Towards the end of the 19th century, many Jews qutted the run-down Jewish quarter in the old inner city and moved into the new working-class neighborhood of The Pipe (De Pijp). In 1892 a synagogue was built there, at 238 Gerard Doustraat, sponsored by the society Teshungat Israel (Help of Israel). This became a learning center where workers and intellectuals would meet for study. The synagogue hardly stood out from the residential buildings on the street, allowing services to continue until 1943, despite German occupation. The synagogue was the official residence of Chief Rabbi Justus Tal until his death in 1954. The building was completely renovated and refurbished in the 1990s and the synagogue offers space for 250 men and 70 women.
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The Pinto House
Huis De Pinto is a former Amsterdam city mansion on the Sint Antoniesbreestraat near the Rembrandthuis. It was originally built in 1605 but is named after a leading Amsterdam family dynasty of Portuguese-Jewish merchant bankers. The founder of this dynasty was Isaack de Pinto, from Antwerp, who moved to Rotterdam in 1647 but bought the house in 1651. His son commissioned the unusual facade, and his grandson Isaac de Pinto grew up there. It is now a public library owned by the Amsterdam Monuments Trust. Inside is well worth a look – there are striking old-master paintings on the ceiling and an impressive antique chimneypiece.
Original graffiti tour with Augmented Reality
Join the first ever historical graffiti tour with augmented reality and delve deeper into Tel Aviv’s history through art. See unique artworks that were made specifically for this tour by some of the leading artists in Israel and bring them into life with AR technology.
Chef’s Table in Florentine
An intimate dining experience with a chef in South Tel Aviv. Join Chef Amit Raz for a multi course dinner at his charming apartment in Tel Aviv and enjoy a culinary experience customised to your taste buds. Raz will bring his diverse knowledge and experience and local and international flavour to create a unique plant based dining experience.
DelicouShuk
A tantalising taste experience in Israel’s historic food markets. Embark on a culinary journey with a professional chef through the colourful and diverse food culture of Israel. Choose from Israel’s historic markets in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem and learn about the essential local ingredients, savour delicious flavour from the market and learn about the history of the people who have been trading there for years and years.
White City Tour
The ultimate Tel Aviv encounter through the lens of Art, Architecture and food
Get to know Tel Aviv’s History through the perspective of its UNESCO protected architecture, diverse food culture and Street Art. The tour will take us into the heart of the city, the Carmel market , the oldest neighbourhood of Tel Aviv, the American colony and the up-and-coming Florentine. The guide will share his knowledge, personal stories and anecdotes and bring his experience both as professional artist and chef. The following is some of the content that I cover in my tours:
Food:
Cultural diversity and influences on local cuisine/ Is there such a thing as Israeli food?/ Hummus – a love story from the bible / Ashkenazi vs Sephardic/ Kosher law
Architecture:
What is Tel- Aviv without Jaffa / From sand dunes to city / Eclectic style, Bauhaus, brutalism, contemporary/ Le corbusier’s five points of architecture / Garden city / White city, city of
balconies, city of kiosks / Yehuda Magidowitch / Zeev rechter/ Arpad Gut / Joseph Berlin Rothchild/ nahmani / ehad haam/ maze/ Allenby / neve zedek
Graffiti:
Florentine history – bourgeoisie to urban decay to hipster to posh/ Gentrification – the good the bad and the ugly / Techniques of street art – stencil, free hand, paste up / Street art vs Graffiti / Graffiti lingo- tag , bomb, masterpiece, etc.
Approaches and subject matter – political, site specific work, protest base, decorative
Sened, Dede, Mihal Rubin, The MissK, ID, Solomon Souza, Nitzan Mintz, Logik, yigal shtayim, hashtag, Sarah Erenthal, Kislev
Wine Tasting by Night in Old Jaffa
An fascinating Journey of Jaffa’s history through local wines!
Step into the ancient streets of Jaffa and explore the old city through sights, stories and the finest local wines. We will start at the American- German colony sampling local sparkling wine, walk past a Well-House to discover Jaffa’s major industry a century ago and climb up a hill to get a glimpse of the shining lights of Tel Aviv . At each stop we will sample some wine and lean about the unique vineyard the produces it. We will conclude at the flea market, the heart of the night life in Jaffa, with our final tasting and a little snack.
Mondays – Saturdays 19:00- 21:00 or 21:00 – 23:00 except Fridays
Shuk and Cook
Join me on a culinary adventure in Tel Aviv’s historic neighbourhood of Florentine or the Yemenite Quarter. We will visit Levinsky or Carmel Market and learn about their history and evolution. You will be introduced to shop owners and their heritage and taste traditional dishes. You will be shown the unique ingredients that make up the diverse cuisine found in Israel. The adventure will continue in my kitchen with a workshop on signature dishes found in Israel using ingredients from the market. We will conclude with a feast of flavours and cocktails
Please watch promo: https://youtu.be/MpaVWOIYG6o
Tasting treats from the market
Gazoz – A refreshing reinterpretation of a soda (cool drink) using seasonal ingredients, fresh herb and bubbles.
Anti-pasta platter from a Turkish deli including signature olives
Burekas – stuffed phyllo pastry in a Turkish style
Churchkhela- a Georgian sweet of nuts encased in grape jelly.
Halva – a sesame based confectionary found in the middle east and the Mediterranean amongst others in different varieties.
