0 comments

  1. Unless you badly desire to snorkel / scuba dive at the Red sea, the long drive to Eilat is not really worth it in my opinion.
    Instead, I would devote a day exploring archaeologial sites in the low hill country site (the “Shefelah”): the battle site of David vs. Goliath; The Bar-kokhba caves; the underground reservoir at Biblical Beth-Shemesh; and the “1948 Secret bullet factory” near Rehovoth.
    Enjoy touring Israel!

  6. Can’t agree more with tip1 and 3. And if you want to really experience the Negev, stay in Sde Boker for a few days. You will be centrally situated and on top of experiencing the breathtaking landscape of Nahal Tzin, Ein Avdat, Ein Akev… and of course, Ben Gurion’s heritage, you will be able to access easily places like Mitzpe Ramon, but also the small and the big crater on your way to the Dead Sea and new ultimate out of the beaten track new vibe… Nitzana area with beautiful sites like Shivta and cool new experiences like sandboarding.

  10. We 4 ladies from India areplanning Israel tour.7 days 6 nights. We are not christians. Would like to cover maximum of Israel in an economic budget. Could you please guide us. Transportation, accommodations, sites and all. Regards… Shaila

  11. What a wonderful web site! I have wanted to travel to Israel for a long time, and have even looked making Aliyah there. But the first step to emigrating has got to be a thorough visit.

    I look forward to learning all I can before I go. Your knowledge and the sharing of it is very much appreciated.

  13. I m Sami. Jordanian
    Like to travel in Israel for while ;I have no relatives there;so;i m asking. What is the best approach should I go with.. Shall I issue visa and just start on

  16. Before we knew there would be elections on April 9, 2019, we planned our trip to be in Tel Aviv / Yafo on that day. Do tourist activities and sites operate on Israel’s election day? Should we book a one-day tour? What can we expect? Thanks for your help.

  17. Hi Oren, thanks for sharing your passion for Israel with us. We are looking foreward to visiting the Old City of Jerusalem next week with your Jerusalem Day Tour Ebook in hand! We will be celebrating 25 years of marriage and staying at the Sephardic House. Can you recommend a place to find good schnitzel? Thanks

  20. Hello. We are planning a trip to Israel in the fall, ’19. Question, in which you have probably covered numerous times in your videos, is: the best month to visit? Late September or early October? We are planning two weeks in Israel. Any information would be helpful. Thank you.

  21. All of your videos, are great, and the best one is “Living in the Israeli Forest (2 years)”. I’m from Alaska and big outdoors man. I’ve been on two tours to Israel, and would like to go again this year but don’t want to do a tour this trip, although my wife and I would like to go during Succot. The two tours I’ve taken before did not include Haifa or Eilat and I would like very much to see both of those. Will probably want to stay in Jerusalem during most of the Succot celebrations. I’ve been to the Golan, but after your video want to do the hike, also if I am able, but at 68 and in good shape, not sure what to expect. Other than the heat, can’t be worse than Alaskan mountains. I’ve been studying Hebrew for several years, but not good enough to get around on my own. I’ve never stayed in a Hostel, but would like your advice.

    1. Thanks!My next videos will be about tours and hiking in Israel. And Hostel are great! The best hike in my life was in Alaska From Proenneke cabin in Twin lake natioan park.

  22. hello planning on trip Nov 2019. do you need vaccinations like Hep A/ the CDC recommends but does not say it is required>
    cant take a lot of shots so wonder if necessary oh and Typhoid for Jordan.

  23. Thank you for sharing this site. We are hoping to come to Israel perhaps spring of 2020. Good information! Was hoping to buy your day guides, but the price was more than double on Amazon. I’ll keep exploring your site.

    1. Hey. Thanks! The price you see is not mine, somebody else is selling them. All the booklets were sold and in a couple of days a new shipment will arrive to Amazon and you could buy it for the regular price.

  25. Hi – love your website. My brother and I ( in our 60’s ) healthy lol. We want to spend 3 weeks in Israel. What we’re trying to do is, with your recommendation of course, is to stay in 3 cities, each a week, and stay at one Hostel in each city.

    We will not have a car, expect to do a lot of walking and taxis. And probably go in Oct or Nov or December.

    So can you please give me your recommendation for which 3 cities, which 3 hostels. I saw some on Expedia.com that stated as low as $30 per night? Is that true ? I think it was called The Post.

    Thank you in advance. I’m reading and viewing every single thing on your website.

    Best Regards
    Gary

    1. Thanks! My next videos will be about hiking in Israel, day tours and how to plan your trip, so you will find them very helpful I think.
      The Post is a great hostel in Jerusalem. If you come in winter stay also in the desrt. Mitzpe Ramon is a great option.

  27. Thank you for your website and videos. They are awesome! I have question on the sample itinerary Day 5 & 6. For us, we are planning to have a car the whole time we will be in Israel. We plan to go to the north with the car. You suggested that we don’t rent a car in Nazareth. So how do we visit Nazareth then? Should we park it somewhere outside of the city and do a walking tour? I’m a bit confused sorry.
    Thanks,
    Shikha

    1. Thanks! If you have a car then go with a car, it is not that bad. If you sleep there maybe you cane call your hotel and ask where you can park.

  29. Love your videos on YouTube. Very friendly and informative. I’ve been to Israel many times yet learn something new every one I watch.

    Thank you!!

  30. Hello Oren,

    I plan 8 days visit to Israel this coming summer, your information are very useful. Can you get from Old city to Betlehem or you need make this as a separate travel arrangement.

  31. I just spent half a day scrolling through this informational site! Thanks a lot! We’re currently planning our trip (either late this year or early next year) and this was very motivating. Amazon shipping is quite complicated in our country, so I’m hoping you you can also publish an e-book version of your guides!

