Bed and Breakfasts, Country Cabins, Zimmers… no matter what you call them, these rural lodgings offer a unique and different view of Israel and are quickly becoming the popular alternative to big city hotels. They can be found all over Israel from towns to kibbutzim and farming communities. Some may be located next to farmers fields, orchards, or wineries while others are located close to historical sites and attractions and some are atop mountains or along the beaches.

Whatever you desire, from deserts, to oceans and beaches, to mountains, or farms and vineyards, zimmers are popping up anywhere and everywhere and are very accessible and popular with both locals and tourists alike. Most offer upscale accommodations with multiple amenities, like Jacuzzis, cable TV, wine, fireplaces, children’s playgrounds and swimming pools. And the prices are good too. Weekdays you can save up to half off the cost of staying in the city. However, the prices do go up on weekends as they have become a popular destination for city dwellers to get away to the country!

These wonderful alternatives to traditional accommodations offer rustic atmospheres accompanied by delicious local meals and an educational introduction to country living. For instance, some zimmers offer activities like harvesting produce, visiting the livestock, riding horses, visiting olive or wine pressing plants or riding in wagons.

Native Israelis have become so enthralled with zimmers that it has become a cottage industry and many are leaving the city to run a zimmer of their own. Recent figures show that the number of zimmers has increased by 40% over the past two years. So, no matter what you call them, they are definitely the new popular form of accommodations in Israel. After all, the best way to get to know a country is to talk to its residents and learn how they live.

Israel Tour Connection is the premier tour operator in North America. We guarantee a trip filled with a lifetime of memories. Don’t wait, contact us today to make your dream trip a reality.

Akko: Fishing boats in the bay, with the old Mediterranean sea wall

The Exhibition Focuses on Special Moments of Prayer by Artists of Various Faiths

A new group exhibition called Prayer has recently opened in the Okashi Art Museum in the Old City of Akko.  The exhibition features Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze, and Hindu artists using still photography and video exhibits to focus on special moments of prayer in Israel and other areas around the world.

Open to the public, the Prayer exhibit runs alongside other temporary exhibitions of contemporary Israeli art, as well as the permanent exhibitions of the late Israeli artist Avshalom Okashi, whose works were inspired by the scenery, human landscape and spirituality of Israel.

Akko: Old Mediterranean sea wall and promenade

The Old City of Akko has been identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist destination for visitors to northern Israel. Tourism Commission, North and South America, Haim Gutin, says that “Akko is one of the most important cities of ancient times and has so much to offer all travelers. The remains of various cultures make Akko a distinct combination of art and religion.”

Akko has a unique blend of East and West, featuring the colorful Oriental Bazaar, historical buildings dating back to Roman times, including Ottoman-era buildings, the subterranean Crusader city, Turkish baths, Templars Tunnel, an ancient fishing port, and much more.

Let Israel Tour Connection plan and organize your tour to Israel.

For more info, please contact us at:
Web - IsraelTours.com
Phone – 973 535-2575
Email -  info@israeltours.com

Image from freeisraelphotos.com

Ein Avdat – Nature At Its Finest

Spectacular views… pristine trails and canyons… natural beauty and wildlife… that’s the Ein Avdat National Park. Ein Avdat is a breathtakingly beautiful narrow canyon in the Zin Valley of Israel’s Negev Desert, and home to a number of springs that flow into two deep pools via spectacular waterfalls.

The Ein Avdat National Park runs the full length of the canyon and has two entrances – one at the bottom of the canyon and one at the top. The top (Southern) entrance affords a magnificent panoramic view of the canyon. Many tourists come just for the view and never even enter the canyon. The bottom (Northern) entrance’s parking lot is just adjacent to the spring of Ein Mor and the riverbed trails. These trails follow the riverbed as the canyon gets narrower and the cliffs rise higher. After a bit the walls of the canyon close up completely and a stunning waterfall cascades into the pool down each side of an artificial divider dam.

