Topic Wiki

This is my first attempt at wikifying a thread. Most mistakes are in parts which I have limited knowledge about or I'd rather not comment and I have copied straight out of posts in the thread.

Please feel free to comment and make edits.


Jerusalem
-The Western Wall
-The Kotel Tunnel tour (Tunnels of the Wall)
-The Old City of Jerusalem
-Damascus Gate and Arab market
-Historic Christian district in the Old City of Jerusalem
-Ir David (City of David) tour
-Yad Vashem
-Ramparts walk on top of old city walls
-Jerusalem (Some say particularly Me'ah She'arim) on Shabbat
-An Ultra Orthodox Shabbat Meal
-Shuk Machne Yehuda (Market) - On a Friday?

South of Jerusalem
-Dead Sea
-Ein Gedi
-Masada
-Bet Guvrin

All The Way Down South
-Eilat (Only for a long trip according to some)
-Ramon Crater

All The Way Up North
-Galilee
-Nazareth: Basilica of the Annunciation, Old City, Mary's Well, Synagogue Church
-"Jesus boat" sunset cruise on the Kineret
-The North is chock full of holy grave sites
-Banias, Nimrods Fortress, Har Bental, Jordan river rafting, and other Golan Heights sites
-Rosh Hanikra
-Tzfat

On The Way Back To The Center
-Caesarea - a Roman-built city
-Blind Museum - Holon
-Palmach museum Tel Aviv
-Tel Aviv - Center of Israel's Business Industry And To Date The Home Of The US Embassy In Israel

West Bank (Surrounds Jerusalem on 3 Sides)
-The Wall...
-West Bank
-Ramallah
-Jericho
-Bethlehem

- Watch This
- watch the army detain 12HRS when he tries to get through passport control on the way out





Author Topic: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.  (Read 72433 times)

Offline JTZ

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #40 on: January 09, 2017, 11:37:16 AM »
I'm sure I'm not saying anything that you don't know already, but there's a historic Christian district in the Old City of Jerusalem that's a popular attraction.
On the short list.
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #41 on: January 09, 2017, 11:53:07 AM »
Air Canada, Delta, or United are $3.3K from ORD-TLV via YYZ, JFK, or EWR. That should be about 165K AMEX Biz Plat points after 50% rebate.
Can't go wrong with any of those.
What about RJ which flies direct ORD-AMM?
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Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #42 on: January 09, 2017, 11:55:22 AM »
What did your LOR advise you regarding kashrut?  ;)
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #43 on: January 09, 2017, 11:57:46 AM »
Don't forget to tour the West Bank, PA headquarters in Ramallah, Gaza City...
I would say skip Gaza, but there are definitely places you could visit, that many others here wouldn't. I would love to read your TR of Ramallah. You might also find Jaffa and Haifa unique with places that others here wouldn't visit.

If you're going to the dead sea, don't skip Masada (where you can see how this was practiced thousands of years ago).
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #44 on: January 09, 2017, 11:58:30 AM »
our dogs will miss us.  :)
You have dogs and your avatar is a cat?  I thought there were dog people and cat people and never the twain shall meet!  :D
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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #45 on: January 09, 2017, 11:59:11 AM »
I could already see the headlines: "Unruly passenger demands all male passengers switch seats"

Offline MeirS

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #46 on: January 09, 2017, 12:06:56 PM »
She does want to go to the Wailing Wall so we will have to go to Palestine.  :P
PC alert.

When I was in Israel I went a little south to the Dead Sea, Masada and Ein Gedi but it wasn't worth it for me to go that much further just for Eilat.

Offline Dan

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #47 on: January 09, 2017, 12:07:48 PM »
I would say skip Gaza, but there are definitely places you could visit, that many others here wouldn't. I would love to read your TR of Ramallah. You might also find Jaffa and Haifa unique with places that others here wouldn't visit.

If you're going to the dead sea, don't skip Masada (where you can see how this was practiced thousands of years ago).
+1
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #48 on: January 09, 2017, 12:12:32 PM »
PC alert.

When I was in Israel I went a little south to the Dead Sea, Masada and Ein Gedi but it wasn't worth it for me to go that much further just for Eilat.
I would say that as far as Eilat goes, might be interesting to contrast it with its Jordanian counterpart, Akaba. Also if traveling south, might want to cross over and see Petra.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline Dan

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #49 on: January 09, 2017, 12:19:33 PM »
I would say that as far as Eilat goes, might be interesting to contrast it with its Jordanian counterpart, Akaba. Also if traveling south, might want to cross over and see Petra.
When JTZ has over a month, sure.
10 days? No way.
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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #50 on: January 09, 2017, 12:21:32 PM »
When JTZ has over a month, sure.
10 days? No way.
Don't forget that his 10 days would include 1 or 2 days that you or I wouldn't consider for touring.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline Dan