  32. Hey Oren, thanks for All your important information of Isreal.
    I am visiting in June and my flight will be arriving at 10pm. My question.. Do I wait until I get to Tel A Viv to get a taxi or prebook a taxi before I arrive. I am staying at AirBnb???

  33. I will be there next week for 15 days.. My itinerary includes Jerusalem (4 days), Beersheba, Tiberias and Tel Aviv. Also Jordan for 3 nights.. Any last moment advice/tip? I am female solo traveller and your videos have inspired me a lot.. Super excited for this trip

  34. Dear Oren,
    Came across you on the net and have read everything possible you have written , except your three guide books, which I have tried to purchase but in vein. My name is Linda and my husbands name is Thomas, we are in our late sixties, live in Australia and want to visit Israel year 2020 for my husbands 70th birthday. Your site has given us such enthusiasm and to go totally independent as we always have on all our previous travels. I thank you for all your information. please could you tell me when your books are available for me to purchase, as I have starting researching, planning and organizing our trip. Thank you so very much for your informative , practical information and especially your videos. Cheers Linda

  37. Hi Oren, have purchased the ebooks. We will arrive 2/6 however would really like the hard copy to have with us. Any idea when we may be able to get them?
    Thanks, Yasna

  38. Yeah, Bisli tastes quite bad (at least to me), but I can only recommend to ANYONE to try the cottage cheese spread on frana. Each time I am in Israel this is my pre-breakfast appetizer of choice!

    As for beer – Goldstar and Nesher are drinkable, Maccabi is just bad and should be avoided. Unfortunately only bigger stores stock craft beer.

  39. Oren, under Transportation you might want to add that most of the main bus routes are also served by sherut taxis which also tend to run when there is no service.

  40. Pingback: Enter Through The Lion's Gate - ORPHANED NATION

  41. I could not stop reading this! Thank you for creating an easy to understand summary of a very complex history of the Holy Land. God Bless!

  42. Hi and congrats for your great information.Me and my friends are going to visit Tel Aviv in the next days.I would like to visit all these places you mentioned above .Is it possible doing by our own and without a travel guide? We also want to ride camels.Is it possible in this desert?

  44. The booklets probably have historical information about all the places , depends on the booklet and the place it refers to.The problem is that we want something like a tour without having the price of a tour.For example does the booklet include the buses you use to go there? These kind of information is what we need

  45. Greetings,

    We are very much enjoy watching your videos on YouTube pertaining to Israel.
    We are believing for some day to visit the Land and hopefully live there in the future. We are in our mid 60s and are full-time RVers in the USA. Is this lifestyle seen in Israel for an extended period of time? If so, are there RV Campground memberships with places where we could stay throughout the land?

    Awaiting your answers to our questions.

    Continued success on your channel!

  46. My wife and I wish to thak you for your videos. We watched two hours last night. “Chapeau” on a fabulous video job well done.
    we will be in israel for two weeks. The last time I visited was Oct 1968….im sure I will freak out to see Israel today…I remeber waking up at 4;30am to walk up Massada the only way but i was blessed to walk doen the centre of massada to the well. I suspect it must be closed to tourists these day…by the way climbed down on our Tuchass as there was no banisters in thise days.

  47. You have sold me.
    My birthday is in November…is it an ok month to be there? Want to spend the whole month. And do day trips out of Jerusalem. Up north and desert. Public transport.
    Buying the books.
    Will book via your site.
    I am excited.
    PS do you have coffee shops?

    1. For this kind of things you need to talk to my team. I am (just) a tour guide, to build a special barmitzva you need to talk to someone who will plan it with you. (like a wedding, it is not about the best but rather what is right for you..)

  50. Only have 2 full days in Jerusalem. We wanted a budget friendly tour for Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Just the highlights and not too long.

    Please call me at the hotel Ibis Jerusalem City Center or email me.

    Would like to do the tour tomorrow or Thursday.

  52. Hi! Thanks for sharing so much precious information with us. My husband and I are trying to plan a visit to Israel for our 10th wedding anniversary. We like to do things at our own pace but we are also concerned about safety. Do you think it’s necessary to go with one of those group tours or on our own would be better? We’re planning 10-12 days, probably in November 2021 and we’d like to see as much as possible. I’d like to see Petra too. What would your advice be? Thank you so much!

  53. I am interested in getting large photos, murals, videos, your historical map for my Sunday School curriculum “Travel to the Holy Land” this July. Do you have any resources or YouTube videos that I may use to enhance this visit. Emphasis is geographical and customs.
    Shalom!

  54. I am travelling to Israel in July for the first time and discovered your page while researching online. Thank you for sharing so much great information and tips, especially about the transportation. I hope to be able to schedule some great tours.

  55. Hi Oren,

    Fantastic website and Youtube videos!

    My question is: what day of the week is the equivalent of the European or American « Saturday night », when bars, restaurants and nightclubs are in full swing?

    Thanks a lot in advance

    (Very excited about my trip soon)

    1. Thanks! Thursday and Friday nights are full. Some Kosher places will be closed at Friday night but in Tel Avi everything will be open. Enjoy!

  58. I teach Children’s Sunday School and am excited that you will be making a poster of this Israeli History! It is so easy to understand! Hope it will be sooner than later. Thank you!

  59. Hi Oren
    Really enjoyed your videos.
    I would like to take my family next August 2020 to Israel. We are a religious family of 9 and celebrating son’s bar mitzva. Do you have any tours with rich biblical history from נ״ך that we would enjoy if we studied the stories in שופטים, מלאכים ושמואל?

  60. I love your books – I ordered them online in PDF version
    Would highly recommend then to anyone going to Israel
    wish you would be in Jerusalem in November – maybe next trip
    Love all your you tube videos

  61. Hi Oren,

    Love your work – Does your Jerusalem book include information on the inside of the St. James Cathedral in the Armenian Quarter?