In 1956, Israeli teens carved steps into the cliff just before the waterfall. These steps, which have been improved by the National Parks Authority over the years, lead up to a trail that crosses the stream back and forth, ultimately leading to a carved rock water channel. Also nearby is a two-room man-made hermit cave that was once inhabited by the monks. The park has many trails for both the amateur and experienced hiker to enjoy. Since this area has been inhabited for thousands of years, many artifacts, such as flint tools, have been found that date back to 80,000-90,000 years making this an important area for archaeologists.

During the time of the Spice Routes, Avdat became a popular station along the Nabatean Spice Route and had thriving cities. In the Byzantine period, it became a Christian city and the canyon was inhabited by monks. When the kibbutz Sdeh Boker and the road to Eliat were completed, a trail was constructed giving easy access to any travelers or hikers.

Today, Ein Avdat is acclaimed as one of Israel’s most beautiful natural spots. The park is a reserve for ibex, griffin and other birds of prey and a popular destination for travelers who enjoy nature at its finest.

Israel Tour Connection is the premier tour operator in North America. We guarantee a trip filled with a lifetime of memories. Don’t wait, contact us today to make your dream trip a reality.

Tel Aviv, often called “the city that never stops,” was the first modern Jewish city built in Israel and is the country’s economic and cultural center. It is a lively, active city filled with entertainment, culture, art, festivals and a right nightlife.

Situated on a 14 kilometer strip on the Mediterranean seacoast, Tel Aviv extends beyond the Yarkon River to the north and the Avalon River to the east. Hundreds of thousands of workers, visitors, tourists and partygoers enjoy the city’s nightclubs, restaurants and entertainment venues all day and night.

History

Tel Aviv’s history dates back to Jaffa (Yafo), the 3,000 year old city that lies to its southwest. The current Old City of Jaffa was built during the Ottoman Empire and its stone houses and narrow alleyways now house the picturesque artists’ quarter and tourist center.

Among the main attractions of Old Jaffa are Gan HaPisga – the Summit Garden with its restaurants, galleries, shops with Judaica, and unique atmosphere. Also popular are the seaside promenade and walls of the old city and the visitors center in the old courtyard; and the fishing port.

There are also several important Christian sites in Old Jaffa such as the Church of Saint Peter, which dates back to the 17th century, the house of Simon the Tanner where Peter had his vision of the non-kosher animals, and the tomb of Tabitha, whose righteous deeds enabled Peter to raise her from the dead. Other sites around Jaffa include the Ottoman clock tower, a vibrant flea market that is always worth visiting, and the Ajami neighborhood.

In 1909 sixty-six Jewish families who resided in Jaffa established the first neighborhood of what would later become the city of Tel Aviv. The neighborhood, called “Akhuzat Bayit” (homestead) was originally within Jaffa. In 1910 the neighborhood continued to expand and was renamed Tel Aviv. Other new neighborhoods were added until it eventually became the center of the Yishuv – the Jewish settlement in Palestine at the time. On May 14, 1948, while in Tel Aviv, David Ben Gurion declared the independence of the State of Israel.

The former Akhuzat Bayit neighborhood, which extends between Montifiore Street and Yehuda HaLevi, is the historical nucleus of Tel Aviv. To the west is the neighborhood of Neveh Tsedek, which was the first Jewish neighborhood to be established outside Jaffa in 1887. This neighborhood was renovated in the 1980s and today is a picturesque and charming neighborhood with many of the original houses still standing.

Surrounding Akhuzat Bayit are many buildings built in the eclectic style that was popular in Tel Aviv in the 1920s. Clusters of buildings built in this style can be found on Nakhlat Binyamin and in the “heart of the city” – the triangle between Shenkin Street, Rothschild Boulevard, and Allenby Street.

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Israel’s kibbutz communities are a true “one of a kind” experience. Beginning as farms, they are situated in Israel’s most fertile and scenic areas where they represent a unique and rural way of life. Beginning at the turn of the 20^th century and growing to over 270 kibbutzim today, these communities have thrived because of their willingness to change with the times, all the while keeping to their hallmark beliefs of sharing and passion for the land.

