Rosh Hashanah Family Guide: Ten Unique Holiday Activities Across Israel
Discover ten family-friendly holiday activities across Israel for Rosh Hashanah, combining apiary tours, desert adventures, science exhibits, and historical heritage sites from north to south.
The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is here, and with children on break, the perennial question of what to do today echoes once again. Instead of staying glued to screens or organizing yet another family gathering, the holiday offers a wonderful opportunity to embark on alternative excursions. Families do not need to commit to grueling hikes or full days out in nature; across the country, various activities combine water, wildlife, history, games, science, and a touch of action. We have gathered ten options, stretching from the north to the south, perfectly tailored for families looking to venture out and return with stories to tell.
Sweet as Honey: Touring the Apiaries
It is impossible to discuss Rosh Hashanah without honey, and tasting it naturally leads to learning where it comes from. As part of the annual honey festival held during the Tishrei holidays, apiaries and visitor centers across the country open their doors for close encounters with the world of bees. Participating sites offer glimpses inside transparent hives, meetings with beekeepers, insights into bee life, honey harvesting demonstrations, and, of course, tastings and direct purchases from local producers. Some locations also feature children's workshops and additional activities.
Desert Wildlife and Water Fun
For families seeking a blend of animals, interactive activities, and cooling water attractions, the Desert Animal Park in Be'er Sheva offers a unique desert-focused experience. During Rosh Hashanah, the site features the "Desertarium Splash" complex, complete with water attractions, inflatables, sprinklers, and a ninja extreme course in collaboration with Negev Ninja. Visitors can climb a rock-wall simulating ibex cliffs or test a flight simulator mimicking a bird of prey.
Floating Ideas at the Science Garden
Why do certain objects float while others sink? What happens when shape, volume, or material changes? At the Clore Garden of Science at the Davidson Institute in Rehovot, the new exhibition "Floating Ideas"—created in collaboration with the Shenkar Department of Industrial Design—explores buoyancy through hands-on experiments. Visitors can test transforming floats into weights, guide floating balls into goals, and experiment with oil and water mixtures alongside the permanent science exhibits and liquid nitrogen shows.
Exploring the Turkish Aqueduct
In Regba in the Western Galilee, families can step directly inside an ancient aqueduct through which water still flows. The holiday activity introduces visitors to the historic Turkish water channel, accompanied by explanations of the site's history and opportunities to try ancient crafts, such as traditional arch building and grinding wheat into flour with millstones.
A Hasmonean Heritage Experience
Those wishing to turn back the clock several centuries can visit the Hasmonean Village in Shilat, within the Modi'in region. The highlight is a journey following the "Lost Hasmonean Treasure," combining theatrical performance with ancient crafts. Participants can mint Hasmonean coins, participate in olive harvesting and oil pressing, and craft clay oil lamps.
Treasure Hunt at Ben-Gurion's Desert Home
Marking 140 years since the birth of David Ben-Gurion, the modest desert hut in Sde Boker offers a special holiday treasure hunt for families. Children solve riddles related to the Tishrei holidays while encountering historical artifacts, followed by a station for writing and sending traditional holiday greeting cards inspired by the nation's first prime minister.
Time Mysteries at Mitzpe Gvulot
In Mitzpe Gvulot in the Western Negev, a historical site transforms into an interactive family game. The "Time Mysteries" activity guides participants through station-based quizzes, games, and pioneer-era challenges, including making mud bricks and searching for desert water sources.
Desert Adventure at Mitzpe Revivim
Mitzpe Revivim combines history, gaming, and action with its historical escape room set among fortress walls and underground caves. Visitors can also explore pioneer costumes, soap bubble zones, and an authentic Dakota airplane.
Metal, Desert, and Sunset
Offering a unique artistic twist, the Iron-Work Heritage Museum in Tze'elim presents a tour of metalworks from a historic Jerusalem workshop operating between 1913 and 2003, focusing on holiday motifs stamped in bronze and steel, followed by an open-field sunset tour.
A Day of Bees at the Emek Museum
At the Emek Museum in Kibbutz Yifat, Rosh Hashanah is dedicated to bees under the guidance of local beekeeper Ra'ai Saborai. Participants learn about bee ecology, taste hive products, and craft beeswax candles alongside tractor-yard tours and creative workshops.
