travel at Israel

Spice Village – Ethnic themed holiday cottages in Thekkady

2012-01-16T09:14:00.000-08:00

Have you ever fancied the idea of staying in the middle of a working spice garden, where you can actually watch the harvesting and processing of the spices and even your try your hand in it ? If yes, then Spice Village will be a great bet. Sitting pretty amidst a working Cardamom plantation, spice village offers a refreshingly different accommodation option that you are not likely to come across every other day! A CGH enterprise, Spice Village is Perched at a height of over 2000 ft high above the sea level along the fringes of Periyar wild life sanctuary, Spice Village is a haven for those who seek tranquility. This resort is located amidst an arborium set up by A. W. Woods, an Anglo-Indian, who worked for the Government of the British Raj in the 1930s and was greatly fascinated by the local Ooralie tribe culture . The bamboo and palm sheathed cottages that would remind you of a tribal hamlet offers a comfortable and simple accommodation option that perfectly complements the laid back charm of the surroundings. Spice Village allows you to live in harmony with nature sans any artificial comforts like air conditioning or TV and lays a lot of stress on eco friendly measures, which blends with nature and does not harm the fragile eco system of the high ranges. This resort has 47 well appointed double rooms and 5 Suites while the multi cuisine Buffet Restaurant serves both Indian and international cuisine. There are many in house leisure options including a Souvenir Shop, games room with table tennis, carom and chess boards apart from a floodlit outdoor badminton court, a plunge pool and a landscaped spice garden. Work, play or anything in between, Spice Village will be a good choice because it has all the requisite facilities like a conference hall that makes it a business hotel as well. Adventure lovers will also find spice village a good choice thanks to the proximity to the Periyar wild life sanctuary, home to many endangered species. In case you are planning a jungle holiday then Spice Village could well be a choice to reckon with!
fear of flying | noguera ibiza

הובלות

2012-01-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

הובלות הם היום דבר שבשגרה ואנשים רבים נעזרים בשירות זה לצרכים שונים. זו יכולה להיות הובלה של דירה, של בית עסק, של משרד או של חפץ יקר ערך כמו כספת או פסנתר – שירות הובלות הוא הפתרון המושלם והחסכוני העומד היום לשירותינו. כיוון שהובלת חפצים עשויה להיות משימה לא קלה, גוזלת זמן ואנרגיה, שכן עלולה לגרום נזק לתכולה אותה רוצים להעביר. לכן, פנייה לחברת הובלות מקצועית, כמו חברת אילן הובלות בעלת 17 שנות ניסיון בתחום וכמות רבה של ממליצים, תהפוך את החוויה למהנה, מהירה ופרודוקטיבית. עם זאת, כדי שההובלה אכן תהיה כזו רצוי להיערך אליה בהתאם ולחשוב היטב כיצד בדיוק תרצו לבצע את ההובלה.

הובלות – חפשו ממליצים

שירות הובלות הוא כאמור דבר נפוץ ומקובל במחוזותינו ובכל העולם. עם זאת, חשוב לציין כי זהו פרויקט לכל דבר אליו יש לגשת בכובד ראש. הכוונה היא לעבודה מקדימה שיש לערוך בטרם מזמינים חברת הובלות. העבודה הזו מתחילה בסקר שוק במהלכו תחקרו חברים או בני משפחה לגבי חברת הובלות עליה הם ממליצים. אפשר גם לקרוא ברשת האינטרנט באתרים הקשורים להובלות סיפורים ובתגובות של ממליצים אחרים. חברת אילן הובלות היא החברה בעלת ממליצים רבים, הן עסקיים והן פרטיים, הכל בזכות המסירות, המקצועיות והאמינות שאנו מעניקים ללקוחותינו.

הובלות – ערכו רשימות

בטרם מזמינים חברת הובלות, כדאי לערוך רשימות של התכולה אותה תרצו להעביר, פרטים מדויקים של יעד העברה, כולל כל האילוצים שלו (קומה, גדול, נגישות וכו'). הדבר יקל עליכם בעת סגירת המחיר וקבלת השירותים הרלוונטיים מחברת הובלות. אפשר למשל להזמין הובלה סטנדרטית ואפשר להזמין מנוף הכולל הרכבה ופירוק של הרהיטים – הדבר תלוי בסוג התכולה עצמה, בקומה ובמיקום אליהם צריכים להעבירה.

