Testimonials
January 26, 2012
Dear Shira,
Margaret and I were extremely pleased with Touring Israel. You listened to our interests and put together a great itinerary. This includes Independence House and Palmach Museum in Tel Aviv. Very moving. I have been to Tel Aviv several times but never visited either. We especially enjoyed the hikes in the Negev, visiting Ben Gurion’s Hut and rappelling at Makhtesh Ramon (neither of us had rappelled before). We also appreciate getting us in to Chez Eugene, a delightful and unusual hotel. Benny was an excellent guide, very informative and accommodating.
Ted Gold
Virginia, USA
January 2, 2012
Dear Touring Israel,
Yasmin and Jonathan both did a great job to get us organized and make all the arrangements within 2 days before our travel date and Yasmin looked after us throughout the trip ... everything was well organized and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We managed to get into the Church of St Catherine in Bethlehem and attended the service on the evening of 24 Dec. Each of the stops was a highlight - Dead Sea, Masada, Galilee, etc. Both guides were very good and we learned a lot throughout the trip. The vehicles and hotels were very good. We learned much about the country and enjoyed our visit.
Thank you again for arranging a good trip,Regards,
Louis Van Pletsen
UK
January 23, 2012
Hi Shira,
We had a wonderful, wonderful time in Israel. We really enjoyed Gil. He is a wonderful tour guide. His enthusiasm, intelligence, and cheerful personality really made our trip enjoyable and memorable. We really appreciated the respect he showed for each religion and his knowledge of each historical site. We learned so much from him. Thank you for your help in making the arrangements. If we ever return to Israel, and do any further touring, we will specifically ask for Gil. We will definitely recommend Touring Israel to friends and family should they decide to visit Israel.
Sincerely,
Mandisa and Phillip McIverRaleigh, NC
January 22, 2012
Dear Shira,
i just want you to know how wonderful our trip was thanks to your company and Daphne. Your help and professionalism were invaluable, and I will definitely be giving your names to my friends!!
thank you so much for everything!!Hope to come back again one day--so you will be hearing from me!!
June and Karl Warman
New York
January 22, 2012
Dear Joe,
We cannot begin to than you enough for our amazing trip to Israel this past December, Word cannot accurately convey the complexity of emotions we all felt and experience during our trip.
Your passion for your country and the enthusiasm for sharing your knowledge and history of this great land was contagious. Each one of us could relate to everything that you were saying. Not an easy task since we had a 9, 12 and 14 year old with us.
You made the history of our people and the land from over 3,000 years ago come to life.
As far as the logistical planning every detail was perfectly executed from the moment we arrived off the plane till the final moment we left. Yasmin and Shira took care of coordinating every detail. Our accommodations, the meals, the transfers all went off without a hitch. Our trip to Israel is an experience that our family will forever cherish. Truly a once in a lifetime event. We loved every moment and cannot even come up with a top 10 list.
We look forward to seeing soon in NYC.
Best,
Amy and Jeffrey SilvermanNew York, NY
November 30, 2011
Dear Maria, Gil, Shira & Jonathan,
We want to thank you so much for the outstanding service and assistance
you have provided our family to ensure that our trip to Israel would be
outstanding and unforgettable.
The selection of sites and itinerary worked perfectly. My in laws, who
had visited Israel 5 times, enjoyed this trip more than ever and for our
selves (2nd time) and our kids (1st time) it was an extremely enlightening
experience.
We must give Kupi 100% of the credit for the making this trip extremely
special. We all were fascinated by his knowledge, passion, communication
skills, as well as his thoughtfulness on every action he took over the 7
days we spent together.
He was definitely the reason why this trip was so special for all,
including our Rabbi, that now is retired and living in Tel Aviv, who joined
us for a couple days with his wife, and also commented on how enjoyable and
enriched this trip was due to Kupis contribution.
We certainly will refer your company to our friends and family who will be
coming to Israel in the near future and we look forward to returning back
and organizing another trip with you.
Sincerely,
Elisa & Diego Loret de MolaConnecticut, USA
November 4, 2011
Hi Maria and Shira,
Now that I am home, I wanted to share some additional thoughts with you. First, thank you for helping me organize things and for the attention you gave me while I was in Israel. Although I had intended on doing everything myself, for example, booking hotels, it was much easier to do it through you. I am very happy that I "gave in" at every step and let you take care of things for me. So thanks for being patient with me.
Amir is a wonderful guide and an excellent teacher! He carries a backpack full of teaching aids that I really enjoyed. We covered a lot of ground both physically and intellectually. I would recommend him to anyone who is traveling to Israel and wants to have a good learning experience.
I am not sure how to express this in a politically correct manner, but the saying that "you get what you pay for" applies to Israeli tour guides. I know several individuals who are studying to be tour guides and am impressed with the amount of information that they are expected to know. However, there is a difference between someone who has just finished studying and someone who has been doing it for some time. I earn more money than new faculty, and I think that I deserve it; I have more experience and more knowledge. You can say the same about tour guides.
Feel free to use me as a reference.
Hopefully, we will get to work together again.
Best regards,
Deborah Lebman
November 13, 2011
Dear Joe;
We have now been home for just under two weeks. In those two weeks we have reflected upon our trip to Israel. Words cannot describe the wonderful experience and feeling we had. Like Moses wandering the desert for 40 years, my wife Karen and I had not been to Israel in 40 years. It was a cultural shock. It opened our eyes. This was a trip of a lifetime.
This could not have happened without you and your team. Your constant stream of information to (all of us). The up-dates and personal touches we received from Shira and Maria and the attention we received from Gil and Jon - our tour guides.
To Shira and Maria - A mighty thank you for all your efforts in planning our trip. It is with your understanding and personal attention that this trip was made easy. From entering into Israel to leaving for home. Your guidance was very much appreciated. You were like mother hens, ensuring that we were well taken care of.
To Gil and Jon – Without your inspiration and love of the country we could not have experienced the understanding of Israel and its people as much as we did. You were like the well-known painters of yesteryear. With each brush stroke of information, you brought about a different meaning and interpretation. Your knowledge of the history of the Jews and Israel was amazing. We now interpret the information about Israel and its problems in a different light and are more aware of the continued problems for the search for PEACE and the existence of Israel as our mother country.
Thank you for making this happen. It is indeed a pleasure knowing both of you and wish you continued success in all you endeavors.
Once again to all members of the Touring Israel group thank you for this most memorable experience. It will not be forgotten..
Yours truly,
Karen & Norman Goldfield
(Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
November 8, 2011
Dear Touring Israel,
Our tours were Excellent! Both Kupie and Dafna exceeded our expectations. Their knowledge of the history pertaining to the sites that we visited was very impressive as well as their knowledge of the Bible. Also our Bethlehem guide was excellent. Another important factor is that they are excellent drivers. We were comfortable at all times. Thank you for this excellent service.
Thanks
Roger FreidlineUSA
October 25, 2011
Our experience withTouring Israel and Shannie was wonderful. Jonathan worked with us to plan our itinerary, Maria always followed up with us, and of course Shannie was the absolute best guide ever!! We truly enjoyed our days in Israel and our time with Shannie. Everyone at Touring Israel was extremely professional to work with and very accommodating to our needs. We would recommend Touring Israel to any friends who may be planning a trip to Israel. Our thanks to everyone at Touring Israel.
Best,
Barbara Kaplan
October 23, 2011
We are home after a wonderful cruise. The days spent with Kupi (Reuven) in Jerusalem and the Dead Sea were the highlight of the tour and I can honesly say that I speak for all of us when I tell you how pleased we were with
Kupi. He is a mine of information and we all felt we had got the best out of the two days touring because of him.
Many thanks for your help in organising this. I will definently recommend your company to anyone heading in towards the Holy Land.
Regards,
Ann Hutchinson
October 17, 2011
We loved our tours with Yuval and Dafna.
Obviously, our guides have very different personalities and both were excellent. I appreciated Yuval's passion and he managed to get us to many meaningful sites on a packed one day tour of Jerusalem. My family had been to Israel in the past, but never together and the day was great.
Dafna has a strong personality and a wealth of facts that never stopped coming. She made a great effort to speak in great detail about all that we saw in the Galilee. She drove and talked and managed to get us to Lake Kinneret and back to Haifa where her obvious love for her city pushed her to make sure we had views of the city and then views of the Ba'Hai Gardens even as darkness was descending.
We took this cruise in recognition of our special 35th Anniversary and the opportunity to travel with our son's to celebrate. We felt that a cruise was an economical way to send 4 adults on such an ambitious trip. I was naive and then surprised to find out how much our day excursions were going to cost. It was a big commitment to spend that much in order to see all that we wanted to see. I am happy to say that we were not disappointed.
We had never taken private tours before and we really appreciated the chance to make the tour our own and see what we wanted to see with wonderful guides.
I would highly recommend your company to anyone who is interested.
Thanks so much.
Nancy BermanUSA
September 20, 2011
A GREAT, albeit too short visit
At the end of a busy mission to Israel, we had one exrtra day to try to visit as many sites as possible on our first visit.
