The start of the Tiberias Marathon (Oshari Weizman, Tiberias News and the surrounding area)
Tiberias is trying to do (again) a face lift, which will put it in line with the tourist cities of Israel, certainly in the north, with the goal of diverting the movement of Israelis from Eilat to the north.
Will it work this time?
Not sure, but in June 2020 a government plan was approved that will flow 50 million shekels into the city for the development and encouragement of tourism in the city, and although many of you are probably hesitant, including the writer of these lines, there is definitely a breath of fresh air in Tiberias, in contrast to the eastern (whistling) winds that are familiar to every Tiberiani, wherever he or she is .
For years, they have been trying to revive Tiberias - Israel's Riviera - which has everything: a wonderful lake, scenery, a connection to the entire north, many years of history and archaeology, hiking trails, attractions and wonderful people - but again and again it doesn't seem to take off.
On the contrary, in its Israeli image, it is getting more and more alarmed (but there are only 21 percent ultra-Orthodox), closing down and turning its back on tourists and Israelis.
Furthermore, around the Sea of Galilee - the attraction of Tiberias - more and more luxury hotels are opening that only leave the tourist in them with the help of chef restaurants, spa resorts, pools on the water, private beaches and other attractions that leave their money in the hotel, instead of in the city.
Is this what will save Tiberias?
50 million shekels were approved for the development of tourism in the city
and thanks to Kinneret: the hot spring that returned to flow after a decade,
the demolition of the Luna-Gal in Kinneret began;
This is the hotel that will be rebuilt in its place
She is getting more and more worried about her Israeli image.
Tiberias (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Kinneret - luxury hotels around it
There are currently 37 hotels in Tiberias that provide 4,500 rooms.
The Fatal chain has four active hotels in the city, including the prestigious Yo Boutique Kinneret, which opened in 2017 after renovating an old banquet hall, and currently the chain is building only 5-star hotels.
"There is a great demand for luxury hotels," says chain spokeswoman Edva Melamed, adding that Yoo Boutique will double in terms of rooms from 62 to 120 rooms and will build an event hall.
The demand is great, but by building only luxury hotels, Tiberias will become a location for the wealthy who will once again shut themselves up in their luxurious hotel, instead of going out and supporting the city's tourists and getting to know it in depth, perhaps beyond the restaurant at the Scottish Hotel.
"Since 1988, no significant hotel has been built in the city, the last one was the Beach Guy Hotel," says Boaz Yosef, who was appointed head of the appointed committee in Tiberias about two and a half years ago and will finish his post soon.
And it is true, Tiberias brings to it large hotel chains and entrepreneurs who take old hotels or buildings, renovate them for millions of shekels and turn them into luxury brands.
This is what happened with the Sofia Hotel, which actually did not shine as much as expected, and also happens with the Gali Kinneret Hotel, which offers a large spa and a restaurant ("Lota") that was started by culinary artist Assaf Granit, and there are many more good ones on the other side of the lake, such as Mastai and others under construction, such as in the back.
"The state invested in Eilat and the Dead Sea, and Tiberias was forgotten, when 30 years ago it was a major tourist city," says Yosef, but remains optimistic and even appointed Yonit Ben Yosef, the former CEO of Yu Boutique, as the director of the municipality's tourism division. Ours is to bring the city to the forefront of tourism in Israel, because during Corona there were 20,000 people here per day," says Yosef. "We also realized that there is something to do in the city, such as the beer festival that was held for the first time in Berko Park and will continue in the future," Ben Yosef adds, "Entrepreneurial tourism is also awakening And we really want to do something here that wasn't here before."
More in Walla!
Specifically in Tiberias?
This is probably the hotel with the most beautiful view in Israel
To the full article
"Since 1988, no significant hotel has been built in the city."
Tourist Information Center in Tiberias and the Leonardo Plaza Hotel behind it (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Between Herzliya and Tiberias
Two such entrepreneurs are the couple Asti and Gidi Bat, although they are residents of Herzliya, but they divide their days between the center and Tiberias after they established Barniki Winery 15 years ago (named after the Tiberian queen of the House of Herod and the Hasmoneans).
Esti's grandmother, a mathematician by profession, was a Tiberian from the Amsalem family.
