Ami Braun - Israel Tour Guide

24/09/2020

Holiday special- The Journey to Jerusalem an Experience of a Lifetime.
Thursday, October 1st, at 1pm EDT, noon CDT, 10am PDT, 8pm Jerusalem time.
Sign up via one of these 2 platforms, c u there!
https://www.amazingjerusalem.com/the-journey-to-jerusalem/
https://www.israelvirtualtour.com/

01/09/2019

20/11/2018

15/08/2018

After spending years guiding Israel from the ground, I finally got to guide Israel from the air! And what a view it was!
Starting from the north, we flew over Lake Kinneret with a view of Tiberius. From there we continued to the coast for a great view of Ceasarea, Tel Aviv and more. The forested Judean Hills were next as we made our way up to Jerusalem. We finished with some of the most breathtaking views of our capitol! Truly a beautiful country, small & breathtaking.
Enjoy...

22/05/2018

The Gaza Strip & the riots.
It's been on the news, people's Facebook feeds, and in general a heavily discussed topic since last week's events.
I've heard and read people who see the Israeli Army as the aggressor, and the Gaza Palestinians as underdogs. The Israeli Army acting immorally by killing 62 Gazans, and more..
So let's try and understand what happened on Israel's southern border last week.
Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip in 2005, in the 'Disengagement Plan'. Pulling back to the internationally recognized borders. Part of the argument for doing that back then, was that if after that Israel was attacked from within Gaza, we would have full international legitimacy to defend ourselves and attack back. Time and time again the Hamas terror organization attacked. When Israel defended itself and retaliated, it was often criticized on different levels around the world.
The hope back in 05' was that once Israel pulled out, the Gaza Strip would turn into the next Singapore. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. In 07' the Hamas terror organization was voted into power. They did everything in their power to invest in terror, instead of building up positive infrastructure.
The State of Israel was hoping to help the Gazans build good infrastructure. The Hamas forced the Israeli government to create a blockade on Gaza, in order to defend itself from allowing the Hamas a free hand in importing weapons and materials for creating weapons. Despite that, Israel allows many trucks a day to enter from its sovereign property into Gaza, with humanitarian aid and more. Israel also provides Gaza with electricity & gas. Egypt, which also borders Gaza, does not. Last week Hamas operatives blew up the conveyor belts through which Israel provides gas (for cooking etc..). This, in part, to add to the misery of the Gaza residents in order to make Israel look bad.
Several weeks ago the Hamas, who's blatant goal is the destruction of the State of Israel, decided to create marches who's goal was to rush the border. Once breaking through, they were to "rip the heart out of the bodies of the Israeli's" in their words. They were hoping to reach the small Israeli civilian towns that are very close to the border, and kill and kidnap Israeli civilians. The Hamas sent their members out. The Hamas also payed families 100$ to send a family member towards the border. They threatened those who didn't that they would be seen as collaborators with the Israeli's.
Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza & made announcements over social media, not to get close to the border. Whoever gets close and threatens breaking through the border, is risking their own life. The 62 Palestinian Gazans who were killed last week, 50 of them Hamas operatives (admitted by the Hamas organization itself), were seen as a threat to Israeli sovereignty & the lives of Israeli civilians in the close by towns.
The Israeli Army as a very moral Army, didn't randomly shoot at people. Every bullet that left the snipers guns was carefully thought out before hand.
The reason they have 62 dead is because the Hamas sent them into a lethal harms way. The reason the Israeli's have 0 dead (thankfully), is because Israeli's didn't rush the border!
Thankfully, yes, Israel is the stronger side. Because if Israel wasn't, there could potentially be many murdered civilians & a breach in Israel's border by blood thirsty murderers who are on the same level as Isis and Al Kaida.
Imagine if this situation was on the American border from Canada or Mexico, where you had thousands of American citizens living within just a couple of miles from the border. While on the other side of the border you had a terror organization trying to organize many dozens of thousands to rush the border. Wouldn't you be thanking your lucky stars that you have a mighty America? What would the US government tell the US Army to do? You tell me? Can you imagine how pretty muchly any other country in the world would react to this situation on their borders? And then Israel gets criticized for defending its own citizens? That's hypocrisy and holding Israel on double standards.
i truly hope that things get quiet coimng from the Gaza Strip. Hoping that somehow, some way, the Hamas comes to its senses and stops bringing about a horrible humanitarian crises to its own people. And stops threatening the State of Israel and it's civilians.
You are more then welcome to share this.