הובלות – מיינו חפצים

במקביל לחיפושי ממליצים על חברת הובלות זו או אחרת מאוד מומלץ לבצע סינון ומיון של כל התכולה אותה רוצים להעביר. הדבר מאוד יקל עליכם בעת ההובלה שכן יפנה לכם המון מקום. תמיד תוכלו לתרום בגדים או רהטים לאנשים הנזקקים או לחלופין למכור מה שאתם לא צריכים. במקרה הכי גרוע אפשר גם לזרוק – העיקר שלא תוסיפו להובלה חפצים מיותרים ותיהנו ממקום פנוי. לאחר מכן תוכלו לבחירתם לארוז לבד או להיעזר בשירות אריזה של אילן הובלות. אנו מעניקים שירות של אריזה החוסך ללקוח זמן יקר ויחד עם זאת גם עושה סדר בבלגן עם כל הקרטונים.

Geological formation

2011-10-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

Unique in the world, is Israel’sGrand Canyon, and it’s just about as breathtaking. There are two other, major

makhteshim,the “small” and the “large,” and ha-Makhtesh ha-Katan (“the Small Makhtesh”)is in some ways more spectacular because you can see the whole formation in one glance, andget a better understanding of how the geology works. There are only seven makhteshimin the world, five in the Negev and two in the northern Sinai. In 2009, Ihad the pleasure of meeting and touring with guide Adam Sela,who specializes in tours of the Negev, with a particularfocus on the natural and ecological aspects of the

centralNegev highlands. He lives in MidreshetBen-Gurion, just outsideSde Boqer, the kibbutz made famous asthe adoptedhome of Israel’s founder, David Ben-Gurion. I cannotrecommend Adam highly enough – in two days, he showed me aside of Israel and the Negev that I not only had never seenbut could never have accessed without someone likehim. I had heard of “off-road jeeptours,” but had no idea that one could drive a jeep where he tookus! We went up mountainsides and downthrough winding, dry wadi beds. Adam

showed usthe Makhtesh Ramon – and really made me understand for the first time theunique, geologicalprocess that created it. He also showedus the remnants of the Nabatean, Roman, and ancientIsraelite presence in the region over the centuries, and spectacular vistasthat I would neverotherwise have found, let alone be able to get to. The jeep tours are not for the faint of heart, butthey are unforgettable and totally worth it. He is also delightful to spend time with. For moreinformation, see www.adamsela.com,e-mail office@adamsela.com, or call himat (050)530-8272. In the picture above, Adam isin the center with the gray hat – not agreat picture,but it was an unforgettable day of touring with Trip Advisor friends!

The Negev – Israel’s Desert South

2011-10-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

Most peoplevisiting Israel for the first time do not visit Eilat and the Negev desert (thesouthern half of thecountry, shaped like an inverted triangle). Of course, your choice depends on your interests. While most tend to focus on the cities, culture, and history, those whowant wilderness,a more nature/eco-style trip, or beaches may well head south. And while Eilat itself is not allthat special, the Negev – especially as I experienced it with Adam Sela – isamazing. Eilat is alovely beach and resort city located on the Red Sea, Israel’s southernmostpoint. But there aremany lovely beach cities in North andSouth America, Europe, and Australia, and I don’t seeEilat as all that distinctive or remarkable. For return visitors who have seen the rest of thecountry, it may be a different story. Ithink Eilat’s most remarkable feature is the underwater

observatorywhere you can see the Red Sea coral reefs and fish life. Many people also enjoy swimmingwith the dolphins at Dolphin Reef. Formore information on these sites and hotels in Eilat, seewww.tripadvisor.com or the Frommer’s guide. Since I have never stayed overnight in Eilat, Idon’t have specific recommendations on hotels or restaurants, but those sourceswill be veryhelpful. Destination Expert “Bluesman”on Trip Advisor is also very helpful on Eilat. The Negev,on the other hand, is a truly spectaculardesert, and if you are so inclined, by all meanstake some time touring it. Don’t miss theMakhtesh Ramon, the so-called “Ramon

Crater”(it’s not a crater but a geological formationunique to the Negev) near Mitzpe Ramon in thecentral Negev.

