Ben-Gurion Hut Offers Lantern-Lit Tours and Unique Exhibits for Hanukkah

Visitors to the Ben-Gurion Hut in Kibbutz Sde Boker will have a unique opportunity to explore the historic home of Israel's first prime minister by lantern light during the upcoming Hanukkah holiday. The original residence of David and Paula Ben-Gurion will be plunged into darkness as part of a special holiday program, allowing participants to tour the rooms and personal belongings using lanterns.

During the tour, visitors can peer into Ben-Gurion's study containing about 5,000 books, the couple's separate bedrooms, the kitchen displaying tea sets and the daily menu of "the Old Man," and the living room featuring a copy of the Declaration of Independence given to him as a gift by Golda Meir. Another intriguing attraction is a collection of five Hanukkiah lamps preserved in the home, including one that plays the national anthem, "Hatikvah," and another shaped like the Maccabees.

Alongside the lantern tours, the site will host creative workshops where participants can craft works to be displayed on the complex's "Wall of Lights." The program also features the circus performance "Green on the Head" by Adam de Lange, combining acrobatics, juggling, and music inspired by Ben-Gurion's legacy, as well as an evening tour focusing on early kibbutz life.

Visitors can also explore interactive exhibitions, such as the animated presentation "Ben-Gurion Hosts," a display at the Gypsum House documenting Sde Boker's early days, and games addressing the decisions and dilemmas faced by Israel's first premier. The lantern tours will take place from December 6 to 10 at 10:00, 12:00, and 14:00, and on Friday, December 11, at 10:00 and 12:00. The 90-minute tour is suitable for the entire family.

Admission is 25 shekels for adults, 20 shekels for students and seniors, and 15 shekels for children over the age of 5. All activities are included in the ticket price, and advance booking is recommended on the Ben-Gurion Hut website.