The Festival of Lights

October 10th 2011

Hanukkah is one of the most meaningful and interesting holidays for the Jewish people.  If you choose to visit Israel in December, you will find a large variety of things to do. Because of milder weather, outdoor activities can be particularly enjoyable. If you participate in Israel tours – December 2011, you will have a lot of different activities to choose from.

Some popular destinations are Jerusalem and the Modiin area, where the original Hanukkah took place. There is an interesting Menorah display in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Mea Sharim, and near Modiin you can visit Maccabean graves.  There is also the archeological site of Bet Guvrin which offers activities for the whole family, and a visit from Judah Maccabee, the hero of the Maccabee rebellion.

There are some wonderful open-air festivals as well during which large hanukiya are lit, songs like Maoz Tsur are sung, prayers are said, and traditional fried foods are widely available. If you’re in Haifa, a festival called the Hag Ha Hagim in the Nisnas neighborhood celebrates Christmas, Id El Adha, as well as Hanukkah. The festival offers all kinds of street food vendors, dance and music, and various cultural events. It takes place every Saturday during December.

If you decide to celebrate Hanukkah while in Israel, you will find interesting things to see and do in just about all parts of the country. Taking part of these Israel tours in December 2011 is the perfect way to make sure you have a special and memorable holiday experience.