ARZA World News

L'shana Tova from all of us at ARZA World

A letter to the Rabbinate from Israel's Minister of Tourism | Isaac Herzog

Click here to view letter.

Our "First Israel Experience" | A note to an ARZA World Guide

Dear Avy - Helen and I are thinking of you, your family and all of Eretz Yisrael. We arrived home safely last week. During our return trip we had many hours to reflect on the wonderful days we spent with you and our group.

]]> You gave us "The Israel" we will always remember because it came from your heart. The love that we felt from every word you spoke about our homeland will remain with us forever. Our trip was much too short. We never felt threatened, just so proud to be a part of this beautiful land. We were very sad to have to return to The U.S. at this time. We will definitely be back next year and would love to have you with us. We pray that you are all safe and out of harm's way. We will continue to have you in our thoughts and prayers through these trying times. Please let us know how you are all doing when you get a chance. Again we want to thank you for making our "First Israel Experience", one that we will always cherish. You made your home our home. We also want you to know that our home is your home. You and your family are always welcome here. We would love to have you as our guests. We will be sure to tell everyone that they should visit Israel and experience the wonders that we were all able to share with you. Be well and may G-d grant us all, Shalom, Shalom.

With love,

Helen and Marty Siegal

"Moments of Tranquility" | An Escape from Terror

Over a million people in Israel are now spending part of their day in underground bomb shelters. We at ARZA World have decided to provide "Moments of Tranquility", out of harm's way, to the residents of Northern Israel.

Many habitants of the region have relocated to the homes of relatives further to the south and are now not in danger. However there are many Israelis who either do not have relatives in Israel or lack the financial ability to relocate; many of these are new immigrants.

In the spirit of "Tikkun Olam" ARZA World has created the "Moments of Tranquility" program designed to provide hundreds of residents with an escape from the terror that is rained upon them daily.

]]> Earlier today residents from Kiryat Atta, Kiryat Shmona, and Ma’alot as well as other Northern communities arrived in Jerusalem for a four day fully paid vacation far from harm’s way; the vacation includes accommodations, meals and guided tours of Jerusalem. ARZA World has been working closely with the social services departments at the municipal level to locate those who are most in need and has identified hundreds of families who can be beneficiaries of the program.

This morning six ARZA World tour educators and drivers who volunteered for the risky trip to the north and who would usually be guiding Congregations from North America during, what was supposed to be, a busy tourist season found themselves standing on buses and guiding Israeli “refugees” in Hebrew. When Doron Ezra, one of the volunteer tour educators, was asked if he was concerned about his trip to the danger zone he commented, “I was most concerned about the fact that I had never guided in Hebrew, but, as time went by, I sort of got into it.” Ezra Korman, an educator and DAAT’s VP, who coordinated the complex logistical operation said that “when we crossed into safety and out of the range of the rockets we made an announcement, and the people on the buses roared with happiness.” As an afterthought Ezra added, “I can only imagine the relief they felt; it truly moved and inspired me to be part of this effort which provides security and joy.”

The first six buses arrived in Jerusalem today, a little later than expected because upon the buses arrival in Ma’alot the sirens sounded. Our educators and bus drivers had to head for the nearest bomb shelter to wait it out, but, as soon as it was safe, they began filling the buses with people eager for a break from the rocket attacks.

"We are planning to offer this break for many other residents of the North in a number of towns and cities in the days to come" said Ya'acov Fried-President of DA'AT.

One of the participants, Oxana (seen here with her family upon their arrival in Jerusalem), came on our program with her extended family. They live in Kiryat Atta and made aliyah recently from Irkutzk in Siberia. Guy Millo, ARZA World’s Executive VP, spoke with Oxana upon her arrival in Jerusalem. When Guy asked her how they were coping with the rocket attacks in their hometown Oxana replied, "I am strong. It was difficult for me, but I could handle it. It was terrible for my children. Thank you."

We would like to invite you to join ARZA World in supporting “Regaim Shel Sheket | Moments of Tranquility” and helping to offer some peace of mind to even more residents of the North.

Many aspects of this project have already been donated by the companies we work with in Israel, and ARZA World is covering the remaining expenses. However sponsorship opportunities still exist and your help is needed!

We invite you to sponsor one person ($120) or even a whole busload ($5400). Any group or organization sponsoring a bus will have their name on that bus’s banner. Contributions of any amount, large or small, are greatly appreciated by both ARZA World and the people in Israel benefiting from this program.

If you want to help you can forward this article to a friend or to your entire contact list.

To contribute you can email Brianna Becker at bbecker@arzatravel.com or call at 888-811-2812 x205. For more information feel free to contact Brianna in our New York office. Or if you would like to speak to one of the people in Israel spearheading this project please call Guy Millo at 011-972-54-539-4375 or ARZA World’s President Ya’acov Fried at 011-972-52-520-0900.