Miscellaneous

2011-10-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Take anAM/FM radio. Kol Yisrael (the Voice ofIsrael) offers 15-minute news bulletins in Englishat 6:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 8:30p.m. Google “Kol Israel” and “English news” tofind the frequencies of the newscasts before your trip; they seem to change constantly. Especially if you are driving on your own,you want to keep an ear on the news. Israel Television also has a nightly Englishnews bulletin on Channel 1 at 4:50

p.m. Sundaythrough Thursday, 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and 5:00 p.m. on Shabbat. If youwant to take your laptop, many hotels now have wi-fi service, though often at charge ofup to $15 USD a day. You probably won’tneed a voltage converter other than what camewith the computer (check to be sure, but most handle 220 as well as 120 current),but you will need the three-pronged adapter for Israeli plugs. Israelislove and live by their cell phones, and you’ll find it very convenient to haveone. I have rented several times fromAmigo (www.amigo-us.com), and have foundit very easy to use and reasonable in price. They mail the phone

to youbefore you leave, with a return envelope to send it back once you get home. I only spent about $70 USD in charges eachyear. Take lotsof sunscreen, sunglasses and sun hats. Also, don’t forget to drink lots of water on hotdays. You’re dehydrating more than youthink because, particularly in the drier

interior,you won’t feel sweaty. You will need toforce water frequently – if you wait until youfeel thirsty, it’s too late and you won’t catch up. The water in Israel is safe to drinkeverywhere, with the possible exception of small Arab villages. I’ve gotten sick twice insuch villages, but that may have been from food that was left out too long. Israelihotels that aren’t luxury-level sometimes do not provide shampoo or enoughsoap,

so takethem. They also seem not to providewashcloths, if you care about that. NorthAmerican electrical appliances (other than the laptops) require a converter,which can bepurchased there. You’ll also need a plugadapter. You can find these on the Internet aswell. If you are from a country thatuses 220 volt current, you’ll only need the plugadapter.

Other Groups in Israel.

2011-09-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

In additionto the Jewish-Arab dichotomy, and the Jewish-Muslim-Christian triad, Israel hasa host ofother, distinct groups that make up the balance of the population. The Druze are a sect that grewout of Islam but keeps its religious beliefs and traditions secret. They number some 80,000 andspeak Arabic, but are a separate community. The Druze are very loyal to whatever countrythey live in and serve in the IDF, often with great distinction andprominence. There are two majorDruze villages on Mount Carmel (see the Haifa section for moreinformation.) Druze in theGolan, on the other hand, consider themselves still to be Syrians. The Bahà’ìs are a modernfaith founded in the 19th Century,and their world headquarters are in Haifa with another majorshrine in Akko. The Bahà’ì faith teaches that all religious prophets (Moses, Jesus, Muhammed,and Buddha among them) are from God, humankind is one, and women and men areequal. The Bahà’ì gardens and terracesin Haifa are among the most beautifulsites in all Israel. Don’t miss them. The Circassians are Muslims who areoriginally from the Caucasus area ofsouthern Russia, and they settled in the area in the mid-1800s after fleeingthe aftermath of a failedwar against Tsarist Russia. They speakCherkesi, written in the Cyrillic alphabet, and live mainlyin two Galilee communities. The BedouinArabs are the famed desert nomads of romanticfilms and novels. They comprise nearly10% of the Arab population and belong to some 30tribes, most of them scattered over a wide area in the south. Formerly nomadic shepherdsand herders, the Bedouins are currently in transition from a tribal socialframework to apermanently settled society and are gradually entering Israel’s laborforce. This is a controversialpolicy with decidedly mixed results. Youwill most notice them in the Negev or in the Judeanwilderness on the way to Masada and the Dead Sea. Many Bedouin serve in the IDF, particularlyas trackers, and have a very distinguished record of service. If you tour with Adam

Sela in theNegev (see the Negev section), you may have a chance to meet local Bedouin.

