Rothenberg to Close at End of 2026 After Owner’s Farewell

Rothenberg, the acclaimed chef’s restaurant in Kibbutz Gesher in the Jordan Valley area, will close permanently at the end of 2026. The announcement marks the end of one of Israel’s most distinctive dining rooms, known for its unusual culinary language, its preserved building in northern Emek HaMaayanot, and a kitchen shaped around fermentation, traditional preservation techniques, and ingredients foraged from the restaurant’s own garden.

The restaurant’s identity changed in early 2025, when chef and owner Yizhar Sahar died unexpectedly. He had run Rothenberg with his partner, Hila Ronen Sahar. After his death, chef Chen Weiss stepped into his role, and together with Yizhar’s brother, Lior, and the devoted staff, they continued the restaurant’s legacy.

Now, about a year and a half after that loss, Hila says it is time to part ways. “Rothenberg was the dialogue between Yizhar and me, and I want to develop a new dialogue that is not buried under loss, longing and pain,” she said. “The legend of Rothenberg will remain, but it is time for a new story in this wonderful place.”

In her farewell, she recalled the restaurant’s origins, when a young couple with two daughters left the city, moved to the Jordan Valley, took over a small restaurant on the border with Jordan, and spent about a decade experimenting, building a garden, learning foraging and digging into the area’s food history. She also thanked the team, including Weiss, garden caretaker Manor, and wine director Tal. Rothenberg will keep operating as usual through the end of 2026, and Hila said the coming months will be a celebration of creativity, vitality and originality, not a melancholy nostalgia tour.