The current seven-day Passover holiday (eight days, outside of Israel) marks, in addition to the “usual” themes of Redemption, spring, and matzah, also a renewed sense of belonging to the Land of Israel.
This is evidenced by the dozens of field schools, organizations and others proposing various trips and hikes throughout the Land during the holiday’s intermediate days.
Among the offerings are:
Friday: Hikes from Karnei Shomron to Kedumim and from Beit El to Migron
Friday, Sunday, Monday: Elon Moreh – hikes to Sebastia, Joshua’s Altar, Kabir, and more. (www.shechem.org/teva, phone: 02-997-3106)
Friday, Sunday, Monday: Ofra Field School – Nachal Perat, Sartaba, Shilo-Shechem, Dolev, and much more. (email: ofra@spni.org.il, phone – 02-997-5516)
Sunday: March to Gush Katif. Kick-off point at 12 noon, family routes available as well. Phone: 02-996-0687
Sunday: Tours and activities in Nitzan, sponsored by expelled Gush Katif residents (phone: 054-667-2846)
Sunday and Monday: Susya, a town between Hevron and the Negev – two days of family activities and tours (www.susya.org.il, tel: 1599-507-517)
Sunday and Monday: Medrash Eliyah – hikes in the Mt. Gilboa, Heftzibah and Nachal Hadrea areas. (www.meliyah.org.il, phone: 052-379-5009)
Sunday and Monday: Binyamin Region –Tel Shilo, Kokhav HaShachar, Nachal Dolev, hang-gliding (www.binyamin.co.il, phone 02 997-5516, 054-563-0806)
Midreshet Amiad – in Jerusalem: Underground Prisoners Museum, Begin Center, Prophets St., the first neighborhoods outside the walls, Mt. Zion (phone 052-863-7484)
Reishit Yerushalayim – activities in the Old City of Jerualem and outlying neighborhoods (phone: 02-626-4488)
Jewish National Fund – hikes throughout the country (www.kkl.org.il, tel: 1800-350-550)
Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu – organic farming tour – (www.bio-tour.com, phone 054-564-0971)
Sample Hikes
The Katlav river channel in the Jerusalem hills, southwest of Jerusalem. One of the most surprising brooks in the area, nestled among forests and dirt roads. Two cars: Drive along Route 386, turn towards Tzur Hadassah, after 9.5 kilometers turn right on a red-marked dirt road, two kilometers, leave car in large dirt area. With other car, return to 386, turn right, after 4.5 kms turn right towards Nes Harim, then another right to parking area, where the hike begins.
Gush Etzion Springs:A family tour that begins with a steep descent (not recommended for children under age 8). Starts just west of Gush Etzion Junction, to a valley under a 600-meter omega route, the 2nd-longest in the world. Sites along the way: The lone house remaining from the original Gush Etzion town of Massuot Yitzchak, the remains of a Second Temple farm, a pine tree forest, a First Temple period burial cave, and more. The hike ends near Bat Ayin.