Cultural tips

2011-09-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Israel isan amazingly diverse place. Jews fromover a hundred countries have come there, bringingtheir own cultures and traditions. Also,of course, there is a large Arab population as well, andother, smaller ethnic groups. This makesfor a culture that is very complex, but infinitelyrich and interesting. It is one of thethings I truly love about the country. As the head of the YMCApre-school said, “Americans think ofthemselves as a ‘melting pot,’ but we’re more like asalad. The cucumber still knows it’s acucumber, and a tomato knows it’s a tomato. But add alittle lemon juice and olive oil, and we can make something wonderful anddelicious.” What adelightful summary of the wonderful diversity that is Israel!

The JewishPopulation. Jewscomprise 76% of Israel’s population(excluding the occupied territories).

While manyare immigrants (especially from the former Soviet Union in the past few years),an increasing portion of the population was born there. The native-born are called“sabras,” after a native, prickly pear cactus that is “tough and prickly on theoutside, but soft and sweet on the inside” – a pretty good description of most native-bornIsraelis. Ethnically,Israeli Jews are broadly grouped in two major categories – the Ashkenazim andthe Sephardim. Ashkenazim, from the old Hebrew word forGermany (Ashkenaz), are Jews from western,central, and eastern European origin, including most North American Jews. Most of the

originalZionist settlers and founders of the State of Israel came from this group, andthey formed thecultural and political elite for most of the State’s early history. The Sephardim take their name fromthe Hebrew word for Spain (Sephard). This term originally referred to Jews of Spanishorigin, including the dispersion that followed the expulsion of Jews fromChristian Spain in1492. Later, the term was applied to allJews of North African and Middle Eastern origin as well,including many Jews in Italy and the Balkans. Following the founding of the state, huge numbers ofSephardim entered Israel after Arab countries expelled their large, long-timeJewish populations,nearly tripling Israel’s population in just three years. The Ashkenazim saw them as moreculturally backward, and the Sephardim often resented what they saw ascondescending,

disrespectful,and discriminatory treatment by the Ashkenazi elite. The Sephardim first gained significantpolitical power with the rise of the right-wing Likud party under MenachemBegin, and stillare largely aligned with the Likud and Sephardi religious parties, most notablyShas. This isstill a major fault line in Israeli cultural and political life. Many Sephardim from Middle Easterncountries now prefer the term Mizrachim, meaning “eastern” Jews. As an aside, I love Mizrachifood, music, and traditions. Two othergroups are noteworthy. With the era ofperestroika and the eventual fall of the Soviet Union, thegates of emigration were finally thrown open to the huge community of SovietJews. Since 1989,over a million Jews from the former Soviet Union have made aliyah (immigratedin Israel). They now make up roughly 20% of the Jewish population of Israel. While they are overwhelmingly Ashkenazi, integration has been rough. Many were educated professionals arriving ina country already overly saturated with such talent and have been unable tofind work in theirfields (I’ve seen teachers working as hotel maids, as an example). Others are not Jewish accordingto halakha (Orthodox Jewish law) and are thus unable tomarry Jews in religious

ceremonies(the only way to get married in Israel, which has no civil marriageoption). One sees Russiansigns everywhere, and you will also hear the language spoken on the street. Anotherfascinating group is the Ethiopian Jews. This ancient community of black Jews tracesits origin by tradition to the union of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, anddid not even know that other Jews existed until the late 1800s. In the 1980s and1990s, virtually the entire community was brought to Israel in two huge airlifts,Operation Solomon and Operation Moses. In a matter of days, over 30 El Al and air force cargo flights airlifted the population to make anew life in the JewishState. Planes even had seats taken outto bring as many as out as possible, and several babies were born in flight. As recounted in Donna Rosenthal’s The Israelis,

SolomonEzra, the Ethiopian-born Israeli coordinating the evacuation, asked the lastpilot out how manywere on his plane, and he replied, “Over a thousand.” Ezra warned him that this was impossible,that the plane could not take off with more than five hundred. The pilot calmly replied,“It’s okay. I don’t want to leave any ofmy people behind.” Ezra said, “I neverfelt more proud to bean Israeli,” and that flight set the Guinness record for the number ofpassengers on oneflight. Again, the reality of integration has proved tougher. The cultural, social, and educationalgaps were at least as great as with the Sephardim, and add to that the issue ofskin color andthe resulting racism. Still, one seesevidence of Ethiopian Jews making their way in everydayIsraeli life, including as soldiers. TheArmy is the great integrator of Israeli life.