Kibbutzim are family friendly and many operate hotels, shops, galleries and other attractions and tourist services. But, if you want to have a really unforgettable kibbutz experience, you can volunteer to work at a kibbutz for a minimum of two months to a maximum of six months. Kibbutz landscapes range from deserts to green pastures or waterscapes making each one unique. Visiting a kibbutz is an ideal way to make life-long friends and experience Israel at the same time.

Israel’s kibbutz communities are nestled in its most scenic and fertile landscapes the country has to offer. Because of this, they are world-famous and represent a unique yet rural way of life whose historic hallmark is sharing. The kibbutz movement began around the turn of the 20th century. Groups of young pioneers from Eastern Europe decided to combine their commitment to egalitarianism and their love of nature and working the land with their Zionist creed. These first kibbutzniks, as members of these communities are called, founded Degania on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which to this day is still booming and going strong.

Currently there are approximately 270 kibbutzim throughout the country. An interesting fact is that even though the kibbutz movement is famous, only about 1.5% of Israel’s population has chosen this way of life. The number of participants may be small, but the impact they have is huge. It is impossible to imagine Israel without the kibbutzim. Their contribution to agriculture, industry, a first home for immigrants and in the early years, defense of its borders, have all had a positive and long-lasting impact on Israel.

What’s the Kibbutz secret of longevity and success? Many say that it’s been their willingness to change with the times. For example, more than a generation ago, they gave up the idea of having children sleep in group quarters watched over by kibbutz caregivers. In the “old days” this was considered essential to maximize working hands. Today, some kibbutzim have decided to foster greater individual enterprise, while continuing to share elements of their cultural and social lives, while others have kept the traditional framework of a redistribution of the resources of all members.

Since all kibbutzim began as farms, they are located in Israel’s most beautiful regions making them an alluring destination for visitors. Plus many also operate hotels and/or bed-and-breakfast facilities, craft shops, galleries and other attractions and tourist services. In fact, visitors who not only want to meet these unusual folks but also enjoy their hospitality can plan their entire Israel trip staying overnight only at kibbutzim! With lots of room to run around outdoors, kibbutz accommodations are great for families with young children. Some kibbutzim run tours of their community, and boast museums of their pioneering days and the heritage sites and artifacts found right on their land.

If you want an unforgettable opportunity to get acquainted with kibbutz life, plan to volunteer to work on one of the 30 or so kibbutzim. You can commit to a minimum of two months to a maximum of six months. And, you can have visit a kibbutz that “fits” you the best! If you love green pastures and waterscapes, look for a kibbutz in northern Israel’s Hula Valley or near the Sea of Galilee. Or if dramatic desert landscapes are more to your liking, try the Negev or the Arava areas where you can help make arid land bloom! It’s a great way to make life-long friends among the kibbutzniks and others from around the world, and to see Israel at the same time.

Israel Museum, Jerusalem

It comes as no surprise that a country so diverse and rich in history would be home to so many museums. There is literally a museum to match anyone’s taste in art. From the large Tel Aviv Art Museum that has collections ranging from current artists to ones from the Renaissance, to the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel) Museum that shares its grounds with a Philistine port city dating back 3,000 years, and a host of others in between!

For example, another museum of interest is the Haifa Art Museum, located in the 1869 German Colony’s Templar Town Hall with its emphasis on the Jewish-Muslim-Christian-Druze city. Others of note are the Ralli Museum known for its Spanish Villa architecture and support of budding artists, and the naturally lit Museum of Art Ein Harod that overlooks the Jezreel Valley and Mount Gilboa. And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to museums!

The Tel Aviv Art Museum
The Tel Aviv Art Museum’s permanent collection is the city’s largest and includes over 20,000 prints and drawings, as well as paintings and sculpture. The collection houses the works of recent Israel artists, Renaissance European art and pieces from the Renaissance, impressionist and modern eras. The Helena Rubenstein Pavilion has both permanent and temporary exhibits and is a remote branch of the museum located in the city center next to the Frederic Mann Auditorium and Habimah Theatre.

