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See the Sights I Eat, Travel, Enjoy

candle-making, were inherently connected”, says Liraz Erez Shragay, an organizational development specialist who fell in love with the world of candle-making. In her studio, which looks out onto a beautiful view, she handcrafts “joon” candles - “joon” meaning “soul” in Farsi - and leads candle-making workshops. @candles_with_joon Baloosha, A taste of the Caucasus in Tzur Hadassah Born in Dagestan, a country at the very north of the Caucasus, Alona Izenberg came to Israel aged 11. Already then, she loved being in the kitchen. Today, her passion for cooking has led her to host special culinary evenings in her home in Tzur Hadassah, where she serves all the dishes of her childhood, such as ushpalau, a rice and meat dish, dolma, stuffed vine leaves, chudu, a sort of stuffed flatbread, and lavash, a typical flatbread eaten across the Caucasus region, as well as dishes of her own invention. Accompanying the food is not only great wine, but also stories and explanations about Caucasian cuisine and Izenberg’s personal journey as a food lover and cook. (Upon reservation). baloosha.co.il ˆ For further information about sites and walking trails in Mateh Yehuda, visit tour-yehuda.org.il will this year be hosting over 30 local winemakers and organizing guided tours of vineyards and wineries, talks, and workshops. Its big opening event will take place in Latrun Park (on May 29 th at 7pm; entrance fee required). May 29 th – June 30 th , m-yehuda.org.il The Mateh Yehuda Wine Festival To mark its 27 th edition, the Mateh Yehuda Wine Festival

Steel metal sculptures, Givat Yeshayahu I Photo: Inbal Rose

Baloosha I Photo: Inbal Uzan

he takes a piece of steel, immerses it into a blazing flame, and with a hammer, in barely a few minutes, creates adorable little heads of horses and other figures. His works include an impressive lampshade composed of dozens of little birds, a series of figures of pregnant women, miniature animals, and more. (Sun Sat, 9am-7pm, upon prior booking). tour-yehuda.org.il Handcrafted soul candles Candle-making workshops in Tzur Hadassah “When I discovered that my birth name of Shragay meant “candle maker” in Aramaic, I put it back on my ID card. It was like the closing of a circle: my roots and my hobby, Candle-making workshop I Photo: PR

nutritional properties. Visitors are invited to tour the various grow rooms and participate in tasting sessions where you get to taste, among other things, lion’s mane schnitzel. The mushrooms are available for purchase. (NIS 30 for a tour, upon prior booking). mush-room.co.il Steel metal sculpting, Givat Yeshayahu The artist’s studio and garden Moshe Katz is a steel metal sculptor that showcases his work across the sprawling garden that leads to his studio. Visitors are invited to explore and discover his impressive body of work, and visit his studio, where he demonstrates how he works:

22 ATMOSPHERE MAY 2025