Packing

2011-09-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

Obviously,you should pack conservatively for such a far trip, and if you do forgetsomething, it’s pretty easy to buy it in Israel (though prices may be higher). Airlines are now charging more for baggage inexcess of the weight limits, sobeware! On my last warm-weather trip, Igot my main bag down to 42 lbs. (19kgs). I’m a congenital excess packer –if I can do it, you can. - 10 - n terms ofweather, Israel really only has two seasons. The summer is from April to October, and it iswarm to hot and sunny everyday, and almost never rains. Sometime in October or November,the “winter” begins with the arrival of the rains (very welcome in this parchedland), and thislasts until sometime in March or early April. In October 2006, we had a surprising amount ofrain, unusual for that time of year, but we still were able to do and seenearly

everythingwe wanted. If you are watching costs,November can be a less expensive time to visit, butthe weather can be unpredictable. Ontwo November trips, I had flawless weather, and evenunusually warm on my last one, but in November 1993 I had quite a bit morerain, includingmajor blocks over several days and temperatures in the 50s F (low teensC). In November,take light sweaters and a light jacket, but remember to take hats for the sun,which can stillbe intense. March can also be quitenice, with wildflowers blooming after the winter rains. If you go in December through February, knowthat the weather can be quite cool, wet, and even nasty. Snow is quite rare (and only in the higher elevations, such asJerusalem), but temperaturesin the 40s F (single digits Celsius) with rain are common. From May through midOctober, rain will not bea problem. I have made three trips inlate June, and it can be hot, but notgenerally brutally so. May is awonderful time to go, unless, like my friend Louis, you have allergiesto olive tree pollen, because they’re in full bloom. Temperatures are generally in the 70s F (high20s C) every day except occasional heat waves, and the evenings are justdelightful. Thetemperatures were also quite nice in October, though more variable. Even in the summer, we havesometimes needed a light jacket for evenings in Jerusalem, which remainedlovely. July and Augustwill be quite hot, even brutally so, and more crowded, because that is whenfamilies travel. The climate is basically the same asSouthern California. At the Dead Sea orEilat, though, itis hot year around, and in the summer, extremely hot, like Arizona. Even in thesummer, do not pack too many pairs of shorts – at most holy places neitherwomen nor men cangain admittance in shorts. OverallIsraelis wear shorts less often than Americans, particularlywomen. It’s not inappropriate outside ofreligious sites, but the shorts-and-sneakers look mayidentify you as American if you care about that. On my most recent trip, I showed up lookinglike that, and an Israeli friend said –with a smile – “could you look any more American!” On days when you will be touring religioussites, legs and shoulders must be covered(men and women). For women, skirts below the knee or long slacks are required, especiallyat Muslim sites. A shawl or light shirtor jacket that can be thrown over a sleeveless

blouse ordress will also work. Capris are fine if they go to at leastmid-calf. But in secular areas, lessconservative attire is perfectly fine. In Tel Aviv, almost anything goes!

Security issues

2011-09-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

This is aconstant aspect of Israeli life, and I won’t minimize it. Despite what you hear and read, however,you are safer in Israel than in many major American cities, especially now withfar less terrorismin the cities than was true in the awful years of 2001-03. Here is a sobering statistic. My hometownof Cincinnati, Ohio had some 80 homicides in 2006 out of a population of 350,000. Extrapolated to a population the size ofIsrael’s 7,000,000 people, that would be the equivalentof 1,600 dead in just one year. Yetthere have not been that many people killed in terrorattacks in 61 years of Israel’s history! So where am I safer?

