See Israel from within -Bet Shean: Two Worlds –Romans and Jews

Israel Celebration Tours invites you to

“See Israel from within”

Bet Shean: Two Worlds –Romans and Jews

From the Roman bathhouse in Bet Shean

South of the Sea of Galilee in the northern section of the Jordan valley lies the ancient site of Bet Shean otherwise referred to as Skythopois by the Romans.

Few venues in Israel illustrate more convincingly the presence and world view of  Rome.
 This Roman city with its magnificent theatre, its broad paved streets, its shrines for worship, its commercial districts and shops, its columns and varying capitols all testify to the power and accessibility of Roman Hellenistic culture in Israel during from 63 B.C.E. onwards. Perhaps more than any other structure in Bet Shean, the Roman bathhouse reflects and expresses the world view and value system of the Romans (and perhaps local Jews) of the time.
The bath house in Roman culture had all to do with the perfection or treatment or perhaps the culture of the body. The physical here reigned supreme. As part of this “value system” is the world of Roman gods and goddesses who accompany and adorn such a bathhouse. The Mishnah in Tractate: Avoda Zarah 3:4 raises the question as to whether a Jew is permitted in such a place. This Mishnah thus asks the contemporary value question regarding Roman and Jewish values and their potential conflict.

Here in this bath house or in the Roman theatre or environs we study this very Mishnah and try to understand the value conflict and the resolutions of the time. No less so we examine similar cultural differences and value conflicts that we have in our lives today and try to determine our own options for resolution in our own time.

To see “Israel from within” contact us: http://www.israelcelebrationtours.com/

A New Way to see Israel

 

Sunset over Israel

Israel Celebration Tours

http://www.israelcelebrationtours.com/

A new way of seeing Israel

“What an amazing place! Everyone is Jewish! Even the taxi drivers are Jewish! Even young children speak Hebrew!”

While clearly not all of the taxi drivers are Jewish, one of the most overwhelming experiences for a Diaspora Jew visiting Israel is the sense of being in a Jewish majority in Jewish space and in the total Jewish environment which is Israel. And yes, children of all ages do speak Hebrew!

While it is somewhat inconvenient for some tourists that shops are closed on Shabbat or holidays, this too is a powerful statement to the Diaspora Jew. Here there is Jewish time as well as Jewish space. Sure, many Israelis are on the beach on Shabbat and holidays. Sure, other Israelis are hiking in nature or traveling on these days! Sure, many Israelis are observing and celebrating the Shabbat and holidays by praying in Synagogues or celebrating at home. But the overall statement is that this is Jewish space and time. “Even our hotel is Kosher and observes the rules of Shabbat! Wow, this is clearly Jewish space and time.” “Did you notice the number of people of all ages kissing Mezuzot?” “Did you notice that this gas station gives out free Chalot if you fill you car on Friday?”

http://www.israelcelebrationtours.com/

‘The calendar is Jewish.” Time is measured not only by the weekly Shabbat but by the High Holidays and Succot, and Chanukah, and Purim and Pesach and more and more.

The tribes of Israel

The Israel experience for most Diaspora Jews is not about another tour somewhere in the world or another holiday. The Israel experience is about exploring and discovering personal identity. When we hear the oft repeated words, “this was a transformative experience for me” the words refer to the power of the Jewish environment and sense of enfranchisement that Israel provides even the most casual visitor. 




Strangely enough, the Diaspora Jew often sees the “Jewishness” of Israel more clearly than the average Israeli. To the average “secular” Israeli it is only natural to live in Jewish time and space. There is nothing unique about this. “Well of course I speak Hebrew with my kids. What language would you have me speak? Of course my life cycle is governed by the Jewish calendar and holidays. This is my culture! Of course my child will marry a Jewish partner! Who else do you expect him/her to marry?” What is natural and so taken for granted by the average Israeli is so obviously Jewish and unique to many Diaspora Jews visiting Israel.


