Going to Israel

June 26, 2005 12:55 AM

I would like to spend a month in Israel with my girlfirend next january. Has anyone been there recently? Any thoughts on cool stuff to do in a month? Places to go, things to see or maybe a course to take?
posted by falameufilho to Travel & Transportation around Israel (8 answers total)

Is kibbutzing still do-able these days? Hard work, but a great way to meet people.
posted by RavinDave at 2:03 AM on June 26, 2005

Best answer: I'd not want to stay on a kibbutz if you'll only be there a month. The usual tourist stuff is great...Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, spend some time in the desert, explore Jerusalem, Tzfat, Mount Meron on a Saturday night (I'm assuming that you're Jewish...), the beach at Tel Aviv (I'm told Eliat is fun if you're into the resort/party thing but I haven't been there).

I'm totally envious. I'd love to go back. Have fun and be safe.
posted by amandaudoff at 7:25 AM on June 26, 2005

Also, what kind of courses are you looking for? The Pardes Institute is great for torah study (non-denominational, chill atmosphere) and there are various archeological sites that you can visit. I went to Beit Guvrin and had a great time in the caves.
posted by amandaudoff at 7:26 AM on June 26, 2005

Eilat is fun, and you can swim with dolphins.
Try to schedulle a side trip to Jordan, and go see Petra, one of the most amazing places I've ever been.
In Jerusalem, stay in the old city, inside the walls.
posted by signal at 10:32 AM on June 26, 2005

If you qualify, you can do Sar-El, a two week volunteer stint in the IDF. You might go to different bases but all the people I know who've been on it told me it's good fun.
posted by PenDevil at 1:38 PM on June 26, 2005

Response by poster: amandaudoff - I am not jewish, but my gf is. I am really into jewish culture and religion (actually that's my main reason to want to go there). About courses, well, a month is a long time and I would like to take the opportunity to learn something there - hebrew or history would be a nice idea.
posted by falameufilho at 1:52 PM on June 26, 2005

If you want to start learning before you go, Ivrit min ha Hatchalah ("Hebrew from Scratch") is a great textbook. It's Hebrew-only, though, so I recommend it only if your gf already speaks Hebrew and can coach you through.
posted by escabeche at 2:23 PM on June 26, 2005

You can take a course, where you first learn where things happened. Then when you get to Israel they actually take you to the places you learned about.

http://www.juc.edu/html/short.htm
posted by y0mbo at 5:17 PM on June 26, 2005