Israel Tours - Food for Thought

02/05/2025

‘Mark is a fantastic tour guide who customised our Israel experience based on our quirks and wishes.
He took us to the Gaza envelope to pay respects to those massacred on 7/10.
Importantly he handled this very sensitively and meaningfully.
He then became hiker guide extraordinary on our visit to Sde Boker where we hiked through Ein Avdat, visited Mitzpeh Ramon and experience a jeep tour of Makhtesh Ramon. Mark also navigated us to the Be’er Sheva ANZAC Memorial Centre to quench our Australian needs.
When touring Israel we highly recommend you contact Mark. As they say in Australia ‘He will see you right, mate.’

12/03/2025

October 7 and its aftermath, including the war with Hezbollah, have permanently changed the guiding narrative and way we tell the story of this land. Unlike previous conflicts, this one will be remembered not just for fallen soldiers but for the immense civilian losses- men, woman and children, the ongoing hostage crisis, and the hundred thousand plus families displaced (some still) from their homes in the north and south of Israel.

Last week, I was in the Gaza Envelope. Yesterday, with the same tourists, we explored the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights. It was a stunning day—blue skies, rivers flowing, wildflowers in full bloom, birds everywhere, and the snow-capped Hermon in the distance. A perfect time to visit.

The plan was my usual pre-October 7 route: Rosh Pina, Kiryat Shmona, Metulla, Banias waterfall, Majdal Shams for lunch, then Har Bental and Ein Zivan for a quick wine tasting before heading back. A classic day of touring.

But it wasn’t the same.

Kiryat Shmona felt eerily empty. Metulla, usually a picturesque and quaint village, was filled with sadness and disrepair. By chance we met Chana outside her home—she eagerly invited us in and shared her story. Her house and farmland were badly damaged, and she still hasn’t moved back. Instead, she sleeps in her car, staying close to the only home she’s ever known. “Where would I go?” she asked. “This is my life’s project and investment.” Much of the village is scarred by the war. Looking north, across the border on the Lebanese side where ‘beautiful’ homes once stood literally on the fence/wall, now there’s only rubble. Something positive at least. Maybe, this means less of an imminent threat from Hezbollah.

After a delicious Druze lunch in Majdal Shams, we visited the soccer field hit by a missile on July 27, 2024—12 children killed, many more injured. The kids are back playing, the game goes on, but the wreckage remains. Twisted metal from the fence surrounding the field, burnt bicycles—silent reminders of that terrible and horrific day. A mother showed us where her son had been standing when the missile struck and where he landed after the blast. “He survived…. one of the lucky ones,” she said.

After that, none of us felt like wine anymore. We tried to go to Mt. Bental, which was closed by the IDF, but we found another vantage over Syria. As I gave the briefing, jets roared overhead.

On the surface, it may seem like things are “same same.” But they’re not. A new layer, a new lens, a new nuance, has been added to the story of this place.

Last post, I ended with Am Yisrael Chai. This time, with the words of Chana from Metulla still resonating, I’ll leave you with some lines of the song written by Ehud Manor’s: Ein Li Eretz Acheret, meaning I have no other land/home.
See you in the Land.

03/03/2025

“What an emotional and meaningful pilgrimage to the Gaza Envelope” were the words used by foreign travelers I accompanied yesterday to the memorials of October 7 that have now become must-see sites for any tourist visiting Israel. An intrinsic part of Israel’s new collective memory which will remain with us forever. What tragedy, what failure, so much loss and anguish for the families of the fallen security forces and civilians, for the families of the wounded and for the families of the hostages, those returned to their loved ones and those still waiting to come home.
RETURN ALL REMAINING HOSTAGES - NOW!!
For me, this is not a first visit but each time brings something new and different, a new life story of another victim, a new account of bravery and heroism not seen before. A new memorial. Yesterday, we visited the Memorial to the ‘Tatzpitaniyot’ (Spotters) who were killed during the attack on the Nachal Oz base. What a travesty! Such young and innocent lives taken so prematurely!
We also had the privilege yesterday to stand vigil and show respect and honor to Shlomo Mansour zl and to his family, who were part of the funeral procession as they passed the Kisufim junction on route to his final resting place. The vehicle carrying the coffin opened its door as we placed flowers in the vehicle. The mourners opened their windows thanking all the people present with ‘heart hands’ and blowing kisses. For a fleeting moment so much love and unity surrounded us.
“How much I love the Israeli people”, were the words of my tourist as the procession drove past us.
AM YISRAEL HAI

23/02/2025

Back and Ready to Explore Israel!
Hi everyone! After a collectively tough and traumatic year for Israel - 505 days to be exact and counting , I am happy to be back in business - guiding travelers from around the world, eager to visit (re-visit) and explore the country. This is not to say that everything is behind us and it is back to business as usual- far from it, but this is the time to visit, and to support Israel. Israel is still in the long and arduous process of healing, and while we still wait for ALL our hostages to be returned, now is the perfect moment to reconnect and reaffirm your commitment to the country and to it’s people. Flights to Israel from all over the world are now resuming which makes travel possible. Whether you are interested in showing solidarity, touring, hiking, volunteering, learning more about current issues, or a combination of the above, I am here to help you realize this.
I will personally help you to plan and implement your journey, guiding and accompanying you throughout.
Join me on this journey and let’s rediscover the strength, resilience, fortitude and wonders of Israel together! Please share with your family and friends.