For the Diaspora Jew the Israel experience is about his/her Jewish identity. Israel serves as the environment or if you will, the laboratory, in which the Diaspora Jew explores personal Jewish identity and or growth. The Israel experience is less about Israel per se and more about feeling more strongly identified as a Jew.


Some have said that if you were to simply “drop” a Jewish tourist in Israel for two weeks or so without any tour program, itinerary


http://www.israelcelebrationtours.com/






or plan, the overwhelming message of Israel and of Jewish identity would make its natural impact.


Though there may be some truth in the above statement, there would also be, without a doubt, a major “missed opportunity.” In such a charged environment; at a moment of such high potential impact and motivation; at a moment so open for a life changing experience; at a moment of potential identity transformation, we must be ready to engage the moment and to engage the visitor by focusing on and entering into the a dialogue of heightened sensitivity related to Jewish identity. Potential moments like this are rare and unique and must be transformed into educational opportunities.


Israel Celebration understands that we must “maximalize” the Israel experience for the Diaspora Jew through a careful selection of Israel venues and the concomitant Jewish value concepts that are embedded within these sites thus allowing for this experience to have its maximum impact.






To achieve this, we at Israel Celebration Tours understand that our tour guide must be first and foremost committed to Israel and to the Jewish people and its culture; secondly s/he must be committed to his/her tourists and their process of Jewish identity formation; s/he should see the site as the means to this end and not to relate to the site as the end in itself. Finally the tour guide must understand that he/she is first and foremost a “shaliach” of the Jewish people performing a “holy” educational task.






In order to achieve our goals, ICT understands that an Israel program must have a underlying curriculum (plan) that allows for the cogent telling of our story; for the presentation of the Jewish values that emerge from the story and for constructing a program that flows from site to site; from hour to hour and which leads to engagement as well as identity with the Jewish people.


Israel Celebration Tours invites you to share our story. פורים שמח

 

 

Who is a great Israel Guide?

View of Israel from Mt. Nevo as Moses saw it.

Who is a great Israel Guide?

Is Seeing Believing?

or is

Believing Seeing?

“When Moses stood at Mt. Nebo and looked over the land of Israel, he requested of the Holy One permission only to enter the land and see it (briefly).

Is it not obvious that anyone who enters the land of Israel sees it?

No it is not obvious!

Many people enter the Land of Israel and never see it!

Many people enter the Land of Israel and only see its surface!

Many people enter the land of Israel and never see its inner beauty!”

The Israel Tour Guide is a guide to seeing!

Israel Celebration Tours is committed to the concept that the Israel Tour guide is the entry point.

We know that an Israel Tour guide opens doors and opens eyes and indeed can help to open hearts.

ICT understands that an Israel experience is not only another tour of another country or a series of sites.

We understand that the tour guide is in fact an Israel mediator and as such can make all the difference.

What makes for a special guide?

ICT provides you with the following 18 חי checkpoints:



1. My guide is licensed by the Ministry of Tourism of Israel.

2. My guide speaks English fluently

3. My guide has extensive knowledge of Israel both ancient and modern

4. My guide knows me and the world I come from as well as my needs

5. My guide is able to see under the surface; under the façade

6. My guide allows me to see Israel  through his/her eyes

7. My guide is able to share his/her emotions as well as his/her knowledge

8. My guide is able to see Israel through my eyes.

9. My guide is a story teller.

10. My guide is a master communicator

11. My guide wants to welcome me into the inner sanctum of Israel.

12. My guide is flexible and open

13. My guide is guiding me even more than guiding the sites we are seeing.

14. My guide tells a story that has a beginning a middle and an end and not a loose collection of unconnected stories

15. My guide is capable logistically

16. My guide takes matters of safety and health as most basic

17. My guide’s greatest reward is sharing the story of Israel

18. My guide is dedicated to his/her own Jewish Israel identity—no matter what the form

18=חי

ALLOW ICT

TO SHOW YOU

WITH OUR EYES

AND THE EYES OF OUR “18” TEAM

ISRAEL