Dave's Dynamic Tours of Israel

16/01/2025

16/01/2025

The lion of Gush Etzion..
Symbol of Israel's strength and resilience!

16/01/2025

A new interactive Zoo in Be'er Sheva

Midbarium is called an experiential animal park because one of its main goals is to allow visitors to experience animals’ movements and behaviors.

30/08/2024

Stories & Dioramas of bravery, heroism and more.. read on!

Were there Jewish Soldiers in the Armed Forces that fought during World War Two? Of course there were. Now their stories are being told in the […]

27/08/2024

From the blog of David Schoenfeld at The Times of Israel

27/08/2024

My day tour of the Otef..
Please read and share...

From the blog of David Schoenfeld at The Times of Israel

13/08/2024

9 Av can be a very meaningful day for us all; even for those who are not fasting, or are not sure why to fast at all !
Perhaps it should be a day for "social correction".

I am reprinting here words and thoughts by Rabbi Yuval Cherlow,
a founder of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization .
I found these thoughts in the Tzohar Kinot Companion in the explanation of Kinah #31- Exile and Redemption.
"אֵש ׁ תּוּקַד בְּקִרְבִּי – Galut and Geula – Exile and Redemption Kinah #31

"This kinah contrasts the miracles and wonders of the Exodus from Egypt with the humiliation and
suffering of the exile from Jerusalem. The two poles of Geula and Galut, Redemption and Exile are
placed in sharp contradistinction in order to arouse our emotions regarding Israel’s fall from grace and
the colossal void that separates our past from our present.
But this raises the question, in an age of Medinat Yisrael, how are we to assess our place on the
continuum that stretches from exile to redemption. "
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Rosh Yeshiva of the Orot
Shaul Yeshiva, a founder and executive board member of Tzohar, addresses this question:

"And yet, the prophet calls to
continue fasting, not only fasting, but also making a truly meaningful social change.
Why? The prophet taught that fasting is not for God. It is intended for ourselves. The reason for this is
that if we do not fix the defects that caused the destruction of the First Temple, we will find ourselves
facing destruction at a future time. Therefore, like many prophets before him, he teaches that the
prohibition to eat on the day of fasting is not meant to torture the body, but to transform our mindset
and to turn the day of fasting into a day of correction."

Rabbi Cherlow continues..
"We can turn this day into a day of great social correction, connecting with the impressive manifestations of Jewish unity that we have witnessed since October 7th, acting in solidarity with each other, and deepening the foundations of a society of truth,peace and justice"

Download the Tzohar Kinot Companion to read the Kinot and the complete explanations

12/08/2024

For those of you looking for some serious commentary for 9 Av, I highly recommend checking out Tzohar . although most of their page is in Hebrew, they also have a section in English.
They have published a "Lament to Be'eri"- a Lament for our times in English. I highly recommend reading this . Its a part of their Kinot Companion which can be downloaded (is that a verb?) from the web site or page.

Those who fast, have an easy fast.
Eveyone else, read or study about why we fast on this day.

https://tzohar-eng.org/?

Tzohar is a Jewish Movement for all Jews in Israel! Tzohar Services, Activities and Events include - Jewish Wedding Ceremonies, Kashrut...

31/07/2024

Many times I have driven on Hwy 4 near Netanya, and have seen the sign for BP KOSHER Bistro.
Finally I stopped last evening and treated myself to dinner!
I give this place 5 ******
I was led to a seat at the bar as I was on my own..the seats were comfortable, the Waitresses , waiters, work staff were very friendly, the ambience is family oriented, and the food was really good. Steak ,Healthy Salad, and a small beer (1/3).
So if you happen to be driving south on Hwy 4, just past the exists to Netanya; Exit at Yellow Gas station, plenty of parking!

Tell them Dave sent you! (maybe they'll remember me??)

24/07/2024

MYy wife and I recently attended a
book launch at the Begin Center in Jerusalem, Sponsored by CAMERA-.
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis - CAMERA.
Avi Mayer interviewed Alon Penzel, author of "Testimonies without Boundaries".
“Testimonies without Boundaries “ is a very important , yet difficult book by Alon Penzel. Alon Penzel

Alon is very unique young guy , only 23 years old , with quite a lot of guts !
Starting a few days after Oct 7, he decided that he could not sit idly by . He knew that there would be many in the world who would deny these atrocities.
And so he set out collecting the stories and events from survivors ,Emergency personnel, govt authorities, volunteers and more .
All the stories were verified as true by the Israeli authorities.
The book is available on Amazon , Barnes & Noble, etc and is also being distributed to embassies, consulates ,libraries and more worldwide .
It’s not an easy read .. some stories are extremely graphic .
I strongly urge you to purchase and read.
I think it’s very important to have a copy in your home .

