Hitting the Slopes in Israel

(The Mount Hermon Ski Resort – Courtesy: Mount Hermon Ski Resort)

Israel, the winter and the ski slopes?

Winter comes to Israel - whenever it wants! There are winters that begin in December with cold, rain and snow and there are winters that begin only in January. And while the temperatures around the country do not sink to arctic lows, we do get winter snow fall usually around the northern mountains and the Jerusalem and Kfar Etzion areas. All said, winter in Israel has its own magic (and problems) and so put on your scarf and join us as we create some excitement about what you can expect when you visit us during the winter months.

Israel's ski resort??

You may not know this, but Israeli actually has its own ski resort! Nestled on the western slopes of Mount Hermon, Israel’s tallest peak, the mountain includes trails for skiing and snowboarding. The mountain reaches an altitude of 5,000-7,000 feet and offers spectacular views of the upper Galilee, the Hula Valley and Syria. The ski resort is managed by the small alpine community of Neve Ativ, and the members spend their entire year preparing and maintaining the trails as well as the ski lift that operates even during the summer months.

(The Mount Hermon Ski Lift – Courtesy: Chabad)

Snow in Israel and snow angels

But this is Israel, so even our ski trails contain holiness. King David’s psalm 133 refers to the dewy covering of the mountain and the prophet Ezekiel references the abundance of cypress trees covering the limestone slopes.

Israelis eagerly anticipate the snowfalls that cover the mountain. We’ve been known to 'call in sick' at work and keep the kids home from school, so we can enjoy two or three powdery runs, as well as introduce our children to the magical thrills of sledding down a hill. Winter sports like skiing and sledding are a real treat for Israel’s youth and we won’t allow the 'mundane' responsibilities of daily life to prevent us from teaching our children about how to make the perfect snowman or snow angel.