Israel First Hand Tours

04/08/2024

Group visit to the G@za Envelope this Tuesday.

Few spots remaining.

Registration and details: https://forms.gle/bFbzLdKV5pxBfvJz9

Be part of the global community supporting and uniting with our brothers and sisters in the Otef.

For those of you who want to give strength to the victims and communities in the south, as well as strengthen yourself by bearing witness, please fill out this form to register for one of our upcoming tours to Otef Aza. Private Tours - Please submit only one form using the group leader's contact inf...

22/07/2024

Join us as we visit Otef Aza (the Gaza Envelope) to give support to survivors in the south and to strengthen ourselves during these difficult times.

Upcoming group summer group tour dates: July 25th (this Thursday), July 30th, August 6, 15, 20, and 27.

We leave from Jerusalem, Ramat Beit Shemesh and the Beit Shemesh train station (easily reachable from TLV).

To register: https://forms.gle/xG4pKntHTdcv6NgX7
For more information: [email protected]

02/06/2024

Please join us this summer on one of our group tours.

WhatsApp: +972 58-623-4362
Email: [email protected]

Jersalem Old City Tour
History of Zionism via the Jerusalem Light Rail
Old Jaffa
Jerusalem Area Wineries
Shilo Tour
Shilo Family Day

AND MORE...

19/05/2024

Tuesday, May 21st.
Join us for a visit to Otef Aza.

12/05/2024

The Gaza Envelope - with Aryeh Kaplan, licensed tour guide and geopolitical specialist.

UPCOMING DATES - Group Tours

Thursday, May 16th
Tuesday, May 21st
Tuesday, May 28th
Tuesday, June 4th
Monday, June 10th

More Information
WhatsApp +972 58-623-4362
Email: [email protected]
Registration: https://forms.gle/izcWMFooKAaNZzeq7

08/03/2024

Israel Border Tours - The Gaza Envelope
Did you hear the wake-up call?
Explore your personal role in this ongoing battle between good and evil.
See below for upcoming group tour dates.
Contact us to schedule a private or semi-private tours.
https://forms.gle/8TMZoBmy7JCfieaB6

28/01/2024

Israel Border Tours - The Gaza Envelope

Join us for a thought provoking trip to the Gaza border.
Hear the stories of the victims, survivors, and heroes.
Come and bear witness.

INCLUDED
• Transportation
• Licensed Tour Guide and Educator
• Armed Es**rt

IITINERARY
(dependent on weather and security)
• Nova Festival Site
• Bomb Shelters
• Shuva Achim
• Tekuma Car Cemetery
• Sderot
• Zaka 1st Responder*
• Kibbutz Visit*
• BBQ with Soldiers*
*requires sponsorship

Registration link is in our profile bio. Private and group tours are available.

Arranged by Israel First Hand Tours and

13/09/2023

✨May this be a year where all your travel dreams come true!✨

💭 Dreaming of traveling to Israel? It's not too early to start planning your trip!

✍️ We are already working on itineraries for Pesach and Summer 2024.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Have friends or family who are headed our way? We love your referrals!

29/05/2023

Drinking enough water is probably the most important thing for tourists in Israel to remember. The difference in climate combined with jet lag and being so busy touring can make it easy to forget to drink.

Try setting an alarm on your phone or watch at intervals to remind you to finish and refill your water bottle. Watch that your kids are drinking enough as well!

24/05/2023

Happy Shavuot! We would be remiss if we didn’t post about cheesecake. Like many other things, Israelis have a different way of doing cheesecake. American cheesecake is typically made from cream cheese which creates a dense and heavy cake. Israeli cheesecakes are made with soft white cheeses which give them a much lighter texture. This means you can eat more of it 😂.

