Category — Israel Travel

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Home…an image, a place, something to love, and sometimes you have to travel to get there. But once you’ve arrived, that feeling is like no other. Nefesh B’Nefesh is an organization that is a leader in educating and inspiring the Jews of the Diaspora as to the centrality of the Jewish State to the Jewish people and its desirability as a Jewish home. Their core mission: removing the financial, professional and logistical obstacles that prevent many individuals from actualizing their dreams of making Israel home.

Just last Tuesday, July 22, 2008, Ynet news reported the arrival of 88-year-old Frances Greenberg into the welcoming shelter of the land of Israel with the help of Nefesh B’Nefesh. Amazingly, Mrs. Greenberg, the only survivor in her entire family of the Holocaust, attempted to enter the land of Israel over 60 years ago on the ship Exodus, only to be denied entry - and was sent back to Germany in 1947. “It’s time to fulfill the dream of my youth,” she said to Nefesh B’Nefesh staff. “After 60 years, I am finally coming to Israel to stay!”

This July met another major Nefesh B’Nefesh milestone - the arrival of the 15,000th emigrant.

‘Israel to me is the safest place in the world’ - That approach has been the dominant attitude guiding the personalized programs for individuals and families who link into the Nefesh B’Nefesh aliya organization on their way home to Israel.

This May will see the 60 year celebration of Israel’s independence. For six decades, Israel has made great strides in creating a country that easily rivals many others that have been around for much longer. The economy is bolstered by many international agreements, which in turn lends itself to many exports and companies coming to Israel to do business. This, in turn, has led to a huge rise in tourism, which Israel is famous for. [Read more →]

Photo by Rodrigo Comisarenco

Before you travel to Israel, it’s a good idea to brush up on some cultural faux pas so you don’t step on anyone’s toes. Here are 9 tips for any traveler who might not be the most familiar with local customs. [Read more →]

There is a place in Israel that is a place of healing, regrowth, and learning. The KKL-JNF has strived to make a difference in the Jewish homeland, and that impact is seen as a glorious success. The learning came from the fact that it’s not always best to change the way nature operates, because 50 years ago, it was thought that the swampy areas of Lake Hula should be drained. Only by reflooding the area and allowing nature to take its course has the Hula Valley seen the return of wildlife and plant growth. [Read more →]

Photo by Matias Sanchez

Maybe you have heard about the “lost” Ethiopian Jewish tribes. It may seem a little far fetched to think some Jews originate in Africa - but it is true, and their story is nothing short of remarkable. [Read more →]

In 1996 the wine consumption in Israel was only 3.5 liters a head; by 2004 it had doubled to 7 liters a head. The local market is worth US $170 million a year. It is a small, vibrant, & successful industry with a variety and quality that will surprise those who have not visited Israel recently. Here we take a look at some of the best wines from Israel. [Read more →]

I’ve been to Israel about ten times, and each time was different. Sure, there is a feeling of wariness brought on by all of the publicity in the media regarding the conflict in Israel between the Jews and the Palestinians, but I never felt threatened during any of my visits.

About that media, interestingly enough, I just looked on CNN’s world headlines, and the “top world stories” today are about Kenya, Sri Lanka, Australia, China, the Arabs, Peshawar, and Colombia. I had to dig way down into the Middle East section to find that “at least 17 die in Gaza violence.” The conflict between the Israeli government and the Palestinians still runs strong, but since it’s old news, no one pays attention.

If you are planning to visit Israel, pay attention. Stay away from areas of unrest (the Gaza strip along the Mediterranean coast in the south and the West Bank areas, especially), and you should have no trouble at all. Israel needs tourism to survive, and tour operators go to great lengths to protect their trade and those who visit Israel.

(The first rule of staying safe is: Don’t stand out. Try not to look like a tourist. (The typical American tourist wears shorts, t-shirts, and baseball hats. Comfortable, casual, and even trendy clothing is not a problem in Israel, but men and women almost never wear shorts or baseball hats. If you want to blend in, stay casual, but choose jeans or pants, long sleeve shirts, and full, long skirts for women. This will allow you easy entrance into the religious sites, and if the material is light cotton, it will keep you cool and protected from the sun in the summer). It might help to check out some photos of what the locals are wearing these days. And by all means, don’t hang your camera around your neck. Keep it in a shopping bag (everyone shops).

(Of course, if you are in a tour group, you’re going to stand out.) Even so, the safest way to visit Israel is in a tour group. (You have safety in numbers, so don’t wander off.) Often vendors will try to get you to come into their shops when a tour is walking through an area. If you stop, you can quickly get left behind, and not know which way they went. Your tour guide will often let you shop in a certain area, and have everyone meet at a specific location at a certain time. Follow the guide’s directions. Some tourists are happy to stay in the group and are too timid and afraid they’ll get lost if they strike out on their own. Other tourists with a healthy dose of wanderlust will want to explore on their own, which is ok to do, even in Israel, if they follow a few rules of common sense)

If you are (traveling) on your own, don’t attract attention. Never drive a rental car into one of the areas of unrest. Study a map, and know the areas to avoid, especially if you are on your own.

Learn a few local words, and use them sparingly. Or better yet, don’t say anything if you can’t tell the difference between a Jew and an Arab. Saying “Shalom,” to an Arab will not help you blend in.

Put the phone number for the local embassy (U.S., if you are American) in your phone’s speed dial. Be sure to have the number for Jerusalem’s U.S. consulate or Tel Aviv.