Address: 27 Shderot Sha’ul ha-Melekh St., Tel Aviv-Yafo
Phone: 03-6077020
Fax: 03-6958099
Web Page: http://www.tamuseum.com/

Parking: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

The Land of Israel (Eretz Israel) Museum, Tel Aviv
The Land of Israel Museum contains an entire world of visual, cultural, and historical treasures. The collections are displayed in different pavilions devoted to glass, ceramics, coins, philately, Judaica, ethnography and folklore. The museum grounds house the archeological site of Tel Kasila, a Philistine port city dating back more than 3,000 years. In addition to the archaeological site, there is a planetarium simulating space flight, the fire engine donated in 1948 by the City of New York to Israel’s first fire brigade, and a plaza with ancient mosaics and an olive press.

Address: 2 Khayim Levanon St., Tel Aviv-Yafo
Phone: 03-6415244
Fax: 03-6412408
Web Page: http://www.eretzmuseum.org.il/main/site/index.php3?mod=firstPage&langId=1

Parking: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

The Haifa Art Museum
Located in the historic 1869 German Colony’s Templar Town Hall, the Haifa Art Museum has both permanent and temporary exhibits of modern Israeli and international art. The emphasis of the exhibits are on the unique quality of Haifa as an integrated Jewish-Muslim-Christian-Druze city.

 For more information, visit: http://www.haifamuseums.org.il

Ralli Museum
The Ralli Museum in Caesarea is one of four museums in the world founded by art collector, Harry Recanati, whose goal is to support budding contemporary artists. The museum is built in the form of a Spanish villa and exhibits European and Latin American art as well as the works of promising artists. For more information, visit: http://www.rallimuseums.org/

The Museum of Art Ein Harod
Located at Kibbutz Ein Harod, this is the largest museum in the northern Israel. The museum is naturally lit and overlooks the Jezreel Valley and Mount Gilboa. Numerous Israeli artists have exhibited their works here and it possesses a rich collection of Judaica, photographs and graphics. For more information, visit: http://www.museumeinharod.org.il/english/

Let Israel Tour Connection plan and organize your tour to Israel.

For more info, please contact us at:
Web -      IsraelTours.com
Phone –  973 535-2575
Email -   info@israeltours.com

The Western Wall Tunnel

Faith, culture and history join together at the Western Wall in a special way that makes Israel unique. Revered as the last remnant of the Second Temple, The Western Wall is Judaism’s most sacred site. Thanks to King Solomon and his invitation for everyone (1 King 8:41-42) “to turn here in prayer,” visitors of all faiths and cultures can feel a special bond.

You’ll find worshippers here day and night. And on Bar Mitzvah days (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays), families from around the world and across Israel crowd the plaza to celebrate their son’s first public Bible reading at age 13. Jews from every continent, each with their own customs, music, dress and liturgy, mingle together making this an unforgettable and colorful cultural event. Many visitors find that placing a traditional prayer note in the ancient stones gives them a treasured memory.

The nearby Western Wall Tunnel is a true treat for archaeology and history buffs. At over 180 feel long and over 60 feet high, the massive open-air portion of the Western Wall astounds visitors. Most of its nearly 1,700 foot original length lies beneath today’s Old City.

Enormous Herodian stones in The Western Wall Tunnel

The tunnels were constructed using numerous arches placed side-by-side, with staircases going from the city to the Temple Mount. In ancient times there was a shallow valley called the Tyropaean running along the western side of the Temple Mount that separated the rich Herodian quarter from the Temple. Today, the valley has been filled in as the result of constant demolition and rebuilding. This valley was the reason the arches had to be built. In fact, these pathways still hold up the streets today with the tunnel going directly beneath the Muslim quarter.

Feel history with your fingertips by reaching out in the tunnel to touch portions of the huge arches that supported Jerusalem’s streets over the millennia, the homes later built among them and the Western Wall itself with some building blocks being the most massive ever discovered. Exit the tunnel and you are brought back to present-day Jerusalem with a lasting memory and new appreciation for this magnificent and moving site.

Let Israel Tour Connection plan and organize your tour to Israel.

