Imagine Israel Tours

28/10/2024

✈️AIR TRAVEL.. Lufthansa group (which includes Austrian and Swiss airlines) extends the suspension of its flights to Israel until at least Nov. 25.

27/10/2024

Did you know that today marks 119 years since the first Hebrew high school opened?

Today, 119 years ago, the world’s first Hebrew high school opened its doors.

The school year began straight after the holidays, on the 25th of Tishrei 5666, October 25, 1905. There was as yet no school building, so the few students gathered in the home of Dr. Yehuda Leib and Fania Metman Cohen in Jaffa, on a street still called Hebrew High School Street.

Four years later, the institution moved to an impressive building on Herzl Street in Tel Aviv, known as Herzliya Gymnasium in honor of Theodor Herzl. The building was designed by architect Yosef Berski in collaboration with Bezalel Academy director, Boris Schatz.

The architecture was a gem, reflecting a style only then emerging in Tel Aviv, later known as the “Eretz-Israel Style.” This eclectic school drew on local building traditions for its distinctly Middle Eastern character, combining classical, Moorish (Islamic), and even French Art Deco elements.

Eclecticism dominated Tel Aviv’s architecture in the early 20th century, embodying the idea that Zionism was a cultural synthesis of East and West. But by the early 1930s, the architectural scene had shifted. The Fifth Aliyah brought German-Jewish architects, many of whom had studied or taught at the Bauhaus School of Architecture and Design in Germany or other European institutions. Their influence quickly transformed Tel Aviv’s architectural landscape, introducing the International Style, known as Bauhaus, which stripped away historical references. Tel Aviv became a “White City,” featuring clean lines and a cosmopolitan feel, leaning away from nostalgia and tradition.

Fifty years after it was built, in 1959, the historic Herzliya High School building was demolished to make way for the Shalom Meir Tower. The demolition sparked outrage among alumni, architects, and cultural figures. In response to the outcry, the Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites in Israel was established, choosing the gymnasium’s iconic structure as its emblem.

Today, Herzliya High School occupies a new, modern building in a different location. In 2006, a cast-iron gate depicting the facade of the original historic building was installed at its entrance.

Above: The original Herzliya High School building
Below: The current building with the iron replica of the original facade. Photo: Avishai Teicher
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07/10/2024

▪️AIR TRAVEL.. Wizz Air postpones the return to Israel again, according to their website all flights until October 10 are canceled. Air France has extended the cancellation of its flights to Israel until October 15.

05/10/2024

▪️AIR TRAVEL.. RyanAir has canceled all flights to and from Israel until the end of January.

01/10/2024

▪️AIR TRAVEL.. Wizz Air and FlyDubai cancel flights for tomorrow to/from Tel Aviv

01/10/2024

TUS airways has returned to flying the Tel Aviv- Larnaca route

28/09/2024

EL AL JUST POSTED:
Due to recent security events, we would like to update that as of now, our flight schedule is operating as usual. All of our flights in the coming weeks are at very high occupancy rates, with no available seats, especially until Rosh Hashanah.

We are working to increase flight capacity as much as possible and we ask all passengers whose flights have been canceled on foreign airlines to be patient and recommend flying to Athens, Greece or Larnaca, Cyprus and register with travel agents on a waiting list for flights back to Israel. We would like to remind you that the prices of flights to Athens and Larnaca are fixed at $299 for a round-trip ticket to Athens, and $199 for a round-trip ticket to Larnaca, and about half the amount for a one-way ticket from these destinations. In addition to destinations with the fixed price, we have set maximum prices for all EL AL destinations until the end of October, subject to seat availability on flights.

We are doing everything we can to assist and fly reservists with active mobilization orders or people with emergency cases, with a focus on urgent medical cases.

We will continue operating as much as possible to maintain the air connectivity to and from Israel, while providing service to all passengers wherever they may be.