Check out this article by Jamie Geller for recipes and tips from Israeli chefs for making a great cheesecake. Chag Sameach!
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/israeli-cheesecake-recipes-for-shavuot/

23/05/2023

Some of you may already know that the holiday of Shavuot, which commemorates the Jewish people receiving the Torah on Mt. Sinai, begins Thursday evening. We personally think this is a particularly delicious holiday 😋. But before we talk about food, here are the main ways to observe Shavuot.

**Staying up all night to learn Torah
**Reading the 10 commandments in shul
**Eating dairy foods

There are many reasons given for the custom of eating dairy. One reason is that the Torah (which the Jews had just received) describes the Land of Israel as the Land of Milk and Honey. While some may see this line as a metaphor for the richness and sweetness of the land, we found that this can be taken literally as well! We visited 2 farms in the Hula Valley in the north where you can see and taste the milk and honey that flow from Israel.

You can read about it in our blog “Milk and Honey- A Visit to the Farm” here- https://israelfirsthand.com/a-walk-through-the-farms-of-israels-hula-valley/. And of course you can come see for yourself on your next visit to Israel!

18/05/2023

Tomorrow we are celebrating Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), which commemorates our victory in the 1967 war and the reunification of Jerusalem. Up until then, Jews had no access to the Old City of Jerusalem and the Kotel.

It’s hard to imagine visiting Israel and not going to the Kotel! As David Ben Gurion says above, Israel is a land of miracles.

Wondering what we mean? Come see for yourself!

16/05/2023

We always have our eyes peeled for fun family friendly activities around Israel. During Passover, one of our awesome Travel Designers and her family headed over to at Park Peres in Holon for a climbing wall adventure. As you can see they reached new heights of fun! 😂

Park Peres is also home to an ice skating rink, water park, The Blind Museum, The Israel Children’s Museum, courts for all types of sports, and playground equipment. There’s literally something for everyone.

Have you been there? What was your favorite part?

14/05/2023

Mother’s Day always makes us think of flowers. So we thought this picture of a beautiful blooming tree in Jerusalem was fitting for the occasion.

If you're a mom, here are some beautiful flowers for you. And if you’re not, here’s a reminder to go get your mom some flowers 😉.

Happy Mother’s Day!

11/05/2023

Have you ever put a note in the Kotel (aka The Western Wall)? Ever wonder what happens to it after you squish it into the carefully selected crevice? Check out the latest “Ask Aryeh” to find out!

🤔Have a question for Aryeh? Drop it right here in the comments

08/05/2023

Tonight starts the holiday of Lag BaOmer which is famously celebrated by making bonfires to commemorate the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

This holiday also marks the end of a period of mourning for Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students who were killed in a plague which ended on Lag BaOmer.

In Israel, as well as Jewish communities around the world, this is a time of great celebration. Here it’s common to find bonfires in open areas at night with people singing and dancing around them.

During the day, there are often weddings, bar mitzvah, upsherins (boy’s first haircut) and other celebrations that were unable to be held during the mourning period. Many make a trip up to Meron, where Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is buried.

Whether you’re here in Israel, or celebrating at home, you can tap into the spiritual energy of the day and use it as a time to pray. Meron is one of the many holy sites to visit during your trip to Israel. Be in touch to include it on your itinerary!

07/05/2023

Israel has been all a flutter with butterflies the past few weeks. We have been witnessing the migration of painted lady butterflies, which arrived here from the Arabian Peninsula on their way to Europe. Up north in the Hula Valley, thousands of butterflies are passing through and laying eggs as they continue their journey. It’s quite a sight to behold.

But that’s not all of the butterfly news here in Israel! Just before Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day), a vote was taken among tens of thousands of school children (they let some adults chime in as well) and the Common Blue Butterfly (shown in the photo above) was named Israel’s national Butterfly!

I’m sure you can see by their color scheme why they are a perfect fit for the job. You can find these beauties during most of the year throughout most of the country. The males’ wings are blue on top with a black-brown border and a white fringe. The females are usually brown above, with a shimmer of blue and orange spots.