Our guide , Bena, picked us up at the hotel at 8am.... We proceeded to enjoy ATV riding in the Judean desert...after that , it was on to Massada. A private tour of Massada was great,. We took all the time we wanted. Bena had a great comand of the history... Then it was on to a hike at Ein Gedi, and a refreshing dip in the water ....Then off to a Dead Sea for some "floating around", without the mud!!!!....then off to dinner at Abraham's tent...I never realized that Abraham was Australian... well, live and learn!!!!!...It was a GREAT day with a great guide!!!!... the office even called during the day to speak with us and make sure all was ok...they really care!!!!....we would definately recommend to others and would use them again....you get what you pay for!!!!Jack Stein
Montreal, Canada
September 18, 2011
We had a fabulous time with Gil R - he was really awesome! So knowledgeable & funny... We really enjoyed our time with him.
We especially enjoyed our time in the old city with Gil- he showed us so much. There didn't seem to be a stone in that city that Gil didn't know a story about!
We will be very happy to recommend Gil & touring Israel to all our friends & family.
Thanks for all your help.
Kindest regards,
Kerry & Michael GonskiSydney, Australia
September 5, 2011
We enjoyed touring with your Co. Even though the ship never made it to Ashdod, your company did the best they could under the circumstances by picking us up those 2 days in Haifa. Both guides were very knowledgeable & I would not hesitate to recommend your company in the future to anyone wishing to tour in Israel.
Thank you.
Edwin Budd Jacobs & Carolee Fox-Jacobs
September 5, 2011
Judy and I were completely satisfied with the guides (Gil and Yuval). They were very knowledgeable and took us places we never thought existed.
We were able to work around the security issue and I think all people involved were happy with the tour.
Can’t wait to return to Israel
Thanks for the memories
Arthur Belchic
Pennsylvania
August 30, 2011
Israel is one of the most remarkable and spiritual vacations I have ever been on. Partly because we are a Jewish family and partly because of the amazing company "Touring Israel" that we booked to guide us through our entire trip. To begin with, they have a toll free number, which alot of companys don't, so you can reach them easily (except for the time difference..so it was mostly early mornings!!) However, they did work late occasionally to speak to us.(Thank you Shira & Yasmin!) They also responded quickly to emails as well. All correspondences were courteous and professional. You can have them arrange a schedule for you..however, we chose to arrange it with them and since we were visiting Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias and Jerusalem in 9 days, and since there was so much to do and see, this required a great deal of communication, time and patience!!! They made all of our touring reservations in advance, hotel reservations,and even a reservation at a special restaurant in Tiberias since we were celebrating a special occasion there. Our personal guide for the entire stay was Jon (Yoni) Cutler. He met us at the airport, we dropped our suitcases at the hotel and we were off and running. He knows Israel from top to bottom...He pointed out sights of interest, he got us to all our reservations on time, he made unscheduled stops when he felt it would be of interest, he took us to unusual restaurants for lunch..but most important, everywhere we went, he took the time to teach us, not only about what we were seeing, but the history behind every sight. He lives in Israel and he has been in the Israeli army so we saw & learned about the birth of Israel as an independent state through his eyes and his heart. It would take 10 pages to write about everything we saw..so I'll just say that he was waiting for us in our hotel lobby every morning bright & early and on time. He was very patient and with the help of his office staff, was able to make changes in the itinerary when we asked him to. He made sure we were prepared with bottled water (keep drinking...keep drinking!!!) We were able to bypass tour guides at some attractions and go at our own pace. The car was air conditioned and he would constantly get the car & meet as at the exits so we wouldn't have to walk as much in the heat. We always felt safe there and never took public transportation. He drove us everywhere!! To be honest, touring Israel this way is a luxury and it is not inexpensive...but we felt it was worth it since we had never been there before and have no idea if we will ever get back there (although I certainly would like to one day). If you want to see Israel comfortably, efficiently and safely, soaking up as much history as you can in the time you have there, "Touring Israel" is the only way to go!! When Jon dropped us at the airport to fly back to New York, his final words to us were "Remember...Israel is your home and you are always welcome here."
Diamond Family
New York City
July 19, 2011
Hi!
Wow! What an experience! To say we enjoyed our trip would be a colossal understatement. To refer to our time in Israel as merely a trip or vacation would not do it justice. Where do I begin? From the moment we landed in Israel and were met at the gate, I knew we were in good hands. No need to be tortured at customs or baggage claim. Joe took care of that. No need to worry about checking in at our hotel. Joe took care of that. No need to worry about where to eat. Joe took care of that. No need to know where to go. Joe took care of that. No need to worry about entrance fees. Joe took care of that. No need to be perplexed by what I’m seeing. Joe took care of that. No need to worry that our athletic teenagers would be intellectually stimulated and physically extended. Joe took care of that. No need to worry that my young athletic first wife (Rhonda loves when I call her that) would enjoy pampering and hiking. Joe took care of that. Even after more than twenty years of marriage I think my job is to be a good date; to make sure everyone is having a great time. Joe takes care of that. No need to worry that her 50 year old less than agile husband, me, would love every minute and get home in one piece. Joe took care of that. While we were in Israel, my brother and his family were in Italy. He told me how much they loved their trip. He mentioned how everywhere you go there is history from two thousand years ago. I had to smile. The Sistine chapel depicts Moses and G-d. I stood where Moses met G-d. And where David met Goliath. And where two thousand years is only the half-way point. It’s a little different. When we returned from our first trip to Israel I quickly set up our second trip. I am now setting up our fourth trip to be taken in August of 2012. Each trip has been with Joe. I can’t imagine going there and not having his team arrange everything. I can’t imagine going to Israel and not having Joe guide us expertly, teach us contextually and lead us enthusiastically. Mostly, I can’t imagine going to Israel and not seeing my friend Joe. People take lots of vacations. Going to Israel is the only trip that makes me feel athletically, intellectually and spiritually reinvigorated. One doesn’t feel the same upon returning from Epcot. Each trip to Israel makes me feel better and makes me a better person. I always come home feeling re-focused and revitalized. Joe takes care of that.
Thank you and see you soon,
Mark Fleisher
Jacksonville, FL
July 10, 2011
If you are looking for a great company to book your trip and tours in Israel, Touring Israel Luxury Private Tours is the company for you. I just sent my 21 year old son and a friend to Israel and put them in the hands of Touring Israel. From the moment they stepped off the plane in Tel Aviv they were taken care of. Right off the plane and with in a matter of minutes the VIP Express service representative walked them through security and to their awaiting transfer representative to take them to their hotel. According to my son this service saved them “hours” at the airport. They were transferred to the Dan Panorama Hotel in Jerusalem. This hotel was recommended by Touring Israel and was a great location, had great rooms, and provides a wonderful breakfast for the guys during their stay. The location next to the Old City was perfect for the guys to walk the streets and see the sites. The guide provided by Touring Israel, Sandy, was fantastic. My son has traveled many times before and said Sandy was the best guide he has ever had. Sandy’s knowledge of Jerusalem and surrounding area was amassing. He was a great communicator and really related to my son and his friend. After a week the transfer service picked them up at the hotel and drove them back to the airport into the hands of the VIP Express who moved them through security with ease and back on the plane to return home.
Working with Yasmin at Touring Israel was easy. She handled all of the details and gave me a great comfort feeling that my son was in good hands during the trip. One of the things I like the most was that I prepaid Touring Israel for all of the services including the guide and hotel. This made things simple and better for my son. I was also provided with a detailed itinerary, names and numbers of every service, and emergency numbers if necessary.
I would strongly recommend Touring Israel to anyone who wants to visit Israel, get the best guides, receive VIP treatment upon arrive, and feel very secure either while traveling or when back at home as I was having sending my son.
Again a special thanks to Sandy their guide, for making their visit so wonderful for my son, and to Yasmin and all those at Touring Israel for making the trip easy and comforting for me.
Gary Chitty
Houston, TX
June 15, 2011
Dear Joe,
We cannot thank you and your staff enough for making our 3 days in Israel so complete. Your staff's help in planning the limited time we had, as ship passengers, was extraordinary and our group was able to accomplish all they wanted to see and do on their wish list. Thank you for all of your attention to detail and making our trip so memorable.
Of course the master of accomplishing this extensive to do list was our guide Ari. His unwaving patience was so much appreciated and his knowledge and sensitivity exceeded our expectations. Ari has won all our hearts and has many places to visit in Canada and Great Britain should he want to. Ari has left us all with the desire to return to Israel and spend more time in your beautiful country.
Margaret and Steve Norris
Montreal, Canada
June 10, 2011
Dear Joe,
Just wanted to thank you and your entire staff, Shira, Yasmin, and of course Ari. Your professionalism and constant updates and communications, before and during our visit made our visit great success and so much FUN. Your company met and surpassed our highest expectations, thank you sooo much, hope to see you all again in the near future.
Alan and Sandra (newlyweds), Belinfante
Boston, MA
May 18, 2011
Our tour on April 6 with Gil was fantastic. He was well-received by all members of our group of seven. He was knowledgeable, personable, a careful driver, had excellent communication skills, and had a great sense of humor. We have only positive things to say about our tour with Gil.
Thanks to Joe Yudin and other Touring Israel staff members for helping us to set up the tour on short notice. It was confusing as our ship’s itinerary was changed multiple times and the date of our visit kept changing. We appreciate the flexibility everyone exhibited.
We would definitely recommend Touring Israel to others as well as use your services for any future visit.
