Visiting Israel 

In 2008, almost 3 million people visited Israel. That sounds like a large number until you begin to look at the numbers of visitors hosted by other countries in the region: 15 million tourists descended on Greece in the same period, and 11 million flocked to Egypt.

Israel, with its plethora of historic sites revered by Jews, Christians and Moslems, and with a sophisticated tourist infrastructure, should be attracting millions more visitors, but tourism to Israel has always been fragile and subject to Israel’s image problem as a country more defined by the Arab-Israel conflict and not by its tourist attractions. This attitude evidently affects Jews more than Christians, since an astonishing 70 percent of American Jews have never visited the Jewish State.

Nearly 1.8 million of the 3 million tourists who visited Israel last year were Christians, the Israel Ministry of Tourism reported last May. The figures were released about two months after the Ministry of Tourism launched a $6.4 million advertising campaign that aimed to present Israel as a safe tourist destination following the Gaza war of January 2009. While the number of Christian visitors from Eastern Europe and Africa increased significantly over the past eight years, figures dropped for visitors from Western Europe and Asia. Between 2000 and 2008, there was a 40 percent increase in Christian visitors from the United States, the Ministry reported. Sadly, no such increase was reported among Jews.

While Torah observant Jews generally have not been deterred by security concerns and have continued to visit Israel, the current economic downturn and a certain amount of ennui with returning to the same tourist sites year after year have caused numbers to drop even amongst these stalwart Israel supporters. Buy no matter how many times one visits Israel there is always something fresh and exciting to see and experience.

A few months ago, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat launched a Master Plan for Jerusalem for the next 20 years. It is the first municipal plan for the city since 1959. Barkat defines development goals for tourist, culture and leisure oriented areas that include the Old City, the basin surrounding the Old City, the City Center, Ein Karem, the Armon Hanatziv ridge and the Lifta neighborhood. Already, three new Jerusalem hotels are scheduled to open in the next few years, including the Mamilla Hotel that opened last July.

American Jewish visitors tend to spend most of their time in Jerusalem to recharge the spiritual batteries, visit family and friends and enjoy the less humid climate of the capital city. Jerusalem has a number of updated sites to entice even the most frequent visitor. The amazing state-of-the-art Night Spectacular show at the Tower of David; beautiful, serene Ein Kerem; Rachel’s Tomb now accessible by private vehicle; the new archeological garden in the Knesset grounds; the cultural delights on offer at Beit Avi Chai on King George Street; the Rockefeller Museum that houses Israel’s most magnificent archeological finds; the Gush Katif Museum documenting the history of the Jewish community in the Gaza Strip and Ammunition Hill, the updated site dedicated to the reunification of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War all warrant a visit while in the capital.

A myriad of experiences are waiting to be enjoyed in other parts of Israel. There are few countries in the world that pack so many different climate zones, historic sites and landscapes into such a compact space. For a change of pace, Nahariya offers a delightful combination of expansive, easily-accessible beaches, including a two-mile-long promenade and traditional small-town atmosphere with dozens of kosher cafes and restaurants lining the user-friendly main street. Less than half an hour away are the cliffs of spectacular Rosh Hanikra and the solitude of the undeveloped Akhziv beaches and less than an hour away are other fascinating and beautiful western Galilee attractions such as Peki’in and Monfort. Nahariya features several small, family-run hotels as well as the 4-star Carlton Hotel.

This year is definitely the time to pay an extended visit to the first Hebrew city of modern times, Tel Aviv. Centennial celebrations go on until the end of 2009 and feature a plethora of cultural and street events that can’t be found anywhere else. To enjoy the beaches and the people-watching on the promenade and then, turning inland for just a few blocks, is to delight in the city. To get a feel for life in Tel Aviv’s early days, visit the newly restored Bialik Square area that features an elegant fountain; the Reuven Rubin museum, dedicated to one of Israel’s greatest 20th century artists; and Beit Bialik, the home of Israel’s national poet Chaim Nachman Bialik. The tree-lined streets with their stately homes will wipe away any preconceived notions of Tel Aviv. Spending a few hours wandering around Neve Tzedek near the Suzanne Dellal Center is a must. The gentrification of this colorful neighborhood has given a new lease on life to this area wedged between the Carmel Market and the beach. At the northern end of the city, the Tel Aviv Port has become the city's premier entertainment center, packed with clubs, cafes and restaurants overlooking the Mediterranean, and with great shops featuring the work of the best Israeli designers.

A bridge across the Yarkon River connects the Port to the historic old Reading power station, whose cavernous interior now serves as an exciting venue for post-Modern design and art exhibitions. Near the bridge is a foot and bicycle path that heads east along the banks of the river into the Yarkon National Park – with hundreds of acres of greenery, water, playing fields and leisure activities for the whole family.

Through tourism, EMUNAH members who are already among the prime supporters of Israel, can contribute in yet another important way to the well-being of the country and its citizens.



Visiting Israel with EMUNAH
Making choices on how to budget finances during this recession is not an easy task. It requires the expertise of those who have done their homework and who have studied all the options. EMUNAH’S expertise in the field of travel to Israel is unmatched. For many years, EMUNAH has been the leader in organizing and guiding missions to Israel which have been widely acknowledged as the most inspiring and the most budget-conscious of any group.

Each mission is custom-made to acknowledge and respect the interests of its participants. No two missions are alike. Our experts will tailor each mission to fulfill your dream vacation in Israel.

Are you a return visitor? We will show you places you missed on your previous trips. Are you interested in archeology? Our guides are the top professionals of Israel with deep knowledge of history. Are you interested in education? We will take you to unique learning institutions where the future leaders of Israel are being groomed. Are you interested in politics? We can arrange meetings with Israeli leaders. Do you want to swim in the sea, try new kosher gourmet meals, walk the paths of our forefathers, visit ethnic neighborhoods, attend concerts, meet Israeli soldiers, visit world famous wineries, see your EMUNAH contributions at work, and realize every minute of the day that you are not merely just another tourist – but that you have a stake in this country, that you are not visiting another people’s land, but your own, that you have never felt more comfortable anywhere in the world than you do in Israel. EMUNAH makes this happen. No one does it better than we do.

What better gift can you give your son or daughter than the life-long memory of the bat/bat mitzvah in Israel? Will they remember the numerous “more-of-the same” parties they will attend all during that crucial year in their lives? Or will they announce proudly that they did something really meaningful, something they will tell their own children about in the future, an experience of a lifetime – the bar and bat mitzvah in Israel arranged by EMUNAH?

Come alone and bond with others through EMUNAH. Come with family and friends and EMUNAH will satisfy all age groups. Come for the second, third or fourth time, and EMUNAH promises to show you sights you have never seen before. Israel needs you and you need Israel. A trip to Israel will fortify you for the rest of the year. There is no place in the world like it, and no experience that equals a trip organized by EMUNAH.

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