Let us know if you spot one during your visit to Israel!

04/05/2023

This is too good not to share😂.

23/03/2023

Heading to Israel for Pesach and looking for some fun things to do? Shiloh is a very family friendly option over chol hamoed (the intermittent days of Passover).

You can explore the ruins of Ancient Shiloh, ride ATVs, or check out Bikkurei Shiloh Farm, which has a ton of activities for all ages: flower picking, petting zoo, picking herbs to make your own pesto, milking goats, cheese making, inflatables, and more!

TIP: Bring your own lunch because they don't have any real food vendors, but there is an orchard with picnic benches right next to the farm. See our Pesach Picnic Travel Tip for making your on-the-go meal a success 😎.

20/03/2023

Our tour guides are always learning new things and exploring new places.

Last week Aryeh (of Ask Aryeh fame) joined a group of tour guides to explore the eastern Gush Etzion area of the Judean Hills overlooking the Dead Sea.

Chan Arugot, a farm and resort village overlooking Nachal Arugot, was their first stop. Four families live there, where they host guests in several tzimmers (vacation rentals). There are plans to host even more tourists in a boutique hotel which is nearing completion. When you visit, you can enjoy jeep rides, barbecues and swimming in their natural pool.

Right next door is Yekev HaSela winery. Aryeh’s photo shows an ancient cistern they found there which serves as their wine cellar. The owners were originally grape growers from the local yishuv (village) Ibei HaNachal. They used to sell their grapes to another winery, but when they heard how good the wines were from their grapes they decided to start making their own wines.

Finally on to Pnei Kedem. This yishuv was once famous for its annual Kite festival, which we hope will eventually return. The sheep farm you see in the pictures is on the slopes outside the yishuv where the horseback shepherds have free range all the way down into the valley below. Come learn about raising sheep and take your turn herding the flocks. There is an option to make your own cheese there as well.

Surprisingly, all of these initiatives were built by English speaking immigrants happy to tell their story of keeping the Zionist narrative alive in the Judean Mountains. What an awesome day to add to your Israel itinerary!

Photos by Aryeh Kaplan of Israel First Hand Tours

14/03/2023

When a person looks back at their life they don’t usually say, “I wish I had spent more time at work.” They say, “I wish I had spent more time in Israel!” Ok, maybe that’s not exactly what everyone says, but many wish they had spent more quality time with family, visited new places, or learned about their heritage. What if I told you that you could do all three of those things in one place? That’s right, Israel… Come see for yourself!

12/03/2023

While touring during Pesach, finding kitniyot free kosher for Passover lunch and snacks can be challenging. Restaurants and kiosks are either closed or are often only serving kitniyot. This is one of those times where it’s better to plan ahead and bring your own food to make sure you and your crew are fed and happy 🙂.

Don’t want to be bothered with shopping, cooking, or packing lunches while on vacation? Here are some great takeout options (including boxed lunches already packed) in Jerusalem - Kinamon Catering, ShabbosKodesh.com, and מסעדת אמא Ima's Restaurant.

Chag Kasher v’Sameach!

09/03/2023

Digging Deeper

You may remember from a few weeks back that we talked about how in Israel the whole country is one big archeological site. Everywhere we step is the same land that our ancestors walked upon thousands of years ago.

Here’s another look into what is found when we dig a little deeper beneath the surface of Israel’s landscape. The photo above shows a bead made from pure gold that was uncovered during a sifting project at the Archaeological Experience in the Emek Tzurim National Park. The bead was dated by the Israel Antiquities Authority to at least 1,600 years ago, which was the end of the Roman era in Israel. This bead is unique for several reasons. Not only are gold items found very rarely, but the style of the bead shows it was made by a very skilled craftsman. Isn’t it beautiful!

Have you ever been on an archeological dig? We can arrange for you to participate in one during your Israel trip. Be in touch!

