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Another sign of our Lebanese border areas coming back to life: the musical weekends at Pastoral Hotel Kfar Blum have resumed; the third in our series about reviving tourism in the Galilee
For just over two decades, the Pastoral Hotel in Kibbutz Kfar Blum – founded in 1943 by primarily English-speaking olim – has been hosting cultural weekends featuring three enjoyable components: classical musical concerts, informative lectures, and nature walks.
In fact, Pastoral is the first and only hotel in the country to be established on the basis of cultural activity as the cornerstone of a stay at the property.
There are usually eight cultural weekends per year, held during the months of November through May. In addition, there are special programs during holidays, as well as for families, especially over the summer. There is also a popular new getaway theme: inter-generational weekends, designed for grandparents to enjoy quality time with grandchildren.
These cultural weekends – which had to be suspended during the war, but have now resumed – are so popular that they attract an average of 400 participants each time. Typically, guests check in on Thursday afternoons and leave on Saturday afternoons.
Another big draw of these weekends are the meals: lavish, sumptuous buffets are served three times a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner – with plenty of variety, and even adequate vegetarian and vegan options (not to mention desserts that are sugar-free). Moreover, dinners include a bottle of wine at each table. Naturally, all the food served at Pastoral is certified kosher.
Additionally, the guest units at Pastoral Kfar Blum are all spacious, comfortable and equipped with everything necessary for a pleasurable stay. The rooms and suites – either with balconies or garden access – are furnished with king-sized beds, user-friendly climate control, flat screen television, laptop-sized electronic safe for valuables, and refreshment corner with complimentary mineral water, mini-refrigerator, espresso machine and electric kettle for making coffee and tea. Free WiFi extends to all guest rooms, as well as public spaces.
The bathrooms are also large, and come with hair dryers, pampering amenities and plenty of thirsty towels. Another welcome perk is the plush bathrobes and comfy slippers.
The best Israel has to offer
The artists and lecturers featured during these weekends are top-notch, among the most famous and admired in Israel. Performers are drawn from such prestigious repertories as the Israel Chamber Orchestra and The Cathedra, while public figures known from their roles on national television also make frequent appearances. (Note: All lectures, commentaries on musical numbers, and explanations by guides are in Hebrew only.)
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An example of a stimulating cultural weekend is the one I experienced just last month. The musical artists were all soloists affiliated with the internationally acclaimed Israel Opera, under the direction of the maestro of the Raanana Symphonette Orchestra, who also curated the program. Highlights were all-time favorite arias from familiar classic operas.
The keynote lecture, which kicked off the weekend on Thursday evening, was the intriguingly titled “How to Be Happy” – a subject guaranteed to be of interest to any living, breathing human being. Indeed, Professor Yoram Yovell (of the neuroscience department of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Karem Medical Center) delivered a riveting talk on how to live happier lives, by incorporating methods proven to be effective on the basis of scientific evidence.
Moreover, Professor Yovell’s lecture was spot on for the Pastoral audience of cultural weekend attendees, which tend to attract an overwhelming majority of senior citizens. His secrets for attaining happiness are relevant even in one’s later years.
The nature walks are also geared for participants’ ages, since there is a choice of routes: one for more active adults seeking a more challenging hike, and a basic one that is less strenuous but still invigorating. The latter walk – in beautiful spring weather, along the verdant Hatzbani (Snir) tributary of the Jordan River – ticked all the desirable boxes: healthful, enjoyable and enlightening.
The next cultural weekend, scheduled for May 15-17, is around the theme of the inclusive diversity of Israeli musical culture, drawing from the worlds representing the ingathering of the exiles: East and West, religious and secular, contemporary and nostalgic. An impressive lineup of guests is also in store: brilliant veteran actor Moni Moshonov, and the [gay] haredi Channel 12 news co-anchor Yair Sherki.
The current price of all-inclusive Pastoral Kfar Blum cultural weekends is NIS 4,480.00 per couple.
Galilee add-ons
Of course, when one travels so far – to the edge of Israel’s northernmost frontier – and leaves the hotel early Saturday afternoon, it is worthwhile stopping to enjoy some the nearby attractions of the Galilee. An excellent guide to what you might see or experience in the north of the country may be found at the comprehensive Treasures of the Galilee website. You may even find suggestions for excellent accommodations, for extending your stay into a longer weekend getaway.
And try to leave room for dinner on the drive home Saturday night, since some of Israel’s best restaurants are to be found outside the center of the country. In particular, check out Adelina, the fine dining restaurant on the grounds of Kibbutz Kabri.
The writer was a guest of the establishment. However, all opinions are his own.