Ann (and Lorrin Garson)
April 29, 2011
Dear Joe:
Now that we arrived home, and have had the time to reflect on our experience in Israel, my wife and I wanted to thank you and your staff for the excellent itinerary prepared by you, for the arrangements you made, and for the flawless execution by everyone associated with you, from the time we were met at the airport to the time we departed. Of course, we have to especially thank you for choosing Jonathan as our guide. He was a remarkable asset to our Israel experience. We learned about not only the history of Israel and its people throughout the ages, but also the political and social climate in Israel today. We have become much more aware of the challenges of the Israeli people thanks to Jonathan. We have already, and will continue to, recommend both you and Jonathan to our friends and family, even to people who have been to Israel before. You will be happy to note that we even check the Jerusalem Post before we look at our local newspapers.
Hope you had a wonderful Passover holiday.
Shalom
Ken and Maryanne Poller
Kenneth G. Poller, PA
Paramus, NJ
April 26, 2011
Yasmin,
Our trip was fabulous - we could not have hoped for anything better. Of our many international vacations, this was by far the most intellectually stimulating. Jon's part in this cannot be overemphasized. He has the detailed historical knowledge and lucid presentation style one would hope for in an excellent guide. Yet he is even more remarkable for having both a passionate attachment to the State of Israel and an open-mindedness which allowed for extensive thoughtful discussions on current events. There was lively intellectual sparring on interpretation of current Palestinian-Israeli relations between Jon and our 21 year old son Seth, who has developed a distinct perspective after spending the past 2 months on a kibbutz. This dialogue kept all of our minds humming. A different kind of sparring occurred one evening when Jon invited Seth to join him at his mixed martial arts gym- which Seth thoroughly enjoyed.
We also appreciated the start to finish customization of the tour, both during the initial planning stage and some on-the-fly adjustments. The small boutique-style hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were tasteful, and the hotel in Eilat, though much bigger and grander than we are accustomed to, was a good choice for that city. Great breakfasts at all of them. We loved Adam's tour of the Ramon Crater. Again in his case, we appreciated his expert geological knowledge but equally his thoughtful perspective of Israeli social issues based on his own 25 years in the country since making Aliyah from South Africa. The Amphorae winery turned out to be a great choice - interesting tour, beautiful setting. The snorkeling, Red Canyon hike, Timna Park, and the Dead Sea swim were fun. Yad Mordechai, the IDF air museum and Cesarea were opportunities for valuable historical context. Transfers were all flawless.
The high point of the trip was the day in Jerusalem when we visited Yad Vashem and then shortly afterwards went on an "alternative" tour of the City of David presenting the viewpoint of the Palestinian residents of Silwan, after which we debriefed with Jon in an in-depth point-counterpoint style. I would not recommend that alternative tour as a routine part of a Jerusalem visit, because their facts are scanty and distorted. But for us it was valuable as a window into the Palestinian narrative. The contrast was striking in the shadow of the intense Yad Vashem experience.
I would be delighted to serve as a reference if you have any potential clients with questions.
Thank you again for all of your help making arrangements. Attached are a few photos.
Cindy Grande
SeaTac, WA
April 6, 2011
I couldn't have said it any better [than the Fassbergs (see below)] if I tried. We have been home for 5 days and our family hasn't stopped talking about everything we did. We miss Israel and Joe. We are counting down the days till we can come back to tour other parts of the country with our Sababa guide Joe Yudin. Thanks for our best family trip we have ever taken.
The Sandlers.
NYC
April 5, 2011
Dear Joe:
We wanted to let you know that we are experiencing a most wonderful trip here in Yisrael. The planned tour is going along beautifully, and we are gaining an appreciation of a country we have always felt close to, but which we have appreciated only from afar.
More than anything, we have to thank you for giving us Jon. He is a remarkable person and a truly gifted guide. Not only is he knowledgeable and communicative, but he has the ability of weaving the past and the present into a mosaic befitting the antiquities we are seeing. He is thoroughly engaging, welcoming questions, discussions, impressions and an exchange of ideas and perceptions. He is also a regular guy, easy to be around, and we insist that he join us for every meal.
We (the Pollers and the Seidenbergs) want very much for him to visit us when he comes to the U.S.
We wanted you to know that we feel lucky to have Jon as our companion and guide, and that our Israel experience has been and will continue to be enriched well beyond anything we could have anticipated thanks to Jon.
Thank you for your assistance and for Shira's assistance as well.
Regards,
Ken and Maryanne Poller, and Boyd and Mary Seidenberg
New Jersey
March 31, 2011
Ari-
Just want to thank you for making our trip so memorable. We had such fun being with you and learning about Israel and its incredible history. The kids spent our last dinner talking about you the whole time! Julie wants to come back just to hear you imitate her!
We learned so much from you and I think we all have a whole new appreciation for what Israelis have endured over the years.
Wishing you all the best for health and safety. Please come visit us in New York. We'd love to tour you!!!!
Have fun with your next group.
Fondly,
Jill Cornet
NYC
April 3, 2011
Dear Joe,
The Fassberg family, Edith and Jonathan and children: Sarah (10) Emily (7) and Simon (3) want to thank you for the most memorable trip to Israel. Your deep biblical, historical and political knowledge was simply incredible. Not only did you help us see and feel Israel in a very special way, you were able to relate to our children without dumbing down any information and making it exciting and fun for them and for us at the same time. We just arrived back to NYC yesterday and we already feel "homesick" for the beautiful country you brought so close to us. You taught us about Israel, our Jewish heritage, the Torah and opened our hearts for Israel in a really deep way. I quote Simon when he woke up this morning "I miss Joe and Israel".
I would recommend that anyone visiting Israel for the first time or a "regular" should experinece Israel with you or your guides -- it is unforgettable.
Thank you so much. It was SABABA!
Edith, Jonathan, Sarah, Emily and Simon Fassberg
NYC
March 14, 2011
Mishpocha Dana is a diaspora of Judaism in knowledge, practise and interest that all came together in Israel, under the care and guidance of number one tour guide Jonathan C. My two sons, both in their early 30's, wife Jackie and I (Rick) found Jon able to deal with a variety of personalities, problems and details that left us only to enjoy the incredibly rich experience Jonathan was able to craft with his vast knowledge of history,culture and politics! Many a time we would be standing in a place,whether Jerusalem or Masada or Independence Hall, and Yoni would produce stories of ancient past to what may have happened last year-we could feel it!! Connection was what my wife and I were seeking for our family and individually to the land of Israel and Jonathan provided us with everything we needed to make this possible. Thank you Jonathan you truly became our third son for two weeks (even putting up with me in the car!!) and to Joe and Shira(who helped make all the in trip changes and adjustments) and anyone else at Touring Israel who helped make our trip very memorable!
Shalom, Rick Dana
Boston, MA
January 24, 2011
Joe Shalom,
On Tuesday we went for a family walk in Gush Etzion and Jerusalem.
Ronen was our guide. The trip was so successful. We enjoyed every minute. Ronen knew the pace and the sites that fit my family's character. In itself it was wonderful and fun to walk and talk with him. There were three generations: in the group, me, the grandfather age 60, my children, and grandchildren aged seven and nine. Ronen managed to engage them all with accurate and entertaining explanations. We recommend him highly as a guide and we plan to use Touring Israel and Ronen for our next trip.
A big thank you to you and Shira and Yasmin for all the help.
Wishing you all plenty of tourists and travelers….
Shabbat Shalom,
Alex Kadar Cohen
Israel
January 13, 2011
Hey Joe,
We've been back for a week and the jet lag is finally gone !
Usually when I return from a memorable vacation , the good feelings wear off quickly , but this trip to Israel still feels like yesterday, from the first minute that we landed , with the 'Mossad ' meeting us at the airport , to the totally encompassing whirlwind trip through the country . It was fantastic !
We were constantly amazed at the amount of intricate knowledge , history and passion you shared with us about Israel and creation of the country .Dorian , the three Boys and their traveling football and are still talking about the trip.
We would gladly recommend you and your company to anyone interested in making the journey .
See you at the Travel Show in NYC !
The Dreyfuss Family
NYC
January 12, 2011
The moment we disembarked from the plane in Tel Aviv we knew we had hired the right guide. We were met at the gate by two young Israelis who immediately whisked the eight of us past all the lines through immigration, baggage check and customs. It was the model of military precision. Boy were we impressed! And that was just our first 10 minutes in Israel. For the next 12 days, Joe guided us from the top to the bottom of Israel. My wife and the wife of the other family we were traveling with had developed an itinerary with Joe several months in advance of the trip. We covered every major site in the country and then some. Joe was with us the entire time discussing the history and significance of what we're looking at. Joe's experience as a college lecturer certainly shone through. His explanations were both interesting and humorous (you can take the New Jersey boy out of Jersey but you can’t take the Jersey out of the Jersey boy). At no point were we anything but completely engaged by what we were learning. Even the four teenagers we were traveling with enjoyed the discussions and dialogues that we had. Joe and his entire team were at her disposal 24 hours a day to smooth out any problems or concerns we had . They're also able to improvise on the fly and change our itinerary when the spirit moved us. It's hard to point out any highlights of our trip since almost everything was a highlight. All of us really enjoyed the entire tour and our children are very much moved by the whole experience. I would certainly recommend Joe without exception or qualification. By the way, as impressive as our arrival in Tel Aviv our departure was even more impressive. We were met at the airport by another young Israeli who navigated us around what would have been an hour-long check-in, immigration and security line in what seemed to be the blink of an eye. It was a fitting farewell to a truly magical trip.