Photo credit- Kobi Harati/City of David

07/03/2023

Wishing you a Purim filled with joy from our family to yours!

05/03/2023

As Purim approaches, it’s hard to not think about Hamantaschen. Which type of hamantaschen is the best is something many people take very personally. From the traditional prune or poppy seed to the go-to kid friendly chocolate spread and all of the options in between, everyone has their favorite. weighs in here.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/the-ultimate-ranking-of-hamantaschen-fillings/

What’s your favorite? Tell us in the comments!

03/03/2023

In honor of we want to talk about one of the more commonly found wild animals you may see on your travels throughout Israel.

Nubian ibexes, native to the desert mountain chains of Jordan and Israel, are actually considered an endangered species, with fewer than 1,500 individual animals estimated to remain in the wild. You will see them mostly in southern Israel in the Negev Desert areas like Mitzpe Ramon, The Dead Sea, and Eilat.

These cute little guys have gotten pretty comfortable sharing their space with people. So much so that they sometimes take dunks in local hotel pools, and this one even walked into someone's room at the Beresheet Hotel! (By the way this hotel is an AMAZING place to stay in Mitzpe Ramon. Just keep your door closed 😂.)

27/02/2023

We know what you’re thinking. Purim is coming up, so why are we talking about Passover??

Here’s a little secret, Passover is next.

Now that you took a minute to calm down, check out our latest blog post. https://israelfirsthand.com/passover-this-year-in-israel/

Whether you are coming to Israel this year for Passover (Pesach) or you’re already starting to think about next year, the IFHTours blog walks you through the ins and outs of deciding between a hotel or apartment and all of the details in between.

Where will you be for Passover this year?

Deciding between an all-inclusive hotel package or an apartment for your Passover in Israel? Read here to see which one is right for you!

22/02/2023

Traveling gives us the opportunity to get outside our familiar surroundings and discover the beautiful parts of the world that we’ve never seen before. Whether you go across town or across the world, there is so much to see to broaden our horizons and take in the wondrous creations that G-d made for us to enjoy.

Photo of the starry sky at Mitzpe Ramon by Kate Giryes, Getty Images. (WOW)

Star gazing at the Ramon Crater or in Eilat is an awesome evening activity. Be in touch if you’d like to check out the starry starry night…

20/02/2023

It’s ! What a great time to talk about the places in Israel that you can go with your furry friends. If you are visiting Israel and traveling with a support animal, or you’re just the type to go everywhere with a chihuahua in your purse, this post is for you 😉.

Tel Aviv is the most dog friendly city in Israel. You’ll find that many of the restaurants allow you to bring your dog in to dine with you, and some of them even have dog biscuits and water bowls so both pet and owner can be refreshed.

There are also several Tel Aviv beaches that are designated for dogs to run around and frolic in the water off leash, like Hilton Beach in the north, and Alma Beach in the south.

Dog parks are plentiful around the city. You’ll find them at Park Hayarkon, Gan Meir, and many parks in between.

In addition to the restaurants, beaches, and parks, you will also find dog washes and pet stores in abundance in Tel Aviv.

If you’ll be traveling with a pet and you are looking for an animal friendly hotel, Israel has those too! Just give us a call (or a bark) and we can get you and Fido set up with accommodations 🐶.

16/02/2023

Remember when we were talking about how in Israel the flowers bloom in the winter? Here’s another breathtaking example!

The stunning red flowers shown here are Anemones which are found in the Negev Desert at the end of the rainy season. The peak time to see these flowers is February. It’s so special that each year a festival is held called Darom Adom (Red South).

Throughout the month of February, the festival features a great array of family-orientated activities that take place in the Eshkol Region of the Negev desert. This year the festival features mountain bike marathons, poetry readings, concerts every Thursday by Israeli artists, and much more.

You can check out upcoming activities and the best places to see the Anemones here https://www.habsor.co.il/?cat=189&lang=en.

Photo by Mor Shani on Unsplash