TOURS
Religious Tours
Christians
Many church trips who come to Israel are following a traditional pattern of visiting the famous churches , and talking about the traditions they represent. I was fortunate to be educated by some of the top scholars and learn how to become a better teacher of the bible. A visit to the holy land transforms the understanding of the biblical world. You can start understanding your bible as it really was . All it’s stories are rooted in the history, geography, and culture of this land and it’s people. If you are blessed to come here I would be honored to share this with you.
Jews
Jews have a unique connection to Israel. It is said there is a spark in the soul of every Jew , that starts a flame once they come to Israel. I met many people in my career who came to tears in the most odd places. It is when they understand their deep belonging to the land and to their own heritage that it happens. I never know how to cause this to happen, but being a part of this is one of the most exciting parts in my work for me. Families celebrating their children's Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or just anyone who always wanted to come but circumstance or “the situation”,
never seemed to allow it, are all moved by their encounter.
Jerusalem
So many things were written about this city. To me it is just a love affair. Since my very young years as a child I always felt good when I came to Jerusalem. Growing up in a lot of different places in Israel, Jerusalem is the place that was home for me. Moving here was my first action coming out of my mandatory military service. It has been 25 years ago since I made this choice. More than half of my life. I love the city even more today. It is so diverse, complex and intense. It is the only place I know where so many conflicting cultures live together and create such a magnificent mosaic of people. No matter how much I tour the city, guide people through its streets, markets and historical sites, or just allow myself to get lost in it, I always feel like I just moved here, and there is something new to be found in it every day.
Christian tour in Jerusalem
I have terrible news to tell you. The city Jesus walked no longer exists. It was destroyed by the Romans a few decades after he was crucified . Fortunately though , enough is left for us to explore. To start with, the hills on which 1st century Jerusalem was built on, are the same hills the area that is called the old city is built on today. The valleys are also the same . Many traditions developed in the city about events in Jesus’s life and the life of Peter, and Mary , to name a few more. These traditions help traditional pilgrims connect a story to a place but are not necessarily historically accurate.
Today however, we know a lot more than we knew even 10 years ago. We can explore many sites and together start understanding what the first century city really looked like, and how does that improve our understanding of the bible.
Hiking
Israel offers an amazing variety of trails for it’s tiny size. From the streams of the north to the majestic canyons of the southern desert. From a short hike to a backpacking trip , This is one of the less known attractions in Israel. Hiking is also the historical way of transportation.In our fast world it is almost impossible to understand how time consuming it was to get from one place to another. Hikes can be included as a fun component in a normal tour plan . I can also build a full hiking program and take you out to the beautiful places no tourist travels.
Wine tours
Wine was made in this land before it was made anywhere else. The bible is filled with stories about wine.Noah drank it after the flood. Melchizedek brought it out to welcome Abraham in Jerusalem, Jesus turned water into wine, and there are hundreds of other verses that mention this ancient culture. In Judaism wine is not just a drink, but an important element in ritual. Every Jewish celebration starts with wine that makes our soul happy. Over the years , under foreign cultures , wine making was banned. This is when it flourished outside of Israel , and made France and later other wine regions famous. Since the 19th century , and more importantly , since the 1980s wine industry in Israel is making a huge comeback. Israeli wines are winning international recognition . It is very exciting to see how natural it is for this land to produce this amazing drink . A great wine tour includes visits to both ancient sites , and modern wineries to experience the splendid variety of flavors and stories.
Bible Tour
To really understand a biblical story , one must come and visit the site where it happened. Sitting on a hill in the valley of Ellah, Or on mt Carmel , or Gilboa places the biblical scenery in front of us. King David may be gone, Elijah ascended to heaven, and you are welcome to think about any of your favorite characters. But they lived, and walked exactly where we are.
One may sit in a room and read a story .This is a wonderful thing to do. But you will have a much significant experience learning it where it happened.