Every timeI have traveled to Israel, I felt utterly safe at all times. Neither I nor the friends I traveledwith were ever afraid. Don’t believe themedia image! Just pay attention to thenews, ask forlocal advice on conditions in more sensitive areas, and use common sense. Remember you won’tbe in Gaza. Throughoutthe country, you will see armed soldiers or civil guards, some in uniform, somenot. It does notmean something untoward is happening. Itis just a fact of life, and you will get used to it. SomeIsraeli civilians carry pistols, especially in Jerusalem. Do what I do – if the Israelis around youlook concerned, worry. Otherwise,don’t. Many restaurants, hotels,museums, or otherpublic places have a security guard at the door who will check your bag,perhaps your ID, andyou. It’s a shame it has to be, buttheir presence makes me feel safer, not less so. Some restaurantsadd a very small surcharge on the bill to pay for security; while you are notrequired to pay it,I do. It’s obviously worth it. Never leavea bag or item of luggage unattended in Israel, at the airport or anywhereelse. If you do, you areboth taking a huge risk and may well return to find that the bomb squad hasarrived and blownup your bag. Similarly, when approachingmany religious or political sites, or other publicplaces, you will need to open any bags, back-packs, or purses for inspection,as noted above. It’s routine, and you’ll quickly get used toit.At theairport (your flight to Israel if on El Al; any flight going out) you will besubjected to intense questioning by Israeli security agents, some of which may seempointless and intrusive. I get askedwhere I learned Hebrew and for thenames and addresses of all of my Israeli friends. It can be intimidating. Just answer honestly and keep your cool. They are looking for nervousness,unrest, and inconsistency. Your bags maybe searched – mine

were in1993 – and I mean searched: everything taken out and carefully felt byhand. The airport also uses moresophisticated X-ray techniques these days, andyou may be asked to open just one bag because something unusual was seen onthe screen. That happened to me in both2005 and 2006, and was no big hassle. But the experienceis very different from US airportsecurity, and, frankly, it’s far more effective.

I’ve heardIsraelis say that “you screen things. Wescreen people.” Don’t take it personally– the securityagents cannot read minds or hearts. Youalso need to understand that there is an overt profilingaspect to Israeli security. If you areof Arab ancestry or “look Middle Eastern,” or have visitedArab families or areas, you will be subject to far more questioning and perhapssearches thanothers. If you are Jewish, it willprobably be easier. Is this racist? Perhaps to some degree it is. As a non-Jew who speaks Hebrew, they don’tquite know what to make of me, and I was very upsetwhen I was pulled out for two and a half hours of intensive questioning and the completeitem-by-item search of my luggage in 1993, all because I had stayed with someIsraeli Arabfriends and don’t otherwise fit theprofile of Christian visitors toIsrael. I even wrote a half-dozencomplaint letters to everyone from the Prime Minister on down. After the September 11 attacks,I would be far more understanding that Israelis don’t have the luxury to debatethe

need forthis in a world where there are people trying so hard to kill them.

Getting around

2011-08-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you canafford it, I highly recommend renting a car and driving around thecountry. It is hands down the best wayto see Israel. Israel is very small(about the size of New Jersey), and nothing is very far apart

(except forEilat, at the southern tip of the country on the Red Sea). Indeed, youcould drive from the northernmost tip to Eilat in five to six hours,though no one would ever do that sincethere are so many

wonderfulplaces in between. Most road signs arein English as well as Hebrew andArabic, and it is fairly easy to get around, at least outside the cities. By renting a car, you are not slave to busschedules or someone

else’s ideaof what you should see and when. Also,because most of the terroristattacks of the early 2000s were on the buses, some people feel safer in acar. That said, at this point I wouldfeel perfectly safe on a bus

– it’s beenyears since there has been a bus bombing (praise God!). The bus servicealso is quite extensive, inexpensive, and good. You can even put yourluggage underneath in the cargo hold You shoulddefinitely rent a car before you leave; you will save money over waiting torent once you arrivein Israel. I recommend an Israelicompany called Eldan for rental cars. Onmy last two trips,they had by far the best rate, with a 20% discount for Internet bookings at www.eldan.co.il. Eldan also has a hotel in Jerusalem next tothe YMCA; you can book the hotel with thecar as a package deal. Hertz, Avis, Budget, Sixt (Israeli) and Kemwell

(European)also offer rental cars in Israel. Youcan at least initially check comparative prices usingOrbitz at www.orbitz.com (though the best prices seem to be through bookingdirectly on theparticular company’s Israel web site). Ihave used Avis in the past and was happy with it; see www.avis.co.il. Budget is a newer player in Israel, and Iused them in October 2006, getting a great rateat www.budget.co.il. We have had a lotof complaints about Budget’s service on the TripAdvisor forum, though, and I had a verybad customer-service experience of my own in 2006, soit’s not my first choice. You should notneed an international driver’s license as long as yourlicense has the information in English. If not, you will need to obtain the international

driver’slicense, which basically translates the information into English.

