Intriguing Facts about Israel

Israel’s generosity extends to thousands. In fact, Israel once airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews at risk in Ethiopia to safety in Israel. People all around the world visit Israel only to be engulfed by its beauty. For this reason, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth.

Read more interesting facts about Israel here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1600302/posts

Gil Travel can take care of planning an unforgettable tours to Israel. For more information please visit http://www.giltravel.com or call 1-800-223-3855.

A historic must see during your next trip to Cairo

In addition the splendors of Egypt, there is now yet another reason to take a tour to Cairo. The historic Maimonides' synagogue in the ancient Jewish quarter has been reopened after two years of restorations.

The synagogue, known in Egypt by its Arabic name of Musa bin Maymun, is named after the 12th century Jewish scholar, philosopher and physician. Maimonides was born in Cordoba, Spain, in 1135 and fled from persecution to Egypt where he died in 1204.

Read more here: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3859474,00.html

For more information on our guaranteed tours of Egypt and Jordan, call 800-223-3855.

Interesting feature on CNBC on Israel's economic growth

Came across an interesting interview with Dan Senor, the co-author of 'Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle.'

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1311023934&play=1

Dan shared some interesting theories about some of the factors helping Israel's economic growth-- very interesting facts. Whether you take an Israel tour for pleasure or business, Gil Travel can help plan your trip.

How to Plan Jewish Heritage Travel for Children & Teens

Planning an Israel family vacation presents an exciting opportunity for children and teens to learn about culture and history. Israel offers a unique atmosphere of culture and adventure to give younger family members an educational experience that is not only informative, but fun.

Susan Blum, manager of the Israel Department at Gil Travel a leader in Israel tours and Jewish heritage travel since 1974, shares insight into how an Israel vacation can be fun for all ages, especially children and teens.

Choose An Israel Tour Guide That Has Experience With Children.

According to Blum, choosing the right tour guide can play a major role in the overall quality of the tour.

“Some guides have more experience with children than others, but across the board the tour guides in Israel are the most renowned in the world. Many of our guides have taken psychology courses to better relate to and interact with children,” Blum reports. “We make a strong effort to match each guide with the type of people on a particular tour, in order to find the guide that is most suitable to each group’s age range and interests.”

Incorporate Adventure Into Your Family Tour To Israel.
“Jewish heritage travel is packed full of history, and we aim to present the information in a way that is interactive and fun for children,” Blum says. “Of course, not every group wants to dive into the water or go for a plane ride, but for those that do have an adventurous side, Israel offers many exciting opportunities to experience extraordinary adventure.”

Just some of Blum’s favorite educational Israel adventures include:

· A donkey ride at Kfar Kedem, where travelers can actually hitch a plow to one of the donkeys and work the land or put their shoulder to the wheel of an ancient grindstone to prepare the whole-grain flour.

· A jeep ride up the Golan Heights, one of Israel's most beautiful and controversial regions.

· A chance to pet the kangaroos at Gan Guru.

· A swim in the Gan Hashlosha water springs.

· A trip to the new Jerusalem Zoo and Wohl Archeological Center

· A (surprisingly affordable) plane ride over the Dead Sea.

Have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah In Israel.

“Celebrating your special day at a historic place, as part of an Israel tour, strengthens your family’s ties both to each other and to Judaism,” Blum explains.

“We have guided countless families in arranging for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Israel,” she reports. “From helping find a Rabbi for the ceremony to arranging all the details of the celebration, we’re experienced in every aspect of Bar or Bat Mitzvah planning. We can also plan anniversary parties, wedding vow renewals and any other special family celebrations in Israel.”

For more information about Jewish heritage travel, please visit Gil Travel at http://www.giltravel.com or call 1-800-223-3855.