Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread

[AsherO]

Okay, can we please just assume that I'll be going to the Kosel, Kever Rochel, Chevron, and all other terrible, terrible places?

Username checks out

[Something Fishy]

Re your question on if to rent a car, I would say very worth to have for driving anywhere outside of JLM.

Technically you can take buses (and rail) to most places. But having a car with give you freedom and easier access to visit further out places like Rosh Hanikra, Akko, Maarat Keshet, Tzfas, Meron etc.

Definitely sounds like the way to go then.

[Something Fishy]

I am expecting Fishy to fly HFA-ETM during these 10 days too, to add both of them to the old list

LOL, would love to but on a trip like this it's probably best to skip.

[yesitsme]

Sde Dov Airport
טיסה בשמי הארץ

[Something Fishy]

Arab quarter tour with @satturn is fantastic!
Ramparts walk on the old city walls is a must do as well.

Definitely sounds like the way to go based on the comments here.

I wonder if a guided Shabbos afternoon trip is a good idea, would be pretty unique. Or am I missing out on some things that way (other than not taking pictures, which is not a bad thing).

In any case, @satturn I'll be in touch.

[Something Fishy]

Churva shul - ceiling shud be high enough for you
Best falafel in isreal עופר פלאפל
https://goo.gl/maps/pGG1KKRt3wcaSCoLA
Visit Belz

A bunch of people are recommending the Churvah... What's so interesting there?

Belz is definitely on the list.

[Something Fishy]

http://pickles.co.il/factory/

This Pickle Kibutz is a MUST.

(Be sure to review on the YouTube channel)

Combine with the Arizal's mikva and the episode is pretty much writing itself!

[yesitsme]

Hey Guys, Just a reminder, I do awesome tours of the Jewish and Muslim Quarters of the old city. @Dan has taken and recommended my Muslim quarter tours. I have to give a personal shout out/thank you to the forums here, they have accounted for probably 75% of my tours recently. I have had a few repeat customers who have enjoyed my tour so much that they have done it again with other family members. Look in the previous posts here on the boards, I have many great reviews.

I also offer a yeshiva bachur muslim quarter special rate! (I'm popular in the Mir )

Send me a PM or whatsapp me at +15169867288!

[Something Fishy]

At this stage it seems like a trip in a lifetime. I'd say do a month in Israel

As much as I would like that, some things just aren't practical.

[Dan]

Okay, can we please just assume that I'll be going to the Kosel, Kever Rochel, Chevron, and all other terrible, terrible places?

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming .

How dare you deprive a DDF thread from going off on a tangent 

[Something Fishy]

Ditch the WAJ, and rent an apt in the "אונגארישע הייזער"

Boom - that's my style of personal vacations.

How does one go about booking this?

[yesitsme]

Boom - that's my style of personal vacations.

How does one go about booking this?

when you hear בלויע ואסער you go into the hiding -tip of the day

[Dan]

Boom - that's my style of personal vacations.

How does one go about booking this?

You need to do at least 1 night at the WAJ (buy a Hilton night cert on DDF or open an Aspire) and 1 night at the Ritzaliya (buy a 50K cert on DDF if you don't have one), just for comparison sake.

Staying in a luxury hotel can't compare to one with an insane kosher breakfast.

Other than that, a tzimmer up north is a must. Good luck doing all this in 10 days 

[Something Fishy]

My input on this whole conversation:

Don't overfill your schedule!

This is not Alaska, or Antarctica, or any other tourist location where you can swoop in and snap some pictures and check it off the bucket list. This is a country with a beautiful Jewish culture that you will not find elsewhere in the world. While you could surely spend some time running around to the country's amazing sights and attractions, you should set aside some serious time to wander the neighborhoods of Yerushalayim.

If you would go to the Old City, I would say to spend a few hours at the Kosel and learn a seder in the churva shul. If you don't want to venture into that territory, spend a few afternoons walking Geula, Me'eh She'arim, or as @ushdadude wrote, spend a second seder at the Mir. Speak to local Yerushalmi's and get a feel for their way of life. You can walk away with a sense of mesiras nefesh for Yiddishkeit that you will not see anywhere in the world.

Note, I'm not referring to the Kedushah of the land, which is subject to your hashkafic understanding. What I'm stressing is the genre of Yidden and Yiddishkeit that exists there. It's not something you zoom through, but you stop, focus, think, and savor.

Just my thoughts. (Obviously.)

10000000%.

I plan on making a schedule of where I'll be when, and then a list of priorities for each area. If one thing takes a lot longer and doesn't allow time for another, awesome. Just means we're having a great time.

As far as J'lem, definitely plan on being there for Shabbos, which means Friday as well (shuk, just wandering about, etc.). I'm also leaning toward adding another day there - maybe the first one. I don't like the idea of finally arriving in Eretz Yisroel and just going to Rosh Hanikra. I feel like I should head straight to J'lem first.

