Israel's Dynamic Multicultural Heritage

Daliyat El Carmel, Israel’s largest Druze village built in the 17th century on the slopes of Mt Carmel, offers a carousel of color, sounds and smells relating to Druze culture. Spend a day wandering the streets, soaking up the extraordinary energy, tasting ethnic cuisine and picking up handmade trinkets in the bazaar. The town often hosts festivals and events and attracts large numbers of both Israeli and foreign tourists. 

The flavors that encompass Elkheir’s Druze cuisine have a long generational history. The chef owes everything he knows to watching his grandmother prepare traditional Druze cuisine when he was only a young boy. In an effort to preserve his grandmother’s secret recipes, Elkheir set up a restaurant with the goal of producing delicious Druze food using only the finest raw materials. His cuisine is the epitome of field-to-table, whereby he handpicks his ingredients directly from the fields of the region and carefully selects his grape leaves one-by-one before stuffing them. The yogurt—drizzled with a thin stream of olive oil—is a crowd favorite. This is a place to visit, food just doesn’t get any fresher than this. 

This overnight Bedouin adventure, deep in the heart of the desert, is a truly unique and memorable experience. In Bedouin culture, the primary importance is placed on receiving guests with warm, open-hearted hospitality, as they enjoy an exotic and delicious home-cooked feast, followed by an evening of Bedouin entertainment. Fall asleep under the stars Bedouin-style in a large luxurious tent of soft cushions and blankets surrounded by the tranquility of the desert air. Many Bedouin experiences also include camel rides and desert trips for the following day. Mattresses are provided, but it is recommended to bring a pillow and sheet. 

Khan Hashayarot offers a Bedouin-esque desert experience. Here you will find all the activities associated with a Bedouin stay, including camel rides, dinner eaten on cushions, bonfires, an introduction to the Bedouin life, storytelling, and tent sleeping. In addition, modern luxuries such as bathrooms with showers, outlets to charge phones, and breakfast is provided. For those looking for a more luxurious stay, guest rooms are also available instead of tent lodging. Located between Sde Boker and Mizpe Ramon, it is located far enough away from town to provide a magnificent view of the stars in the desert sky.

In the Kanai’m Valley between the city of Arad and ancient Masada lies Kfar Hanokdim, a palm-lined oasis in the Judean desert. Driving down the winding desert road, the full spectrum of the desert falls upon you as you land in the enclave of this very special destination - rife with family-friendly activities, a communal atmosphere, delicious food, and a rugged, yet composed variety of sleeping options. Have a truly memorable stay in one of the traditional Bedouin tents or in the newly renovated and more modern private cottages (for those wanting an intimate, less 'campy' experience). There are so many sleeping options that everyone will find something that fits their needs - from massive groups to singles or couples looking for some solitude. The actual area is quite expansive and the staff takes great care in directing each party to a specific region of the grounds that will suit their stay. Wanna be extra loud until the wee hours, have an awesome bonfire, and drink 'til dawn? Or care to fall asleep reading solo in a quiet hammock away from the world? Have a group of families and kids that want to go on a scorpion hunt when the stars come out? Take some camel rides and hang out at a petting zoo with bunnies? Have a singing drum circle and jam out after dinner? Zone out, meditate, and practice yoga in the desert? All options are readily available. There is also an interesting ecological area that demonstrates how Kfar Hanokdim runs sustainable practices, including heating water with the sun, recycling various materials to make furniture found throughout the area, cleaning drinking water, and more. Packages include dinner and a hearty home-cooked breakfast made by local Bedouin hosts. 

No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a visit to the Kotel (aka, the Wailing Wall). Considered to be the holiest place for the Jewish faith, a short walk through the Old City of Jerusalem will lead you to this sacred site. Be sure to write a wish or a personal note on a scrap of paper and slit it into the cracks of the wall, as visitors have for years upon years. The Kotel is the pulsing center of the historically amazing Old City.

The Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center aims to contribute to the understanding and meeting of minds and hearts among different sects of the Jewish people. Connecting the religious, from Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed Jews, to the secular, all are invited to partake in services, talks and cultural events at Cymbalista. They aim to promote tolerance through dialogues, lectures, lessons, symposiums and discussion groups related to the Jewish way of life and tradition. An architectural gem, the building was designed by internationally-renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta. With an exterior of reddish stone and interior walls of a golden-hued stone resembling wood, it is worth visiting solely for the beauty.

Between Jerusalem's city hall and the Old City, this large historic building is less than a 10-minute walk from the Holy Sepulchre Church. It offers a total of four restaurants. Just next to Jerusalem's Christian Quarter, Notre Dame Center caters to travelers of all religions who wish to visit the Holy City. Staff can assist you with location information and getting around the city. Notre Dame's rooms have been completely renovated. They come with a private bathroom and air conditioning. WiFi is free in shared areas. The main dining room serves a buffet breakfast and is also open for lunch and dinner. There are three other restaurants, including the Roof Top Cheese and Wine, offering panoramic city views and a mean apple strudel.

The Holy Caves are at the center of ancient Nazareth, built over centuries by Jews and early Christians trying to escape Roman persecution. The caves are the gateway to the underground city, yet to be excavated. Enjoy a free guided tour in the portions of the caves that are accessible. Get transported back in time, seeing the place where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus lived. Guests are able to gaze upon what could possibly be the world’s first Christian alter. For those interested in history and religion, the Holy Caves of Nazareth won’t want to be missed.

Often regarded as Jerusalem’s most beautiful neighborhood, Ein Karem is comfortably seated at the foot of the Jerusalem Hills. Just a 15-minute drive from the city center, you’ll find a peaceful haven surrounded by rich green forests and charming immaculate streets. Known in the Bible as the birthplace of John the Baptist, this exquisite village is home to the Church of St John the Baptist, Visitation Church, the Notre Dame de Sion convent, the Greek Orthodox St. John convent, the Al Moskovia Russian monastery, and Mary’s Well. If you’re here for music, the Eden-Tamir Music Center hosts chamber concerts, piano concerts, and more. If art is more your taste, a simple stroll will lead you to countless galleries and the famous twelve stained-glass windows of the Hadassah Hospital Synagogue. 

A symbol of coexistence between Arab and Jewish residents, this small, yet colorful market in the heart of the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood has been a sensory celebration for decades. It’s scattered with bakeries, delis, coffee shops, fresh seafood, falafel stands, restaurants, fruits, and vegetables. Unlike other typical markets in Israel, this one is literally imbedded in the neighborhood streets and less organized in one area - so taking the time to wander around is beneficial - and how you'll most likely find the gems. 

With a distinctive Arabian nights feel to it, the Arab market – or souq – located in the Christian and Muslim Quarters of Jerusalem's Old City is a labyrinth of alleyways lined with shops selling everything from handmade jewelry and exotic scarves to hookahs and ceramics.

In addition to showcasing one of the world’s most comprehensive collection of Islamic art and antique timepieces, this museum is dedicated to closing the cultural divide between Israel’s Jewish and Muslim populations. Especially worth seeing are the samples of Persian tiling, Indian Moghul miniatures, and an informative section on Arabic calligraphy.

Built in 691 CE, The Dome of the Rock is one of the oldest works of Islamic architecture. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this legendary place is considered to be one of Jerusalem’s most recognizable landmarks. A masterpiece of Islamic architecture, the shrine is said to be where Mohammed ascended to heaven. Located at the edge of the Old City in Jerusalem, a walk through the ancient alleyways will lead you to this special monument.

Take note: Visitors may be asked to show their passports, so arrive prepared. While the complex is open for all to see, non-Muslims are not permitted to enter into the Dome of the Rock.

Nestled between tall bamboo, this museum is dedicated to art from the Land of the Rising Sun, showcasing a broad cross-section of both traditional and modern Japanese prints and paintings. Due to the delicate nature of Japanese craftsmanship, which is sensitive to light and weather, exhibits change frequently.