Getting there

2011-08-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

You have anumber of carriers to choose from in flying to Israel. Obviously El Al IsraelAirlines serves the country with the most flights. El Al flies directly from NewYork, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. The cost is competitive, and El Aloffers the most frequent flights, plusan early start to your Israel experience. I also rank El Al’s more intensive securitymeasures as a plus, though theycan feel like a hassle and can be intrusive. On the negative side, El Al has, in my experience,poorer (and surlier) service and seemingly a more chaotic clientele. In fairness, I note that Ihave not flown El Al since 1991, and I have heard the service has

improvedsince then. But remember that El Al doesnot fly on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath,which runs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. This can cut into your availablevacation time. I flew El Al the firsttwo times, largely for patriotic reasons,but have since found other airlines more convenient. Delta Air Lines now

offersnonstop flights from Atlanta and JFK/New York to Ben Gurion Airport and back. Because Cincinnati is a Delta hub, this is avery convenient option for me, and I liked the serviceoverall. Note: Delta reduced the Atlanta service to fourdays a week over the winter months in2009; daily service will resume in the busier season. For right now, fly to and from Atlanta ifyou can, because the Boeing 777 jets are much more comfortable than the767-300ER jets usedfor the JFK service. I am grateful thatDelta will be upgrading the JFK service to 747- 400 jets inJune 2010, which will be much better. Continental also offersnon-stop flights to Israel fromNewark, and I’ve heard that is a good option. US Airways has added dailynon-stop

servicefrom Philadelphia recently, giving another option. For Canadian (and even American) readers, AirCanada offers convenient, nonstop services from Toronto. Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, and British Airways also serve Israel, andthey are easy to connect to in Europe viavarious American carriers. In 2005, I flew Delta to Europe and connectedthrough KLM (going) and Lufthansa (returning), both very good carriers. With tourism to Israel boomingagain, other options may become available.

travel guide

2011-08-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Israel travel guide you are reading is a greatly expanded version of one I first prepared for an American friend some fifteen years ago. In it, I have tried to share my experiences and knowledge of Israel based on a lifetime of study and ten visits to the country, most recently in November 2009. I enjoy independent travel, and this guide was written primarily with such travelers in mind, though I hope the information will be helpful to those on group tours as well. As an American, I have produced a guide that is, no doubt, US-centric. I hope my readers from other countries will forgive that, and still find useful information. I am not in the travel industry. I am a labor lawyer who happens to love Israel passionately, and I want to encourage others to travel there and experience this wonderful land. My first visit was in November 1988, and I caught the bug; thus I started visiting every other year or so thereafter. After my June 1999 trip, however, I had not returned for several years because of the level of violence and despair in the country. I returned in May 2005 and had one of the best trips of my life. The eruption of the Second Lebanon War in August 2006, just months before a visit in the fall of 2006, again raised security concerns. Even in 2009, some friends still asked, “are you sure you want to go back to Israel?” So what is the reality? Each trip has been a dream, and travel to Israel is one of the great joys of my life. The security situation is nothing like you may fear. My trips have all been calm and peaceful, and while security is present everywhere, we were never afraid, and Israelis are not either. The country certainly does not feel as if it is under siege, despite the “CNN image.” So please don’t give in to irrational and uninformed fears, and don’t listen to your friends saying “I can’t believe you’re going to Israel!!” We don’t refuse to travel to New York after the September 11 attacks; life in the United States has goes on – even though we are a country at war. The same is true in London, Madrid, and Moscow. It does in Israel, too. In my most recent visit, I saw people out everywhere, outdoor cafés were packed, the country was full of tourists, hotels were full, and prices are up. So you need to book ahead, or you risk being closed out of things you want to do or see. With that in mind, I hope you find the information I prepared about traveling in Israel and life in that country interesting and helpful.