15/03/2018

Israel’s soil holds a lot of secrets in it. It’s out job to dig them up and discover them. Every year there are about 30 pre-designated sites that are dug up with professional Archaeological supervision. Amazing discoveries have been made that help to show us how are ancestors lived in their day to day life throught the highway of history.
Dig For a Day is a unique site in that it’s designated to be a family fun hands on activity, while at the same time being a real live dig with professional Archaeologists digging along with you. This attached video shows some of the digging fun that goes on in the caves at the Bet Guvrin National Park.
Check my new website out at www.amiisraelguide.com

24/01/2018

Israel is the center of the world!
Well, sort of.
This teeny country just slightly larger then New Jersey has it all in small. Historically, demographically, politically, geographically...So when I take off for a 40 minute flight from Tel Aviv to Eilat on a clear day, the diversity of the views is amazing. Looking north we have the snow peaked (ski resort) Hermon mountain range, the northern tip of Israel. Next we're flying over the Dead Sea and looking east from the Jordan Valley into Jordan. Then, just a few minutes later, we're already over the Gulf of Eilat looking out over the colorful desert mountains of Eilat bordering the southern tip of Israel.
Pretty awesome and unique!!!

14/01/2018

At long last, after years of experiencing Israel with others in the field, it's time to also share Israel with others virtually. You are welcome to check my new website out at www.amiisraelguide.com . Every few weeks I'll post an interesting story, fact, anecdote or news update regarding this fascinating corner of the world that I live in.

12/02/2017

Machtesh Ramon!! So gorgeous!! There is nothing like it.
Take a look at this awesome geological window into planet earth. Really a great place to experience the Negev desert in Israel, either by foot or by Jeep.
Just make sure you enjoy it in the winter, when the weather is pleasant ;)

04/05/2016

Six million is a number that will forever be remembered in the collective memory of the Jewish people, and in world history.
Today we remember the six million Jews who were killed by the N***s in the Holocaust. It is Holocaust Remembrance Day today, which is commemorated on the 27th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan.
How do we remember the Holocaust today? There are many answers to that question.
A most recent initiative is called 'Zikaron Basalon' (Remembering in your living room). Someone hosts a Holocaust survivor in their living room, in an informal setting. The survivor then tells his or her story. I had the privilege of listening to Tereza Vinorsky tell her story this evening, in this kind of setting.
Of the Six million killed, one and a half million were children. In Yad Vashem there is a section called 'Yad Layeled', the children's memorial. A handful of candles are placed in the center of a dark room, and they are surrounded by mirrors. these mirrors reflect an endless amount of candles, originating from the few in the middle. It is a metaphor to these children. Had they lived, an endless amount of future generations could have come from them. When you blow out even one candle, though, an endless amount of candles will be blown out with it.
May there memory be blessed, and may we remember them forever.

20/03/2016

Think of a sandwich filled with lots of layers of food..
Then think of Jerusalem filled with endless layers of history!!
Running the half Marathon in Jerusalem the other day, took myself and thousands of others through this endless time tunnel of history...
Starting next to our 'Capitol Hill' with the Knesset & other government buildings that represent Jerusalem as our modern day capitol & the Israel Museum with the Shrine of the Book/Dead Sea Scrolls. We ran past the Supreme Court to the center of town, and down the picturesque & famous Jaffa Street. Up through part of the Old City, and then from there we continued into some of Jerusalem's most beautiful neighberhoods. Rechavia, Bak'a, Talabiya, Katamon & Talpiot. This included running through the beautiful lookout at the Haas Promenade, and along the old 120 year old train tracks that first connected Jerusalem to the coast.
And yes, Jerusalem is very hilly, a killer for runners. Especially the steep climb we encountered on KM 18 (Mile 12) where good friends joined me for a short part and encouraged me on.
All in all, it was a super crazy experience. Unbelievable positive energy carnival like feeling. 5,000 runners ran the half marathon, 30,000 in total ran the various runs that Jerusalem offered- full & half Marathons, 10K, 5K, and shorter family runs.
As for myself. Well, I planned on finishing the grueling 13 mile/21K run in 2 hours. I killed it in 1 hour & 51 minutes!!!