The Pearlstein and Wacht Family
NYC
January 5, 2011
Hi Joe,
We had an incredible journey through Israel and our guide (Avi) was simply terrific. The itinerary was well organized and action packed so we covered a lot of ground and many cultural and historical sites in only 5 days.
We appreciate the attention to detail and service that you provided and would gladly recommend you and Touring Israel to any of our friends and family in the future.
Best regards,
The Lurier Family
Westborough Mass.
January 3, 2011
Ofer, Shira and Joe,
Just back from the travel day yesterday and wanted to send you an email thanking you for such a great trip. From beginning to end, we had a fabulous time.
As you know, the six of us had varied levels of experience in Israel – I had been there on business a long time ago, but barely toured; my wife spent a summer there 20 years ago; my mother-in-law has been in Israel two times before, as recently as 2 years ago; and the three children had never been to Israel. What is amazing is that despite our varied experience in Israel, we all had a great time and came away with new and unique experiences.
Touring Israel made the planning stage rather easy and streamlined. Joe and Shira – you asked us about who was coming and what we generally wanted to do and then planned a great agenda and booked the whole trip, hotels, activities, and transportation. Perfect execution.
Ofer, thank you -- you are a fabulous guide. You are incredibly knowledgeable, fun, affable and brought a contagious positive energy to the trip. You engaged both the adults and our three children (12, 10 & 7) and took care of all the little details so that all we had to do was show up each day and enjoy ourselves. We would highly recommend you, Ofer, as a guide to anyone traveling in Israel.
Thanks again.
Best,
Gregg Kaplan
Wilmette, IL
December 7, 2010
Dear Yasmin,
I would like to thank you very much for all your work and for the fantastic guide we had today. Ronen was unbelievable. Please tell him once again that we really appreciated his full commitment and enthusiasm in introduce us to the beauties of the cities. We won't forget this day!
Thanks also for the hotel and restaurant recommendations.
We really enjoyed our trip.
We will for sure recommend Touring Israel to our friends and relatives who will visit Israel.
Isotta Enrici
Milan, Italy
November 24, 2010
I'd like to add also how great Joe Yudin was - the tour was exactly what we wanted and yet in advance we could never have described so accurately what we were looking for. And the way he presented all that info was so engaging that it lodged in our brains -young and old(er). I wish he could have heard us all at the Dome of the Rock on Monday quoting back at each other verbatim various pearls of info and wisdom he had given us.
And we should add that he suggested and reserved a great place for dinner for us Sun nite that was spot on. All in all he went a long way to making that weekend the marvellous experience that it was. I'd recommend him to others without reservation. And yes, we certainly look forward to booking him again in the future.
Helena Cook
London, England
November 23, 2010
When Joe Yudin kicked off with his biblical narrative, first thing in the morning, my first thought was “oh no, too much detail for the kids, too early, too fast, to unexpected, too loud ...”. But very quickly we all got into it. And the whole day was outstanding. Joe provided the historical and cultural input for our entire trip and did it in a way which made it sound like adventure rather than a lesson. It gave significance and meaning to everything we saw and connected all the dots that we were looking at. He gave all of us, and especially the kids, one helluva lot more than just an enjoyable day – it was more a cultural foundation stone crossed with a memorable adventure.
In a word: SABABA! We will definitely book him again.
Laurie Fransman
London, England
November 18, 2010
Joe Yudin was a great guide for a whole host of reasons. He was organized, efficient, and a master of all there was to do and see – or really more than that, since he arranged for some Joe-Yudin-special-admissions to places one would not normally be able to go. We have two high school age children, and Joe has a very special skill in how he provides background and explanation on an enormous variety of topics. First, he is enthusiastic, passionate, and with a deep and broad knowledge of all the many topics that come up in touring Israel; and, second, he has a knack for picking out essential points and explaining them in very clear, direct terms. All of us absorbed a tremendous amount from him. We also decided to diverge substantially from our planned itinerary, and Joe was adaptable and creative in suggesting and working out various changes (which he often did almost instantly on his cell phone). He was also very hard-working and was always willing to go the extra mile for us -- many times he offered to drive back across a city to help us with some errand or other needed transportation. I don’t think we could have asked a guide for anything more than Joe gave us.
Dan Blickman
Philadelphia, PA
November 17, 2010
Ari,
Hope all is well with you. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my email. We want you to know we had a wonderful time in Israel. The experiences we had left a profound impact on our lives and also left a special place in our hearts for the people of Israel.
Shalom,
Glenda Davault
Dallas, TX
November 17, 2010
Yasmin,
I hope this email finds you well. We are back home now and I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our day in Jerusalem with Jonathan. He is passionate about Israel and shared his extensive knowledge and insights with us. He also was able to get us back to the ship on time after sitting in a major traffic jam leaving Tel Aviv.
Again, I want to thank Jon and you for making our visit to Jerusalem so memorable. I certainly will recommend Touring Israel and Jon to others who visit Israel.
Warmest regards. Until next time...
Judy Zeidel
Trumbull, CT
November 16, 2010
Ari,
We are settling back in with such wonderful memories of our trip to Israel. We are so thankful to you for your leadership, friendliness, and openness to all our questions. It was truly a pleasure to see Israel with your fine guidance. Our memories will have to carry us until we return. When Sudy has completed her work on her pictures I know she will be forwarding some to you.
Our only regret was the painting we passed in Safed at the store where we bought Sudy’s necklace. I paid cash and the owner did not give us a business card so we have no way to contact him. If your travels take you back there and you can remember the store we would love to make contact with him.
We have passed on to the Federation how totally pleased we were with you and gave them our strong recommendation to use you more frequently. We also offered to speak to anyone who is considering using your services.
We really hope our paths cross another time. Whether it be our next trip to Israel our your possible trip to Chicago, we would love to be together again.
Thanks again for a trip of a lifetime.
Thomas Altholz
Chicago, IL
November 11, 2010
Dear Joe,
We are all back home safe and sound in Montreal after almost a month of travel.
Our stay in Israel was absolutely fantastic, mainly due to your expert advice, and the professional handling of our accommodations and itinerary. The trip started off with us being whisked through passport control & baggage as if we were royalty, we were in our hotel just about a half hour after landing, now that’s fast, thanks to your recommendation of using your VIP service. It was the same for our departure for Rome, everyone on time, no hassle travel.
Ari [our guide] was the hit of our trip, not only was he an exceptionally knowledgeable guide, but his presentation , driving skills, and friendliness left us wanting more, but time was of the essence. We became like family, the moment we met. Please convey are best personal regards to him on our behalf, we will certainly demand his expertise on our next trip. Send our best to Shira and Yasmine.
Congratulations Joe on your selection of such a great team which insured that our visit to Israel will be forever memorable.
Thanks for taking some time to have a coffee with us in Jerusalem, and we look forward to utilize Touring Israel on any of our future visits. We will certainly recommend Touring Israel to everyone we know.
Shalom,
Marvin Chankowsky
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
November 4, 2010
Dear Jonathan,
Thank you so much for all that you have done for us during the last two weeks. Your insights, intellect and kindness helped to make this the trip of a lifetime for the both of us. We will forever remember you and the wonderful trip you made possible for us.
Be well! Be safe! Keep in touch!
Evie Lester & Neil Godick
Wayne, PA
November 4, 2010
Hi Joe
Now that we're back and no longer jet lagged, I thought I'd write you about our tour experience in Israel with Dafna.
You were absolutely right abour our not being disappointed... Dafna was great. She has a very deep knowledge of history and conveyed that in conjunction with each site we visited, making the visit much more meaningful. Dafna brought us to every site we had on our extensive list and then some, and kept us on a short leash to make sure we viewed as much as we could in our short time. I don't know if she mentioned it to you, but one of the unexpected highlights of our visit occurred after dinner our first night in Jerusalem: after dining with us, Dafna took us on a nightly excursion until after 1 am, with a midnight visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that was indeed memorable and very different from the crowded tour during the afternoon.
Please convery our thanks again to Dafna. What a trooper!
Andy Kosovych
Upper Saddle River, NJ
November 4, 2010
Bena, our tour guide, was excellent. He was able to find things that interested all of us, and most importantly, quickly gleaned what interested my parents. He saw that my mother enjoyed spices and plants and took us to a spice farm. He was professional, accommodating, thorough and very patient in his description and explanation, which was much needed because we don't have the Christianity/Judaism/Islam background that I assume most visitors to Israel possess.
To put it succinctly, we wished we used him for the rest of our trip.
On behalf of my family, thank you very much. Bena made our visit to Tel Aviv and the north very special.
Yours,
Anita Channapati
November 3, 2010
Hi, Joe:
I know that David sent you our pictures, but I wanted to add my two cents worth (so unlike me) about our trip...
Seeing Israel through your eyes was an amazing experience. Your depth of knowledge and perspective on the country gave us a glimpse into Israel's past and present that taught us all many lessons. As for the future, I am concerned about what could lie ahead. But what amazed me most about you, and all of the other Israelis that we met, is how you live your lives everyday without fear of what "might be." That's a lesson that we all can learn from.
I left Israel wanting more, and I hope to return someday to finish where we left off. You will be the first person we call when that time comes! In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy your family!
