Hey! I’m from Tel Aviv, really enjoyed hearing about your perspective and experiences! So Purim is the best holiday! I don’t know if you found yourselves in any the amazing street parties, with tens of thousands of costume wearing people partying for days... the clubs are amazing, and the food is what we are really proud of, some cultures cares for their houses, or clothing, we care about the quality of our food, and the parties we go to at night! I’m surprised you guys didn’t spend time on our famous beaches, that’s our central park, maybe it wasn’t warm enough when you were there. There are endless museums and archaeological sites to see, and a lot of nature too. The dead sea and the deserts has a lot to offer, Jerusalem is a two days tour at least, the Sea of Galilee ... best time to come is definitely spring (from the end of February to the beginning of May, when it gets too hot). I wander how you imagined it before you got here, and what surprised you?
Thanks so much for your tips! We will definitely need them on our next visit. Our trip was so short and under such strange circumstances that I am not really sure what I expected? I thought my first trip to Israel would be much longer and in-depth, but we had the opportunity to go so we took it! It was a little too cold for laying out on the beach when we were there. I have a friend who has visited a few times and he's told me stories of the amazing parties. I think for our next trip we'd want to spend a few days enjoying Tel Aviv and all the fun things there and then a few days exploring historical sites and other cities like Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. I grew up in a town called Nazareth which was adjacent to a town called Bethlehem, so for some reason I've always wanted to see the original places. Thanks for watching our video! If you ever need any tips for LA/Philly/NYC let me know! I've lived in all of those cities. :)
Israeli here, here's how Jewish you are: At around 13:35 you said you wanted to "go up to Jerusalem". Despite Jerusalem being a bit South relative to Tel Aviv, in Jewish culture it is correct to use the term 'go up' ("aliya") when afraid to movement to a holier place. So you used the culturally correct term, something I wouldn't expect from an outsider. Hope you come again soon! If you really want a crazy experience try to aim for Independence Day. Pure fun and insanity.
In Jerusalem: The Western Wall and The Western Wall Tunnel, The City of David and the Pilgrimage road (your ancestors walked on that road),The Israel Museum, The (Shuk) Machne Yehuda Market (night and day), The Church of the holy Sepulchre, the Temple Mount. Northern Israel: The sea of galilee in Tiberius, Hafifa, Caesarea, Rosh Hanikra, Nazareth, Safed, Mt hermon (in the winter). Dead Sea (East): Massada, Ein Gedi, Jordan River. Judea and Samaria/Palestinian territories: Jerico, bethlehem, Hebron, Herodian, Kiryat Luza (Samaritan village), Al-Maghtas. South (Negev): Eilat, Timna park..... I can give more ideas but it depends on your interests.
