backpackisrael

Channukah is the Jewish “Festival of Lights.” In recent years, I’ve learned that many religions celebrate holidays connected to light during November or December, the wintertime months. This is because…

I’ve always wanted to go to Ein Prat Nature Reserve but heard that it’s hard to get there by public transportation. It’s located in the Judean Desert, below the Jewish…

The Sea to Sea Trail, called Yam L’Yam in Hebrew, is one of the most refreshing trails in Israel. It starts on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, crosses a…

Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that celebrates the gathering of the harvest. But most importantly, it reminds us of the Exodus from Egypt. During the Exodus, GOD took care…

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish Year. According to Jewish tradition, it is the day GOD created Adam and Eve. It is also the day GOD determines the…

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is a sight to see, no matter if you are Christian or non-Christian. As a tour guide in Jerusalem, I’ve been to…

Last month I joined a guided tour in Bnei Brak, the largest ultra-orthodox city in Israel. It’s right next door to Tel Aviv but feels miles away. Kids are walking…

We woke up at Beit Meir and started our final day on the Israel National Trail. When we started this journey, our goal was to reach Jerusalem. The trail continues…

After a rainy night at Mahal Memorial, we woke up to a rainy morning. We pondered if we could hike that day because the forecast said the rain should stop…

We woke up to a new morning at Moshe Shaiyah Lookout. This day, we planned to get to Mahal Memorial as early as possible. We were getting nearer to Jerusalem,…