Tour Israel with Talia

21/01/2025

She’s my first this year and I’m in love.

21/07/2024

It’s a privilege to guide right now, to connect people with what’s happening here, to make sure the Israelis we meet are getting the hug they need.
We learned a lot, we heard a lot, we did a lot.
Cant wait to see you here soon!

29/02/2024

A classic for sure, but this is the best time of year for Nahal Tavor.
This circular trail is accessible from kibbutz Gazit and is probably what the Garden of Eden looks like.
About 6.5km, this trail could be just a quick morning hike or an all day adventure. Kid friendly, accessible and filled with all the colors of the rainbow of flowers (in the spring).
This trail includes 4 times in which you will need to cross through the water, (very Nachshon chic), so make sure to wear/bring appropriate shoes. The water came above my knees in certain places.
We did it barefoot, and it felt wonderful to be closer to the great mother and feel all of her glory with our feet.
Make sure not to go on days that everyone is on vacation, and if you do, get there at 7am.
Happy hiking!

28/02/2024

Another challenging hike suggestion- we did it in 3.5 hours, but the ~8km climb up and down the Carmel can fill a whole day.
We started in Kibbutz Yagur at the connection with the Israel National Trail (red) they are currently building there, but they left a place to cross.
The the steep, short, climb up the foot of one spur, we went back down and started to climb up the steep, black marked trail, “the Druze trail”, up to Usfiya. We met the green trail that brought us to the red- all the way down the Yagur stream.
The Yagur stream is an extremely delightful and challenging climb down lots of waterfalls with lots of handrails to help us down. It felt like walking through a jungle.
We loved this hike and suggest it for those of you looking for a short, difficult and revitalizing adventure that is also circular.

25/01/2024

took us to see her home in Kfar Aza. I don’t need to post pictures of what happened, because you already know. You’ve seen them all.

I struggle with putting up these photos. Their privacy has been invaded in the most extreme way possible and the horrors that have happened here walk around with all of us all the time.
Chen asked us to share these photos. She asked because she is afraid that people are forgetting.
I am grateful to her for inviting us to listen and to for the thoughtful, kind and humble approach to helping us guides try to fathom how to connect visitors with what is happening in Israel.
I still can’t believe this is real.

16/12/2023

Please come to Israel.
We need you and your support. This is the time to show your love for our country.
Come see us, hear us, be with us.
Please reach out to me if you would like to come, learn an show your support.
Thank you to Cantor Ayelet for sharing your words.

I am not one who normally keeps a journal. But it doesn’t take much imagination to recognize that this is a moment in the history of our people that will be remembered in infamy. I am acutely aware that I have been given a rare opportunity to be a witness of this moment. One day I will look back o...

10/12/2023

When I usually come to the airport, it’s bustling and full of people waiting to discover our history, go on an adventure and eat delicious food. When I usually come to the airport, I meet a bunch of other colleagues who are also waiting to bring their clients on a once in a lifetime journey.
This time is different.
This time I’m almost alone, not sure how I became so lucky to work for a couple days in such a terrifying time. This time, we’ll be going on a journey to try to help, to try to understand, to try to process.
I’m nervous and I’m humbled. All of us just want to help in some way, and finally now there is something that I know how to do, and hopefully I can be of some support to my country and my people.
So, like many other journeys, it begins with the airport, but this time when we get on the bus, it’s a whole new Israel we’ll be seeing.

26/07/2023

It’s incredible to me that I read these words in this place tonight, in the egalitarian section of the Kotel. I am grateful to live at a time in which I can spend this day teaching about the hurban amidst the remains of the Temple. This destruction reminds us this week in Jerusalem that the baseless hatred has not yet disappeared, and in such a powerful place, our mourning is still relevant.

17/04/2023

“There were about one million children under the age of 14 in Poland before the war. Only 5000 survived.
I am one of them.”

It was my honor today, as it has been for the last 4.5 years to guide at Yad Va’shem, and even more of an honor to bear witness to the life story of Yaffa Silverberg.
She shared with us the difficult decision that her parents made when they decided that their baby was not going to survive in the Lukov ghetto and their decision to give her to a Christian family.
She explained the horrible circumstances and choiceless choices her family had to make about whether or not to jump out of a moving cattle car and what they had to do to get 2.5 year old Yaffa back.
She spoke about growing without parents, about being the only orphan in the children’s house in Kibbutz Alumot and the challenging decisions she made about where and how to live.
She learned languages, moved places, connected to and separated from loved ones…

Thank you to Yaffa for showing us another face of humanity. Another aspect to this greater tapestry of the Shoah, of our peoplehood, of our world.

11/04/2023

Such a blessing to receive these words after my trip yesterday! Chag sameach!

I am asked all the time and in 15 years of bringing my family here at least once a year I always say - I know a number of people to help you organize but I don’t have a great guide recommendation. Now I do and will definitely share…

Our multi generational family had such a great day being guided by Talia. We spent the day hiking in Aminadav appreciating nature and the beautiful hills of Jerusalem, learning about the history of the establishment of Israel by visiting the Sha’ar Hagai museum and the Machal memorial and then seeing another wonder of nature at the Stalactite caves. Talia kept everyone engaged and happy throughout the day and we all learned a lot too.”
- Ariel W, New York

26/01/2023

My greatest pleasure and mission is to cultivate a connection to the land and for people to leave with all the questions and to feel all of the feelings.
For the last 2.5 weeks, it was such a gift to do that with and , to take off our shoes, leave our comfort zones and explore outside.

26/12/2022

I have the best job in the world!!!