Graffiti in Jerusalem

After the sun sets on Jerusalem, the Mahaneh Yehuda shop keepers and vendors call it a day, giving way to the market’s spectacular nightlife. Graffiti artwork suddenly reveals itself, along with incredible murals depicting some of Jerusalem’s most influential past and present day personas.

We will begin the tour with the famous mural, “Cite de la creation”, painted by a group of artists from the city of Lyon, whose artwork decorates a number of walls throughout the city. We will discuss the artists’ artistic approach and discover the unique technique they apply to create an illusion of reality.

As we continue to walk through the alleyways of the Mahaneh Yehuda market, we will enjoy a display of graffiti artwork found on the closed shutters of the shops and stands, portraying portraits of well-known religious leaders and public figures from the Jerusalem sports, music, and art industries.

We will hear stories about artists, such as Solomon Souza and Berel Hahn, who have painted over 130 shutters throughout the market and the Nahlaot neighborhood. These two Olim (immigrants) had a vision. They believed their artwork could decorate the city, as well as their residential areas. We will learn about their vision, and the connection between their artwork – displayed at nightfall, once the market is closed – and the Jerusalem melting pot of personalities, encounters and cuisine.

The night tour of Jerusalem is full of fascinating stories and anecdotes from Jerusalem’s past, present and future, providing you with a unique experience of Jerusalem’s nightlife.

Flavors, Colors, and Fragrances

We will embark on a colorful, delectable, and interesting journey of the most beautiful and happening market in Israel – the Machne Yehuda Market! We will meander through the streets of the outdoor and indoor market, visit the Georgian area of the market, and the Iraqi market in “cages”, hear fascinating market stories, meet colorful characters, and hear the story about how the market was built and how it developed into the trendy culinary shopping center and bustling entertainment, culture and tourism hub it is today.

Among the stalls and shops we will indulge our sense of taste with the best the market has to offer. We will sip from some of the market’s wonderful beverage concoctions, visit the traditional bakery that bakes authentic pita bread in a fire stoked oven, taste tehina ground on a millstone, visit the spice emporium where we will taste a homemade dish with surprising flavors and bask in the fragrances in the shop, sample the sweets in the market, “wipe” hummus at the most popular place in the area, and enjoy a few other tasty treats.

Our tour of the Machne Yehuda Market will expose   you to the intricacies of this famous Jerusalemite market, the authenticity that comes from the mosaic of people, stalls, butchers, bars, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, forming the unique mélange that only this market can offer.

It’s possible to combine a visit through the adjacent neighborhood of Nachlaot.

We will embark on a journey in the footsteps of the secret stories of the neighborhood, strolling among the old water wells, taking refuge in the shade of the famous strawberry tree, tour among the unique synagogues, hear the stories of the Banai family, visit the neighborhood oven, and hear about how the ethnic harmony in the neighborhood developed.

It is advisable to allocate free time for the tourists and to plan the remainder of the day accordingly.

A Tour of Hummus Restaurants

This tour takes you on a delectable tour of some of the best hummus restaurants in Jerusalem, the Israeli hummus capital.

The city’s multicultural and multi-ethnic population is explored through hummus, tehina, and everything in between.

During the tour, we’ll walk through the famous hummus stations in the Machne Yehuda Market and discuss the entire hummus-making process, from growing the different types of chickpeas to the final product on the plate.

We’ll also taste hummus-related confectionaries and discuss other delicacies made from the versatile legume.

We’ll talk about hummus in the Jewish tradition and during biblical times, when they used to dip bread in hummus.

The divine spread has garnered a huge following of fans in Israel and worldwide, and everybody seems to have their own preference for their favorite hummus brand / restaurant.

We’ll discuss this trend, as well as others who have claimed Israel’s “ownership” of hummus.

In addition to chickpeas and hummus, we will also discuss sesame seeds and their versatile culinary applications, in addition to tehina, including the process the seeds undergo to reach their final culinary form.

We will reveal where the best sesame comes from, and some tips and nutritional information from hummus and tehina mavens.

We’ll visit a tehina factory and taste various different types of tehina, eat chickpea candies, observe which varieties of chickpeas are suitable for making hummus, and sample several different styles of “modern” and “old-fashioned” hummus. Finally, we’ll learn about pita bread and receive a hummus-making package and recipe.

Three Religions Tour in the Old City

The Three Religions Tour takes you through the ancient alleyways and quarters of the Old City and to the sites that are holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

 During the tour we will discuss each religion from a historical, religious, and social perspective, incorporating anecdotes about the current state of affairs among the various religions.

We will discuss the different streams controlling the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, view the Temple Mount from various vantage points, and discuss the rise of Islam, its prophets and beliefs.

We will overlook the Western Wall and visit the tomb area, which is holy to the three religions, and walk along the main street that was as busy thousands of years ago as it is today.

During the tour we will experience the diverse interpersonal fabric of people that currently live within the walls of the Old City.

In the market, we will see and discuss the ritual objects of the three religions, smell the fragrance of incense in the houses of worship, and soak in Jerusalem’s spiritual atmosphere, which has become a city for all three religions.

The tour passes through main points in the Old City.

Depending on the route and the time we have, we will visit a number of main centers: Mount Zion from a triple point of view: Judith, the Tomb of King David – Nabi Daoud Mosque – and the dining room of the Last Supper. This unique compound is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.

 We will tour the Jewish Quarter, the Horba Synagogue, the Cardo Road, the heart of the Christian city.

 Ilya Capitoline, we will reach the Morristan and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – and tell about the various streams in Christianity.

We will ascend to the lookout and look at the Temple Mount – Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, the cornerstone and we will talk about the Western Wall, the only wall left from the Temple period.

Tour of the Jewish Orthodox Neighborhoods

We’ll go on a Jerusalem tour following the fate, the unique attire, communities and Haredi movements living as different dynasties at the heart of  Jerusalem, Nahlaot Neighborhood. We’ll travel the Pashkevils, the narrow alleys, the yards, the endless clotheslines and tell you about the various Ultra-Orthodox movements and the closed community lives that developed in the sub-dynasties, as a kind of enclave within the neighborhood. Welcome to the religious neighborhoods of Nahlaot.

The extraordinary Haredi neighborhoods give the feeling you’ve arrived somewhere else completely.

 In this tour we’ll explore the Haredi dynasties of Nahlaot.

We’ll go from Beit Broide to Beit Rand and learn about the simple lifestyle that hasn’t changed much from their time in the diaspora, uncovering another reality in one of the most wanted locations in Jerusalem.

We’ll tell of establishing the authentic neighborhood called “HaShaa’r LeYerushalim” (Gate to Jerusalem) and its 32 sub-neighborhoods and tour its picturesque Jerusalem alleys.

Well tell of the atmosphere there between the various ethnic communities, all living in the same neighborhood together.

 As Israel’s sixth president, Yitzhak Navon, did well to describe in his play “Bustan Spharadi” (Spanish Orchard).

Among the courtyards of the old Nachalot neighborhood is an 80-year old house where a family of 11 lives.

At home, an industrial kitchen that produces about 60 challahs and cakes on Thursdays leading up to Shabbat.

We will arrive at the host family , we will meet the mother of the family who is an entrepreneur in spirit and soul.  She will tell us about her and life in the ultra-orthodox sector.  We will hear stories about the neighborhood, life at home and day-to-day dealings.

During the activity, light refreshments will be served – homemade pastries, hot drinks.