The Northern District contains a large and rich variety of heritage sites, ancient cities such as Beit Shean, Tiberias and Safed, colonies of the first Aliyah, old kibbutzim, historical transportation complexes and construction style of the statehood period.

Tiberias is one of the four holy cities, cities “from the old settlement” where Jewish communities lived even before the first immigration and before the rise of Zionism and it has ancient synagogues, graves of the righteous, churches, ancient buildings and more.

Staying at Beit Europa is a great opportunity to tour some of the heritage sites, get to know the tradition and connect to the days before the establishment of the state. A tour of the heritage sites is an unforgettable experience for both children and adults.

Heritage sites worth knowing 8

  Nino’s courtyard and the Senior Synagogue

The Nino courtyard is the last remnant of the residential courtyards that characterized the style of living in Tiberias many years ago. This is a compound where the Niño family lived from generation to generation, yard within yard, house within house until 1981

In the center of the courtyard stands the “Hasnior” synagogue built in 1893 by Rabbi Shmuel HaCohen Konorty who is considered one of the greatest sages of Tiberias in the nineteenth century. Over the years, the rabbi traveled to collect donations in Jewish communities abroad and collected rare books and manuscripts and brought them to the synagogue, and indeed the synagogue became famous thanks to its rare book collection.

As part of the preservation of the site, the Niño courtyard, located in the heart of the promenade in Tiberias, was restored and includes unique buildings from the nineteenth century. Nino’s yard has been converted into a living museum that includes a light and sound show, a visit to the synagogue and a visitor center where the history of the Jews of Tiberias in the nineteenth century is presented.

On Saturdays and holidays the synagogue is still active.

Kinneret yard

  Kinneret Yard was established in 1908 and was a meeting place for agricultural workers who immigrated to Israel and underwent training there. Some of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Israeli culture lived and worked in the Kinneret court, such as Rachel the poet, Zalman Shazar, Berel Katznelson, and more.

There is a visitor and training center on the site for the heritage of the settlement in the Jordan Valley and the Second Aliyah, and on a tour of the site you can watch the buildings of the yard, the barn, the maids’ farm and a video about the life of the poet Rachel.

Opening Hours:

Sunday-Thursday: 9.00-16.00

Language of instruction: Hebrew and English

Beit Yigal Alon Kibbutz Ginosar

In Kibbutz Ginosar on the banks of the Kinneret stands an impressive structure that invites visitors to take a journey through time accompanied by a guide. In “Journey” you will tour among exhibits from the days of the Second Temple, from the days of the Mishna and the Talmud to the days before the establishment of the journey and get to know the fascinating character of Yigal Alon, accompanied by interesting stories, his childhood, his life in Kfar Tabor, as a commander in the Palmach and as a statesman.

 : Opening Hours

Sunday-Thursday, on Saturdays and holidays from 8:00 – 17:00

Language of instruction : Hebrew

Beit Haim Struman

Beit Chaim Struman is located in Kibbutz Ein Harod, about forty minutes’ drive from Tiberias.

Haim Stroman was a member of Kibbutz Ein Harod who fell in battle in 1938. In 1941, a museum was established in the kibbutz in his memory with the aim of presenting the image of the homeland and its spirit as embodied by Haim Stroman in his personality and the values that were important to him such as the love of man and nature, settlement, agriculture and more.

The museum offers fascinating experiential activities, a day tour that includes an observation of the eastern Jezreel Valley, a visit to Slick from the days of the Mandate, a visit to food displays and challenging activities adapted to the nature and age of the visitors.

The nature hall includes fascinating scientific items such as a collection of stuffed animals of the valley, of reptiles and birds of all kinds, and in the auditorium you can watch a film about the Struman family, which trained its sons in the Israeli wars.

Opening Hours:

Sunday – Thursday: 8:30 – 15:00   

Fridays and holiday eves:  9:30 – 13:30   

  Saturdays and holidays: 11.00 – 15.00

  Language of instruction: Hebrew and English

  The Rabbinical Court in Dagenia A

Degania, the mother of the kibbutzim, was the first pioneering group at the beginning of the last century, after which hundreds of kibbutzim were founded that spread from the north to the south.

On the site of the firsts court you can go on a tour following the pioneers of Degania, get to know the wonderful story of the pioneers who founded the first group and enter the Degania museum which tells the story of the group in pictures.

  Opening hours: tours by appointment

Language of instruction: Hebrew and English

The Rishonim colony in Rosh Pina

About a thirty minute drive from Tiberias lies the picturesque settlement of Rosh Pina.

The reconstruction site in Rosh Pina tells the story of the establishment of the colony with all its hardships and illustrates life at the time of the beginning of Zionism and at the time of the establishment of the state.

The website displays reconstructions of the first homes and public buildings such as the Pika House, Professor Merr’s house with a permanent display on malaria research, an ancient synagogue that is still active today, the hotel of Alter Schwartz, the historical archive of the colony and an ultrasonic light vision.

Fascinating tours are offered there, such as a tour based on Shulamit Lapid’s book “Gay Oni”, a tour of Wadi Rosh Pina during the period of the yellow flowers blooming, and more. The children will enjoy a dramatized and experiential tour of the alleys of the colony, dramatized stories about events and characters from the history of the colony and more…

Opening Hours:

Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 – 16:00

Fridays and holiday eves: 10:00 – 14:00

On Saturdays and holidays: 10:00 – 14:00

Language of instruction n: Hebrew and English

Dobrovin estate in the base of the Ma’ale

At a distance of about forty minutes’ drive from Tiberias, you will reach the Dubrovin Estate, a magical corner in the heart of the Yosod Ha’Maale settlement.

Dubrovin Manor takes visitors on a journey back in time, to the atmosphere of yesteryear. At the estate we will visit a restored farmer’s yard in the heart of the plantations of the colony, a farmer’s yard that preserves the magical atmosphere of the old Land of Israel and learn the story of the pioneering people who decided to plant roots on the shore of Lake Hula.

On a tour of the estate, among the photos and documents, we will get to know the first figures, the farmers, and their lifestyle during the first aliya period. The place has exhibits from the past, restored living rooms and a kitchen with all the objects and tools and a short film that describes in a fascinating way the first years of the colony.

Opening Hours:

Sunday – Thursday: 09:00 – 16:00

Friday Shabbat: 10:00 – 13:00 as part of an Israeli Shabbat

Beit HaShomer Kfar Giladi

At an hour’s drive from Tiberias you will reach Moz

Yoon Hashomer in Kfar Giladi

The Hashomer Museum tells the story of the defense organizations “Bar Giora” and “Hashomer” that operated during the second and third aliya periods.

The site features exhibits on the subject of the Shumer, the room of Mania and Yitzhak Shochat who led the organization, videos about the lives of the Shumer people and a film summarizing the activities of the organization even after its disbandment.

In addition, there you can watch changing art exhibitions, a permanent gallery of the artist Batia Lishansky, an archive and a great view of the landscape in the area  Opening hours : Sunday – Thursday : 8:00 – 16:00

Language of instruction: Hebrew and English

In conclusion, a tour of heritage sites is a celebration of Israeli culture! The heritage sites connect the visitors to the rich historical past of the people of Israel in the Land of Israel, to the Biblical period, to the history of Zionism and to the establishment of the State of Israel.