For more info, please contact us at:
Web -      IsraelTours.com
Phone –  973 535-2575
Email -   info@israeltours.com

Situated on top of a mountain surrounded by steep sides and a flat top, and built by King Herod in the year 30 BCE, the view is a desert panorama to the west and the Dead Sea to the east. At the beginning of the great revolt against Rome in the year 69 BCE, the site was conquered by a group of Jewish zealots who made Masada
 their last stronghold. In the year 72, the Romans besieged Masada  and succeeded in scaling the steep walls to the fortress by constructing a huge earthen ramp on its western side. Then in the year 73, 960 Jewish zealots living on the summit of Masada  chose to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of the Romans. Their deeds left behind a saga of courage, heroism and martyrdom.

The remains of the fortress of Masada are very well preserved and have been reconstructed in an ongoing effort to pay homage to the site and its heroic inhabitants. The most impressive structure is King Herod’s northern palace, built on three rock terraces overlooking the gorge below. A large Roman style bathhouse with a colorful mosaic floor and walls decorated with murals is nearby. Masada  has many other buildings, such as the luxurious western palace, the mikveh (Jewish ritual bath), storerooms, watchtowers, synagogue and artifacts of decorated pottery, scrolls and coins, help relive the history. The embossments and murals discovered on the walls of some of the buildings were restored by Italian experts in order to preserve them for years to come.

Masada is situated atop an extremely high mountain. One can ascend on foot by the winding “snake path” or by a cable car that runs from the tourist center at the foot of the mountain to the top. The tourist center also features a movie about the story of Masada , a model of the site and an exhibit of the archaeological findings.

A visit to Masada  is a thrilling and exciting experience. The chilling story and the archaeological remains contribute to the special atmosphere of the site that preserves its magnificent past. In 2000, readers of Traveler Magazine rated Masada  as the best tourist site of its type in the world and in 2001, UNESCO declared Masada a World Heritage Site.

Let Israel Tour Connection plan and organize your tour to Israel.

For more info, please contact us at:
Web -      IsraelTours.com
Phone –  973 535-2575
Email -   info@israeltours.com

The extraordinary range of Israel’s dance scene extends from ballet to modern, jazz, ethnic, ballroom, and folk dancing––your opportunity to dance your feet off among the locals.

Ballroom dancing became popular thanks to new Israelis from the former Soviet Union. Of course, the Russian influence is also strong in Israel’s classical ballet.

Dance lovers should time their trip to coincide with the summer Israel Festival or the fall Tel Aviv-Yaffo International Dance Festival, both of which host premier Israeli companies like Bat Sheva, the Israel Ballet and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, alongside prestigious international troupes. Another summer favorite is Galilee’s Karmiel International Dance Festival, with thousands of dancers showcasing folk and ethnic dance in particular. The Inbal Ethnic Dance Center draws its inspiration from the Bible and the dance heritage of Yemenite and other cultures, while Jerusalem’s Vertigo tends toward the fringe of modern dance.

Israel’s trademark dance is the Hora, with which people famously took to the streets to celebrate when the state was born in 1948. The Hora and other circle dances draw on both Eastern European traditions and the Arab debka. Folk dancing is popular with Israelis of all ages and visitors are welcome to join the fun: your hotel staff will happily refer you to an evening of Israeli folk dancing.

www.iballet.co.il
www.suzannedellal.org.il/
www.batsheva.co.il
www.karmielfestival.co.il
www.kcdc.co.il

Carmen at Masada - The Israeli Opera Festival

The free spirited gypsy Carmen sings about freedom as she falls in love with the soldier José and then with the toreador Escamillo. Fiery Spanish dances and seductive arias in a huge celebration performed by hundreds of participants by the Mt. of Masada. Love, scorching passion and hate that knows no boundries conducted by Daniel Oren.

Length of performance: approx. three hours and 30 minutes

ITC Tours offers tickets to Carmen at Masada while on a ITC Tour

For additional information please contact us at http://www.israeltours.com/contact.asp 

Dates: Thu June 7, (10PM), Sat June 9,. (10PM), Sun June 10, (10PM) 2012