    Thank you.

  62. With great delight Im posting dat Israel is a lovely place,full of beautiful people,very tasty items 2 eat(esp.the fresh,piping hot chicken pieces dat were served 2me in old Jerusalem market),I had a gr……………….est time in one of my visits to Israel.So very memorable,feeling nostalgic!Have many pleasant memories in Israel.Thanks for this guide of variety of eatables that one can relish in Israel!Love Israel&SHALOM!GOD BLESS ISRAEL&PROTECT ISRAEL ALWAYS!!!

  64. Hello- I follow you on YouTube & bought your booklets. They have been been very helpful as I plan my trip to Israel for next spring, so thank you for your professional guidance! We would like to visit the Elah Valley if possible. Do you have any suggestions for getting there from Jerusalem? A private tour guide is outside of our budget.
    Ronda

  65. Hi Oren!

    First off, let me just tell you that your videos are simply aaaaawesome!
    We’re travelling for the first time in Jerusalem the first two weeks of September and was wondering if you do group tours in the Old city and how we can sign-up?
    We’re a group of three, me, my husband, my mom who is also a Christian pastor so this is really a spiritual tour specially for her.
    Looking forward to hearing from you!

  66. Hi Oren,
    Your web site is amazing. You have put a lot of work into this and have anticipated many helpful posting.
    Thank you for such a broad perspective of all the things to consider as we plan our trip to Israel.

  67. Hi Oren,
    your youtube Israel Travel segments are great. I went to purchase your Israel Travel Guides from Amazon & they said they could ship here to Australia. Then it came back saying that it was unavaliable to Post to Australia. Any ideas ?

    1. First of all, Thanks!
      I have no idea why it can’t be shipped. It is open to international sale and someone from New Zealand just wrote me he got the booklets.

  69. Hi,
    Please make a video about the choice of SIM card for the Internet. Including Israel and West Bank.
    Which one has the best coverage and which one is the cheapest. I suggest 5GB and up to 14 days.
    Regards

    1. Hey, Sim cards in Israel are cheap. I can’t way which is the cheapest because it constantly changing I would say this – don’t buy the ones for tourists that they sell on the airport. Ask at your hotel where is the closest shopping mall and do it there.

  70. Excellent website that helps a lot if one wants to visit Israel without going with a tour group. Thank you for the information.

    Are there entry fees payable at the Christian sites like the Garden Tomb, Mount of Beatitudes, City of David, etc? Also, does one have to make bookings?

    1. Thanks! There are no entry fees to Churches, there is to the City of David. You don’t need to make bookings, but at the city of David they offer tours, check their internet site. Enjoy Israel!

  71. I am about to get on a plain to come visit Isreal and I just found your web site. I wish I would have found it earlier. the few things I have read and your youtube videos I have watched are great. I will be binge watching and reading all your blogs on the plane. Thank you for this information

    1. Thanks! I really try to show things as is and to help travelers to enjoy the trip to Israel. feel free to share any comments you have about Israel. Enjoy!

  72. I will be in Israel at the end of October. Looked at all your videos and I find them awesome! I found out that UBER operates taxi services from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv. Are they reliable?…even on Shabbat?

    Merci! 🙂

  73. Oren, your site and videos are excellent. My family will be in Israel in December and would like to hire a guide for a one-day tour of Jerusalem. Can you recommend a guide or an agency? Thank you.

  76. Oren, my husband and I will be leaving for Israel on Oct. 24 for two weeks! Your videos have been extremely helpful, especially since we will be alone in Tel Aviv for 4 days! I told my husband, the info you shared about your name and those of your brothers! Wanted to show him a picture I found of you and your brothers but no longer know where I saw it! Can you share where it is!
    My cousin is from Germany, and loves the outdoors as your beautiful wife probably does also! Thank you again so your awesome information on Israel! ??

  77. Hi Oren, I use your selfguiding booklets and they are really good.!!
    For next year at Pesach, I am trying to find on what day public transport is not available and when everything isclosed. That is not during all the Pesach days, but when is it nd when not. Where can I find it?
    I hope you can help me.
    Thanks
    Mirjam

  78. Hi

    I want to know if there are any sheruts from Ben Gurion Airport going to Tel Aviv on a Saturday? And what are the cost?

    I am visiting Israel in December to be baptised in the River Jordan. I want to know if it will be warm in the Yardenit area / Nazareth that time of the year?

    Also are there any lockers at the airport to rent and how much would they charge for a week?

    Kind regards

  79. היי אורן, אני מורת דרך, לאחרונה הוצאתי רשיון באנגלית. נהנית מאוד לראות את הסרטונים שלך ולמדה מהם המון. רוצה גם לרכוש את שלושת הספרונים, אבל האתר לא מאפשר רכישה בישראל. האם ניתן לקנות ממך ישירות איכשהו? תודה רבה

    1. הי, כיף לשמוע! אני יכול לשלוח לך את 3 החוברות באנגלית בדואר. המחיר הוא 50 ש”ח. אם את מעוניינת תכתבי לי את הכתובת שלך למייל שלי – orenca@gmail.com ואכתוב לך את פרטי הבנק שלי להעברה בנקאית.

  80. I just want you to have my email to contact me about me visiting one day, I do need a estimate of prices to get there, other wise I will smuggle myself in! ?

  81. We have purchased your books, and visited your website many times in preparation for our upcoming trip. We also have another book about traveling to Israel that was given to us by a friend, but the format of yours is better. They are much easier to follow, and they will be our main resources. Thank you, Oren!