Gidi is an architect who later studied oenology at Sorek Winery and together they bought Esti's grandmother's house, renovated it and opened a winery and a complex of guest rooms (one of them also has a wading pool).
"We produce 5,000 to 10,000 bottles every year, with the entire production process done in the winery," Gidi explains.
They buy the grapes in Moshav Dachton and Kedmat Zvi in the Golan, and from them they make white wine from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes as well as various reds, with their Cabernet Sauvignon 19 winning the "Golden Cluster" award.
The winery is open on Thursdays and Fridays, so there are wine workshops, cooking workshops and the complex can host up to 16 people.
The wine is kosher, the winery is not and those who wish to come privately on the other days of the week can do so by prior arrangement.
Price per person: NIS 125 for four tastings and wine, including cheeses and breads.
An architect and a mathematician produce wine in Tiberias.
Berniki Winery (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Esti and the B&Bs of Barniki Winery, which were once her grandmother's house (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Put the city on the napkin
The one who still takes the tourist potential that is almost forgotten in Tiberias is Yaron Osi, a tour guide and a resident of the city, who decided to take the city's lemons and make lemonade out of them, and on the way to taste some good moshte on the side, or a ball of falafel that has been made in the city for four generations.
"I decided three years ago that I would put the city on the table and show that there is good food in Tiberias," he says.
As part of the tasting tours he conducts for the public, he takes the travelers to 6-8 places where they can taste authentic Tabreini food "that every Tabreini knows", he explains.
For example, "Mafiait Mizrachi" (Ehud Bakery House), where there are already four generations of bakers who immigrated from Iraq, and where you will taste special pastries, such as Pita in Silik with Swiss chard leaves, or Ruska cake, which is a Tiberian pastry with which brides are accompanied, both in covenants and in remembrance.
"It's the circle of life, that's why it's round," explains Yaron.
Tour: NIS 120 per person, NIS 1,100 per group.
Put the city on the napkin.
Yaron Osi in the bakery of the Mizrahi family (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Basilic pita with chard leaves (left) at "Mizrahi Bakery" (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Calm down, anyone?
Continue a short walk along Yarakon Street and reach the Dalali spice shop opened by Ephraim's parents, also from Iraq, in the 1980s.
In the shop there is a selection of colorful spices, and on the tour you will be served herbal tea in the spirit of Maimonides, who was a doctor and whose tomb is believed to be in Tiberias
. the place once functioned as a hospital) from 1952, who lived in the city and wrote "I did not walk on water", his first book that brings the unknown stories of the city, such as who was the woman who removed her breasts and breastfed her husband in prison, or in which Taverni club the late actor spent Paul Newman? The answers in Chaim's book 050-8425128.
Spices and infusions in the spirit of Maimonides. Ephraim Dalali in his shop (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
I know all the legends about Tiberias.
Haim Hatsev and his book (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
No fish on Saturday?
This is grounds for divorce
Right in front of Delali's store, is the "Northern Lake" fish store of the Refali family.
"We are the fifth generation in Tiberias and the seventh generation of fish sellers from Egypt," says Amir Rafali, who tells a little about the Tiberian fish before tasting them.
For example, on the name of the tilapia: "Because when the fish spawns, she puts the fry in her mouth for 45 days until they grow, hence 'Tilapia' - because she nurtures them."
In Arabic, by the way, the tilapia is called "Musht", which is a comb in Arabic, "because it has a dorsal fin with teeth like a comb", he says and adds that on Friday evening in every house in the city there is a Musht Tabreini on the plate of the head of the family, "otherwise it is grounds for divorce".
Seventh generation of fish sellers from Egypt.
Raffaele's Fish Shop (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Tells about the Tiberian fish on the tour and also prepares them.
Yoav Rafaeli and a friend (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The widow who opened a falafel stand
Continuing up Yarakon Street, Viron says that many shops in Tiberias are still closed on Tuesdays at noon "because planes landed in Kinneret and everyone closed their shops to watch the show".
But Falafel Inabi, an institution that sanctifies the ball and the pita, it doesn't stop and they are open every day except Shabbat.
For four generations (since 1954), the Enbi family, who immigrated from Turkey, has been preparing foods in Tiberias.
Nissim Inabi, who now runs the business, says that the grandmother who immigrated in 1949, was in a bad financial situation and remained a widow, "so she opened a falafel stand in the municipality, and it has been successful ever since," he recalls.
