Israel is the ancestral and spiritual home of the Jewish people. Despite the tragedies and enforced exiles that drove Jews from their homeland, Jewish communities have lived continuously in Israel for nearly 4,000 years. Generations of exiles in the Diaspora expressed their yearning to return by reciting the phrase “next year in Jerusalem” at the end of every Passover Seder.
American Jews who explore Jewish heritage in Israel for the first time are amazed by the country’s rich history and the astonishing vibrancy of Israel’s surviving sacred sites. Standing in front of the Western Wall (Wailing Wall or Kotel) for the first time, and gazing up at the weatherbeaten stones from the Second Temple era, can be a powerful spiritual and emotional experience. Even secular Jews usually experience a sense of wonder and a deep connection to Jewish history and Judaism.
This article will help the first time visitor to plan a customized itinerary of profound cultural and spiritual experiences in Israel and explore Israeli and Jewish heritage. It will also provide some useful tips about choosing the perfect season for luxury travel and how to gain complete cultural immersion – even during a short trip.
Understanding Israel’s Spiritual Landscape
Most American Jews who only have a basic knowledge of Jewish heritage in Israel tend to focus on world famous religious sites in Jerusalem like the Western Wall, Temple Mount and King David’s Tomb. In fact, there are important religious sites scattered across Israel, including the Cave of the Patriarchs, and the tombs of famous rabbis, prophets and teachers. Too many American visitors also miss the opportunity to visit the mystical city of Safed and the beautiful Jewish city of Tiberias next to the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).
Gil Travel can organize private Jewish guided tours that take you far beyond the main tourist sites and allow you to explore the hidden heart of Israel’s Jewish spiritual history. Apart from the chance to visit some of Judaism’s most important and moving places, you’ll get to see Israel’s most beautiful scenery and eat in local restaurants or enjoy picnics in local nature reserves.
Essential Tips for First-Time Visitors
First time visitors to Israel are definitely recommended to travel in either the spring or autumn. The summer months can be uncomfortably hot, particularly if you’re planning to explore spiritual sites or archaeological sites on foot. Winters in Israel can be unpredictable. They’re not especially harsh, but rain and stormy weather is common and it can snow in Jerusalem and on the Northern hills.
Spring and autumn are a wonderful time to travel around Israel. The weather is sunny and pleasant and you’ll experience the country at its very best. If you travel in Springtime, the countryside will still be verdant and blooming after the winter rains. One thing to bear in mind is that the High Holidays may impact your visit. Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot can draw crowds to holy sites and affect flights and hotel bookings.
You may want to spend one of the holidays in Israel and aim for some cultural immersion by attending an Israeli seder or even joining Selichot prayer services at the Western Wall before Yom Kippur. Gil Travel can arrange for chauffeured private transport to get you around Israel and avoid dependence on public transport.
Must-Visit Sacred Sites
There’s no doubt that Israel’s capital Jerusalem is both the spiritual center of Judaism and the spiritual home of the Jewish people. One of the first destinations for American Jews is the Western Wall. It’s a 2,000 year old retaining wall that supported the expansion of the Temple Mount and the large lower level ashlars (stone blocks) were installed by Jewish builders and stonemasons at the time when the Second Temple was built.
Your first visit to the Western Wall is usually a special experience and can be a kind of spiritual milestone. It’s also as close as most Jews will come to the holiest site in Judaism: The Temple Mount. Due to a combination of religious restrictions and government regulations, Jews almost never visit the Temple Mount itself, but just being in proximity to the site where the first two Temples once stood is still a moving experience. Even secular Jews are struck by the sudden connection to their distant ancestral past.
Other spiritual sites in Jerusalem include the Tomb of King David on Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives (Har HaZeitim) where there is an ancient Jewish cemetery and the Hurva synagogue located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. Not far from Jerusalem is the city of Bethlehem where Rachael’s Tomb is located, while the traditional burial site of Samuel is found in the village of Nebi Samuel. If you want to visit either of these sites, Gil Travel may be able to arrange a full guided tour (depending on the local security situation).
One of the most important Jewish spiritual sites in Northern Israel is Mount Meron where the second century sage and kabbalist Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi) is buried. Another important Northern destination is the tomb of the Arizal (Rabbi Isaac Luria), another famous kabbalist who died in Safed in 1572. The Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue was built in his memory a century later.
If you are willing to travel to Hevron, you can visit the Cave of the Patriarchs (Ma’arat HaMachpelah) – The burial site of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. There are important security considerations when you make this journey, but Gil Travel will advise you about the local situation and help with your travel arrangements as part of a protected guided tour.
Immersing in Authentic Cultural Experiences
A big part of any first time trip to Israel is the chance to immerse yourself in Israeli culture and meet local Israelis. If you don’t already have family or friends in Israel, your first visit to the country may be a bit disorientating. However, once you get past the brusque and impatient exterior, Israelis are usually very warm and friendly people who take the time to welcome visitors (many also speak excellent English).
There’s always a lot going on in Israel and Gil Travel can suggest a wide range of enjoyable activities with something interesting for every age group. Depending upon the timing of your visit, there will probably be at least a few local festivals and religious ceremonies to choose from. As well as plenty of opportunities for cultural immersion when you meet local communities, and join private tours, workshops and cultural events, or even Israeli cookery classes or language classes.
Enhancing Your Spiritual Journey
If you’ve never travelled to Israel before, it’s a good idea to do some reading and brush up on Israel history and heritage, and to focus on any aspects of Judaism that particularly interest you. Even if you’re not particularly religious – or entirely secular – you may find that an exploration of Jewish heritage in Israel is a moving experience. If you want to meet Rabbis, visit synagogues and yeshivas, or attend lectures by scholars or kabbalists, your itinerary can be adapted to include a deeper spiritual dimension.
Is it Safe to Visit Israel?
The basic answer is that although the country is currently fighting a war on terror, it’s actually safe to visit Israel. Since the terrible pogroms on October 7th 2023, Israel has fought in Gaza and carried out successful missions against other regional enemies. There were rocket attacks on Israel but these have ceased. Inside Israel itself, crime is fairly low and tourists can walk around freely with a reasonable expectation of safety. Many first time visitors are surprised at how safe they feel compared to when they are in US cities.
Travel to Israel from the US is fairly simple. There are direct flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport. Gil Travel can arrange private transportation to your hotel from the airport and can supply luxury vehicles with vetted drivers and licensed guides for the duration of your stay.
Plan Your First Visit to Israel
Israel is a tiny country by US standards, but there is 4,000 years of Jewish history to explore and millennia of earlier archaeology and history. Israel is also the spiritual and historical home of the Jewish people and is the center of modern Judaism. Wherever you go in Israel, you are never far from the next historical or spiritual site – as well as some amazing modern cultural sites.
When you visit Israel for the first time, it’s definitely worth approaching your visit with an open mind. Whatever your preconceptions, Israel will surprise you. Hopefully, it will also delight you and provide many wonderful memories and an urge to return again!
Talk to Gil Travel today about planning a luxury tour with a tailored itinerary and experience the very best that Israel has to offer!
