Today in Israel we celebrate the day 51 years ago when Jerusalem was reunified under Jewish sovereignty for the first time in two thousand years! … Read More
The Blog
Israel: People, Torah, Land
The Unstoppable Israeli Demographic Juggernaut
A chorus of Jeremiahs have been predicting Israel’s demographic demise since before the state was born. They could not have been more wrong. … Read More
Making Sense of ‘West Bank,’ ‘Judea and Samaria’ and areas ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’
The origin and meaning of terms referring to the ‘West Bank’ or ‘Judea and Samaria’ and the different areas there are really confusing. Here’s what they mean and how they got to be as they are now. … Read More
Saul’s Death and David’s Curse: Mount Gilboa
Saul’s death, David’s curse, Gideon’s army, Elisha’s miracles, and more took place here in the Jezreel valley. … Read More
Staying Safe in Israel, Summer and Winter, Advice and Resources
Ten teenagers on a school hike were recently killed in a flash flood. The most dangerous thing for a tourist in Israel is the weather. Here are some tips to keep yourself safe. … Read More
Special Torah Themed Tours
Day tours are usually defined by geography. What happens when you build a tour around Torah values and ideas? … Read More
Israel’s 70th Independence Day
On the 5th of Iyar 5708 (May 15, 1948), the two thousand year dream of an exiled people to return home was fulfilled. Three years after the Holocaust, the Jewish state took up arms, with the help of G-d, to chart our own destiny. And we have the audio!!!
Fire up the grill and have a listen to prepare for Thursday’s festivities! … Read More
Holocaust Remembrance Day: What’s Left to Say
Over seventy years after the Holocaust, what’s left to say about it? That’s the question Thane Rosenbaum addresses in a recent article. We take up that question, discuss his answer, and also ask whether the Holocaust is really so different, where it stands in Jewish history, and what does it demand of us? In this week’s Jewish Geography Podcast. … Read More
When is the Priestly Blessing on Passover and Sukkot in Jerusalem
Twice a year, during the intermediate days of Passover and again on Sukkot, masses of people descend on the Western Wall plaza to be blessed simultaneously by hundreds of priests, Cohanim. Here’s the formula so you’ll always know which day it’s on. … Read More
How Much Should I Tip in Israel?
One of the most common questions I’m asked as a tour guide in Israel is, “How much do I tip …?” Here’s the answer for the most likely cases! … Read More
Passover Playlist for Our Times
Anti-semitic attacks in France got you down? Hamas and Hezbollah on your mind? Have no fear. Here’s a little timeless, [mostly] Jewish, musical wisdom to get you into the holiday spirit! … Read More
The Jewish Calendar and Your Israel Trip
If you don’t plan your trip to Israel with the Hebrew calendar in mind you may be in for some rude surprises! Here’s everything you need to know. … Read More
7 Rules for Packing for Your Israel Tour
Packing for a trip to Israel can involve some unique challenges. These seven simple rules will help you make sure you bring everything you need, and nothing you don’t. … Read More
Passover Cleaning for Humans
Clean your house for Passover without completely losing your mind. And while you’re here, check out the snazzy new version of rabbieitan.com! … Read More
5 Non-Tourist-Sites to Transform your Israel Trip
Want to tour in Israel but avoid the standard tourist sites? Here are 5 ways to add a touch of local flavor and culture to your time here. … Read More
Divided Roads
When I was in the tour guiding course we went to Nazareth and visited the White Mosque. It’s a beautiful old mosque, made of white stone, rising above the alleyways of the old city. An elderly man showed us up to … Read More
3 Things You Should Never Say to Yourself
Lots of memes tell you what not to say. Here are some tools for how to listen. … Read More
Layers: Tel Me a Story (The Land of Israel, Jerusalem, and the layers of history and meaning that define it)
In ancient times before the written word there was a tribe, worshipers of the gods of the land. They walked along footpaths into the hills of the high country between the great sea and the sea of death, where nothing … Read More
Layers: The Story of Jerusalem Stone
The story of how a dead crustacean 70 million years ago became part of the holy landscape, the Western Wall, and a worldwide symbol of Jerusalem. … Read More
Wild Places in Israel, Close By
There are wild places, where you can experience nature a mere ten minutes away from Jerusalem. … Read More