The women hand make vibrantly-colored crocheted baskets and rugs and the actual project was named by the women - Kuchinate means ‘crochet’ in Tigrinia. The African Refugee Women’s Collective has gone through a journey and the women currently work from a quaint studio in south Tel Aviv, which is open to the public for sales and workshops in learning the technique. They also host a series of pop-up shops in different locations throughout the year. 

There are a few shops in Tel Aviv that stock the baskets and rugs that are made by the women. They are beautiful, quality products that the women are proud of and have allowed them not only to learn a skill, but make money from their craft. The project also serves another significant aspect of empowerment: it became a place where women with shared hardship and experience could come together and find support from one another. The shop is a safe place to work, create, eat, laugh, dance, cry, and talk, and all visitors are welcome.

If you’re craving something truly different for lunch or dinner, you should definitely consider going to Balinjera. This kosher restaurant specializes in Ethiopian cuisine that offers many options for vegetarians, vegans, and meat-eaters alike. Choose from veggie casseroles, meat plates, and a wide selection of side dishes. Each dish is served with traditional, gluten-free bread called Injera, that is made with Ethiopian Teff flour. “Balinjera” translates to fellowship, as Ethiopian food aims to join together culture, flavors, and colors. Next time you’re roaming around the Kerem, make sure to give this unique place a try.

The award winning Jaffa Theatre offers something quite special and quite rare: a stage for Arab-Hebrew culture. Inside the multi-arched building in Old Jaffa is a space that invents its own unique theatrical language to challenge the cultural divisions that have been drawn in the past. Two theatre companies work together and independently in Hebrew and Arabic to show how the cultures can be so similar in some ways, yet different and special in others. Come experience one of their four major annual festivals and feel the cultural unity occurring under one roof.

A deep love for raw materials, tastes, smells, people and of course, ice cream, drives Buza to create. Buza celebrates cooperation and is a joint venture between a Jewish and an Arab Israeli. They strive to maintain relationships with local suppliers in order to ensure the highest quality products. Buza is unique for its specialty cones, including cinnamon and cardamom, savory chocolate and more. They sell seasonal flavours, such as plum, lychee or fig. Visitors to Kibbutz Sasa, where the Buza visitor center is located, can participate in ice-cream making workshops to learn the craft for themselves. 

The concept behind this North African treasure was to bring together two worlds—connecting the east with the west, music with food, and luxury with hominess. The menu is built on traditional flavors from the boys’ upbringing, “just like Mom used to make.” An aromatic combination of spicy and sweet comes to life in dishes that utilize regional ingredients like cumin and carrots, sweet beets and fresh herbs and roasted hot peppers. Not only is the establishment a Moroccan Mecca of home-style food, the dining room is accompanied by electronic music. Pamper yourself like Moroccan royalty while exposing your senses to a sensory overload. 

All of the delectable dishes at Baba Yaga are deeply rooted in chef Maria Piznetz’s experience growing up in Russia. As a result, it’s no wonder the restaurant is named after the most infamous witch in Russian mythology. Eating here is truly a magical experience - from the fine European cuisine to the upscale-yet-cozy ambiance. The kitchen offers a wide variety of delicacies that hail from all over Europe, including France, Spain, Italy, and Russia. Here you can find a diverse selection of fancy foods such as foie gras, caviar, and whole sea bass.

Ramen master and Tokyo native, Makoto Okazaki has over a decade of experience perfecting the Tongara broth, with is still proudly served at Men Tenten and nowhere else. Men Tenten is probably the most authentic Japanese restaurant in Tel Aviv, which boasts its reputation for using its own house-made soy sauce and ramen dough. The Men Tenten menu represents the traditional Japanese kitchen with sushi, izakaya and of course, ramen. There are 8 different types of ramen on the menu, including 2 vegan options and 2 cold ramens as well -a great option for summer. An authentic Japanese vibe and a surprisingly affordable menu make MenTenten a must-stop destination for any ramen lover.