Renee Halpert - Your Guide to Israel

30/01/2025

Desert beauty. Come hike Ein Gedi with me!

22/01/2025

Ein Kerem. Charm. On the edge of Jerusalem. A village full of spirit, creativity, warmth, and love.

09/01/2025

The Kiryat HaMelacha complex in Tel Aviv: Here, you'll find ARTSPACE TEL AVIV "ת"א תרבות" – a "space of experimentation, knowledge sharing and creation, bringing all artists together." (see https://telavivfoundation.org/initiatives/kiryat-hamelacha-artspace-tel-aviv/)
Behind the doors - dozens of artists' studios and galleries.
On the walls - expressions of loss and hope, pain and power, reflect our current reality.

I have attempted to include the artists' name/signature on each of the photos shared here and have no wish to derive any benefit other than to encourage you to visit for yourselves.

09/01/2025

A welcomed change!
For much of the past year, I have been leading educational support visits to Israel's southern frontier (aka: Gaza frontier, Gaza envelope, "Otef" Aza, Hevel Tkuma, Israeli frontier).
This week I had the privilege of leading Andrea & Stephen from Toronto through "Neve Tzedek", the "White City" and "Levinsky Market" on a gorgeous winter day.
Don't know where these places are?
Join me in Tel Aviv to discover these gems!

06/01/2025

Notice to all future visitors to Israel:

As of January 1, 2025, all non-Israeli visitors to Israel require a valid Visa or ETA-IL approval before entering the country.
See the details at this site: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/
Some countries of origin are visa exempt. Learn more here: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/eligibilityNational/everyone

Most importantly, we are waiting for you with open arms and open hearts! Enjoy these recent pictures from the spectacular Machtesh Ramon near Mitzpe Ramon, in the Negev desert.
Sending love from Israel!

10/10/2024

354 days! That's the number of days between October 5, 2023 when I guided Alison and Amanda on a fun Sukkot tour in crowded Jerusalem, and my next Jerusalem tour which took place on September 23, 2024 with Debbie Zimelman and visitors.
So much has changed in the past year.
We started this recent visit at the concrete piano near City Hall, with one clear reminder of what has changed: 101 people are still unaccounted for and held captive by Hamas in Gaza, including 22 yr old musician Alon Ohel.

And in Jerusalem's Old City, the alleys, stones, and structures are quieter, softer, less obscured with crowds.
Yet, life in the Old City remains vibrant, curious, and colourful.

I've really missed exploring this fascinating city with visitors & am so grateful to have returned!
Let's meet there sometime soon!

11/09/2024

Hi!
On Monday, September 16th, I am offering another guided visit to the 'Otef' (Gaza frontier/ Hevel Tkuma) memorials and communities, with transportation from/to Jerusalem.
See comments for a link to the Google doc pre-registration form with further details.

Send a message to learn more

07/08/2024

The love keeps pouring in. Kay, Karen, and Joann arrived from the USA to give support to Israel. I led them on a visit to the Hevel Tkuma (aka Gaza frontier) communities in Israel.
We stopped in Moshav Shuva to support "Arugot" , an internationally known, but very local, organic cosmetics company.
Then, we visited the nearby 24-hr rest stop for soldiers, Shuva Achim אחים שובה. Here, we chatted with M, an IDF reserve volunteer who has spent the last 220 days supporting and protecting the small local communities. In his 'other' life, he is a global sales executive for Israeli hi-tech.
In the Arugot bag - a special kit for soldiers with organic foot cream, sun protection, and deodorant.

27/07/2024

In a space far from noise and conflict, under a moonlit starry night, I joined with 50 hikers to cover 13 km and raise funds & awareness for Jerusalem's Alyn rehabilitation center. Jews in the Judean desert...

20/07/2024

THIS TRIP IS POSTPONED.

I am guiding another visit to the "Otef" from Jerusalem with a minibus on Wednesday, July 24th. PM me or see the comments for Pre-Registration and details.

Send a message to learn more

02/07/2024

On Sunday, I had the honour of bringing two visitors who have senior positions at the Florida Holocaust Museum on a visit to the Gaza frontier/ Otef Aza. One was a first time visitor to Israel.
They had the opportunity to connect with the landscape, support the locals, and hear stories from 7.10 and up to the current situation.
We had a unique visit with another educator, Hugo Wolf, of kibbutz Be'eri.
The wind and blowing sand adds to the anguish felt at the Nova festival memorial site.
In contrast, a visit with soldiers at the Shuva junction was uplifting, as we pampered them with fresh treats.
In the photos, the vehicle belonging to Nova festival participant Ben Binyamin Shimoni. He fled the festival safely with 3 unknown passengers, then returns to rescue others. And again brings several revelers to safety.. and returns again to the festival site, putting himself in harms way each time. The last time, he picked up Gaia, Romi and Ofer. They were ambushed by Hamas terrorists. Ben and Gaia were murdered. Romi and Ofer were kidnapped to Gaza. We pray for their speedy and safe return.

27/06/2024

I am offering another guided group visit to the 'Otef'/ Gaza Envelop / Hevel Tekuma on July 11, 2024. See the link for details and registration in the comments.

23/06/2024

In the good news corner. I recently received this message:

"Birthright is a life changing experience, and for your group it is also a life saving one!
On *May 15, 2019*, a group that you led and inspired throughout Israel attended a Gift of Life drive in Kalia. We are thrilled to inform you that a donor recruited at that drive has donated stem cells for a 66 year old woman battling Myelodysplastic Disorder.We are truly grateful for all you have done to help grow the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, and we thank you for being a part of our family of dedicated volunteers."

The group was a Birthright Mayanot trip. If the donor happens to read this, way to go! כל הכבוד.

If you haven't registered with Gift of Life, please consider doing so. You could save a life.