Keep in touch!
Shalom,
Roberta Brody
Pitt., PA
October 29, 2010
Joe:
Israel is blessed to count you among its sons. You've shown us your home with professionalism, passion and, yes, zeal that is unmatched. We'll be forever grateful to you for our class in Israel 101.
Enjoy your family on your time off and continue to be a great husband, dad and Israeli.
You know how to find us when you are in the U.S. and we hope to serve as your 'tour guides'.
Best,
Jeri & Mitchell Drucker (New York)
Roberta & David Brody (Pitt., PA)
Susan & Jay Smith (Atlanta, GA)
October 25, 2010
We recently returned from Israel and chose Touring Israel for a once in life time experience. Our guide, Joe Yudin, was simply the best. He was able to plan each day in a well organized pace without skipping on any details. His knowledge and passion of each attraction left us wanting to learn more about this country’s rich culture and traditions. We were able to see and experience much more than any of our friends that have traveled on their own or in a large group. We have traveled to five continents and over 32 countries and this trip through Touring Israel is the most moving and memorable expeience we have had. We would highly recommend using Touring Israel for anyone concidering visiting Israel.
Curt and Sandra Edwards
Naples FL
September 27, 2010
Dear Joe,
After our first trip to Israel touring with you in June 2009, I knew the minute it was over that we had to come back again! And so we did…touring with you this past week has been every bit as spectacular as our first time. Once again, we had another perfectly planned Joe Yudin itinerary, jam-packed with the ideal combination of historical sites and adventure, specifically customized for our family. We were continuously engaged by your knowledge of history and passion for Israel; and by your animated storytelling regarding all the new sites we visited. Regarding the “adventure” part of our trip, the hikes you chose for us were absolutely beautiful, and I think we need a “special mention” on your future tours of how our entire family went rappelling off a cliff by the Ramon Crater – what a great addition to our itinerary! As always, your restaurant recommendations and fabulous photo-taking ability is so appreciated - I just developed over 350 pictures!
So thank you Joe, for another extremely SABABA experience in Israel. Be sure to come visit when you are in NY.
Warm regards,
Maureen, Keith, Lindsay and Adam Turkel
NYC
September 27, 2010
Dear Joe,
I am writing you in regards to the tour we had today in Jerusalem. Our guide, Itzik, has an incredible knowledge in the history of the city, not to mention his sense of humor. Itzik managed to show us Jerusalem in a very special way, transmitting his passion both for the history and the diversity of cultures in the city. All this despite the limited time we planned for this half day tour.
I have to mention that the high price we paid for this tour is above any standard we seen before in many countries in which we all traveled, but we were aware of this fact prior to booking with your company and we are still very satisfied with the service we received.
Thanks a lot for giving us such an enjoyable insight of this wonderful city.
PS - Itzik, can you pls send us all the jokes you told us during the trip? They were really good fun!
Gmar chatima tova,
Cecile, Martha, Giacomo and Ron Zeltzer
Switzerland
August 30, 2010
Dear Shira,
Maybe you hear this all the time but these trips, aside from the day I met Rhonda and the birth of my children, have been the best days of my life and I can't thank you enough.
Thanks!
Mark Fleisher, MD
Jacksonville, FL
August 23, 2010
Joe,
Thank you again for a wonderful tour--we found you by accident last year and I do not think we will use anyone else in the future! Shira was patient and accommodating while Gil and Joe N. each offered a professional and unique flavor to our tiyulim (tours).
Warmest Regards and Shabbat Shalom,
Shira and Binny Hahn
Teaneck, NJ
July 8, 2010
Hi Joe,
A short email to tell you how wonderful our vacation was -- a very interesting "National Geographic field-trip" that was educational and fun! Your teaching and commentating were extremely valuable in making sense of and understanding a complex history and geography. You are an entertaining and thoughtful teacher and guide! Thanks for your flexibility in accommodating our interests and needs.
Thanks,
Janet and Mike Shields
Michigan
June 16, 2010
We have been to Israel many times and our family is very connected to the Jewish State. This year we toured with Joe Yudin from Touring Israel. It was like visiting the country for the first time. His passion for Israel and his ability to relate both biblical Israel and modern day Israel for us as adults and our kids was a remarkable experience. He geared many of our experiences for our young kids as they begin their connection to Israel and it has payed huge dividends. Touring Israel was professional and organized and we definitely intend to tour with them again on our next visit.
Andrew Sussman, NYC
May 18, 2010
Our family visited Israel April 2010. Included were our daughter, Gina, age 17, Bob and Jan ("fifty-ish") and Bob's parents, who are 77 and 79. Joe was our guide in Tel Aviv and on a driving tour of the north, including Caesaria, and Jon took us through the old city in Jerusalem and to the Dead Sea and Masada. Jon and Joe made Israel and her story come alive. They are both so knowledgeable and informed, Jon, in the complex sociopolitical climate of Israel, and Joe, in the lore and history. They were extraordinarily considerate of the different needs of the group, picking routes so that the parents could rest when needed, yet also keeping the younger one well-entertained and active. The sights and restaurants that were recommended to us in Jerusalem were excellent, and both guides figured out our tastes and interests quickly, and catered well to everyone. Their perspective as Americans who have moved to live permanently in Israel was very interesting for us, and their accents were particularly easy for the parents to understand, even though, for Californians, a New York accent is a stretch. Before our trip, my in-laws were a little uneasy, since we were not going on a big packaged tour, as they are accustomed to. However, Joe and Jon made the trip so comfortable, easy and fun, we all had a great time, with no worries, and the tour was much more personal, customized and flexible. When I initially read the testimonials on the website, I thought they might be too good to be true, but found that reality exceeded even my expectations. We had the best shawarma, the best guides, the best time.
Thank you so much,
Jan, Bob, Gina, Ron and Arline
Los Angeles, CA
May 7, 2010
Dear Joe,
There is no way we could adequately thank you for the life-changing time we have spent with you over the recent days. Your expertise, patience, kindness and friendship has welcomed us to your beautiful nation and people in such a hospitable manner. You have truly been a gift to us "for such a time as this."
Thank you for not just guiding us, but teaching us and opening up to us. You will always be called friend and we will always love Israel. We thank God for you and pray His blessings upon you and your family in the days to come.
With Love,
David & Sarah Simerson
Cannon Falls, Minnesota
April 12, 2010
Hi Joe,
It was an awesome tour. Jonathan outdid himself. We really enjoyed him and would recommend him to anyone.
How are things over there? We pray for peace for Israel. Let us know if there's something specific we need to pray about.
Randy McDonald
Ralls County, Missouri, USA
April 6, 2010
Dear Joe,
Thanks so much for guiding us through our homeland. You combined the perfect amount of education, recreation, religion, and spirit in ensuring that young and old had an amazing time. Thanks too for all that you do for the Jewish people (and in particular for us, the diaspora Jews) by having fought for us and by continuing to defend us by living and raising your family in Israel. I hope your inspiration will forever encourage us to be good Jews and Zionists and that our paths cross again. We will never forget you.
With all our love,
Vivi, Rebecca, Alex, Oliver, and Ed Fisher
Manhattan, NY
March 18, 2010
Dear Joe,
I really wasn't quite sure when you said that Naphtali knows where every rock is in Israel. I was wrong - Naphtali knows where every pebble is! I just wanted to say that he was absolutely brilliant, knew exactly what we wanted and delivered way beyond that. We saw sites that we could never seen with a standard tour and sites that were not in any general guide books. He could skip effortlessly from Old to New Testament, from Nabatean ruins to Roman roads and ancient irrigation systems to current disputes in archaeology. And all done with great humour and charm! I would not only recommend him to friends and colleagues visiting Israel but I would use any means to get them to hire him as he improved our trip by 100%.
Thank you for all your help in arranging this.
Yours,
Hilary Bell
London, England
February 19, 2010
To Whom it May Concern:
My wife and I were fortunate to utilize Joe Yudin as a private guide for our first but not last journey to Israel in October 2009. Along with a third traveling companion, Joe was our guide, educator, provocateur and source of an unimaginable wealth of knowledge as we spent probably the best ten days of our relatively extensive travel experience. We have enjoyed many private guides in our various travels but Joe is far ahead of the column and we unreservedly recommend him if you wish exposure to a wealth of knowledge regarding history, culture, archeology, political economy, religion, art, food and geography of this fascinating country. Joe’s attention to detail, concern for his client’s safety, respect for differing political or theological opinion and intense desire to please his clients is second to none. Working with a local agency for housing, transportation and other logistical details, the trip was essentially perfect from beginning to end. We heartily endorse and recommend the services of Joe Yudin, guide extraordinaire.
Ron and Carol Waeckerlin
Cheyenne WY
February 10, 2010
As a business owner if we have a star, we put them on our best programs and Jonathan is a star.
Jonathan made the educational and historical part of the trip so interesting. He made all the sites with its history come together and connect so that a person like myself who is not up to date, can truly understand and not feel lost. Jonathan is so much fun and has a magnetic personality and caters to all ages. We could relate to him because he is an American and yet he is so passionate and loyal about Israel. He made us laugh and really was able to be one of us. I think that Jonathan made the trip!