Cooking workshop
Starters
Baba ganush with green tahini (flame smoked eggplant with a sesame dip sauce blended with lots of parsley)
Almond labane with zaatar and pomegranate (zesty nut cheese with a special herb and sesame seasoning)
Freekeh (smoked green wheat) salad with dried figs, pistachios, parsley, mint and sumac dressing
Mains
Kebabs on cinnamon sticks
Mejadara ( a Levantine dish of rice and brown lentils with mounds of caramelised onions)
Dessert
Malabi in two flavours – classic rose with pistachio and halva with silan and salted almonds
Also includes:
– Cocktails: arak with grapefruit, mint and cucumber
– Local wine with meal
– Recipe booklet and spices to take home
– Menu and tastings may vary according to season
Hours:
Mondays-Thursdays 10: 30 -14:30 or 15:30 – 19:30
Fridays 9:30 – 13:30
Amit
Amit discovered his passion for cooking as a child, in his grandmother’s kitchen. Two decades later, when his family immigrated to South Africa he fulfilled his dreams and worked professionally in the field. Years later, after a visit in India, he was inspired by the culture and diverse cuisine and decided return to the subcontinent and train in the local culinary arts.
He brought back his knowledge to Cape Town and opened Masala Dosa Restaurant that combined traditional South Indian cookery with a modern dining experience. The restaurant operated successfully for 11 years under the care and dedication of Amit and also functioned as a space for cooking workshops for the public and chefs alike. The desire for change and travel led Amit to sell the restaurant in2016 and embark on a journey around the world. At the end of his travels he decided to return to his birthplace in Israel.
He chose to reside in the heart of the city on a rooftop apartment surrounded by trees and birds. In this space he offers his experience and knowledge and hold workshops and special culinary events. Amit’s passions extend to the arts too. He has studied Design and Fine Art and has worked both as an artist and educator in these subjects in private institutions. He brings his knowledge and love to his guided tours in Tel Aviv specializing in street -art and architecture.
Ein Kerem, Israel: The Picture Perfect Town of Judea
Nestled in the highlands of Jerusalem, between Mount Ors and Mount Herzl, is the small but iconic and ancient town of Ein Kerem. It holds a substantial place in Jewish history and is known today as a place of artistic prominence and practice. Beauty seems to be the ideal keyword for describing Ein Kerem and even the drive to the town is breathtaking, and built to accommodate the land. The roads move and curve with the mountainside, giving the entire area a very old world feel and appearance.
The History of Ein Kerem
The historic town of Ein Kerem has roots in the Old Testament mentioned in the books of Jeremiah and Nehemiah. As far as the land designation of the twelve tribes of Israel, Ein Kerem is located in what was the territory of the tribe of Judah. The historic mountain village also plays a large role in the story of Christianity. This was the place where the mother of Saint John the Baptist miraculously conceived her son. The town was also visited by the mother of Jesus during her pregnancy. The story goes that the two women met at the local town to share in their joy of being pregnant. Today the site is visited by Christians from around the world who come to sip the divine waters of the well. Wells have often been associated with women throughout several religions and Christianity is no exception. Some pilgrims even bring their own plastic water bottles to take the water back home.
The Town of Ein Kerem Today
Today Ein Kerem is home to a thriving artist community. The beauty of the landscape combined with the distinct history of the town has drawn in artists from around the world. The biblical rolling hills, iconic heritage sites, and regional legends and stories are commemorated in hundreds if not thousands of artistic renderings and representations. A few of these representations are the work of some of the most respected artists in history, including the legendary Marc Chagall, born Moishe Shagal. In 1962 he donated a series of stained glass windows to the Abbell Synagogue of the Hadassah Medical Centre. The windows are masterpieces of color, light, and composition, paying homage to the twelve sons of Jacob, their professions, accomplishments, and life histories. The concept of life history commemoration is a hallmark of many sites and sanctuaries in Ein Kerem.
The Church of Saint John the Baptist, belonging to the Franciscan order of Catholicism, is one such site. Constructed on the spot where the Saint was said to have been born, the entire structure dates back to potentially the Byzantine period. The most current additions to the Church go all the way back to the 11th century, and in the mid 20th century excavations revealed a slew of undiscovered artifacts. Some of these include a wine press, graves, and even rock cut chambers where several ceramic pieces dating to 70 AD were discovered.
The other Church that commemorates the life of Saint John the Baptist is the Church of the Visitation. The Church is located on the site where Mary was said to have sung her song of praise. The entire structure is decorated with scenes from the event including several frescos. The original mosaic floor of the Church is still visible as well. The Church also contains the legendary “Rock of Concealment” where Elizabeth and the infant John hid from Herod’s soldiers. The rock miraculously opened up and the new mother and child were able to find sanctuary. After a full day of visiting the historic sites around time, you will want to replenish yourself with a delicious meal at Atalya. Named after the head chef and owner of the restaurant, Atalya is open for private events with a menu crafted entirely by Atalya. Her dishes are inspired by the surrounding land and include corn cakes topped with sardines, focaccia, Israeli salad, and more.
Although the hustle and bustle of big city Jerusalem provides ample history, food, and events for several visits, Ein Kerem offers a more personal experience. The quiet persona of Ein Kerem and its place within the geography of the region exemplifies the charm of small town life. This is where, throughout history artists, historical figures and pilgrims have gathered to share in the majesty, history, and unique beauty of the Judean hills.