  82. Hello Oren,
    I have enjoyed all of your videos and wanted to know how to contact you directly. I’m planning a trip and want to know if you still do tours?
    Thanks so much,
    Suzy

  83. Hello Oren my name is Waldina I’m going to visit israel January 14th to 21st i would like you recommend me one tour for all those day’s, my mom and me, i would like in Spanish because she only speak Spanish.
    Please let me know if you have a pilgrimage tour in Spanish for us.
    My email is
    inthislife23@yahoo.com
    Contact to me by email.

  84. Hi There. I love your website- your information is practical, well organised and includes lots of options so thank you. We will be a group of 2 couples in our young 60’s travelling next September 2020 in both Jordan and Israel for 20 days in total. We will arrive in Amman from Australia – (our cheapest option) and travel by car through to Aqaba. Our Israel plan is roughly to spend 1 night around the Dead Sea, 3-4 in Jerusalem, 2 around the Sea of Galilee 2 around Haifa and then onto Tel Aviv before departing. Car hire seems expensive in Israel. As we won’t need a car in Jerusalem would we be better taking a bus or private transfer from Eilat to the Dead Sea and another through to Jerusalem and then hire a car for the northern travels from Jerusalem?? Not sure which would be more economical or possible.
    Also in your view is it better to see/ experience the Dead Sea from the Israel or Jordan side?? Would very much welcome your thoughts. Many thanks Jayne Noble

    1. Thanks! The Jordanian side of the Dead Sea will be much cheaper and you can take a direct bus from Eilat to Jerusalem or Eilat to the Dead Sea area (Masada, Ein Gedi), and from there to Jerusalem. Enjoy Israel!

  85. Hello,
    We love your videos and has helped us in planning our trip.
    We are visit Israel next month and want to go visit Petra and Wadi Rum as well , what is the best advice for the trip.

    Thank you for your time
    Ken & Alba

    1. Thanks! Both places are worth visiting. It really depends on your time and budget For budget tours I can recommend Abraham tours.
      Enjoy Israel (and Jordan)!

  86. Hi Oren,

    I have watched almost all your videos and they are very good and most helpful. I am visiting Israel and have a question about transport. I will be in Israel in January 2020 and have chosen to stay in Bethlehem (I understand it is Palestine but I want to be close to the Church of the Nativity) so I wanted to take the train to Jerusalem and then a taxi to Bethlehem. Is the fast train from TLV airport to Jerusalem that you mentioned in one of your videos now fully operational ?

    Thank you

    Dominic

  87. Hi Oren,
    I just ordered your pamphlets directly from you, in the hopes of getting the get the PDF and EPUB version for free right now. I think I did not click on the correct link to get the PDF and EPUB versions added to my cart when I ordered. I thought that would be automatic. After I ordered, I saw that I had to add them to my cart, but when I did after the order was placed, the cart showed 9.50€ for the booklets. I’m afraid the hard copies will be too late for our trip (in two weeks). I was hoping to use the PDFs to plan and the pamphlets for the trip (if they are here, or they will be mementos when we get back).

    Is it possible to send us the PDFs based on the order I just made?

    Thanks so much!

  88. Great site, thanks a lot!
    Will definitely order your books soon!
    But, a question: regarding Passover 2020… Could you tell me, which days, there’s no public transport? Is it just the shabbat, so from 10th evening to 11th late evening, or also on sunday? And what about “first and last days”?
    Thanks a lot again!

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  92. Hi Oren,

    I like to purchase the booklets from your website but they do not ship to Singapore.

    If I were to purchase them from Amazon, will I still be able to get the PDF and EPUB version for free?

    Thank you.

  93. What is the best option for getting the Ben Gurion airport for a Saturday flight that leaves at noon? I know the trains and buses don’t run on Saturday.
    Thank you.

  94. Hi Oren, I just discovered your channel while researching Israel. I do hope to come visit there one day and would love to have you as a guide. I have enjoyed your videos as you share your life, beautiful family and knowledge & love of Israel!! Thank you

  95. Thanks!

    I have completed the order on 12 Jan 2020, please kindly advise when the booklets will be shipped.

    It has been a week but I have not receive any shipping notification yet.

  98. Hi Oren,
    Wow. Where do I begin.

    I have stumbled upon your page via YouTube. Preparing for an upcoming travel to Israel. It was mom dream to come to Israel and I will take her there in March.
    We are traveling from South Africa in and your site and videos have been really useful. I am going to have a look at the tour company you work with as I would love to meet you.
    we are there for 2 weeks on a tight budget and neither of us drive so your guidelines have been really nice.
    I really want to visit to the north as we don’t think we will travel in Israel again.
    So I will try And plan accordingly.

    Thank you so much.

    1. Thank you! I do my best to bring the best information and not to be like other websites that only sell tours and look like one big commercial.. And I am very happy to see that people appreciate it. Thanks for you comment!

  99. Pingback: Transportation in Israel - Masa - Israel Journey
  100. Pingback: Transportation in Israel - Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael - Jewish National Fund

  102. Oren
    I just ordered your books today so I’m not sure if my question are answered in your books. Do you books have recommended guidesfor each of the city. If not can you recommend how I can find song.

    We are going to spend four days in Aqaba and I understand that if you rent a car in Israel you cannot take it to Jordan. What’s the best way to get from our hotel in Tel Aviv to our hotel in Aqaba. I don’t mind spending a little extra money for the sake of convenience

    Also do we need any special license to rent and drive a car in Israel as we are coming from the US
    Jay

  104. Dear Mr. Oren,

    Hearty congrats for the info that you’ve shared through your videos on Israel.
    My name is Jojo Paul and I’m from Kerala, India. Being a catholic It’s my long time dream to visit Israel. I need to know how much you can be of help to me as our tour guide. I mean, is it possible for you to make an itinerary and be as a guide once we land up there? If yes, I’ll be able to send you a plan I wish

    Regards

    1. Hey,
      Thanks, my next video will be about how to plan your trip in Israel. If you look for an agency to organize it all, they you can write to my nail with when you plan to come and what you want to see (you can see it in contact) and I will conect you with the right agency.

