Jerusalem Expats 

As for activities, many members find there is a shortage of resources such as children's museums, etc.....

We put anything new on the Kid's Stuff page.

The Zoo near Malkha Mall - comes very highly recommended, an excellent place for kids to relax, and mothers to unwind!

Sun - Thur: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Fri and Holiday eves: 9:00am to 4:30pm

Shabbat and Holidays: 10:00am to 5:00pm

Ticket office closes one hour before the zoo.

On Shabbats, special feedings for some animals.

Bears at 11:30am, Chimpanzees and Penguins at 12:00pm

Elephants at 12:30pm, Giraffes at 1:00pm and Lemurs at 3:00pm

Kibbutz Tzora

Opposite the Jerusalem Forest.

Tel: 02-624-0896  

A great location for birthday parties-has slides, arcade games, bumper cars, etc.

A McDonald’s is close by.

Call for times and reservations.
Open Hours: 10am-7pm Sat-Thu; 10am-5pm Fri.

Kad Vahomer
9 Kikar Safra (by the City Hall)
Tel: 02-624-5329

Paint-your-own pottery shop.
Sun - Wed 10.30am-8pm, Thurs: 10.30am-10.30pm; Fri. 11am-2.30pm, Sat. 9pm-midnight

Liberty Bell Park
Intersection of Keren Hayesod and Kind David Street.

Tel: 02-673-5029

Situated across from the Yemin Moshe neighbourhood, this park is a perfect place for children of all ages.

Monkey Park

The park is located halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, at Kfar Daniel, near the Ben Shemen Forest. It offers guided tours (which can last around three hours, so be prepared). Most of the monkeys are in large cages, but there is also a large fenced off area, where you can walk around with monkeys from South America. The park’s inhabitants include Prosimians, squirrel monkeys, Lemurs from Madagascar, crab eating monkeys from Macaque – known for being great underwater swimmers, Dusky Leaf Langur, a leaf – eating monkey that is sacred in Asia, and Marmosets – the smallest monkeys in the world.
 
In Hebrew, the park is called Afrikef (a play on the words Africa and ‘kef’, which means fun). There is a brochure in English (the explanations on the cages are all in Hebrew) so do ask for it at the entrance.

If you want to combine a visit to the park with an al fresco lunch, all you have to do is cross the road into the Ben Shemen Forest where you will find plenty of perfect picnic-ing spots, while the kids, inspired by the simians, can swing through the trees.
 
Directions: From Route # 1, the Tel Aviv- Jerusalem highway take the Ben Shemen interchange and drive toward Kfar Daniel and Gimzo – the park will be on your right and the entrance is clearly signed.

Visiting Hours: Sunday – Thursday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday and Holiday eves, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Entry fees: Age two and up: Weekdays 38 NIS/pp, Saturday 48 NIS/pp.

Tel: 08/928- 5888  Fax: 08/928-5115

Superland - theme park near the beach of Rishon de Zigon. Take the exit to Ashdod, then Rishon de Zigon beach, the park is 2km before the beach.

Tickets cheaper in Bimot.

Swimming courses in YMCA, West Jerusalem

Swimming teacher - Itzik at Crown Plaza hotel, teaches children of all ages   052 408683 or 02 536 3733

Swimming pool with water games in Kelia on the Dead Sea. Open from Easter until Succoth, tickets are cheaper if you buy them in Bimot near McDonald's

Tennis Centre near Malkha / Jerusalem / Kanyon Mall. Has a branch by the Hyatt for tennis courses and group lessons.

Even just a word or two can go a long way - and may even affect the price you pay for goods! In Arabic, the courtesy of a reply is very much expected.  But even if you can't answer a greeting perfectly, your efforts will be greatly appreciated.

There is no one standard way of transliterating Arabic and Hebrew; you'll see all kinds of spellings and representations. The ones that follow are an attempt to make things readily accessible.

Classes

Widely available, at all levels and types of instruction.  A good source for Arabic lessons is the British Council and Arabic courses are available at the French Cultural Centre in Salah e-Din Street.

Other recommended teachers

Issa                      02 628 545/101

Mr. Halloun          052 273 874

Nula                     050 561 150

Nasra                   274 1241 or 052 389 072

ARABIC BASICS YOU WILL USE A LOT

Note: Al Quds [Jerusalem] Arabic is different from Village Arabic and both are different from Arabic spoken in Egypt and elsewhere. 

Mar-haba                                                 'hello' (informal)

Marhabtane                                                   'two hellos'

Ah-lahn                                                    'hello' (informal) 

Ah-lane

 'two hellos'

As Salam 'alaykom                       

'peace be upon you'  (formal greeting)

Wa'alaykom as salam

 'and upon you'

Sabah 'el khair                                         'good morning' (morning of beauty)

Sabah inoor                                                   'and to you'   (morning of light)

Keef halak?  [for female: halek]:             How are you?

 Al Hamdulilah                            

'well, thanks be to God'

Ma'essalameh                                                 'goodbye'

Allama'ak [ek to female]                             'go with God'

Shukran                                                        'thank you'

Afwan                                                      'you're welcome'

Useful Phrases

Ma-brook

'congratulations'

Il akel zaki

'this food is tasty'

Mish il Yom, shukran     

 'not today, thanks!'

Insha'allah

'God willing' (is used after virtually every reference to the future)

Mum-taaz                 'excellent'

Ahalahn w'sahalahn     'welcome'

Helu iktir                    

'very beautiful'

Min fad'lak [-'lek' ]           'please'

Said politely, before continuing an inquiry in English, can go far.  Also useful, said pointedly (as in, "I beg your PARDON!?"), if you should encounter a cultural difference that causes you problems, like someone looking over your shoulder as you use a bank machine (quite common and usually implies no malicious intent).  People will get the message.

East Side

British Council Library (also rents videos): next to the YMCA East 

West Side

British Council Library: in Baq'a, 3 Shimshon Street, off Bethlehem Road, 673 6733, more info under www.britcoun.org.il