With Warmest Regards,
Diane, Stephen, Jason, Jaime, Carly, and Cassidy Shooster
Ft. Lauderdale Florida
December 8, 2009
Ari,
Hope you have recovered from the week with “the girls + Ed”. Just looked and the pictures from the trip. May need to reconfirm the names of a few locations with you. Can’t believe how fast it went. I was so inspired that I may even try to learn Hebrew again.
Incidentally I woke up to snow this morning!!
Just wanted to let you know that your expertise, patience and knowledge was so instrumental in making this adventure an incredible success. Personally, looking back it could have been a real disaster under the wrong guidance. Feel free to use me for a reference anytime.
Please stay in touch and let us know if you come to the states!
Best Regards,
Nancy E. Wasserstrom
Columbus, OH
February 9, 2010
Dear Joe,
Our family can’t thank you enough for all your hard work putting together a magnificent itinerary for our family’s first trip to Israel! Our guide, Ari, was one of the highlights of our trip! In addition to his depth of knowledge in areas ranging from all religions, archeology, languages, politics, culture, topography, history, and Israel, he was personable, had great sense of humor, and helped recommend fabulous restaurants! In addition, he served as our unofficial medical consultant when our 7 year old daughter cut her knee (we still found a way to get her into the Dead Sea pain free!). Ari expertly rearranged our schedule to suit our needs, making sure we saw everything we wanted to in the time we had. Truly an unforgettable trip.
Nelson, Ellen, & Rachel Robin
Germantown, Maryland
February 6, 2010
Dear Joe,
Terri, Nicholas and I can’t thank you enough for the fantastic experience we had touring with you through Israel back in November. You really helped us to maximize our short time there, and looking back I know we never could have seen nor done so much without the benefit of your insight and advice. You helped to make the Land of Israel come alive for us in so many ways, and you consistently exceeded our high expectations for a private tour guide.
I knew from your credentials and references that you would have a wealth of knowledge on the history of the Holy Land, but what really set you apart is the rare ability to adjust the message and level of detail to the needs of the specific audience and even to various degrees for individuals within the group. You were able to move seamlessly from the 30,000 foot view to a deep dive exploration on any topic of interest, both historical and current.
Obviously, one of the key benefits of a private guide is the ability to tailor an itinerary based on individual interests and preferences. You took a genuine interest in understanding our desires and organizing our trip accordingly, but you also were creative and flexible to identify options to adjust the itinerary on the fly. A great example was the unexpected opportunity to spend an afternoon touring Masada.
We hope to have the pleasure of touring with you again. Best wishes.
David Norwood
Doha, Qatar
January 21, 2010
Joseph,
We really enjoyed our recent visit to Israel with you and your colleagues as our guides. We appreciate your willingness to take us to various sites not often visited, and of your knowledge of the history, culture, and biblical detail. Debbie enjoyed sparring with you over details and would like to return to Israel to visit the sites we didn't get to. Also, she compared notes with friends who have visited Israel, and she is bragging how our tour was "much better than their large group tours".
Attached are some of the bird photos that I took during our visit -- feel free to use them in your web page to perhaps attract other birders. This was my first trip to Israel and even though it was winter, I saw 80 species of which 38 were "lifers" for me with. The names of the birds are in the file names (unfortunately the Egyptian Vultures don't arrive until February, but I did get some nice photos of the Griffon Vultures).
Sam said that the scarf for his female friend was a great hit.
Good luck on your PhD and best wishes.
Quinn Passey
Kingwood, TX
December 31, 2009
Joe:
You did a wonderful job making Israel come alive for our three daughters. Your ability to weave in biblical, classical and modern Israeli and Jewish history was superb and my daughters hung onto your every word. Our highlights of our time with you were probably the Jerusalem Archaeological Park and the dig at Beit Guvrin. I know it sounds like a small thing but I also very much appreciate your frequent “here let me take a picture of all of you”. With hindsight I wish I had contacted you earlier so that we could have spent more than just three days with you.
Regards
Mordechai Beizer
New York, NY
November 7, 2009
Hi Joe,
I want to formally thank you, for your brilliant guiding, on our recent holiday to Israel. This was my 60th birthday celebration, with my four children. We could not have had such a fantastic time, without your knowledge, effort and good humour.
Every day was a real adventure. From Tel Aviv, to Tiberias, Tzvat, Golan, Masada and Jerusalem. The Dead Sea was a major highlight, but the three girls especially enjoyed the archaeological dig, you organized.
The hotels arranged were all great, and in really useful locations. The restaurants suggested, were all really interesting and had great food and wine.
I've driven most places in Australia and Europe, but would not have enjoyed the Israeli style of dodgem driving. The big Mercedes van was very comfortable, and I still don't know how you always managed to find a parking spot next to where we wanted to go.
I would be happy to give you the biggest endorsement, if anybody cares to drop me an email. I can't wait to come over again, and see all of my favourite places, as well as letting you help me explore new spots. I hope you would be available again next time.
My very best regards,
Martin Sandler
Gold Coast, Australia
September 8, 2009
"Joe:
I wanted to tell you how fantastic Ari was as our guide for our eight day Christian tour of Israel. We are a family of 5, two parents and three teenaged boys. We all had a very meaningful - and fun time touring the Holy Land. Ari took us to places that weren't even in our guide book, and that made the trip more than special. He was very knowledgable about our Christian traditions and carefully (and patiently) escorted us to both Jewish and Christian holy sites. The restaurants, shops and stops that he introduced us created memories that will last for a lifetime. None of us can imagine ever going to Israel without having Ari lead us.
Thanks for your great team, and for giving us a wonderful adventure.
Please let me know if you have any questions."
Brad Wiewel
Austin, Texas
September 3, 2009
"Hi Joe
We have now returned from our cruise holiday on the Celebrity Equinox and just wanted to say a big 'thank you' to you for two fantastic days in Israel. We thoroughly enjoyed the tours and all agreed they were the best two days of tours we have had in our 7 years of cruising.
Your enthusiasm and knowledge knows no bounds and this made for a very memorable time for all of us. Jerusalem was definitely the highlight of our trip and we hope to return some day.
We would not hesitate to recommend you.
Best wishes for the future."
The Ager family (including the Coca- Cola kid!)
Hereford, UK
July 10, 2009
"I have travelled all over the world: China, Europe, Africa and with a personal guide at my side always. However ,none of them can compare to the tour given by Joe Yudin. He makes ancient history come alive and at the same time makes you feel that you are living in Israel today. His warmth and outgoing personality is contagious. He brings a relaxed atmosphere to any family who wants to get it all in under tight time constraints.
Thank you Joe, you're the best.
Sincerely,"
Richard Aarons
CEO AFD Contract Furniture Inc.
President AFD Realty Group
New York, NY
June 23, 2009
"Dear Joe,
We cannot thank you enough for making our 8 days in Israel incredibly exciting, meaningful, fascinating, and most importantly, just so much fun! Your seemingly endless knowledge and intense passion for Israel, combined with your animated storytelling style kept us involved and wanting to know more and more. We felt an immediate rapport with you from the first day and literally couldn't wait for each day to start. Our kids (13 and 16) loved spending the days with you...Lindsay is still talking about how you pushed her off the raft into the Jordan River! You know exactly how to relate to kids and keep them captivated and excited about the history they are seeing. Our itinerary could not have been better planned and personalized for our family; you gave us the perfect mix of historical sites and outdoor activities. Thanks also for the perfect restaurant recommendations each night and for your talented photography skills - I have never had such amazing pictures.
Looking back through our original email correspondence, you wrote "I guarantee that your family will have one of the greatest, most moving and lasting experiences of their lives here in Israel". We can honestly say that you exceeded our highest expectations.
Thanks again for everything. Keep in touch and please feel free to give our names as references."
The Turkels
NYC
May 19, 2009
"Dear Joe,
I do not normally write reviews or testimonials. But after the past week, I must make an exception: simply put, you made our week in Israel the best experience of our lifetime. There is no way that we could have covered so much ground in such a short period of time. You were able to masterfully move us from place to place, with no wasted waiting time. Moreover, you were able to change course easily and without fuss, as we expressed interest for other venues.
The itinerary that you selected for us was superb. As this was our first trip to Israel, we concentrated on Jerusalem, with day trips to Tel Aviv/ Caesarea and Masada. There was never a time where we felt rushed or out of step.
But it was not just the planning and the execution of the trip, but HOW it was presented! Your historical expertise put everything in perspective for us. Literally, you brought the country’s history to life.
We would gladly refer you to anyone who would require references, and will certainly plan our next trip around your availability.
Sincerely,"
Larry Mogelonsky
President
LMA Communications Inc.
Toronto, Canada
May 1, 2009
"Joe, I wanted to thank you for sending the reading list. Currently I am enjoying Exodus [by Leon Uris]. You were a most wonderful guide through Jerusalem. I grew so accustom to our time together. You are missed. I continue to process my time in Israel. It felt like bringing my body back to where my soul had been waiting. I cannot wait to return.
Shalom,"
Mindy Watson-Ward
Greenwood Village, CO
March 23, 2009
"Joe,
What can I say. Israel is so special, but you made it even more so. Your passion and love for everything Israel plus your knowledge, teaching and overall sense of the history and Jewish aspect of the country truly made the trip a homerun. The memories are indelible. Thanks for making it so special for me and my family.