  105. Hello Oren,
    I am from the USA and will be visiting Israel at the end of March. I already have your 3 guide books which are very useful. I do have one question for you.
    How do Israelis feel about receiving tips in USD? The tips I am concerned about are both small (bellman, transfer from airport to hotel, chambermaid) and large (coach driver, tour guide).

    1. Hey,
      Thanks!Tips to people who work with travelers (tour guides, hotels…) USD is fine, but in restaurants it will be better with shekels.
      Enjoy Israel!

  106. hi ,I am very helped by your work here,so I love Israel ,and have visited 4 times,and i plan to visit again and more,and I want to bring many freinds of Israel to see this blessed country, I want to ask you about the big luxury bus ,how much per day ,if we take it 7 days ,and make tour in all Israel , and if possible ,you can tell me how much for a package of a group of between 10 and 20 or 30person ,for 7nights and to visit all christians cites ,in all Israel ,but very cheap price because we live in EAST Africa , we don’t have much mony ,thank you

  108. Hello Oren,
    I’ve just ordered your travel guides and have been going over & over your internet videos on Israel…most helpful..but got a question-My wife & I are from the USA and will be visiting Israel in November of this year. We will be traveling with my wife’s sister & her husband but we’re flying into Israel on separate flights..so we have about 6 hours or so to spend while waiting for our traveling companions to arrive …any suggestions as to a good way to spend that time in and around the Ben Gurion airport. any advice would be most helpful..thanks in advance

  109. Ma nishmah Oren, I discovered your videos and got hooked. They are wonderful and very helpful, Kol Hakavod! I would like to suggest you to do a video on the subject “Jerusalem for Jews”. We really don’t care for Christians and Muslim’s sites. We are a small group (my daughter, granddaughter and I) planning just a few days in Jerusalem for her bat-mitzvah (on a real tight budget). My daughter has dangerous food allergies and we plan to rent a small Airbnb so we can cook her meals “at home” and be safe and sure that she will not fall ill during our days in Eretz Zion. Any neighbourhood to suggest? Todah.

    1. Shalom! I guided mostly Christians so it is easier for me to write about Christian sites, but I will I will write more about Jewish places. When it comes to Airbnb it really depend on you as many apartments are not in the city center.

    2. Hey, I will do it! Now in these corona days I am working on videos about the Israeli society and in summer I will try to make more videos about Jewish places.

  110. Hi Oren,
    I bought your 3 booklets before our trip to Israel in February, and they were so useful. I read them first at home and then took them with me while touring. I found so much information in them and they helped us to plan our visit and also enjoy better our tours. Thank you so much! I recommend them 100%!! The booklets together with your videos really made all the planning and touring easier.
    We found all the 3 booklets equally useful, even though in our case our visit to the Dead Sea was a bit unfortunate due to the weather. They told us that in Masada it rains every 5 years, well when we were there it poured!! We were the last to get up, they had to close due to the floods. But thats just the perfect excuse to go back. We really fell in love with Israel.

  111. I neglected to say that it would be most interesting and attractive to teenagers and people in their early twenties.

    This guide talks about walking in Tel Aviv. Good luck! For much of the year, it is very hot and extremely humid. Prepare to sweat a lot.

  112. Pingback: “The Show Must Go On” – Lay Of The Land

  115. I LOVE YOUR WEBSITE!

    So happy to have found this.

    Want to show you a TYPO: “If you have specific questions, please **right** them” **It should be spelled write, not “right”:)

    I lOVED TRAVELING TO ISRAEL SO MUCH. I WANT TO LIVE THERE, TOO!

  117. Hi Oren, can you cover in your next videos recommendations for the elderly who will visit Israel? Some of the elderly might need a wheelchair. Just thought to ask in remembrance of our Dec 2014 visit with my late dad, he passed away last year. During our 2-week visit, we loaned a wheelchair for my 83 year-old dad. Dad was very glad of his 1st and last visit, a fulfillment of his late father’s wish, my grandfather who was a Christian pastor until his passing in 1966. Thank you!

  118. Love your concise youtube videos. I was in Israel in 2017 and again 2018 on tours. My wife and I would love to go back ourselves someday . flights are $1000 each from Canada.? One question are there campgrounds in Israel? Can you do a video on that? Thanks.
    Rick

  119. We used Elijah Tours and Travel last year when we were in Israel . They are a small tour group and we were able to see so much more than with a large group. The tour guide could not have been nicer or more accommodating . They made us feel like family.

  120. Hi Oren. Love your videos. Your knowledge is incredible. Is it best if I order your 3 books thru Amazon or wait til you can mail them personally to me in the U. S.? (I may want autographed editions-haha).

  121. Hello Oren,
    I just came across your You-Tube Channel and I’m very impressed. I’m a Canadian living in Dubai. I’m interested in organizing a 7-10 day tour of Israel and possibly into Jordan. I’m an ancient history buff working at a university. I’d like to hire a guide who’s at least at my knowledge level. How would I go about customizing my trip with such a guide(s). I’m trying to work out a budget for my trip. Also, how gay friendly is Israel? I can’t seem to find much information on this topic.

    1. Shalom,
      Thanks! Tel Aviv is very gay friendly. Other parts less so, but it is much much better than Arab countries.. You can contact the Agency I work with, Shin tours, they can find you a guide that specialized in ancient history.