25/09/2024

🔳Latest airline updates:

*United Airlines has canceled flights to Israel until further notice.
*Delta Airlines suspended its flights to Israel until December 31, 2024.
*American Airlines has canceled flights until March 2025. This means El Al is currently the sole airline operating direct flights between the US and Israel
*KLM has announced that it would not fly to Israel until Oct. 26 at the earliest, while Air France's Paris route was halted for one day and has continued over the weekend and Sunday.
*The Lufthansa Group, which includes Swiss, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, has canceled its flights until October 14. The German airline said it was halting all connections to and from Tel Aviv and Tehran through Sept. 24. Flights to Beirut will only resume Sept. 30.
*Croatia Airlines has suspended its flights without specifying a return date.
*Vueling from Spain has previously canceled its flights to and from Israel until October, yet upon checking the company's website, it seems all flights have been removed until January of next year. Vueling has not issued an official announcement regarding the continuation of operations in Israel, and flights may be added to the system later.
*Air Canada said it would not resume flights for the rest of 2024.
*LOT Polish Airlines has once again cancelled flights to and from Israel, this time until at least Sept. 25.
*Air Baltic said it has resumed flights to Israel
*Ryanair from Ireland has canceled flights to Israel until October 26.
*Air India has suspended flights to and from Israel until October 24, and ticket sales on its website are blocked until October 27.
Iberia has extended its flight cancellations to Israel until at least Wednesday.
*The Italian airline ITA resumed its flights on Sept. 22
*The Dutch company Transavia also resumed flights on Sept. 22.
*Wizz Air has suspended flights to Israel until Sept. 25.
British Airways said it will resume flights to and from Israel on Sept. 26 at the earliest.
*Azerbaijan Airlines suspended its flight to Baku on Tuesday.
*easyJet announced that it won't fly to and from Israel at least until March, 29, 2025.

Numerous airlines have already resumed operations: Aegean, Bulgaria Air, Air Europa, TAROM, FlyDubai, Etihad Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Note: any information detailed here is subject to change. It is recommended to stay updated in real-time.

20/09/2024

▪️AIR TRAVEL.. Air Canada announced the cancellation of all flights to Israel until the end of 2024. Thus, El Al remains the only company that operates direct flights to the Americas.

16/09/2024

Family coming in for the hagim? Or maybe you are headed overseas?

Very few tourists flying in, so I'm currently an unemployed tour guide - and so have lots of time and flexibility if you need a reliable native English-speaking taxi driver.

I drive a comfortable 7-seater Outlander, and can supply 2 car seats upon request (from birth to toddler) and a wheelchair.

Fully licensed & insured to take paying passengers, for airport runs, plus shorter or longer distances.

I'm also available to transport small items of furniture etc.

I look forward to hearing from you: phone or WhatsApp 054-239 0412

11/09/2024

▪️FLIGHT NEWS…….UK carrier Virgin Atlantic are restarting flights to/from Tel Aviv on 25 September, a week ahead of the High Holydays, according to reports in the foreign media. Flights can be booked on the carrier's website, with connection options to the US.

With its regular connections between London & New York, Virgin Atlantic will be hoping to capture market share from El Al, which has a monopoly on direct flights between Tel Aviv & New York.

Like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic will offer direct flights between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv with a brief stop for a crew change in Larnaca, Cyprus, although passengers will remain on the plane. It is still deemed to unsafe for crew to stay over in Tel Aviv. On the return leg the plane will fly non-stop from Tel Aviv to London.

Virgin Atlantic will resume with only one daily flight. Virgin Atlantic will use larger aircraft on the route than its rival British Airways, which uses a narrow-bodied Airbus A321.

El Al recently added a flight on the Tel Aviv-New York route and all 280 seats were sold within three minutes. Almost no Tel Aviv - New York seats remain on El Al flights for the holidays, except on premium and business class, with return fares ranging between $4,500 and $7,500.

