Safety: When Earl and I traveled for the first time to Israel in 2001, we wondered if there was a reason to be concerned about our safety. Let me assure you that we will not be entering areas of conflict, such as the West Bank or the Gaza. Your safety will be our highest priority. Israeli’s live their everyday life in a normal fashion, just as we do in our home countries of the US or otherwise. There is no need to be worried where we are traveling on this spiritual tour. I might add that in our most recent trips to Israel, we have rented a car and driven ourselves wherever we needed to go.

Food: The food in Israel is wonderful. If you are vegan or vegetarian you will be in for a treat, as there is an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, and the like. If you are a carnivore the same is true. If you enjoy Middle Eastern fare of things such as hummus, baba ghanouzh, falafel, etc. you are in for a rare treat. St. Peter’s fish, caught in the Sea of Galillee will be readily available and is wonderful. Israeli’s eat a very healthy diet, as they grow and have access to so much that is fresh.

Language: Most Israeli’s speak Hebrew and English. Signage is frequently in both Hebrew and English. Though Linda speaks and comprehends only minimal Hebrew, we will be totally fine. Our guide/s, who will be with us at all times, are multi-lingual.

Climate: The climate of Israel ranges from tropical during the long summer months to temperate during the few months of winter. Summer and winter are the predominate seasons in Israel.

The winter season:
Winter is Israel's rainy season, making it crucial to the nation's water supply, with no rainfall occurring during the summer months. A typical winter in Israel lasts from November to May, though shorter winters, resulting in drought years, are common. During the winter months rainfall varies from heavy in the northern and central regions of the country to light in the northern region.

Occasional snowfall occurs at higher elevations throughout the country during the winter months.

The summer season:
Israel's summers are mostly dry and hot and typically last from May through late October. Summer conditions vary from region to region with the coastal plain experiencing humid weather, the hill regions experiencing little or no humidity and the Jordan Valley and Negev regions experiencing hot, dry semi-desert conditions.

The summer months bring periodic heat waves resulting from hot, dry desert winds from the east which cause temperatures to soar throughout the country. Rainfall is extremely rare during the summer months.

Spring and autumn are normally overlapped by the two predominate seasons, with the beginning of summer being marked by the end of the winter rains, and visa versa.

Temperatures (minimum-maximum):

Jerusalem
January = 43-52F
August = 66-82F

Zefat
January = 31-48F
August = 64-84F

http://www.southtravels.com/middleeast/israel/weather.html

Clothing: First, be sure that you have comfortable walking shoes. The climate described above will give you a sense of clothing to pack. Basically, Israel will be in what we might call "shoulder season" in regard to weather. They will be transitioning from fall toward winter. The daytime highs should range from the low 60’s in and around Jerusalem to the low 50’s in the north near Zefat. It is preferable to travel with only one large suitcase and a carry-on.

Women do wear both skirts and pants in Israel. There will be no need for any formal clothing, including no need for a sport coat for men. Israeli’s are rather casual people in their dress. We will enjoy a mystical, Sabbath/Shabbat service where you may wish to dress in the fashion for work or a spiritual event.

Be sure to bring a sweater and rainwear. There will not be easy access to washing facilities, so bring clothing that can be rinsed out and hand washed. Linda’s favorite recommendation for washing women’s under-garments is to wash them when you are bathing, as long as you have a day or so before we leave your hotel for them to dry.

Mode of Travel: Our group will be traveling together by bus throughout Israel. We will have an Israeli driver and guide. The country of Israel requires guides to be highly trained and knowledgeable in the sites of their country. If you’ve ever been in London, you know that London ‘cabbies’ are also required to be trained as a professional. The same is true for guides in Israel.

Jewish country: Israel is considered to be a Jewish state with the majority of its residents being Jewish. As a visitor to Israel you will easily become aware of it’s Jewishness, so to speak, in regard to the Sabbath/Shabbat. The work week ends in the early afternoon on Friday, because Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday. Shabbat culminates at sundown on Saturday, at which time many Israeli’s go out for the evening. Sunday is the beginning of the Israeli work week. Observant Jews do not work, drive, or even manually turn on lights on Shabbat. Frequently, they have a means of their lights automatically turning on and off during Shabbat.

Cell Phone Service and Email:
Israel is not a Third World Country and is as advanced as the US in high technology. Your cell phone will work in Israel if you have Israeli coverage in your plan. You do not need a special phone or additions to your phone itself.

You will need to check with each of the hotels where we are staying, but it is likely your rooms will either be WiFi or have ethernet cable access for your own computer. It is also likely the hotel will have a computer available to guests to check their email.

Emergency contact: You may give your loved ones at home both Linda and Earl’s cell phone numbers to use in case of an emergency if you need to be reached. Both the Backman’s cell phone have international coverage.

Earl: 303-818-0575
Linda: 303-938-0292
***Please note that Israel is 9 hours later than Colorado***

Backman’s Israeli travel experience and Israeli friends: Earl and Linda have traveled throughout Europe and further for many years. They have been to Israel three times and are quite comfortable there. In addition, the Backman’s have very dear friends in Israel, some of whom you will meet and get to know. For those of you who know of Linda and Earl’s dear friend, Mark Cohen, you will likely meet his wife, children, and other close friends of Mark’s.