 from noon to 3 p.m.
Details: (04) 688-5438.
Beit Zinati: (04) 999-7197.
Peki’in Nature Secrets: (04) 997-8650.
Vered Hagalil
Vered Hagalil Holiday Farm is holding a Hanukka cowboy happening on Saturday that will include horse racing, silly races for children, country music, food stalls and a final candlelighting ceremony for the last night of Hanukka.
Free entry.
Horse riding costs NIS 35. Cart ride costs NIS 20 from age 3 and up.
Date: December 31 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Details: 050-238-2225.
Ben Ami
Teva Ez, the Ben Ami Goat Farm near Nahariya, is inviting families with small children to take part in an experiential tour of the farm, which will include feeding, petting and milking the goats, as well as making cheese.
Date: December 31. Tours will begin at 10 a.m. and noon.
Price: NIS 30.
Details: 050-688-7242.
Science Garden
The Clore Science Garden at the Davidson Institute of Science Education (Weizmann Institute of Science) in Rehovot is offering a variety of Hanukka activities geared for the whole family. There will be a dreidel tree activity, in which everyone can create his own dreidel; the lighting of a scientific hanukkia; a family candle-making workshop, in which all the family members need to coordinate with one another; a tour of the Science Garden; an arts-and-crafts workshop with artist Nitzan Hammerman in which participants create dreidels out of recycled materials; and a demonstration involving fire.
Price: Children (ages 5-18), NIS 35; adults, NIS 40; family maximum, NIS 150.
Dates: December 30-January 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Negev Highlands
The Ramat Negev Regional Council is organizing Hanukka activities such as a dreidel-making workshop, bike trips, guided tours during which participants will get a glimpse of wild animals, a visit to the famous Mitzpe Ramon alpaca farm, and a drive along the newly opened Route 10 from Ezuz to Mount Karkom.
If you’re looking for an indoor place to spend time with your kids, you can join a workshop at the Faran organic cosmetics visitors’ center in Mitzpe Ramon.
Location of Faran: 12 Mount Ardon Street, Mitzpe Ramon.
Preregistration required for Faran workshop: (08) 653-9333.
Details: www.negevtour.co.il.
Translated by Hannah Hochner.