Over the past week Lufthansa Group, the largest aviation group, which consists of Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss, and Eurowings, resumed its flights to and from Israel, after more than a month’s suspension. The group operates many flights to six destinations in Western Europe: Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Vienna, Brussels and Zurich.
Italian airline ITA has also resumed flights today with one daily flight between Tel Aviv and Rome.

Other foreign airlines that have resumed flights to Israel include Ethiopian Airlines, Wizz Air, Bulgaria Air, Aegean, Air Europe, Iberia, and Tarom. On Tuesday Polish airline LOT also recommenced its Israel flights.

However, Ryanair announced that it would not resume Israel flights until the end of October.

05/09/2024

▪️AIR TRAVEL……discount airline RyanAir, cancels flights to Israel until at least October 27th

30/08/2024

27/08/2024

Simon says: "Let's Tour!"

If you were asked to drive a VERY important person to the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History in Tel Aviv, give them a tour of the museum, & then return them to their accommodation—with the condition that you never reveal their identity—would you take the job?

I recently had the chance to visit the museum myself, so I felt well-acquainted with its exhibits. Without hesitation, I agreed to the task for my celebrity client, & I’m thrilled that I did!

The Steinhardt Museum is renowned for its exceptional layout & captivating displays, making it engaging for both adults & children. It showcases Israel’s role as a critical crossroads in the evolutionary journey from Africa into Europe & Asia. The museum’s Ark-shaped design underscores its mission to foster knowledge, promote understanding, & strengthen our connection with nature.

The museum’s exhibits are presented in Hebrew, English & Arabic, ensuring accessibility for a diverse audience. Plus, the facilities are top-notch: ample underground parking, full wheelchair & stroller accessibility, spotless public restrooms, a small snack bar & a well-stocked gift shop with a great variety of educational games & puzzles.

Interactive maps, multimedia stations & mechanical exhibits allow visitors to engage with the content by seeing the movement of birds or animal muscles, for example.

With a collection of approximately 5.5 million items, the museum highlights Israel's rich biodiversity & distinct ecosystems through 9 themed exhibitions. These include displays on bird migration, diverse ecosystems, insects & an impressive array of taxidermied birds & mammals. It also addresses the impact of human activities—such as overfishing, industrial development, global warming & pollution—on the environment & species extinction.

On the 4th floor, you can explore the evolution of the human species, from the replica of Lucy, discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 & dated to about 3.2 million years ago, to modern Homo sapiens.

Our tour lasted around 3 hours, including a quick break for coffee.

While I’m not going to reveal the identity of my VIP visitor, I can say that I enjoyed the day as much as they did and am eagerly anticipating more opportunities to work with high-profile clients!

22/08/2024

Delta Air Lines has announced an extension of its flight suspension to and from Israel by more than a month, joining other major US carriers in prolonging service disruptions amid ongoing regional instability. This decision follows American Airlines' earlier announcement to cancel its Israel routes until March 2025, leaving El Al as the sole operator of direct flights between the United States and Israel.

12/08/2024

Are you looking for the biggest and best variety of tours in & around Jerusalem?

I offer 6 main tours in Jerusalem, which of course can be customised to meet your specific interests:

• Jerusalem Old City - Return to Zion / 1948 War of Independence.
• Jerusalem Old City - Christian Quarter
• Jerusalem Old City - Roman revolt
• City of David - 'Where it all began'
• 'Outside the Walls'; - the first neighbourhoods outside the Old City.
•Yad Vashem and museums/modern institutions of The State of Israel eg Shrine of the book, Knesset, Supreme Court, Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Western Jerusalem.

