Share  I’m going to Rome next month, and there are a few things I have to take care of.   First of all: travel health insurance. That’s not a problem. I go on-line and take care of this with my national health carrier here in Israel. In the US, ask friends or go on-line and […]

 

I’m going to Rome next month, and there are a few things I have to take care of.

 

First of all: travel health insurance. That’s not a problem. I go on-line and take care of this with my national health carrier here in Israel. In the US, ask friends or go on-line and shop!

 

Next is to make color copies of my passport and driver’s license. I’ll take these with me and leave the originals in the hotel safe. When checking out of any hotel, always open the safe and empty it!!!

 

Next, I bring my belt-pocket that hangs on my belt, but in tucked under my pants. Here’s an example:

https://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&id=377

 

You don’t have to buy the one above, but you get the idea.

 

Next is money. I change money before I get to the airport. I’ll have 100 Euro walking around money. I don’t like carrying more than that.

 

I have at least two credit cards and making sure that one of them is a VISA. It seems to be the most widely accepted one and lots of businesses don’t accept American Express (including yours truly!).

 

Since I am not booking this tour, but I am attending an in-service, I have checked out the hotels on TripAdvisor.com and they seem to be fine.

 

Since I am an avid photographer, I am bringing my own rig, but a truly great camera to bring is the Sony a6000.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-Interchangeable-Camera-16-50mm/dp/B00I8BICB2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421487648&sr=8-1&keywords=sony+a6000

 

It ain’t cheap, but I dare you to find a better camera for the money. There isn’t.

 

Now for luggage: Here I am at a bit of a loss. I do not have a good travel bag. I use an old bag that I like. It is soft, not hard so it doesn’t weigh a lot. It has a handle and wheels. It has a big, tough zipper and made of heavy-duty material.

    ShareTzfat is one of the four holy cities to Jews in Israel.  Along with Jerusalem (because, well, it is Jerusalem – the City of David and site of the First and Second Temples), Hebron (where the Patriarchs are buried) and and Tiberias (where the Jerusalem Talmud was written – yes, Tiberias, not Jerusalem.  Romans would […]

    Tzfat is one of the four holy cities to Jews in Israel.  Along with Jerusalem (because, well, it is Jerusalem – the City of David and site of the First and Second Temples), Hebron (where the Patriarchs are buried) and and Tiberias (where the Jerusalem Talmud was written – yes, Tiberias, not Jerusalem.  Romans would not let Jews live in Jerusalem) Tzfat is famous for Kabbalah which is not Jewish mysticism.

    So what is Kabbalah?

    “Kabbalah is the theology of the Jewish people; it is the way Judaism understands God and the relationship between God and the world…Kabbalah has become a distinct system of ideas, beliefs, technical terminology, and values with its own history, great personalities, controversies, and vocabulary.. (and) has always been an integral part of Jewish religious and spiritual life.”  – Rabbi Arthur Kurzweil.

    Two “must sees” in Tzfat are the Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue and the Abuhav Synagogue.  Of course, getting around Tzfat is easier said than done.  Parking has always been a problem and following the signs to the Jewish Quarter or the Old City is a recipe for disaster. Take my advise and hire a tour guide or go on an organized tour.

    However, if you do insist on driving yourself, park the car on Jerusalem Street.  This is a circular street which ambulates around the very top of the city.  Park the car near the college and lots of luck finding a spot!

    Walk to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochi Street and enter.  About 100 yards to your left you will find David Freedman’s Kabbalah Art Gallery.  If I were to pick on artist to visit in Tzfat, he is it.

    David is a an artist and Kabbalist.  He hails from Denver, Colorado and you will enjoy his easy-going manner as he explains his art.

    Unlike other shops, David is the artist and sells his work directly.

    chart private tour guide in Israel

     

     

     

      ShareReview of “Killing Jesus” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard: I love to read and learn. As a tour guide in Israel, about half of my clients are Christian. When they come to the Holy Land, they want to walk in the steps of the man they believe is the son of God. I take […]

      Review of “Killing Jesus” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard:

      I love to read and learn. As a tour guide in Israel, about half of my clients are Christian. When they come to the Holy Land, they want to walk in the steps of the man they believe is the son of God.

      I take great satisfaction showing my good Christian friends the Galilee where Jesus grew up and taught; the Sea of Galilee where he, they believe, walked on water and, of course, visiting Jerusalem where he spent his final week before his crucifixion.

      Many good books have been written on the subject on Jesus in his native land.

      However, one book I truly cannot recommend is “Killing Jesus” by Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard (whom, I imagine, did most of the writing).

      What is wrong with the book?

      First of all, it is full of historical inaccuracies. I mean, really big mistakes that question the authors’ command of what happened.

      For example, the authors say that the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Philistines in 722 BC. Wrong! The bible tells us the Assyrian Empire will destroy Israel and twenty years later try to destroy the Kingdom of Judea and its capital, Jerusalem.

      Really!

      O’Reilly is the first to admit that he is writing from a Catholic perspective. I guess this is why he portrays Mary Magdalena as a prostitute, when most Christian scholars today reject this bogus claim. She probably was a well-to-do respected matron and supporter of the Jesus Movement.

      The list goes on and on. It is truly a rarity when I wonder how such a amateurish tome could be written.

      O’Reilly and Dugard are doing a great disservice to their fellow co-religionists. They are perpetuating tales, which have gone out of academic vogue a long time ago.

      Don’t buy this book.

        ShareWhen traveling, there are a few rules of thumb that usually are universally held. 1) Try to eat dinner in another location. Go back to your hotel to work and sleep. 2) Try not to frequent restaurants that cater only to tourists. 3) Does the staff speak English? Are there menus in English? 4) Ask […]

        When traveling, there are a few rules of thumb that usually are universally held.

        1) Try to eat dinner in another location. Go back to your hotel to work and sleep.
        2) Try not to frequent restaurants that cater only to tourists.
        3) Does the staff speak English? Are there menus in English?
        4) Ask if credit cards and/or dollars are accepted before sitting down.
        5) Check out the restrooms before ordering. If filthy, imagine what the kitchen in like!

        When traveling to Israel, odds are that some of your friends, relatives or business associates have been and have recommendations.

        Then there’s always TripAdvisor.com

        However, remember that TripAdvisor.com is made up of reviews of fellow travellers (not the red type), who have their own agenda.

        For instance, the first restaurant recommended on TripAdvisor.com is more of a café, and the second one is usually booked for events only (when a property has no web site, caveat emptor!).

        My “short list” of recommended eateries in Jerusalem are:
        1) “Chakra” – centrally located on King George Street and sporting an “Israeli-fusion” menu, Chakra is always full so make sure you make your reservation well in advance – especially on Friday nights!
        2) “Machneyuda,” located next to the Machneyude Market, hence its name, just may be the best restaurant in the city. Everything on this Middle-Eastern/Israeli fusion menu is the special for today. Enjoy.
        3) “Sima’s” unjustly rated at #90 on TripAdvisor.com has a kosher/Iraqi style menu. Lot’s of fresh salads to begin with. I strongly advise ordering the Kubeh soup (Kubeh is a meat dumpling). Not expensive and on Agrippa Street right next to Machneyuda Market.
        4) “1868” sits right across the David Citadel Hotel on King David Street. Vastly underrated on TripAdvisor.com, this place is a great place for carnivores.
        5) “The Culinary Workshop” located on Hebron Road across from the Dan Boutique hotel is simple fantastic.

        Well, so much for my Jerusalem recommendations.

        Bon Apatite!