  122. Dear Oren:
    A few years ago I watched a documentary on a man that spent time in the wilderness while he attended university in Israel. Two years ago I started studying Israel as a bug-out location for something I felt I needed to do. I found your channel and studied your information like a sponge sucking up water. I am very learned in bushcraft and survival and was very confident to make the trip. I was required to have a return flight and in the end I left Israel after two weeks of living off the land and hiking through. Even though I left when I really wanted to stay, my flight was the last one to go and I don’t know if I made the right decision. However, I ended up back home but I will never forget the kindness that came from the ones that I met while hiking. Here’s the interesting thing, I came across that video of the man that went to university and stayed in the woods. It was you, Oren! You are not responsible for what I was doing but you were a real great inspiration and person of knowledge that got me that far. You are a great inspiration for not only Israel but the world and I’m a testament. May God bless you and your family and keep you safe during these troubling times that you may go far in inspiring many more to go out and enjoy the world that God has offered us. Thank you Oren! I will leave you the link to the beginning of my story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLI-Ap3NFlk

  123. Thank you. My family really enjoy watching your you tube videos about Israel.
    We were in Jerusalem in Mar 2015 but did not go to the many places mentioned in your video. We certainly will locate you to be our guide if we have another chance to visit Israel in future. God Bless and May your Business continue to flourish.

  124. שלום אורן , צפיתי בכל הקליפים שלך ונהנתי מאוד מאוד ! אם הייתי בוחרת מחדש מקצוע הייתי מורת דרך בישראל :))) הייתי רוצה לראות קצת יותר מסעדות , אירוח דרוזי , נוצרי בדואי , שביל ישראל ,, שביל בעקבות ישו חופי הים בישראל , בתי ספר שדה – טיולים שיוצאים מבתי הספר ואירוח, קצת על מבנה המפלגות והפוליטיקה אשכנזים / ספרדים / עליה בישראל נהנתי מאוד מאוד מהקליפ על הכסף ולמדתי המון :))) נחמד לראות את המשפחה הגדלה שלך!!! אנחנו חיים בארהב כבר הרבה שנים ואנחנו חוזרים כל שנה ומגלים את ישראל האהובה כל פעם מזוית אחרת . עלה והצלח ובפעם הבאה לפני ההגעה נזמין גם את הספרים שלך :))

    1. הי, כיף לשמוע! ותודה. אני לא יודע באיזה שפה ראית את הסרטונים – עברית או אנגלית, אבל שווה לך לראות את הסרטונים באנגלית מכיוון שכבר הפסקתי לעשות סרטונים בעברית. בתי ספר שדה הם יותר לישראלים והערוץ שלי פונה למטיילים זרים, אבל חוץ מזה אני אעלה סרטונים על כל מה שהזכרת.

  125. Thank you for the awesome videos, they are so practical and informative. I am from the US and have a trip planned for the end of June which I can change to July, In which a friend and I will be on our own trip. 2 weeks were volunteering on an excavation, but it is canceled. This will be a 5th trip. I hope it comes out ok. I know that you and tourism have taken such a big hit . can only imagine the joy when tourism in Israel is back on track! Blessing and best for you and your family. shalom

  126. I ordered booklets for shipment to the United States, I suppose before your red text warnings that you cannot ship to the U.S. Are mine on the way, or are you holding the order until restrictions ease? Or, should we cancel the order and let me try again on Amazon?

    1. Hey, First of all, Thanks for purchasing. The booklets that are not being sent to the U.S are send back to me (And then I of course refund and write a mail). If you won’t get the booklets in the next 2 weeks, write me a mail and I will refund your order. Sorry for the inconvenience, nowhere did the post wrote that they don’t send to the U.S because of the corona virus and suddenly I started getting my booklets back. In the last few days I didn’t get any booklets back, so I hope they are being send.

  128. Hi. I have watched many of your videos and find them helpful and informative. I have been living in Jerusalem for several years and I wondered whether there is a place I can get your booklets near the centre of Jerusalem. I will be visiting the UK fairly soon (I hope) so for another option I checked Amazon UK but they are out of stock at the moment. Will they be getting some more stock soon?
    Thanks.

    1. Shalom, first of all thanks! Because of corona I had some problems with the shipments of the booklets but from August I will be able to send to Israel.

  130. Kol hakavod on your Middle East facts video. Really excellent.

    Would like to order the timeline poster. How can I get that? I’m a local in the Jerusalem area…

  131. Hi Oren,

    Great website. I lived in Israel for two years in my youth. I always come back… I’ll contact you if I return for a private tour guide services.

    I liked your video on the Arab-Israeli conflict. A lot of jew-haters out there don’t want to hear the truth.

  133. Hi Oren,
    I discovered your channel on YouTube and have been enjoying your videos. Thank you for creating them!

    One topic I would like you to publish a video about is Accessibility to various Israeli sites and in hotels, public transportation and restaurants. In my situation, for instance, I use a cane to walk and cannot stand for long periods or walk long distances. I’m sure others use wheelchairs who would be interested, too.

    Can someone with mobility issues obtain a satisfying visit to the traditional sites in Israel?

    I ordered your books and am awaiting their arrival!

    Thank you.

    1. Shalom, Thanks! And I will make a video about it. it will take me time but I will say that all major sites are accessible and in public transportation there are places for wheelchairs. However it can be better and needs to be improved.

  136. I stumbled upon your website. What a great source of information about Israel , it almost feel like it was written for me. I don’t normally buy guide books but will certainly get a copy of yours because you have put so much on this website . Thank you
    Ps: when travel restrictions get lifted I am planning to suprise my sister with a trip to Israel

  137. Oren,
    First thank you for your website and videos. You have obviously put a lot of work and thought into them, and it shows, they are amazing! Nine of us have booked a one week trip to Jerusalem at the end of September, staying in King David Residence. I have downloaded your booklets and I will send a link to my friends so they can download or purchase also, as they are pocket sized, and we will all be able to go off and do our own thing, if we wish. Can you tell me what is the feeling at the moment ‘on the ground’? Will Jerusalem be open for business again soon? Bless you, stay safe and well, Eric.