All the best,"
Matt Weinberg
Manhattan, New York
February 18, 2009
"My husband and I recently visited Israel and engaged Joe Yudin of Touring Israel for a private whirlwind two-day Holy Land tour. The first day, Joe picked us up at the airport and we traveled north to Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum. We spent the second day touring Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Joe was very intuitive; he quickly tailored the tour’s pace and tone to accommodate our style and preferences. We were delighted to find that Joe’s impressive subject-matter expertise about this historic land was further enhanced by his academic credentials, professional demeanor, warm personality, and refreshing openness about his adopted country. The fact that Joe holds a dual American/Israeli citizenship - born and raised in New York - added to the sense of esprit de corps among travelers in a foreign land. We felt that he understood why we were there and left confident that he was instrumental in helping us to realize our hopes and dreams for the journey. We could not have been more pleased. We hope to someday return to this beautiful and engaging country, and to again travel with Joe."
Glenda Dayton,
Investment Writer
Bastrop, Texas
January 10, 2009
"Dear Joe & Naftali;
We can not thank you enough for the wonderful trip through Israel you put together for us back in November 2008. It could not have been better and we mean that sincerely.
* The details you worked out of places to visit and sights to see---we feel you made the absolute best use of the two weeks we had in Israel.
* The drivers and the additional three guides you arranged were always on time, very knowledgeable, congenial and a pleasure to be with for each occasion.
* The lectures and information that was constantly given---Galen took notes a good share of the time and we have been putting that together with our photos. After we have been home for a while we are starting to digest what we absorbed in those two weeks. We find that we are motivated to do more and more research and study.
* The Biblical references were not only referred to, but also sometimes even read from the Bible. This was very thoughtful and made the sights even more meaningful.
Our Christmas card really says it all “the trip of a lifetime” and the true meaning of these words could not be more strongly felt and you were a big part of that.
To be able to put the visual with the literary and verbal is priceless. The week we arrived home the first sermon we heard in our church service was based on the text having to do with Jesus feeding the 5,000 on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Our visual took us there immediately. One of Wanyce’s Bible readings this week was Gen. 20:1 – 22:24---you can imagine how embellished that was!
We can not think of anyway our trip could have been better! Even your picture taking was special – always one regular image and one close-up. We have sung your praises here with whomever we told of our trip. Your timing was also perfect – often planned to beat the tour groups. We never felt we were in harms way. We would love to travel there again with you some day.
Right now we watch the news many times a day – even reading the Jerusalem Post by way of the internet keeping up on news in the Gaza Strip. You, your families, and Israel are in our thoughts and prayers.
May we see you again some day."
Wanyce and Galen Thostenson
December 25, 2008
"Hey Joe,
Shalom from California! Although I've said this to you several times before, I wanted to express my deep gratitude to you one more time for making this trip so enjoyable for all of us. As a Hindu who had very little knowledge of the Bible or Judaism prior to this trip, I have found these past 10 days to be a truly life-changing experience. Your stories brought the history of Israel to life, and your passion and enthusiasm was infectious, sparking my curiosity in topics that I had previously found uninteresting. I know I speak for all of us when I say that you were not only an excellent tour guide, but also an extremely cool and down-to-earth dude. I really hope I can come back to Israel someday and meet up with you again. Be sure to drop us a line if you're ever in Chicago. Until then, stay safe, keep in touch, and enjoy the rest of the holiday season.
All the best,"
Ajay Sampat
University of Chicago
December 24, 2008
"Joe,
Your knowledge, level of professionalism, enthusiasm, and your sense for the right thing to say made this trip. You earned the respect of everone on this trip – including me.
The group [of 25 medical school students from the Pritzker Medical School, University of Chicago] has walked away with more than facts. They will come back to Chicago with the power to think critically about the facts they hear and read in the future. Some may go searching in the wrong direction, but we know that we presented an extremely fair and honest interpretation of the history as we see it. That is something we can be proud of and continue to do. I look forward to seeing you again one day when I am back in Israel. Your passion is contagious, and your affirmation of Zionist ideologies reaffirmed my own.
I truly do hope we stay in touch. Thank you – and good luck on your PhD and future endeavors."
Aaron Cohn
Chicago, IL
November 24, 2008
"Jon was amazing. So knowledgeable and friendly. Would use him again in a second. Pls tell him I said so. ill be back...
Zach Braff
Los Angeles, CA
November 23, 2008
"Shabbat Shalom Joe
I am writing to thank you for doing such an outstanding job as our guide during our two week trip to Israel. Your broad knowledge of architecture, history (both political and religious) and local culture were instrumental in our group having a truly enriched experience. Your willingness to share your personal views and perspectives on numerous subject matters was also appreciated. To think all this time I thought people from New Jersey were shrinking violets. We all agreed that it was the most stimulating and interesting trip we’d ever taken. We also came away with a much better understanding of the geography and present day challenges facing the region. We had high expectations for the trip and you helped us exceed them. In closing let me wish you, your family and fellow citizens as peaceful an existence as possible for as long as possible."
Regards Greg Thompson
Toronto, Canada
November 10, 2008
"Hey Joe,
I'm sorry I've taken so long to email you after our trip, my work has been just insane since I got back, not a moment to breathe. Anyway I just wanted to thank you for the amazing tour. Last time I was in Israel, despite staying in the country twice as long, I'd say I got perhaps 10% of the experience that I got out of touring with you, at best. Your ability to jump through the centuries, talking about King David one minute, and then pointing out a modern battlefield and its story then jumping back again, without losing us, is impressive. My Mom and I had a really great time, and we especially enjoyed our conversations with you about modern Israel and the issues it faces. Your thoughts were really enlightening and gave me a lot to think about. If anyone I know considers going to Israel in the future I'll be badgering them to hook up with you for sure. I've traveled to more than 40 countries in the last 5 years. Some countries you can see more thoroughly and get a better experience of on your own, rather than being guided. Israel is simply not one of those countries, and your guidance made all the difference in the world.
Thanks Joe!"
Mike Johnson
North Vancouver, B.C.
Canada
November 8, 2008
"Joe
Thank you for your excellent tour. Your thoughtful presentation of the material make a world of difference to our understanding and appreciation of Israel in general, and of Qumran and Masada specifically. Our group of 8 commented repeatedly after our tour at the excellent experience. I would recommend you highly and without reservation to anyone seeking a guide in Israel. When we return, we will definately seek you out again! Thanks for everything,"
Joe Imholte
Director of Special Exhibits
Science Museum of Minnesota
November 3, 2008
"Dear Joe,
We have recently returned from our Mediterranean/Black Sea cruise. I just wanted to write and thank you for two wonderful days of sightseeing in Israel. You provided a first-rate experience for our small group. If you need a reference for your tours, please use our name. We would be glad to provide such.
Thanks again,"
Ann and Lorrin Garson
Vienna, Virginia
June 28, 2009
"Dear Joe,
As a former english minor at NYU, words have always been of interest to me. Having gone to The Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, people have always said to me, "Oh, you lived in Israel?" I would reply, "well, I went to school there." In reality, between classes and the library and labs I never really took advantage of my time in Israel. I went to school there but I never lived there.
As a native New Yorker, friends often ask my advice regarding what they should do while in Manhattan. I offer my suggestions with the caveat that every New Yorker has their own New York. The places that make the city special to each person. In essence, there are six million Manhattans.
And so it is with Israel. It has been 18 years since I went to school in Tel Aviv. It was long overdue to come back with my wife and sons. I knew that I could barely guide them when I went to school there and I certainly couldn't do it now. I went about the process of trying to hire a guide. I searched the Internet. I read all the guides. I came upon your website. Originally from New Jersey. Extensive schooling in Boston. Majoring in history. Loves to hike. This meant that you were fluent in my language. This meant that you have already lived in hostile territory (Red Sox nation). This meant you could relate the meaning and context of the place we were visiting. This meant that you were in great shape. All of these assumptions were accurate.
More importantly, you shared with us your Israel. I can't imagine what our trip would be like if it was not led by you. Time is the only commodity that can never be recouped. Our time with you was time well spent. Since we have come home, I keep thinking about our trip and smiling. I can hear you say "smell this!" or "taste this" as we pass by some tree or shrub in the desert. I hear your stories as we stand in the valley where David met Goliath. I feel the power of Masada as you recount their decision. I feel the safety and confidence of being in your presence. I know my family was in good hands .
My favorite picture is in The Old City of my family surrounded by a platoon of young soldiers that you asked to stop and take a photo with us. I realized that, for the first time, this trip under your guidance allowed me to live in Israel but these soldiers lived for Israel.
If we're lucky, soon we will too.
Thank you,"
Mark Fleisher MD
Jacksonville, Florida
USA
May 26, 2008
"Dear Joe,
You are the ultimate expert in every aspect of Israel. The high quality and proficiency of your guiding is outstanding.The extent of your knowledge of the land and its people is superb. You are a walking encyclopedia! We were amazed at how well you new every inch of the country, from its unique neighborhoods to its little back streets. You enhanced our level of understanding and appreciation of Israel in an enthusiastic, fun and energetic way."
Jay and Barbara Rosenblatt
Lafayette, California
February 4, 2008
"Dear Joe,
Thank you for a wonderful experience. Dale and I were very impressed with your in-depth knowledge of history, geography and religion, and your ability to customize our tour and accommodate our wishes. We were able to fit a whole week of touring into three days, and do so in comfort. It is a trip we will always remember."