27/04/2024

10/10/2023

Over the past few days I have been flooded with heartwarming and gratifying messages of support from former clients, now dear friends from all over the world. Your heartfelt messages with good wishes, solidarity and prayers are touching and encouraging and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Our meeting point was in Israel. During the time we spent together traveling the country, your connection to the country, its people, the society, its food, the diverse religions and their cultures was formed,strengthened and cemented. We debated and discussed the challenges and threats of the country. Many of our tours included visits to the Gaza Envelope where we witnessed and discussed the precarious and volatile situation of the people living in these areas but also the important function to the security and resilience of Israel that they fulfilled by living there. Modern day pioneers who succeeded over the years by building beautiful communities for their young families. This has been shattered and life in the Gaza Envelope will never be the same.

Israel is still reeling from the shock of the suprise attack on Shabbat/Sukkot morning, a nearly exact repeat of events from Yom Kippur, 50 years ago, our enemies exploiting the fact that this was a day of rest/religious observance. The nature of the attack, the surprise, the planning, the use of land, air and sea forces indicates that this has been planned for months together with the orchestration and backing of Iran. How the intelligence commmunity of Israel did not get wind of this attack is a question that will still need to be answered and accounted for in the future. The stories and personal accounts, both tragic and heroic that are now emerging from the various horrendous events of the first day take your breath away. The fact that there are over 100 hostages (military and civilian), men,woman and children being held in Gaza is beyond comprehension and belief.

Despite the deep rift/chasm created within Israeli society over the past year
as a result of the Government’s judicial ‘reform’, war has the tendency to unite. Pilots and soldiers have reported for active duty despite threats not to and over 300,000 reservists have been called up with over 100% responding positively. Throughout the country civilians are rallying to donate whatever is needed by both soldiers on the front and civilians who have been uprooted from their homes.

Israel is a strong country, its population known for its resilience, our army is powerful, motivation is high, the identification and solidarity of Jewish communities throughout the world at its peak, the support of the Western World, with the USA at the forefront is unwavering. We will prevail, we will be
victorious. It will probably get worse before it gets better.
“Ein Lanu Eretz Acheret”
We have no other country.
Thanks for your support!!

27/03/2023

My work as a tour educator in Israel and work with tourists takes me on an almost daily basis to the most beautiful places and scenery that this country has to offer. I often have to pinch myself that for me this was “ just another day in the office”.
Not today!!
Today was NOT simply another day in the office and together with the amazing family from the US that I am working with, we found ourselves trying to negotiate the demonstration at Gomeh Junction. My opportunity to participate in a demonstration that work prevented me from attending, to open the window and show support with thumbs-up signs and shouts of Kol Hakavod to demonstrators and we moved excruciatingly slowly along. Not an easy task to continue with business as usual as a tour guide in Israel. Much more difficult to maintain the apolitical and objective perspective that I normally try to portray to my clients. But this peoples revolution to keep Israel a democratic, free and liberal country is different and I am happy and proud to openly shout out my support for this cause. Todays mass demonstrations possibly created a watershed in this ‘revolution’ with a postponement of the legislation and calls for negotiations under the mediation of the President. Not holding my breath that this will succeed and I fear that in a few months time we will find ourselves back in the same position. But I have to remain hopeful and optimistic and look forward to the traditional “another day in the office” in the near future.
להיות עם חופשי בארצינו!
To be a free people in our Land.
No more but no less!!

11/08/2022

Just completed my latest guiding stint with a three generational family from Toronto, Canada. Ouma and Oupa, (Romanian descent not SA), their three children and 8 grandchildren. Has to be my favorite constellation of clients. How fortunate for them to be able to tour and discover Israel as one big extended family and what a privilege for me to get to be their Israel storyteller!!

24/03/2022

Just finished three days guiding in the cold and rainy north. End March, snow flakes on Mt. Bental, steady rain on the Sea of Galilee. Who would have believed but who cares! Nature is smiling!!

16/03/2022

With all the hatred, violence, senseless destruction and suffering currently taking place in Europe, this sign (one of many), displayed outside a store in Jaffa, bought a smile to my face, together with a ray of optimism and hope for a better future!!
Translated: Jews and Arabs Refuse to be Enemies!!

16/03/2022