Covington Affiliate Vacation Advisor Rhona Arenstein has a love affair with Israel for more than 40 years. This year, she returned once again for a trip that was unlike any she had taken before.

My History with Israel

In 1974, my sister moved to Israel to live on a Kibbutz in the Northern Galilee of Israel. I decided to go with her to help her get settled and stay for a while. I was 22 and had never traveled to this part of the world. That summer changed my life in so many ways that it is impossible to recount them all.

My next trip was in 1984 with a group of people from all over the country who were going on a Jewish Federation trip, typically referred to as a Mission.

After that, I traveled to Israel with Virginia’s then-Governor Baliles, my husband who was Special Assistant for Policy to the governor, and 150 business people from Richmond for the culmination of the established Virginia-Israel Commission.

Another trip with Virginia’s Lt. Governor Don Beyer, Virginia Commonwealth University President Gene Trani and his wife, and numerous trips followed… approximately 15 total.

This trip was going to be different. There would be limited structure and I would not be on an organized tour. The primary purpose of this trip was to visit our Kibbutz, our Kibbutz Father and his children and grandchildren with whom we have maintained a relationship for 43 years.

What is a Kibbutz?

In the 1970s, Kibbutz life was prevalent all over the country. I described this lifestyle as similar to a commune, where everyone works for the purpose of the kibbutz and lives within the boundaries of the Kibbutz. Kibbutz members were given housing, food and monthly monetary allowances in exchange for the work each member provided to the community. This concept does not apply today and most of them are now privatized. They are often included on tours for visitors to see and understand this lifestyle. In fact, there are kibbutzim that have tourist guesthouses for this purpose. It’s a very interesting concept and great technology and products have been derived from many of these Kibbutzim.

Most kibbutzim have transitioned from agriculture to technology and manufacture products that are sold worldwide. Kibbutz Dan produces caviar that is sold all over the world and is used by some of the finest New York chefs. They have a winery and still grow avocados and many other fruits and vegetables. Their factory produces retractable roofing, which is sold and used in commercial buildings such as at Disney World.

Tel Aviv, Israel

This fall my sister and I departed from Newark on United Airlines headed for Tel Aviv. Upon arrival, we picked up a car and were on our way to our first stop. Rhona’s tip: I highly recommend getting the most insurance you can. The Israelis drive very fast! For a few dollars extra per day, you can buy full coverage, which will protect you in any situation you may encounter.

After checking into our hotel we decided to stay up for as long as possible to get over our jet lag and the time difference so we took a walk to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. The museum has a permanent collection but also exhibits art from private collections worldwide. Rhona’s tip: The Dan Tel Aviv is in a prime seafront promenade location, or the David InterContinental in the SoHo of Neve Tzedek is close to the old city of Jaffa. Covington provides complimentary upgrades (when available), breakfast, and more at both hotels.

That evening we went with friends to Old Jaffa, which is a “must see” for tourists. Jaffa is a fascinating mixture of old and new architecture and a myriad of winding streets through an artist colony. In the evening people enjoy dinners in the many outdoor cafes. At the center of the town is the famous Clock Square. Of course, the views of the Mediterranean Sea are breathtaking.

Jerusalem Area

Over the next few days, we visited friends and family in a beautiful area called Neve Ilan, situated in the hills surrounding Jerusalem. I had never experienced home hospitality while in Israel. Rhona’s tip: Many tours now offer this and I think it is a wonderful way to understand the people and their culture. We even experienced a spiritual wedding in a Forrest Reserve, which is the trendy thing to do in Israel now.

While with our hosts, we visited my favorite Arab village, Abu Ghosh with the best Mediterranean food in the area. Another day included a trip to what was once a quarry and now a unique stalactite cave called the Avshalom Caves. I would compare this to Virginia’s Luray Caverns.

Many years ago I was fortunate to participate in a rescue mission that brought Ethiopian Jews from Gondar, Ethiopia to Israel. I learned of a family of jewelers who had created a factory and livelihood to teach Ethiopians the trade. I wanted to see the factory and meet with these people. My sister and I ventured out again to find this remote area near Jerusalem to have another interesting experience. Of course, I had to buy a piece o their jewelry. Rhona’s tip: The factory is called YVEL and you can find their works in Jewelry stores throughout the United States and even here in Richmond.

On our way to the factory, we made a stop in the village of Ein Karem in the Judean hills near Jerusalem. We visited the Well of Miriam where legend says that Mary stopped to drink from the village springs. Today it is located in a mosque, but Christian Pilgrim groups stop here to fill their water bottles. We also visited the Church of St. John the Baptist. You can also find the Church of the Visitation, located on the hill overlooking the city with the beautiful panorama of the Judean Hills.

Rhona’s tip: While in Jerusalem, I was able to get a glimpse of the new Waldorf Astoria Hotel and also visit my favorite hotel The King David. Both are superb properties. Covington provides complimentary upgrades (when available), breakfast, and more at both hotels.

Haifa, Israel

When we left the Jerusalem area, we traveled north to visit friends in a small picturesque town called Binyamina located near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. We stayed there for a few nights and experienced the area as locals.

We took a day trip to the port of Haifa, went to a local flea market and made a visit a visit to the Bahia Temple with its amazing 19 terraces of geometric gardens located on Mt. Carmel. Rhona’s tip: The Bahai Gardens are included in UNESCO’S World Heritage List and recognized for their “outstanding universal value” as a holy place. Our visit to the Shrine and surrounding gardens was a highlight of our Haifa Tour.

On our way back to Binyamina, we stopped at another artist’s colony called Ein Hod, which consists of artists’ galleries and a small museum. We stopped for ice cream in Zichron Yaacov, one of the first Jewish settlements, founded by Baron Edmund de Rothchild. The city is known for its winery and their frozen yogurt is to die for!

Kibbutz Dan

We continued to head north with the ultimate goal of Kibbutz Dan, making a stop for a visit in a town called Safed. This is a city where most of the Synagogues originate from the early 1600s. It is considered the most mystical city in all of Israel where many are waiting for the return of the Messiah. This is where the Kabbalah Center that promotes Jewish Mysticism is found. We visited one of the original homes, the Meiri House Museum which has been turned into a museum of the elders and then wandered among the narrow cobblestoned passages to see the many artists’ galleries. We watched one of the silversmiths while he was creating a silver menorah. Rhona’s tip: If you are looking for a religious object d’art, this is the place!

Next, a visit to our Kibbutz Dan family. These few days were filled with celebrating the holiday of Rosh Hashanah together, meeting friends my sister knew over 40 years ago. We were amazed at the growth of the kibbutz. Our hosts took us on a geopolitical tour of the Golan Heights area. One day we saw the border of Lebanon and the next day we saw the border of Syria. Of course, we stopped to eat some authentic food in a Druze village on the way back. The abundance of local food and hospitality was overwhelming.

Independent Travel versus Escorted Tour

My independent travel in Israel did not include many of the traditional sites I would recommend for a first-timer since this was a “family and friends” trip. For a first trip to Israel, I recommend a structured tour to experience a mix of historical and religious sites, Dead Sea spas, and local culture. I have been working with the tour operator Isram Israel for over 30 years and highly recommend them as the supplier tour operator of choice. They offer escorted tours of all types, depending on one’s interest, and unique ways to experience Israel.