  138. Just read this last comment.
    (Just completed a long note to you!)
    Sorry to hear you do not tour any longer
    Do you have recommendations in each of the areas I have mentioned in my E Mail?

  139. Hi Oren
    From Strini ( South Africa )

    I am in awe of the dedication and effort you put into your video’s.
    Your video’s are informative , short and very captivating .
    It is clear that you are not out to make a quick buck we need more
    tour guides like you in the world.
    Keep up the excellent work I am sure your dedication is much appreciated.

    Regards
    Strini

  140. Thank you for your videos. It brings back our wonderful times in Israel. We were there in 2010 for 2 weeks and 2012 for a month. Both times we stayed at the same appartment in the Abu Tor area of Jeruselem. It was easy to plan trips around Jerusalem and travel to Eilat, Tiberias, Masada &Tel Aviv on Egged. Folks & bus drivers were extremely helpful. We did our food shopping at the Suk near the Central Bus Station and Super Deal on Hebron Rd. We also did a lot of walking in Jerusalem. I do feel the hills all seem to go up. We found airport transit with Nesher just fine. We were independent senior travelers. Our only escorted tour was to Hebron. Everything else we organized on our own. And finally, the Israeli sim card provided really cheap phone rates. My partner has passed away, so my travels have taken a different turn. And, now no travel at all. Oh well. Moral of the story, travel your hearts out while you can.

  142. Pingback: Old City of Jerusalem | Traveling Jewish

  143. I will bring a small group of students from my high school every other year. Last January, we brought the heavy rains with us and wrapped up right before the Corona lockdown began.

    This year was my first with more to come. Since they are young, energetic travelors, the group loved the hike we did in Qumran.

    What can you recommend we should do that gives an adequate introduction of sites, but allows for more hiking? Like a tour of the Old City from the stairs around? Climbing up Mt. Ariel or just walking out there from the parking lot? What’s your advice for a group of teenagers?

  144. ״ הנצרות היא הדת המונוטאיסטית היחידה שהחלה את דרכה בארץ ישראל והיא יצאה מתוך העולם היהודי. ישו היה יהודי. הוא קרא לתיקון בתוך העולם היהודי, התלמידים שלו היו יהודים והוא נקבר כיהודי. בין התלמידים שלו היו שניים להם חשיבות מיוחדת – פטרוס ופאולוס. פטרוס הפליג לרומא והקים שם קהילה נוצרית חשובה שהפכה למרכז הכנסייה הקתולית והוא נחשב לאפיפיור הראשון (פרנסיסקוס, האפיפיור הנוכחי, הוא ה-266 במספר). פאולוס ניסה לשכנע יהודים להאמין בישו ומשנכשל הוא התחיל להפיץ את תורתו של ישו ללא יהודים. כדי להקל עליהם הוא ביטל את מצוות התורה, בין היתר את המילה והכשרות. הוא השליח שבעצם הפך את הנצרות מכת יהודית״ – אתה צריך לקרוא את הברית החדשה. פולוס לא נכשל, ישנם הרבה יהודים שמאמינים בישוע. הוא לא הקים דת נוצרית.

  147. I am an older Australian lady. And I wish that I’d seen your excellent website and informative videos before I made my very first visit to Israel last year. But it will all certainly be very valuable next time IyH I come. Thanks so much for all the effort you put into helping us to make the most of our visits, Oren.

  148. Hi, I am looking for a local guide to trek with me and a few friends. Our goal is to do the Jesus Trail and Nativity Trail. Ideally we would like to do them both in one trip. We have experience in multi-day adventure trekking and are very comfortable with the outdoors.

    Can you help us with this? Thank you.

    Cat.
    cisfan@gmail.com

  149. Hi Oren,
    I know it is short notice, but my daughter and I are planning to visit Israel in a couple of weeks from January 3rd – 15th, and are wondering if you will be available to guide us, or maybe we ca join a group that you may be guiding at the time. If you are already fully booked will you please direct us to one of your colleagues who does as good of a job as you seem to do who may not be fully booked?

  150. My daughter and I will be traveling to Israel January 3rd-15th. We are wondering if you are available for tours during this time. If not, please direct us to one of your colleagues.

    Thank you,
    Chris

  151. You said when you arrive at the border control to not worry about a line because there is free WIFI. My question is what happens at border control other than no stamp in your passport and how does the WIFI help you get through and avoid the line?

  152. Hi Oren,
    I’m planing to go to Israel in June if God permit. I would like to know if you do day trips to Jericho and the baptismal site near Jericho. I would love to get baptized there. Thank you so much for everything.
    P.S. I already bought your booklets there are fantastic.

  154. Oren: My wife and I are practicing Christians and have wanted to travel to
    Israel for a very long time. I happened upon your site while doing some serious research for information to make a trip to Israel possible. I hit the
    treasure trove when I found your site. You have so much information- I just want to say thank you.

  156. Greetings to you Owen,

    I want to thank you for your efforts at introducing your wonderful country to the rest of the world. I traveled to Israel in early 2019 and had a wonderful time visiting. I miss the country so much, and long to come back. Your youtube productions have been a tremendous encouragement to me, and I want you to know that. I knew quite a lot about Israel’s history, having studied it for nearly 50 years, though even with a lot of background information, I feel as if I have just begun to learn. I so much look forward to returning to Israel when travel can be restored.

    1. Hey, First of all, I am very happy you wrote me, I never met a tourist from Egypt. I think that I will stop guiding myself after corona and make only videos and videos tours.

  159. Oren
    I cannot begin to tell you how much your videos have inspired me! I have been dreaming of a trip to Israel for many years and all things considered, November of 2021 my brother and I will be traveling from the US to Israel to spend 20-days traveling around.
    I bought all 3 of your travel guides and they have proved to be very helpful in our planning process. We are very grateful for all of the very detailed information that you have put in them.
    Hopefully the current issues with Covid will begin to resolve and Israel will open their borders to tourists before our scheduled travel times!

