An Environmentally Friendly Passover

I saw a really interesting ad for the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem www.mada.org.il , describing their upcoming activities. They call it "An Environmentally Friendly Passover" with all sorts of kid-friendly things to do - a science theatre, a meeting with "Dr. Molecula", paper projects, alternative energy, recycling electronic products and more -- plus they have their highly regarded regular exhibits.

See their website for more information about this, and also their Bar and Bat Mitzvah activities.

Lunch at the Hans Sternbach Winery

Last Shabbat afternoon, I went with my family to visit the Hans Sternbach winery. The winerey is owned and operated by Gadi Sternbach and his wife Shula Yefet in Givat -Yeshaayahu (about 10 minutes from Bet Shemesh, and 40 minutes from Jerusalem), and is named for Gadi's father.

The laid-back, authentically Israeli feel of the Hans Sternbach Winery could make it an interesting stop for your Green Bar or bat mitzva tour.

The winery overlooks a magnificent view of the hills of Judea and particularly of the Hakhlil valley and the Janaba vineyard (the winery's principal vineyard). Nearby are thousands of extremely well preserved caves built between the 4th century BC and the 6th century AD. They served as cisterns and storage rooms, dove cots and stables, oil presses, wineries and quarries. The most noteworthy of these caves are found at the Bet-Guvrin National Park.

In the past several years the winery has begun to win medals for their wines, and the location is well known for producing some of Israel's best wines. One could spend a full and tipsy day of wine tasting by visiting many wineries in the area.

Gadi and Shula are long time members of the "Slow Food" movement, hence the vineyard is organically fertilized, the use of pesticides, herbicides and artificial irrigation is reduced to a minimum and the grapes are grown nearby. In the making of the wine there is no use made of the manipulations, common in the "food industry". The cuisine of the restaurant is local, using, as much as possible, local products, wild plants and crops of the restaurant's garden. The employees are fairly treated and decently paid.

The winery restaurant is suited for small family lunches or dinners (not kosher). There is a large vine covered perugala (seats over 200 people) for larger events. The winery and restaurant is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to the departure of the last customer. Please call in advance for weekday visits.

Contact Gadi at Hans Sternbach Vineyard, 83 Giv'at-Yehsha'ayahu, 99825 D.N. Emek-Haela
Tel: +972-(02)-9990162; Mobile: +972-(52)-3859926; Fax: +972-(02)-9911703
e-mail: sk-Gadi@zahav.net.il

Into the Desert -- The Glass Museum and Kibbutz Lotan

Most bar and bat mitzvah tours in Israel are so busy seeing the sites in Jerusalem and the center of the country, that the Negev is written off the itinerary -- considered " too far" or "too remote" for a short family visit to Israel. That is a shame, because the Negev offers so much, especially for the eco-tourist.


One place that I am looking forward to visiting on my next trip South is the the Glass Art Museum in Arad. It is always difficult to balance the needs of all the members any tour group, but the location -Arad is a city not far from the Dead Sea and Massada - and the unusual integration of ecology and art, offers something for almost everyone. The resident artist, Gideon Fridman, creates in recycled glass, and more than 30 glass artists from around Israel are presently showing their work in the museum. Check out their beautiful website at http://www.warmglassil.com/

Further south, just outside Eilat in the Arava Desert is Kibbutz Lotan http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/ This kibbutz, was founded by members from the Reform youth movement and is part of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, The Collective Stream of the Kibbutz Movement and the "Green Kibbutz" group. Lotan offers an amazing array of green programming for groups and individuals, green leisure activities and lodging. More about this on my next post....

EcoTourism in Israel -- lots of info, one website!

I have just discovered a wonderful website for those thinking about a Green Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Israel. It is called EcoTourism Israel and can be found at http://www.ecotourism-israel.com/Index.htm
in English and in Hebrew.

EcoTourism Israel is dedicated to supporting green and sustainable eco-tourism by connecting businesses in the industry with tourists looking for eco-friendly vacations.
The site is well organized, with 4 main categories:

National and Cultural sites which includes a list of National Parks and Nature Reserves, World Heritage Sites and other sites of cultural interest. This section is full of useful information and reliable links to the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority website.

The Activities section has everything from mountain biking, desert archery, solar powered go-carts, to basket weaving, bird watching and bee keeping. You will surely find just the right activities to keep all the members of your family entertained and green in Israel.

The Accomodations section has everything, for any budget - hotels, motels, and guest houses to organic farms and camping sites. Many of these businesses are especially interested in solar energy, water conservation, and other issues specific to sustainable life in Israel, a typical Mediterranean climate.
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Food – Restaurants, pubs and cafes of course - but also organic farms, wineries, cheese making workshops, olive oil presses, and more.

Michal Wimmer-Luria, one of the founders of EcoTourism Israel, is interested in working with Green Bar Mitzvahs in Israel in order to make her partners aware of the needs and interests of families coming from abroad to celebrate bar and bat mitzvahs in Israel. She encourages interested families to contact the partners directly with inquiries.

You are also welcome to ask me any questions regarding green bar and bat mitzvahs in Israel.

Send me an email - I look forward to hearing from you!
Martha@greenbarmitzvahs.com

Thinking Green and Thinking about Israel

We are delighted to begin this new blog, Green Bar (and Bat!!) Mitzvahs in Israel.
If you are planning your event from the USA or anyplace outside Israel, it may seem that traveling over seas for a Bar Mitzvah couldn’t possibly be considered green, in fact, the impact of a Bar Mitzvah abroad can be about the same as one at home. Although you have to fly to get there, which contributes to green house gas emissions, these ceremonies tend to be much smaller and generate less waste.

That said, and putting environmental concerns aside for the moment, there are many other significant reasons to have your Bat Mitzvah in Israel – perhaps to experience Israel firsthand, or to reconnect with distant relatives – that make a celebration in Israel an appropriate and meaningful choice for some families. A Bar Mitzvah in Israel, or post Bar Mitzvah visit, affords the opportunity to participate in Tikun Olam (the repairing of the world) by visiting, volunteering and supporting environmentalism efforts in Israel.

So – regardless of your reasons, the fact is if you choose to make your bar or bat mitzvah in Israel, or if you already live in Israel, then there are many ways to green the event – we will investigate and discuss everything from organic caterers to sunrise ceremonies, from eco-tours to entertainment.

Introducing Martha Haberman

Hi - this is Kate from the Green Mitzvot site.  My husband, Barry, and I just got back from a few weeks in Israel - and it was an amazing trip!  For part of the trip we went north and stayed at a new B&B in Zichron Yachov called Shalom Zichron. I want to take this opportunity to introduce the owner, Martha Haberman.  She is an American (from Michigan) who has been involved with and writing about Israeli politics and daily life for years.  She is going to help me highlight some of the green things that are happening in and around Israel for those of you who are thinking of celebrating your simchas with a trip.  Look for her entires on this blog coming soon. 

Image: Martha and Barry in the artists village