Nissim's father continued in his grandmother's footsteps, who has since retired, and Nissim and his sister Mati, named after grandmother Matilda, are the next generation.
What is special about grape falafel?
"It's airy, it has a lot of vegetables, hummus and spices," explains Nisim.
Price of a dish: NIS 20.
The secret of the ball?
"Airy, lots of vegetables, hummus and spices."
Miracles in "Grape Falafel" (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The extortionate lovers
To download this delicious pita, you should continue walking five minutes to Itzik juice man (Itsik juice man) Simhon, second generation in the city, who in 2000 opened a natural juice stand, and along the way also found love with a tourist who came to the city, and since then they have been together - juicing juice and also excitement from the buyers.
Beyond the colorful stand full of different citrus fruits and other healthy fruits, such as fennel, Itzik still squeezes juices in an old juicer that his father bought for his mother in 1979, which also gave me the inspiration to open the place," he says and adds that "the most requested smoothie is carrot juice and Pomegranate". 7 Yohanan Ben Zakai St.
Squeezing and loving.
Itzik Simhon and his tourist partner who made aliyah (photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Still using her for blackmail.
Itzik and the old milking machine from 1979 (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Between prayer and baptism
After you have taken your oath, Tiberias is first of all a city of baptisms.
In the summer it is the wonderful Kinneret and its surrounding springs: Ein Rakat, Ein Ayyub, Ein Nun and others, but in winter?
Hamat Tiberias.
The city's good luck or bad luck is its location on the Dead Sea rift (formerly the Syrian-African rift), which also yields thermo-mineral springs, such as the one in Hammat Geder, and how the same location has also destroyed it many times following severe earthquakes throughout history, such as this one of 1837 which destroyed it, Safed and other sites.
These are warm winter days that we experience in February-March, but the Kinneret is still too cold to take a dip.
That is why it is recommended to jump (literally) into one of the pools of the ancient city of Hamat, which used to be a suburb of Tiberias, where 17 hot springs spring up - so hot that there are some with a temperature of 60 degrees.
A dipping pool was recently renovated on the site, although shallow, but excellent for dipping.
What else is happening on the site these days, is the construction of a mall with arches above the city's magnificent synagogue, which has a beautiful mosaic vandalized in 2012, but renovated.
The mall will sell souvenirs to visitors to the tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal Hans, which overlooks the synagogue.
The former Turkish bath, which serves as a local archaeological museum, will also become a visitor center.
Will be interesting.
For those who lie still bathe in the Sea of Galilee.
The renovated pool in Hamat Tiberias (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Vandalized, but beautifully renovated.
A synagogue mosaic in Hamat Tiberias (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
And thanks to Torrance
In the evening, there are not many places in style where you can feel the way Donna Gracia felt when she wanted to spend time in the city.
But it is the bar-restaurant of the Scottish hotel that delivers the goods.
The hotel began its days as a hospital in 1894 founded by Dr. David Watt Torrance, a Scottish doctor who worked in the Land of Israel for religious reasons and treated every person regardless of who they are. It was only in 2004 that the hospital became a hotel that is still owned by the Scottish Church. Its location is simply great: Close to the lake, passing through the old Ottoman city, a direct continuation of the boardwalk and accessible by foot from most of the hotels in the West Kinneret.
The hotel offers dining at the "Torrance" restaurant, a drink at "Kylie Bar", but the most special thing is to simply do both at "St. Urban Bar" and a wine cellar" - the hospital warehouse built inside an Ottoman-style arched building, which became a luxury wine bar that hosts gourmet events. The conversion of the ancient basalt building into a wine cellar required a lot of thought, design and renovation of the space,
A night out in a European atmosphere.
The Scottish Hotel (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The hospital warehouse that became a great culinary location.
"St. Urban Bar and Wine Cellar" (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
When Dr. Torrance died in 1923, a large funeral was held for him that included Muslims, Jews and Christians and many more whom he cared for, and Rabbi Abulafia eulogized him, saying: "
Tiberias was blessed with three things: the Sea of Galilee, the waters of Tiberias, and Dr. Torrance."
Torrance healed the people of Tiberias, now the city must be healed.
It will take time, but maybe the vaccine given to her now will lead to her recovery in the near-distant future.
Because all in all, we're pretty sick of her.
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