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #51 on: January 09, 2017, 12:22:02 PM »
Don't forget that his 10 days would include 1 or 2 days that you or I wouldn't consider for touring.
Doesn't change the math.
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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #52 on: January 09, 2017, 12:38:08 PM »
It’s an interesting intellectual exercise thinking about a trip to Israel without an emphasis on Jewish holy sites.
-In Jerusalem: The Western Wall itself and the Kotel Tunnel Tour. Maybe also Ir David - archeological digs near the temple, but also a history of the ancient city of David, that once stood there. But doing both tours may be a little much for a first timer.
-Yad Vashem – world renown Holocaust Museum
-Bet Guvrin is a low key historic site with a self-guided walking tour.  It has cisterns and columbaria (places to raise doves) from the times of the Temple.  It may not be good for a first timer, but I mention it for others who may be interested.
-Massada – heroic Jews in the dessert at the time of the destruction of the Temple – a basic tourist site.  The Dead Sea. Ein Gedi nature Preserve.  All in the same neighborhood. A long 1 day trip is possible. Or 2 days. Or stay in the area over night and do it over a day and a half.
-The North is chock full of holy grave sites, yet has Rosh Hanikra and good jeeping.  Our driver drove north on the road along the Jordon river.  It was nice to see the Israeli date trees and other groves flourishing among the desolate rockiness.  There were numerous Bedouin camps along the way. 
-Along the west coast is Caesarea - a Roman-built city.  It’s quite touristy, but there are tours of the history, too.
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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #53 on: January 09, 2017, 12:41:43 PM »
I would say skip Gaza, but there are definitely places you could visit, that many others here wouldn't. I would love to read your TR of Ramallah. You might also find Jaffa and Haifa unique with places that others here wouldn't visit.

If you're going to the dead sea, don't skip Masada (where you can see how this was practiced thousands of years ago).
There isn't much of anything interesting in Ramallah, better of going to Jericho.
(Yes, this is speaking from experience)

Offline Dan

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #54 on: January 09, 2017, 12:48:02 PM »
It’s an interesting intellectual exercise thinking about a trip to Israel without an emphasis on Jewish holy sites.
-In Jerusalem: The Western Wall itself and the Kotel Tunnel Tour. Maybe also Ir David - archeological digs near the temple, but also a history of the ancient city of David, that once stood there. But doing both tours may be a little much for a first timer.
-Yad Vashem – world renown Holocaust Museum
-Bet Guvrin is a low key historic site with a self-guided walking tour.  It has cisterns and columbaria (places to raise doves) from the times of the Temple.  It may not be good for a first timer, but I mention it for others who may be interested.
-Massada – heroic Jews in the dessert at the time of the destruction of the Temple – a basic tourist site.  The Dead Sea. Ein Gedi nature Preserve.  All in the same neighborhood. A long 1 day trip is possible. Or 2 days. Or stay in the area over night and do it over a day and a half.
-The North is chock full of holy grave sites, yet has Rosh Hanikra and good jeeping.  Our driver drove north on the road along the Jordon river.  It was nice to see the Israeli date trees and other groves flourishing among the desolate rockiness.  There were numerous Bedouin camps along the way. 
-Along the west coast is Caesarea - a Roman-built city.  It’s quite touristy, but there are tours of the history, too.
Great start.

I'd also add:
-Jerusalem on Shabbos
-Ramparts walk in Jerusalem
-Blind museum and Palmach museum in TLV
-Banias, Nimrods Fortress, Har Bental, Jordan river rafting, and other Golan Heights sites
-Tzfat

There are probably better forums than this one to find the Christian sights to see though...
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Offline MeirS

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #55 on: January 09, 2017, 01:11:07 PM »
Great start.

I'd also add:
-Jerusalem on Shabbos
-Me'ah She'arim any time of the week just to take in the atmosphere (although you got to check out the alleys for the real feel)
-Ramparts walk in Jerusalem
-Blind museum and Palmach museum in TLV
-Banias, Nimrods Fortress, Har Bental, Jordan river rafting, and other Golan Heights sites
-Tzfat

There are probably better forums than this one to find the Christian sights to see though...
Added one for you.

Offline good sam

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #56 on: January 09, 2017, 01:12:22 PM »


I would say skip Gaza, but there are definitely places you could visit, that many others here wouldn't. I would love to read your TR of Ramallah. You might also find Jaffa and Haifa unique with places that others here wouldn't visit.
Don't forget the Damascus Gate and Arab market.
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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #57 on: January 09, 2017, 01:54:08 PM »
Don't forget to tour the West Bank, PA headquarters in Ramallah, Gaza City...
I wouldn't go that far, but if you are in Jerusalem then Bethlehem is a short bus ride away.
if you want to go with a tour: https://abrahamtours.com/tours/bethlehem-tour/
« Last Edit: January 09, 2017, 01:59:20 PM by shwarmabob »

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Re: Help a n00b experience what Israel has to offer.
« Reply #58 on: January 09, 2017, 01:54:50 PM »
Ton of information to process so far. Appreciate all the help. I have a good source for the Christian sites. Will start making up a short list and see if it is doable.
Yad Vashem – world renown Holocaust Museum is on the list. After our trip to Auschwitz last year this seems like a must.
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