Israel Tours - Food for Thought

27/04/2024

10/10/2023

Over the past few days I have been flooded with heartwarming and gratifying messages of support from former clients, now dear friends from all over the world. Your heartfelt messages with good wishes, solidarity and prayers are touching and encouraging and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Our meeting point was in Israel. During the time we spent together traveling the country, your connection to the country, its people, the society, its food, the diverse religions and their cultures was formed,strengthened and cemented. We debated and discussed the challenges and threats of the country. Many of our tours included visits to the Gaza Envelope where we witnessed and discussed the precarious and volatile situation of the people living in these areas but also the important function to the security and resilience of Israel that they fulfilled by living there. Modern day pioneers who succeeded over the years by building beautiful communities for their young families. This has been shattered and life in the Gaza Envelope will never be the same.

Israel is still reeling from the shock of the suprise attack on Shabbat/Sukkot morning, a nearly exact repeat of events from Yom Kippur, 50 years ago, our enemies exploiting the fact that this was a day of rest/religious observance. The nature of the attack, the surprise, the planning, the use of land, air and sea forces indicates that this has been planned for months together with the orchestration and backing of Iran. How the intelligence commmunity of Israel did not get wind of this attack is a question that will still need to be answered and accounted for in the future. The stories and personal accounts, both tragic and heroic that are now emerging from the various horrendous events of the first day take your breath away. The fact that there are over 100 hostages (military and civilian), men,woman and children being held in Gaza is beyond comprehension and belief.

Despite the deep rift/chasm created within Israeli society over the past year
as a result of the Government’s judicial ‘reform’, war has the tendency to unite. Pilots and soldiers have reported for active duty despite threats not to and over 300,000 reservists have been called up with over 100% responding positively. Throughout the country civilians are rallying to donate whatever is needed by both soldiers on the front and civilians who have been uprooted from their homes.

Israel is a strong country, its population known for its resilience, our army is powerful, motivation is high, the identification and solidarity of Jewish communities throughout the world at its peak, the support of the Western World, with the USA at the forefront is unwavering. We will prevail, we will be
victorious. It will probably get worse before it gets better.
“Ein Lanu Eretz Acheret”
We have no other country.
Thanks for your support!!

27/03/2023

My work as a tour educator in Israel and work with tourists takes me on an almost daily basis to the most beautiful places and scenery that this country has to offer. I often have to pinch myself that for me this was “ just another day in the office”.
Not today!!
Today was NOT simply another day in the office and together with the amazing family from the US that I am working with, we found ourselves trying to negotiate the demonstration at Gomeh Junction. My opportunity to participate in a demonstration that work prevented me from attending, to open the window and show support with thumbs-up signs and shouts of Kol Hakavod to demonstrators and we moved excruciatingly slowly along. Not an easy task to continue with business as usual as a tour guide in Israel. Much more difficult to maintain the apolitical and objective perspective that I normally try to portray to my clients. But this peoples revolution to keep Israel a democratic, free and liberal country is different and I am happy and proud to openly shout out my support for this cause. Todays mass demonstrations possibly created a watershed in this ‘revolution’ with a postponement of the legislation and calls for negotiations under the mediation of the President. Not holding my breath that this will succeed and I fear that in a few months time we will find ourselves back in the same position. But I have to remain hopeful and optimistic and look forward to the traditional “another day in the office” in the near future.
להיות עם חופשי בארצינו!
To be a free people in our Land.
No more but no less!!

24/03/2022

Just finished three days guiding in the cold and rainy north. End March, snow flakes on Mt. Bental, steady rain on the Sea of Galilee. Who would have believed but who cares! Nature is smiling!!

16/03/2022

With all the hatred, violence, senseless destruction and suffering currently taking place in Europe, this sign (one of many), displayed outside a store in Jaffa, bought a smile to my face, together with a ray of optimism and hope for a better future!!
Translated: Jews and Arabs Refuse to be Enemies!!

12/03/2022

March 10, 2020 was my last formal group that I guided, before Covid crashed upon us, putting me into forced hibernation. After two years of total craziness, wave after wave of one strain or another, we finally seem to coming out of travel restrictions and limitations and with cautious optimism, I feel almost ready to announce that business is back to usual. This time of the year is so beautiful as seen in the attached picture, green and colorful after abundant winter rains. I am happy to be able to share this with my tourists over the coming weeks.
With caution and hope and a healthy dose of trepidation, I am happy to announce that I am open for business. I look forward to hearing from you and who knows, maybe to guide you in the not so distant future!!