העמותה לויפאסנה בישראל - מדיטציית ויפאסנה כפי שמלמד ס.נ. גואנקה במסורתו של סיאג'י או-בה-קין

Course site

The course site for Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin is located in Bik'at Kinnarot, near the southern bank of the Jordan River. The site is very close to the area where Israel's permanent center, Dhamma Pamoda, is currently being built. Once finished, it will be one of dozens of Vipassana centers offering courses in this tradition around the world. Like the previous site in Hatzeva, this site will hold around 22 courses a year, with each course hosting around 50 male and female students in dormitory residences. The living conditions on site have been optimized for in-depth meditation practice. All courses are organized by the Israel Vipassana Trust.

Travel Directions by Car:

Kibbutz Beit Zera is located off the Emek Hayarden Highway (Highway 90), approximately 2 km south of Tzemah Junction, and approximately 25 km north of Beit She'an.
Drive towards the kibbutz until you reach the kibbutz gate. Turn right before the gate (don't enter the kibbutz), and turn left after approximately 550 meters. Continue on this road for 350 meters, until you reach the gate of "Bik'at Kinnarot". Turn left before the gate (southwards) and drive alongside the school fence for approximately 400 meters, until you reach the signed entrance to the course site.

Walking Directions to the Vipassana Meditation site

Walking Time: 15-20 minutes

Take the main road into Kibbutz Beit Zera, and ignore the signage directing vehicles to the right (to Vipassana and to the ‘Jungle’), and continue straight at the yellow gate to the kibbutz.

Continue walking straight until you get to a large ride pick-up area with a big bicycle lock-up station. Turn right, now taking a wide path inside the kibbutz, go with the path to the left--after a few minutes you’ll see an auditorium on the right--and continue straight. After awhile you’ll see a parking lot on the left, and the path changes from paved to gravel. Continue straight, pass a barrier (for cars) of the kibbutz, and further on, on the left, you’ll see a fence with a pool in the background. Continue until you see a big sign which says Mossad Chinuchi Bikaat Kinnarot (Bikaat Kinnarot Educational Institute) and the fence of the compound. Don’t use that gate!! Turn left where the road goes downhill, and at the next gate on the right, enter the meditation compound.

Shared Taxi Service:

A shared taxi service will be available to participants on the first day of each Vipassana course, departing from the Tiberias Central Bus Station to the course site at Bik'at Kinnarot school in Kibbutz Beit Zera.

The "Nir Hasa'ot" taxi displaying the sign "Shared Taxi to Vipassana Course" will be waiting for course participants near the Tiberias Central Bus Station. The taxi will be waiting at the bottom of the stairs exiting the station. The taxi service will depart at 16:00, and will cost NIS 15 per passenger. Those students who would like to use this service are asked to call the driver, Nir, at 050-5400609

It will also be possible to arrange a shared taxi back to Tiberias at the end of the course.

Public Transportation:

From Jerusalem: Egged buses no. 966 and 961 stop at Beit Zera Junction.
From Tel Aviv: Bus no. 843 (departs once per day) stops at Beit Zera Junction.
Bus no. 835 goes to Tiberias, but does not stop at Beit Zera Junction.
From Haifa: Bus no. 430 goes to Tiberias, but does not stop at Beit Zera Junction

From Tiberias:
Shared ("sherut") taxis from Tiberias to Kibbutz Beit Zera depart from the "Emek HaYarden" stop on HaGalil St. (approximately a 5 minute walk from the Central Bus Station).
Veolia Bus Lines — For information: http://www.berger-sisters.co.il/veolia/index.asp
Bus no. 28 from the Central Bus Station stops at Beit Zera Junction on its way to Beit She'an.
Bus no. 26 from the Central Bus Station stops at Beit Zera Junction on its way to Menahemia.

Information about bus timetables and additional lines can be obtained at "Egged" information at 03-6948888, or on its website at: www.egged.co.il