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June 15, 2007
Israel's many choices
Check out the beaches, mountains, night spots.
FREEMAN PORITZ
Summer vacations are good, but a summer vacation in Israel is even
better. Just being in the Holy Land provides a spiritual boost and,
more often than not, visitors start reviewing the meaning of their
religious-cultural identity.
If you're in need of a break from the possibility of Vancouver rain
in June and July, and don't mind sweating a bit, Tel-Aviv, situated
on Israel's western coastline, could be your ideal destination.
Average summer temperatures range from 18-32 degrees Celsius –
perfect for hanging out at the beach. The city boasts several trendy
restaurants and superb nightlife. In addition, Tel-Aviv provides
a great base to travel throughout Israel. The country's small size
makes it easy to cover the major attractions in a little more than
a week.
A history buff will never get enough of Israel. You can spend weeks,
if not months, touring and exploring the old cities of Jerusalem,
Safed, Jaffa and Acre. Walking along the ramparts of these places
and seeing the historical remains of when other nations were dominant
in the Holy Land provides a much different perspective from the
newer, ultra-modern Israeli cities of Modi'in, Ra'anana and Shoham.
Religious sites of all three major monotheistic faiths – Judaism,
Christianity and Islam – abound all over the country. Haifa,
meanwhile, serves as home to the beautiful central shrine of the
Baha'i faith – the Baha'i Gardens.
If you like the beach a lot, then you won't be leaving Tel-Aviv
very often. If holy sites are your thing, then you will want to
spend most of your time in Jerusalem. Want to speak Hebrew? Try
working and learning the language at one of Israel's estimated 268
kibbutzim. What about hiking and camping? The famous Israel Trail,
which connected many of Israel's hiking trails into one continuous
trail, provides a 30- to 70-day long hike if done straight through
from beginning to end. The hike covers almost all of Israel, from
the border with Lebanon to the Red Sea - an exciting prospect for
someone who loves nature and desperately wants to get away from
urban life and try something new.
There is also a continuous demand for volunteer workers and interns
in Israel. Anyone can volunteer for Magen David Adom, the Israeli
equivalent to the Red Cross, and will be given a quick cram course
in first aid before being sent out into the field as a supporting
hand to the regular professional medical evacuation teams. Anyone
interested in finding an internship in Israel to beef up their resume
can check out the Jewish Agency's year-round Stagerim program, with
a list of potential employers that includes the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and the International Centre for
Peace in the Middle East, among many others.
The Dead Sea is quite possibly the most unusual and unique location
in Israel, providing the opportunity to float on water due to the
extremely high salt density. Situated 416 metres below sea level,
the Dead Sea is essentially the only major body of water in the
world in which you cannot drown. However, too much time in the highly
concentrated salt water will begin to cause burning sensations and
will force you to retreat to your resort for a quality Israeli beverage.
For more information on travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com/tourism_eng.
Freeman Poritz lived in Israel from 2004-2007. He is now
a Vancouver freelance writer.
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