Travel Israel on a Budget
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 row of springs, and ends at the Sea of Galilee. My friends and I decided to hike part of it on Chol HaMoed Sukkot. We’ve … Read more
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 of the Israelites and provided them shelter while walking in the desert. In the Bible, it clearly says: “You shall live in booths seven days; … Read more
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 fate of every one of us for the upcoming year. Will we become rich? Will we stay strong and healthy? Or is our fate doomed … Read more
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 this church dozens of times, but it manages to amaze me over and over again. Usually, it’s packed with tourists and pilgrims, and you can … Read more
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 alone in the streets, all the men are dressed in black and white, all the women wear skirts, and there are no coffee shops. Usually, … Read more
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 beyond Jerusalem, but we didn’t have the time to hike it all at once. So, one month of hiking was enough. The segment from Beit … Read more
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 a bit later. But maybe it would be too muddy and slippery? We also have a rather serious ascent ahead. In the end, we decided … Read more
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, and it was still the weekend. So, we thought it could be an excellent opportunity to call some of our families and arrange a BBQ … Read more
After a cozy night at Shoham, we woke up and traced our tracks back to the Israel National Trail. Then, we started making our way to the next destination – the Moshe Shaiyah Lookout near kibbutz Sha’alvim. The segment from Shoham to Moshe Shaiyah Lookout is a pleasant one. It passes through the Ben Shemen … Read more
After sleeping next to the railway at Tel Afek, we woke up to another day on the Israel National Trail. We planned to hike to Shoham and stay at a relative’s house. It isn’t exactly on the trail, but it’s a small detour away. The segment from Tel Afek to Shoham is quite boring. One … Read more