    Thanks,
    Bill

  160. Oren

    If we arrive later in the evening during the week (about 2030) then go through customs, is it safe to ride the train to the Herzelia station then walk about 1km to our hotel?

  161. Hi Oren. A very nice website. I am from India and wish to visit Israel. I wanted to know how is the situation currently with the Covid. And any idea when will international travel resume back there. I see a lot of your youtube videos and they are very clear in terms of instructions. So you are doing a great job ??

  162. I have a flight to Israel on May 25th arriving the 26th of 2021. Im not sure if changing my flight to late September or early December would be best. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you

  163. Hi Oren, I love your videos. My favorite one was of you showing your new home in your kibbutz in the negev. I would like to see more of your life there. The ups and downs. The benefits or drawbacks of raising children in that location. I think this would be relevant and a popular video for your viewers.
    Toda

  165. Hi Oren and warm greetings from Australia. We have loved watching your videos since our friends the Zahavis told us about you a couple of years ago. Thanks so much for all the time and effort you put in, and also how respectful you are when talking about things. We find your videos super interesting so thought ot was time We told you so.

    1. Thank you for your kind words. I love Australia, I went to St. Ives high school in Sydney for two years. I can still sing the Australian national anthem 🙂

  166. Oren,
    I really enjoy your YouTube videos. But I especially want to thank you for the recents ones about the Arab-Israeli conflict, specifically the left and the Arabs, וישראל ; Ten things you didn’t know about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Your videos should be on the networks but never will because even though the Jews “control” the media, there haven’t been many pro Israel stories. And equating Israel with the way the US treats the blacks is pure rubbish. So thank you again for these videos!

  167. Shalom Oren,

    My wife and I will be visting Israel the first two weeks of November. We have been watching your videos for great tips, and you have inspired us to do more than we originally had planned to do, and we are now overwhelmed. If we provide arrival and departure dates, and tell you the types of activities we like to do, can we hire you to put together an itinerary for us?

  168. וואו אהבתי ממש את מה שכתבת פה, אני גם מסכימה עם דעתך,
    אתה כותב את זה בהיר ומסודר, נהניתי
    אהבתי את האתר שלך ממש בתור אורתודוקסית קצת נראה לפי כמה דברים שאתה לא כ”כ מכיר באמת את הדת,
    בכל אופן כל השאר מעולה!
    חסר פוסט מה יש רק בישראל,
    אוהבת את המדינה.

    1. שלום, דבר ראשון תודה, דבר שני את צודקת 🙂 אני לא מכיר את הדת. אשמח לדעת על מה את מדברת. אפשר להמשיך בפייסבוק או במייל

  169. I’ve been working here for a year, and am staying for 2 more. Been to Eilat, Jerusalem, Haifa, Caesarea, Ashdod and some other sites for work or weekends with my family and my lovely Israeli friends. Sometimes I encounter Oren’s videos on Youtube and got a chuckle because I was walking in his shoes all along. He’s just that authentic.
    The guy is legit, and I just bought his booklet to support him. I also trust his guidebook will help me in many more weekends in Israel (especially now that Covid-19 is almost a non-issue here) so I won’t have to annoy my native friends for help anymore.

  171. Hi Oren,
    How long does it take to get from Terminal 3 to the train station?
    Last train to Hanayria is 9:45 PM and our flight scheduled to arrive at 8:00, can we make it?
    Thank you.

  173. Shalom Oren!

    Love your videos! Can you recommend sights/activities near Yavne’el (near the Kinneret) that we can see/do during the day during the heat wave? Trying to brainstorm options that won’t result in sunburns and heat strokes…. 🙂 Thanks!

  175. I am disappointed about your post. I feel it is quite racists towards German people.

    Did youeven engage alot with Germans whenyou lived there?

    Germans are not a homogeneous group, and do not all share the same political opinions.

    Also not all Germans are left or right. The extreme left or right are not the majority. Most people’s opinion is somewhere in the middle understanding both sides, the Palestinian and the Israeli.

    Personally in my family and circle of friends people are more pro Israel. But we all still feel very sad when we learnin the news about children being killed in the conflict, Israeli or Palestinian children.

  176. Hi Oren

    Love your videos, I appreciate your a critical thinker. My family is planning a trip to Israel in July. We would really like you to be our guide at least for a couple of days especially to the city of David and the Shrine of the Book. Speaking of the Essenes I noticed in your video about Yeshua you mentioned there were about 5000 Essenes I believe you got that from Josephus Flavius were he mentioned there were 4000 Essenes and about 5000 Pharisees I think he was speaking of Teachers in the two movement we both know there was way more than 5000 Pharisee is Judea. So he could only be speaking of Rabbis vs Masters (the title of Essene teachers) Since you are a critical deliberative thinker I would enjoy you showing me around. I practice what I call Davidic Judaism. My wife and I and daughter Ruth would be honored to take you and your wife and any children you have out for fine dinning as our guest. I think we would talk long into the night, laugh and enjoy learning more of varieties of perspectives. You are a true academic a rare thing in this politized world.

  179. Hi Oren,

    what are the contact details of Ety (not sure the spelling) the tour guide in your video? Or is he part of Shin Tours? We will be spending 6 days in Israel in June and will love to have a tour guide, or have him Ety if possible 🙂

  181. Hello
    I am from perth Australia. My family (2 adults and 2 kids )wish to visit the holy land and egypt (pyrmaid).. By july or October 2023. Approximately 10 – 15 days. As an Australian citizen…. I don’t need visa for israel.

    If we reach israel our own…. Are we able to join your group for the tour…. We are looking for group accomodation, food, tour all inclusive… Let me know