I have experience driving & guiding all over Israel as an independent tour guide in a comfortable 7-seater vehicle & have been certified as the Amazon Tour Guide for online virtual tours in the North of Israel - as well as being a coach tour guide for cruise ship passengers coming into Haifa & Ashdod. I’m also accredited as a tour guide for Israel Nature and Parks Authority

My price includes:
all admission fees
liability insurance, fuel, road tolls
car parking
snacks & water a unique souvenir of your tour

Car seats and wheelchair available on request

My TripAdvisor reviews https://shorturl.at/aIR47

Please don't hesitate to be in touch [email protected], or by
phone/WhatsApp +972 54 2390412 if I can help plan your tour.

Full Day Private Christian Tour in Jerusalem with Tour Guide294WD Tours6+ hoursWe visit the places where Jesus walked, taught and prayed in the last week of His life. These are not just historic sites… Free cancellationNot sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full ...

11/08/2024

The first coin from the Modern State of Israel, struck on August 17 1948 was not - as some believe - the prutah; it was actually a 25 mils coin, which circulated alongside old Palestinian Mandate mils coins (struck by the British) from 1948-1952.

An initial unsuccessful batch of coins dated 5708/1948 was minted at a workshop in the Hakirya compound in Tel Aviv (the former German Templer colony of Sarona).

Coins were also minted at the Michsaf cutlery factory in Holon by Yosef Gannoy; he modified a cutlery stamping press to hold coinage dies, which were cut by Saloh Kluegermann, a brother of the factory owner. It is believed that fewer than 100 1948 coins were issued, and only 30-40 are known to remain in circulation today.

Michsaf also minted 42,650 mils coins dated 5709/1949. Other coins are believed to have been minted in Jerusalem in 1948, but written documentation about the location & name of the Mint is unavailable.

The 25 mils coin weighed 3.8 g & was 30mm in diameter, with a plain edge. The obverse shows a bunch of grapes, based upon the design of coins struck during the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132-135 CE) which in turn were taken from a bronze prutah of Herod Archelaus (circa 4 BCE).

The stylised reverse wreath was adapted from coins of John Hyrkanos (135-104 BCE)

Below is an image of a 500 mil (½ pound) note issued by the Anglo-Palestine Bank in Tel Aviv, 18 August 1948.

Book my 'Return to Zion' tour of Jerusalem, where I'll take you on a journey of discovery, & tell you amazing stories of bravery & daring leading up to and during the War of Independence in 1948.

Call or WhatsApp: 0542390412

06/08/2024

▪️AIR TRAVEL - INCREASE.. The Greek airline Blue Bird Airways announced that it will operate booster flights to Tel Aviv today: 4 flights from Larnaca, 2 from Athens and 2 from Heraklion in Crete, for which tickets can be purchased on the company's website.

02/08/2024

The new ETA requirement for entry to Israel has been pushed back to January 2025

If you follow me here or on Israel Touring - with an Israeli Tour Guide you will have seen that I posted a couple of weeks ago about the new ETA requirement for travellers to Israel.

That requirement was to have been implemented from 1st August but it has now been postponed to January 2025.

So if you're planning a trip to Israel next year, be aware that visitors who arrive from visa-exempt countries will need to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to be able to enter Israel.

29/07/2024

Safe Travel in Israel!

Are your friends or family planning a trip to Israel this summer or for the hagim? I can make their visit unforgettable!

As a licensed tour guide and fully insured driver with a spacious 7-seater Outlander, I offer comfortable and convenient travel options.

Need extra luggage space? My roof bars have you covered. Plus, I provide baby and toddler seats upon request to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey for everyone.

With tourism down for the past 10 months, I genuinely appreciate any referrals for both short and long-distance trips.

Thank you for your support!

Contact me today: 054-2390412

Simon.

29/07/2024

A flight from Tel Aviv to New York, which currently takes about ten and a half hours, will only take a little over 5 hours.

According to the press release, the final production design of Overture is slated to roll out in 2025 and carry its first passengers by 2029.

It is being designed to carry 65 to 80 passengers at twice the speed of today's fastest commercial aircraft.

Optimized for speed, safety and sustainability, Overture is also being designed to fly more than 600 routes around the world.