Walter and Dale Kucharczyk
Toronto, Canada
January 31, 2008
"[Joe Yudin is] A veritable encyclopedia of Israeli religious, geopolitical, and cultural history; a bewildering treasure trove of information at your disposal. Possesses a truly astonishing depth of knowledge from the arcane to the critical. If you need a customized primer on all that is Israel, this is the guide for you."
Steve Neff
Dallas, TX
January 6, 2008
"Joe -
Once again, Thank you so much for making our experience in Israel extraordinary! It was so wonderful to share with our family and friends the wonders that Israel holds. Your energy and wealth of knowledge made all of what we'd planned come to life. We are already talking about our next trip ... I personally can not wait to explore the desert!
Thank you for the book list though it may take a lifetime to get through it!
I too hope we will stay in touch - you will be the first person I call when we schedule our next trip to Israel
Best to you and your family"
-Stefanie, Peter, Jake and Max Herman
Westborough, MA
January 2, 2008
"Joe -
Thank you for all you did for us. You made this trip the best trip we have ever taken as a family. We are only sorry that it has taken us so long to come to Israel. We hope to stay in touch with you and plan our next trip soon.
All the best to you and your family."
Todd, Stacy, Mel & Juliet Phillips
Manhattan (Upper West Side), NY
December 23, 2007
"Hi Joe --
I wanted to take a moment to report back to you on our experience in Israel and to thank you for all of your efforts and expertise in putting together our itinerary.
The trip was excellent and exceeded my high expectations in every way. The highlight, of course, was Naftali. He is a superb professional and made our time in Israel productive, informative and enjoyable. His knowledge of geography, history, archaeology, culture, art, religion, politics, etc. is truly encyclopedic. Because of his skills, we covered an enormous amount of ground in our ten days. As you know, that was one of our objectives given the time limitations imposed by our schedule. Our visits were very efficient without ever feeling rushed. Drawing on Naftali's personal experience and contacts, we ate at several wonderful restaurants that we never would have found (or tried) on our own. I've traveled in many places and have hired many guides. I can say without reservation that Naftali is the best.
I should also tell you that the arrangements you and Alex made for the day trip to Jordan worked out very well. It was a long day but very worthwhile. The guide, Salam...was excellent and Petra is an extraordinary place.
I suspect that prospective clients occasionally ask for references from your previous clients. I'd be delighted to provide a reference and in that regard you should certainly feel free to give prospective travelers my contact info. I have already provided your name and contact info to a couple of people here in Denver and I will continue to do so. I'm also copying Donna Evans, my travel agent here in Denver
Again, many thanks to you and Naftali for making our trip such a success. My dad and I are both looking forward to another trip to Israel."
Ron Cooper
Engelwood, CA
November 23, 2007
"Joe:
Thank you very much for giving us the tour of Jerusalem, Masada et al. Griff and I learned so much about Israel and its history.
Griff's favorite part was Masada and the 965 Jews keeping 10,000 Romans at bay for 3 1/2 years before taking thein lives rather than becoming slaves. For some reason, the theme of resistance really strikes a chord for him. His view of Israel (and the Middle East) will always be through your perspective and narration of its history!
My favorite was touring the four quarters of the Old City. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have visited Jerusalem -- I've been reading and hearing about it for decades.
I've never been on a better tour in my life -- you obviously have a gift. You did an absolutely fantastic job.
Thanks again,"
Tim and Griff Bryant
Chicago, IL
November 12, 2007
"Joe -
Thank you for guiding our recent trip to Jerusalem, Masada, and throughout the Galilee. The way you wove history, archeology, and Biblical traditions together put everything into context for me and helped me better understand the region, both past and present. I can't imagine trying to tour the area without your help, especially in a group that included seniors. The way you accommodated their needs and still made sure we didn't miss anything was a testament to your both your skill and character.
We're glad to recommend you to everyone who asks about our trip. I tell them you're a bargain at twice the price...
Best regards,"
Steve and Brenda Butt
Doha, Qatar
November 9, 2007
"Hi Joe,
I know I don't have to tell you what Israel, and of course you, meant to me. If I were only younger.
Anyway, Israel was beyond my dreams and you were patient and kind to us older folks. I keep picturing the leader and the three ducks following behind.
Will be sending you some of the pictures as soon as they are all developed.
Hoping to hear from you - just a quick hello.
Stay safe"
Love,
Anita Somer
New York, NY
"Hi Joe,
What a wonderful vacation we had. Words cannot describe how much we appreciated your wonderful leadership and planning to make our trip to Israel so enjoying and exciting. Our only regret is that we cannot remember all the facts you told us. One thing we will never forget is your passion for Israel. You have given us a lot of that passion, more than you might think. The other part of our trip is that we had lots of fun, and can truly say we had a lot of good experiences.You have found a wonderful life in a wonderful country, thank you for sharing it with us. Regards to your family, we would love a picture of all of you. Stu will send you a disk of our pictures, but it may take a while. "
Love, Anita & Stu Feldman
New York, NY
October 2007
"Joe,
Just want to thank you for a wonderful trip. Vicki and I had the most spiritual, learning and beautiful trip of our lives. You and John did the best job. I hope your family is doing well. We are joining the Friends of the IDF here in Miami. I now understand the situation you live with each day better than ever. If you are ever coming to Miami please get in touch with us and I will take you on a tour from morning to night.
Best of Luck to you and all of Israel."
Jerry Geist
Miami, FL
October 2007
"Joe Yudin made the hills---in fact the very country---come alive for us in new ways despite the fact that we had previously traveled and toured through Israel. His in-depth knowledge of the Middle East added great depth to his interpretation of everything from the Canaanites’ to the politics of today. His reading list, which followed our visit, will keep us busy until the next trip. Best of all, Joe is a delight to be with."
Brenda Babitz
Rochester, New York
September 2007
"Dear Joe,
How does one describe a trip to the Holy Land? It is overwhelming to try to explain your experience to someone who has not visited. You try and then you just tell them “You need to come”.
A trip to Israel is a once in a lifetime experience. It is a vacation and it is a pilgrimage. How should you see it? Who should you see it with? I am going to strongly suggest that seeing it with a private guide is the way to do it. Face it, the overall cost of such a trip is substantial and is made up of many facets. There are places you can cut corners but there are places you should not. The ability of your guide to impart the information about the site, the setting, the culture and the history is imperative. I strongly suggest you use only the best here. We were fortunate that God lead us to Joe Yudin and his team. We were spellbound as our guide brought our Biblical teaching to life. We gained new insights about the life and land of Israel.
We wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU to the people who made it special. There is no way our trip would have been anywhere near the same without your expert guidance. You helped us adjust our itinerary A LOT from day to day. You always made us feel special and you pampered us. Seeing these incredible sites with you was like seeing it with an extended part of our family.
Again, THANK YOU. As a family we voted UNANIMOUSLY that this was the best and most meaningful vacation we have ever taken. My wife and I believe this is the best gift we have ever given our sons. We wanted to let you know how pleased we are with our vacation and with your services.
Warm Regards,"
Mike, Sallie Kay, Aubrey and Shawn Stodghill
Sacramento, California
"Dear Joe,
We wanted to thank you for a memorable tour that went beyond our expectations. Being the first visit to Israel for Sandy and me, we realized that having a guide to show us the sites was necessary. What we did not anticipate was the history and Sunday school teacher that came with the guide. Your incredible knowledge and teaching abilities made the experience of visiting the home of our ancesters come alive. This was the fourth guided visit to Israel for my mother. She, along with our son and his girlfriend (who both live in Israel) saw new sites and learned the history like never before of places that they had previously visited.
As we thought about our time with you in Jerusalem, the Judean Desert and Tel Aviv we couldn't believe all that we saw and learned in just a few days.
Sandy and I have already begun talking about where we want you to take us on our next visit.
Best regards to you and your family."
Chuck Traugott
Sylvania, Ohio
"We are a family of four with children ages 12 and 9. We had high expectations for our trip to Isreal which were exceeded thanks largely to our guide, Joe Yudin. Joe was instrumental in the planning process. He listened to our views and needs, and then he tailored the itinerary perfectly! No detail was missed- transportation, hotel arrangements, dining recommendations, site visits and a tailor made schedule. He balanced all of our requests and made certain that each day was well organized and varied.
Joe was equally invaluable during our stay in Israel. He is incredibly knowledgeable having studied guiding at the University of Haifa and it really shows. Not only did he share all of the exciting history of each site, but he was also full of stories and anecdotes that engaged the children. We had lively discussions and each day was a wonderful adventure during which Joe shared his passion for history and for Israel itself. In short, he brought each site to life! Finally, Joe was a great and measured guide. He was timely, flexible, helpful and considerate. His touring vehicle was comfortable and was an efficient way to travel. We strongly recommend Joe Yudin as a guide and as a friend."
Mimi Risner
New York (Upper East Side), NY
"Joe - we had another great day and tour with Jonathan! We really appreciate your entire company's professionalism, responsiveness and knowledge. It completely made our brief trip to Israel a very memorable one! Please extend our appreciation to both Ari and Jonathan for their time and their willingness to meet our specific needs. They were tremendous!
Best Regards,"
Leanne
Shelton Group Leanne K. Sievers / Executive Vice President
