Congregation Ohav Sholom

Travel in Israel - Tsiporri

Off the Beaten Track in Israel - Tsiporri

by Michael Rosenbloom (spidermr@aol.com)

In Tsippori, the Israel Parks Authority has done a remarkable job in not only uncovering arguably the most beautiful mosaic floors in Eretz Israel, but also in making the site a tastefully attractive one for tourists.

Tsippori is situated about 5 minutes west of Nazareth and was the site where Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi edited the Mishnah. In addition to its importance as a Jewish center of learning, Tsippori also had a strong Roman presence, as can be gleaned from the Mishnah itself. This Roman presence is further evident when viewing the stunning mosaic floors of a Roman mansion from the 4^th century AD: beautiful market scenes, Mona Lisa of the Galilee and Roman mythological scenes are but a few of the colorful and detailed designs on the mansion’s mosaic floors. In another building, Nile River scenes are beautifully depicted in mosaics.

An old Crusader structure has been renovated and houses a visitors’ center. The top floor contains exhibits about ancient Tsippori as well as several computers, which explain (in the language of your choice), through a series of touch menus and screens, the numerous mosaic floors and the life in the area during Mishnaic times. Tsippori is an interesting site which both children and adults will find educational.

As long as you’re visiting Tsippori, an ideal place to stay is Moshav Tsippori. Two minutes from Tsippori, the archaeological site, Moshav Tsippori can serve as a terrific base for touring the Lower Galilee.

About ten years ago, an enterprising American named Mitch Pilser, left his job at the Jerusalem Post, and together with his wife, sold their apartment in Jerusalem and bought a piece of land on Moshav Tsippori. On his property were the remains of an old Crusader period building, which the Pilsers cleaned out and built up. The Pilsers also built several cabins, renting them out to tourists.

The cabins are comfortable and quaint. Upon opening the door, a mosaic design in the Tsippori motif meets the eye. The place is kept clean. The kitchen is kosher (dairy), with all the amenities. There’s a jacuzzi to soothe your aching muscles after a day’s hiking and sightseeing.

Kids will enjoy climbing the ladder to sleep in the spacious loft, and playing with the Pilsers’ gentle but playful dogs that roam the grounds. The cabins are air-conditioned or even heated for winter visits. A cooler is mounted outside the front door. Upon awakening in the morning, you lift a picnic basket filled with breakfast treats. You’ll find an abundance of fresh vegetables, jam, cereal, fresh rolls and bread, and best of all an assortment of yogurt, cheeses and milk made by the Pilsers’ neighbor on the Moshav, who operates a dairy specializing in goats’ milk products.

Besides the dairy and the Pilsers, another member of the Moshav runs a stable. Trail rides are offered, which take you up and down the hills of the area. The rates are about half of those in the New York area. The rides are suitable for beginners, as the trail guide will barely allow the horses to trot.

A religious moshav is situated across the hill from Moshav Tsippori for those looking for a minyan. The shul on the neighboring moshav is an impressive structure with a magnificent view of the hilly surrounding area.

But why stay in the Galilee in the first place? The reason is simple. The Galilee is Israel’s green vacation playland. The Galilee both upper and lower offers an endless variety of activities for the vacationer. To name a few: tubing or kayaking on the Jordan river or its tributaries, fabulous hiking in the Golan Heights, beautiful national parks such as Tel Dan and the Banias, water parks in the Kineret, and so much more. Sleeping in the Galilee enhances your visit and saves valuable time. The Galilee is so pretty and offers so much to the tourist, that ultimately, you’ll always make the Galilee a prime destination every trip you take to Israel.

June 1999

Next article: Machon Ayalon, Rehovot

Home