A Disabled-Accessible Path between the Trees along the River

For millions of Israelis, Passover is the season of hiking and trips into the countryside to enjoy nature and the spring flowers. Those who took part in KKL-JNF’s guided tours over the holiday also got to enjoy educational activities and experiential learning. One event in particular added an extra layer of meaning to the Festival of Freedom: a guided walk along the newly accessible Shimshit Trail in along the Tzipori Stream (Nahal Tzipori).

 

 

“There’s nothing like getting out into nature, which is at its most beautiful at the moment,” said KKL-JNF’s community relations coordinator for the northern region, Maayan Ben Naim. “We provide guided tours, educational activities and information services for the public, so that everyone can enjoy the forests and open spaces.”

 

 

The Shimshit Trail along the Tzipori Stream in the Lower Galilee is an especially popular route. KKL-JNF has created a circular disabled-accessible track within the forest, where both planted trees and native woodland provide shade. Now that this route has been rendered accessible to visitors with limited mobility, everyone can enjoy spending time there in the open air. Nature belongs to all of us.

 

 

Led by a KKL-JNF guide, a lively group of families set out together for a walk along the Shimshit Trail. “It’s fun to go on a trip together, listen to stories and get to know the Land of Israel,” said 11-year-old Lital Avramson from Tirat HaCarmel, who was accompanied by her grandparents and her younger sister Gili (8). “I like looking at the trees and the beautiful flowers,” she explained.

 

 
The accessible Shimshit Trail, among the wildflowers. Photo: Yoav Devir, KKL-JNF

 

The walk provided an opportunity to observe tree varieties commonly found in Lower Galilee, such the Tabor oak, Mediterranean buckthorn (Rhamnus lycioides), spiny hawthorn, terebinth (pistacia), snowdrop bush (Styrax officinalis) and the Israeli common oak.

 

Ecological arts and crafts. Photo: Yoav Devir, KKL-JNF

 

Along the way the hikers passed historical sites, including a Roman road, an ancient winepress and an Iron-Age cave that had served as both living quarters and a stone quarry. Haim Katz, who guided the group, told the children about Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, Head of the Sanhedrin and editor of the Mishnah, who lived not far away, in the Talmudic-era village of Tzippori, almost 2,000 years ago.

 

Atalya Sagi had come from Haifa with her family and a group of friends. “As a child I grew up on KKL-JNF hikes, and today I’m glad I can share this experience with my children,” she said. “These guided trips have a great deal to offer, especially to the children of today, who grow up mainly on TikTok. At a time like this in particular, there’s no substitute for nature and values.”

 

For the final section of the route the hikers walked beside the Tzipori Stream (Nahal Tzipori), where they enjoyed the flowing water and the lush vegetation on its banks. This waterway has been rehabilitated thanks to a shared project undertaken by KKL-JNF, the Kishon River and Drainage Authority and the Jezreel Valley Regional Council, which joined forces to clear the stream of rubbish, restore its ecological balance and plant vegetation along its banks.

 

When they reached the end of their walk, the children were delighted to discover musical and crafts activities waiting for them, courtesy of KKL-JNF guides and volunteers. The youngsters made mobiles from natural materials, played traditional instruments, and sang together. Could there be a more enjoyable way to end a such a wonderful day?