14/02/2016

Romans..Romans..Where are you today, and where are we today?
You may have sacked Jerusalem & destroyed our Temple 2000 years ago..Marching off with our golden Menorah and other vessels..Using thousands of Jewish prisoners & stolen gold, silver & coins in order to build your massive Colosseum..
Yet you disappeared from the map of History, and the Jewish people grow & flourish through the 21st century.
Last week, I had the privilege of standing in Rome, next to these Roman remains. In & outside of the Colosseum, and next to the Menorah etched into Titus's victory arch. It felt great..because of what I wrote above (and because it was a great vacation seeing impressive archaeological remains ;) )

22/11/2015

Sometimes you just have to put all the craziness that's going on around us on the side..
leave the history, archaeology & politics at home..
and just go out and have a GREAT time!
Sand surfing (!!!) on sand dunes in the Negev desert & drinking a beer at the lowest bar in the world (Dead Sea)

10/09/2015

Wishing you a 'Shana Tova' as I'm surrounded by T-shirts through which we can all experience the wonder of Israel!!
From left to right-
Experience digging up our ancient past in caves at Bet-Guvrin..
Discover the beginnings of Jerusalem through the ancient caves of the City of David..
Enjoy the sweet wonders that the Golan Heights have to offer us by joining Willie Wonka & the Umpa Lumpas' at the De Karina chocolate factory..
Hear the stories of Zionist leaders such as Theodore Herzl, Menachem Begin, Golda Meir & more..
Walk around the 'Kibbutz at the end of the World' Misgav Am- where we see both the uniqueness of Kibbutz life & the uniqueness of Misgav Am as they sit on the Lebanese border.
Relive the dramatic moments of the creation of the modern State of Israel at Independence Hall..a modern day miracle!
Wishing you a wonderful year..full of joy & happiness..& don't forget to come to Israel for a visit!!!

16/08/2015

August in Israel..HOT! HOT! HOT! Need I say more??
With the temperatures soaring to somewhere between 90-115 degrees (depending on the day & area)..The humidity along the coast adding its own affect to the August fun..I figured that it's time for some fun in the WATER!!
Nothing like standing under a cool waterfall in a desert oasis, going to one of our many coastal beaches, or experiencing a water hike. GREAT water options to cool off with during this time of year.
Keep cool wherever you are in the world

26/07/2015

Romans destroying the second Temple (Bet Mikdash) 2000 years ago.. The Babylonians destroying the first Temple 2600 years ago..When you hear these things it may sound very amorphic, distant..You may ask if it even really happened, or is it legend?
Yes, it happened for real. on the Jewish dates of 9 & 10 on the month of Av (Tisha B'av) both Temples were destroyed. Today is the 10th day of Av, and we remember the destruction, the social moral decline that led to it, and the horrible massacres by our enemies that took place at this time. We remember all this via various mourning traditions, such as fasting.
To really bring these ancient events to life today, all you have to do is visit the sites of destruction in Jerusalem today.
Attached are pictures in which we can see the southern section of the Western Wall, which was partially destroyed by the Romans. The ancient busy marketplace is littered with massive Western Wall stones that were knocked down by the Roman legions.
May we have the privilege to live to see the prophecy of Isaiah come true.."..the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains..and all the nations shall flow unto it..and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks"

27/05/2015

A mere mile from the border of the Gaza Strip, the Negev desert is blooming.
Hothouses with all kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables is what you will find in the small town on Talmei Yosef. The project is called 'The Salad Trail', and it's run by a man named Uri.
So what will we discover there among the desert sand dunes? Cherry Tomatoes of different colors- red zebra striped with a chocolate tint in the taste! Yellow 'blonde' & deep red CT are some more..Carrots with various tastes that grow in purple, white & yellow. A passion fruit maze to run through, delicious strawberries, herb tastings & more.
For those of you who imagine the desert as being a bunch of sand dunes (too many Hollywood movies)..Come check out how Israel works to get the Negev desert to come to life & flourish!!!