19/07/2024

I received a most unusual phone call earlier this week . A former tourist from 2017 called me out of the blue , left a message on my phone . At first I thought that he and his family were coming again to Israel and were interested in touring with me , again .
But instead he was inquiring if I knew any good tour guides in Istanbul, Turkey.
I was a bit surprised by this inquiry . I have never been to Turkey.
I put an inquiry out to my colleagues.. and received from them 2 recommendations which I passed on to him .
After a few email challenges ( my mail went to his Spam folder) , we spoke by phone .
I expressed my happiness that he still had my contact info, and asked him why had he contacted me about this after all these years.
He replied “ When someone is good , they are the person whom I go to first “

Sent from my iPhone

25/06/2024

To all my L.A friends,(who are probably sleeping right now..)
Its heartbreaking to see what is going on in my old neighborhood.
I share in your sorrow and bewilderment for what is taking place around you.
I sincerely hope that that the authorities and the good people of L.A (hopefully there are still some) will wake up and see what is happening.

Stand strong, protect yourselves.
Get your Rabbis, civic leaders and others to speak out!
That's the American Way....

We in Israel are thinking of you, support you and love you all!

(of course the answer to all this is to make Aliyah, but you know that!)

05/06/2024

If you are in Jerusalem today…
let’s celebrate!

Schedule of Main Events
4:00pm – Gathering at Safra Square, dancing and flags.

4:30pm – Parade from Safra Square to the gates of the Old City, featuring the “Shirel” band.

6:00pm – Dancing in the city center and at the Western Wall.

7:00pm – Main assembly at the Western Wall Plaza with speeches and emotional singing.

31/05/2024

Thanks to my friend and colleague Joe Freedman - Israel Tour Guide......
Hebrew follows English..
"Jerusalem Day" is next week. (28 Iyar, June 5) Here's a nice thought by Israels' Nobel Prize winner, S.Y (Shai Yosef)Agnon

Shabbat shalom from Givat Zeev (Just outside of Jerusalem)

IN HONOR OF YOM YERUSHALAYIM
From “Within the Walls”, by S. Y. Agnon

There are places in Jerusalem that are familiar to me, and that I know well. But when I chance upon one of them, it seems to me that I’ve never seen it before. �� In contrast, there are places that I’ve never been to before in my life, but when I chance upon them it seems to be that they are familiar to me, and I know them well.

And since all the days – and nights – I would wander through the [streets and] squares of Jerusalem, I didn’t make the time to learn a trade. Even worse, I didn’t make time to study Torah!
And a Jew who doesn’t occupy himself with Torah - his heart berates him and says, “And what will you answer on Judgment Day when they ask you if you occupied yourself with Torah?” What would I answer?
“I would answer: “I occupied myself with Jerusalem,” and I’m confident that they will say, “You did well!”

לכבוד יום ירושלים

״לפנים מן החומה ״ מאת שמואל יוסף (ש״י) עגנון.

מְקוֹמוֹת יֵשׁ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁאֲנִי מַכִּיר אוֹתָם וְיוֹדֵעַ אוֹתָם
וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי מִזְדַּמֵּן לְאֶחָד מֵהֶם דּוֹמֶה עָלַי שֶׁלֹּא רְאִיתִיו מֵעוֹלָם.

כְּנֶגְדָּם יֵשׁ מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁמִּיָּמַי לֹא הָיִיתִי שָׁם וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי בָּא לְשָׁם
דּוֹמֶה עָלַי שֶׁאֲנִי מַכִּיר אוֹתָם וְיוֹדִעֵם.

וּמֵחֲמַת שֶׁכָּל הַיָּמִים לְרַבּוֹת הַלֵּילוֹת מַרְבֶּה הָיִיתִי לְשׁוֹטֵט
בְּחוּצוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לֹא פָּנִיתִי לִלְמֹד שׁוּם אֻמָּנוּת.

קָשֶׁה מִזֶּה הָיִיתִי בָּטֵל מִן הַתּוֹרָה.
וִיְהוּדִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה לִבּוֹ מוֹכִיחוֹ וְאוֹמֵר,
"וּמָה אַתָּה מֵשִׁיב בְּיוֹם הַדִּין כְּשֶׁיִּשְׁאֲלוּ אוֹתְךָ עָסַקְתָּ בַּתּוֹרָה?"
וּמָה הָיִיתִי מֵשִׁיב?
הֲרֵינִי מֵשִׁיב "עָסַקְתִּי בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם,"
וּמֻבְטָחֵנִי שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ לִי "יָפֶה עָשִׂיתָ!"