So I'm thinking arrive Monday, overnight either TLV or J'lem. Tue do the Kosel, maybe @satturn tour, and visit some family (is that too much on the first day???).

Wed-Thu TBD, and then Fri-Sha J'lem again.

Thoughts?

[Something Fishy]

But you do want to end up in Gander... (unless that would mean a 24 hour fast?)

Oh, I'm all up for Gander. My wife, OTOH .........

[Something Fishy]

Adding to my previous post, I'll note some specific recommendations. I made a list on this map (which is a picture of a physical map. Location on Google Maps is here.)

I'm sure others will have many other recommendations for other sites on this map. Here are mine, as labeled on the map:

1- Zichron Moshe shteibel. It's the Yerushalmi version of Shomer Shabbos in Boro Park.
2- Kikar Shabbos. The intersection the brings five major streets together (Me'ah Shearim, Yecheskal, Malchei Yisroel, Yeshayahu, and Strauss). Location to many hafganos. Meaningful shopping and restaurants in the surrounding streets.
3- Yeshivas Brisk (Rav Avrohom Yehoshuah Soloveitchik)
4- Probably not much of an attraction anymore, but that was Rav Dovid Soloceitchik's house. Until last month, you were able to walk up and peak in the window to see him.
5- Har Tzvi. A convenient shteibel that gives you a glimpse of Yerushalmi life while being new enough for spoiled Americans. Incidentally, the two sides of the shul feature "mens" and "womans" passing signs.
6- Mir Yeshiva. There are a few buildings on the block. You may want to ask some of the American bochurim on the street where you can find Rav Asher Arieli, or any of the other gedolei Torah that sit in the various batei medrash there. Just walk in quietly and watch them learn.
7- The hardcore Me'eh Shearim residential neighborhood. Not much American-geared attractions here. Just crammed housing and Yerushalmi boys running around.
8- Benny's Supermarket. You can find many American style products here. This is just one of the few stores in the area that serve the tourists and American bochurim who are in the many diras in the surrounding blocks.




ETA: There are numerous other gedolim who live in small, nondescript houses on this map. Rav Gamliel Rabinowitz, Rav Yaakov Moshe Schechter, etc. If you are interested in visiting any, post and I'm sure there are DDFers who can direct you with an exact address.

Awesome awesome AWESOME.

Beyond helpful.

[Dan]

10000000%.

I plan on making a schedule of where I'll be when, and then a list of priorities for each area. If one thing takes a lot longer and doesn't allow time for another, awesome. Just means we're having a great time.

As far as J'lem, definitely plan on being there for Shabbos, which means Friday as well (shuk, just wandering about, etc.). I'm also leaning toward adding another day there - maybe the first one. I don't like the idea of finally arriving in Eretz Yisroel and just going to Rosh Hanikra. I feel like I should head straight to J'lem first.

So I'm thinking arrive Monday, overnight either TLV or J'lem. Tue do the Kosel, maybe @satturn tour, and visit some family (is that too much on the first day???).

Wed-Thu TBD, and then Fri-Sha J'lem again.

Thoughts?

Arrive Thursday or Friday morning and go right into Jlem for Shabbos is the way to go. Don't overthink the fast on sunday and cut the trip short for that. Maybe have a meaningful fast visiting the Avos that day?

Then you can spend the next Shabbos in Tzfas for a completely different, but still incredible experience. It also means you have more time up north and for the Golan without running back to Jlem.

[Yehuda57]

You need to do at least 1 night at the WAJ (buy a Hilton night cert on DDF or open an Aspire) and 1 night at the Ritzaliya (buy a 50K cert on DDF if you don't have one), just for comparison sake.

Staying in a luxury hotel can't compare to one with an insane kosher breakfast.

Other than that, a tzimmer up north is a must. Good luck doing all this in 10 days 

You rent a house and sleep there, and book a hotel room to get the breakfast.

[Something Fishy]

Have you been on the Delta One 330-900 suites? I'm not sure your feet will fit properly in the footwell.

Nope. I have the bulkhead which will hopefully be helpful, but who knows.

Agreed. LY/UA J bulkhead is the way to go.

Maybe the 777, but I definitely don't fit into UA's 787 bulkheads. Problem is the 777 only flies the day flight. I'd rather have an additional day in Israel.

How does the LY bulkhead compare?

[Something Fishy]

If you're going with the wife, and plan to do future trips anyway, don't bother with birding this time. Summer is relatively dead, compared with the abundance of migrating birds in winter and spring. Hula Valley is the main hotspot, though I'm sure on a dedicated birding trip there'd be other areas of interest.

Very good info, thanks.