Chilling at Ein Gedi Spring

Ramat Beit Shemesh is great....but sometimes, especially when things get hot (like right now in August), finding a cool pool can be the thing to do.

So when I saw this refreshing pic we took at Ein Gedi a few years ago, I just had to post it.

friendly Ibex in Ein Gedi

Ein Gedi springs, besides featuring in Tanach, is also a great family hike. With wildlife (Ibex, Hyrax, etc.), and lots of waterfalls and pools, your family will have an awesome time.

The main thing is to get there early and beat the crowds. From Ramat Beit Shemesh, I'd suggest leaving at 7:30AM or 8AM at the latest. The drive down (near the Dead Sea) is about 1.5 hours.

Mountain Biking with Sheep in Israel

Although I usually try to write about stuff that most normal people enjoy, like nice swimming pools and petting farms near Ramat Beit Shemesh, I get a bit carried away when it comes to small, Kosher, woolly quadrupeds.

On a recent mountain bike ride in the beautiful Judean Hills near Ramat Beit Shemesh, my friend Nachum Wassosky of Hakshiva fame, snapped this shot of myself, my Scott Aspect bike and some Bedouin sheep, with his Nokia E71.

As my close friends know, I love biking and aspire to be a shepherd, so this picture nicely combined the two.

Davida's Farm

horseback riding at Davida's Farm

My family are big fans of Davida's Farm. Located on Moshav Yishi, it's just minutes from Ramat Beit Shemesh, and is loads of fun for everyone.

The farm has a petting area (rabbits, hamsters, turtles and other assorted critters) as well as horses, a camel, some goats and woolly sheep.

You can feed the animals (make sure to bring some apple cores for the horses) milk some of 'em, and even go horseback riding (for kids age 2 and up). However, there are no cows, so bovine-lovers will need to head over to Kibbutz Tzora.

water slides at Davida's Farm

In the heat of the summer, there are super-fun, water trampolines and slides which keeps the kids wet, cool, and smiling. (If you really want a full-body splash, head over to the gorgeous, private Yishi pool.)

They also have a "pot-your-own-flowers" activity where you can....you guessed it, pot your own flowers to beautify your home.

Lastly, they have a great tractor/cart ride for the whole family where you can bounce into the hills for some incredible views and fresh, herb scented air.

For more info, call Davida at 050-573-9899 or 02-991-0061.

Private Pool on Moshav Yishi

It’s summertime, it’s mega-hot and the kids are going bonkers.

For my family, the best place to chill out and beat the heat is the gorgeous, private out-door pool on Moshav Yishi. The pool is owned by Menachem and Deena Mendlowitz (originally from Monsey, NY and Toronto respectively), and is availale for families on an hourly basis.

The pool itself, the beautifully landscaped grounds, and the showers/changing rooms are clean and perfectly maintained.

Pool on Moshav Yishi

With shade, great views, comfy lounge chairs and even a BBQ, the poolside ambience really allows a family to unwind and feel like they are on vacation somewhere in Southern California (or 5 minutes from Ramat Beit Shemesh-whatever floats your boat).

In addition, Mendlowitz has a lovely guest house that can host about 60 guests. It’s perfect for large family get-togethers, school Shabbatonim and other events. Everything is tastefully designed and fits with the rustic Moshav atmosphere.

For more info, call Menachem at 052-595-5073.

Little Violinists in Ramat Beit Shemesh

Regina Eliaz, a resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh A, is really passionate about her work. Every day from 9AM until 9PM she is teaching children (and teens) to become great violinists. Trained professionally in Russia, she combines expert instruction with affectionate care, treating her students like her own children.

Some of the students rehearsing for a recent concert

Recently the students performed in the Matnas (on Nachal Dolev) and really impressed the audience with their solos and groups performances.

Although violin lessons are a bit pricey (around 500 NIS/month for 8 or so lessons), it provides a wonderful outlet (kinda like the baseball Chug) for musical children while potentially creating rewarding careers for those who excel.

So next time you hear some violin in Ramat Beit Shemesh, it might just be Regina or one of her many students playing.

Tzora Dairy Farm

My sister-in-law, her son and a weird cow in the background

My sister-in-law is visiting us from Toronto and I thought that she and her 2 boys would enjoy a visit to a local dairy on Kibbutz Tzora. Well....it seems that neither she or her sister (my wife) exactly share my enthusiasm for the refreshing fragrance of cow. Lots of cow.

Despite that minor issue, I and the kids (except for my daughter who help her nose the whole time) had a bovine blast.

We got to watch as the cows filed into the milking station, were milked and then returned to their lovely, "sparkling clean" pens (or whatever you call the place they stand/lie/eat/etc. in).

Room with a view

We also got to see the Tnuva truck come and fill up with fresh milk for delivery to their processing plants. The driver took samples to check for various properties to ensure that the milk met Tnuva standards.

The best part in my mind is that this little trip is only 5 minutes from Ramat Beit Shemesh (Kibbutz Tzora is off of Highway 38-right next to BIG), it's totally free and highly educational (now my kids know where the milk comes from-YUM).

Milk cow on Kibbutz Tzora near Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel

Next time you are looking for something to do with your really bored kids, hop over to Tzora to check out the Dairy. (Milking is daily at 12PM.)

Baseball in Ramat Beit Shemesh

Friday afternoon in Ramat Beit Shemesh. It might be 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit), or cold and rainy, but no matter what, Rabbi Lavey Freedman is in Ayalon Park playing baseball with the neighborhood boys.

Rabbi Freedman made Aliyah 11 years ago and brought his passion for baseball to Israel. Recognizing a need for wholesome, healthy outlets for the local kids, he started the popular, weekly baseball chug.

Kinda like little league baseball, the games help the boys learn the rules and fundamentals of the sport, along with teamwork and sportsmanship. With expert and relaxed instruction (and pitching), Rabbi Freedman keeps the games going smoothly, ensuring that no matter what, the boys have a good time, improve their skills, and develop good Middos (character traits). Check out the short clip below!!




The 9 inning game is open to boys aged 7-12, just about every Friday and Erev Chag, throughout the year. For more information, contact laveyfreedman@gmail.com .