Hopefully, these difficult times for all will be over soon, and we will see you again in Israel on an ARZA World Tour. We pray with you for more peaceful times and the return of travelers to Israel’s beautiful North.

*Please make all donations payable to ARZA World - “Moments of Tranquility”. Your donations will be used solely to fund the “Regaim Shel Sheket | Moments of Tranquility” program.

In summary we thought that pictures speak volumes and leave lasting impressions...

The 2006 Award for Ecovillage Excellence has been awarded to Kibbutz Lotan by the Global Ecovillage Network

The 2006 Award for Ecovillage Excellence has been awarded to Kibbutz Lotan by the Global Ecovillage Network in recognition of its work in promoting ecological building, waste management and environmental education; and also for its work in promoting sustainability through the building of bridges between different ethnic groups in Israel.

]]> Kibbutz Lotan was founded in 1983 by graduates of the Reform Jewish youth movements from Israel and overseas, with the idea of creating a community based on a modern liberal approach to Judaism that strives to fulfill values of equality between the sexes, equality in work, and genuine communication between people. The kibbutz maintains a cooperative lifestyle with shared means of production and resources. During a period of community redefinition in 1995, a few dedicated members began advocating greater emphasis on environmental concern and ecology within the activities of the kibbutz. A waste management program and organic vegetable garden were established, and alternative building methods utilizing waste and sustainable materials were promoted. Lotan became a member of the European branch of the Global Ecovillage Network in 2001.

With increasing interest being generated from outside the kibbutz, Lotan’s Center for Creative Ecology was established as an expression of its Progressive Jewish orientation. Rooted in “Tikun Olam”, the Jewish concept for repairing and transforming the world, the Center expanded to include an ecological theme park, migratory bird reserve, nature trails, and an ecological education center that combines hands-on, experiential environmental education with Jewish values. The Center runs seminars, workshops and courses of varying length for adults and children of all ages, both from Israel and from overseas, with the aim of empowering participants with practical tools in order to promote positive change within their own communities. In 2000, the Center won the Shield award of the Ministry of the Environment in Israel for work in environmental education.

Development of a bird reserve in an adjacent deserted sand quarry has been made possible through partnership with the Jewish National Fund and the Israel Ornithology Center of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel as part of the international Birdpark Without Borders program. Currently under construction with support of the European Union’s LIFE fund is a constructed wetlands that will naturally treat all of Lotan’s wastewater via plants and will be the center of a new educational migratory birdpark.

Educational activities of the Center for Creative Ecology have included sustainability workshops for Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian youth in partnership with Friends of the Earth Middle East. The idea of combining environmental education with working towards peaceful coexistence and promoting environmental justice has also been behind Lotan’s partnership with the Bustan (Orchard) for Peace organization, which resulted in the building of a straw-bale medical clinic in the unrecognized Bedouin village Wadi El-Na’am. Lotan’s educational center has also established a successful 10-week permaculture and ecovillage design course called “Green Apprenticeship” that attracts participants from all over the world. For further details on the Center for Creative Ecology’s educational activities, see the Lotan website: www.kibbutzlotan.com.

Update

With the news of the last week, we, at ARZA World both in New York and in Jerusalem, want to address, up front, the situation that has developed in Israel during the last few days. The Gaza scenario, already several weeks old, has been pushed off the headlines by developments on the border with Lebanon. Hezbollah attacks on Israeli military positions, the abduction of two Israeli soldiers, subsequent Israeli losses, and the wide-ranging Israeli retaliation fill every front page, and TV screen.

]]> We, at ARZA World, would not want to insult anybody's intelligence by playing down the seriousness of the recent developments. The long-term ramifications are not yet clear, but they do seem to suggest a shake-up of the status quo. Most of what we are hearing on the news reflects political and military issues but does not have significant impact on day-to-day life in Israel. Being in Israel, being closer to the situation, having access to more information, and feeling the pulse of the country on the ground is easier than being here watching from afar with sensationalized and selective information.

We, at ARZA World, are not given to heroic gestures. We will modify the itinerary as conditions dictate, avoiding problematic areas. Safety is our first concern, and we will not put anyone in harm's way. Our staff has been and will be checking in with military and security personnel several times a day, and you should be assured that ARZA World, both in New York and in Israel, have a prudent, cautious approach; we would much rather change a day’s program, miss a site, or change accommodations than take any risks.

As of today we have made alternate plans for all of the trips traveling to the North. Groups that were scheduled to stay in the northern Galilee right now have been rerouted to a southern track, and reservations for groups coming to Israel in the near future have been booked for these alternate arrangements as well. Hopefully, the situation will improve and this will be unnecessary, but we want you to know that we have already made alternate arrangements in case they are needed. We have also been working to develop alternate itineraries to make sure that everyone has a safe and wonderful time in Israel. We understand your concerns, and you can be assured that we will be assessing the situation every day, many times a day, and will act with corresponding prudence. In the meantime, we wanted to update you on the situation. We pray for peace and security!

Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions or concerns.

Beaches and Zionists and Dreams

By Rabbi David Nelson-Associate Director of ARZA

For an hour and a half I walked on the beach in south Tel Aviv. I watched and listened, so carefully, trying to figure out how Jews go to the beach. Do they tie tzitzit onto their bathing suits and towels? Or recite a berakhah before building a sand castle?

Are they particularly concerned about the kashrut of the ice cream being sold by the guy who trudges along with a cooler slung on his shoulder? Perhaps they discuss the Talmud's response to seeing the sea, or stepping on a jellyfish? But no, they do none of these Jewish things.

]]> Instead they smooth suntan lotion all over, and work on their tans. They nap, and chat, and snack, and wade into the water when the sun gets too hot. The muscular boys eye the bikini-clad girls while the little kids squeal and chase each other and dig holes and tunnels and they all spend endless, endless hours smacking a little rubber ball back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth, with wooden paddles at the edge of the surf.

I saw all this and came to the conclusion that Jews go to the beach pretty much like everyone else. But then I looked out to the sea, out to the endless expanse of calm, green water, and then up and down the beach at the soft, hot sand. I was struck by how similar this beach, and this surf, and this ocean are to every other beach, every other surf, every other ocean. Then I turned around and saw an endless parade of high-rise elegance, concrete and glass, asphalt and steel hotels, office towers, stores, and traffic, so much traffic, and people and city noise and city tumult, and business and pleasure, and life!

I tried to imagine what it was like for the early settler-builder-pioneers to stand on this beach, not quite a century ago, and dream Tel Aviv. I tried and tried. I failed.

But now I understand how Jews go to the beach, sometimes. Sometimes, we go to the beach, and we stand among the dunes and the gentle waves, and we look out at the beach-scape, and we dream that one day we will build a home.

Tel Aviv 2006: A City with Style

by Renan Fried

During the last decade Tel Aviv has emerged as an exciting fashion city. Tel Aviv of 2006 is a different city from the city we once knew. The Tel Aviv of today centers around a world of fashion of all types and for all ages. It has become a city of style where people want to dress well, and a city of designers who ingeniously make this happen. Tel Aviv now offers any number of fashion houses of top-notch designers with clothes for all age ranges and at a wide range of prices.

]]> The local designer community includes designers of all ages, most of who are Israeli born, including graduates of leading fashion schools in Israel, New York, Paris and Rome. They open fashion houses after successfully completing their studies, gaining experience in the field, and then becoming ambitious to start up their own business. The amazing talent, originality, special designs, range of styles, personal and warm attention have won over all of us, and the ability to buy a unique garment, which only you will have, has enticed many.

The burgeoning fashion sector in Tel Aviv has even managed to push aside bigger phenomena, such as globalization. In a world where plenty is the keyword, and where you’ll find a shopping mall on every street corner, large fashion chains aren’t as impressive anymore. No-one can withstand the allure of attractive fashion houses with exciting designs which are changed and renewed all the time. Fashion houses don’t compromise on design and quality, nor on designers with imagination, vision and endless talent.

Successful designers from around the world have been here, taken stock of the rich talent and have stolen a few designers for themselves. Donna Karan, for example, on her last visit to Israel was highly impressed with the designs of a young designer who, just before she graduated from her course, was offered a contract and accepted. Israeli designer Bari Mayer, who lived abroad for 15 years and gained experience with leading Italian and American designers (and dressed quite a number of Hollywood stars for the glittering Oscar Awards ceremony) returned to Israel this year and opened his own fashion house in Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv of 2006 offers everything there is to offer. Any woman who knows something about fashion and has seen a thing or two in her life will be able to appreciate this after a brief tour of the city’s fashion houses.

Israeli fashion offers an excellent solution for all needs. This begins from designers of special evening wear made of the best materials, in all styles and uncompromising quality. This is the kind of garment made just for you that you won’t see on any other woman. There are also designers who specialize in leatherwear, and designers who produce items with the best models and cuts, the type of designers who have no rivals anywhere in the world. And there are other designers who offer solutions for day-to-day clothes for older women looking for garments in their size, and which take into consideration the measurements of bodies that have been through several pregnancies. There are classic fashion styles with trendy touches, finely tailored clothes and sports-wear made with the understanding that the human body changes its shape over the years, and that what looks wonderful on a 20-year-old may be embarrassing for a 40-year-old woman to wear. Some designers produce clothes for young women in an urban, avant-garde and romantic style in a range of styles and at competitive prices.

The fashion houses of the better established and longer serving designers are located at the northern end of Dizengoff Street. These fashion houses belong to well-known highly experienced designers who specialize in clothes for men, women and even children.

The Basel Compound, one of the younger and livelier areas of Tel Aviv (bordered by Bazel Street, Alkalai Street, Hashlah Street and Hafarhi Street), just a short walk from Dizengoff Street, one can find some wonderful stores in-between the innumerable cafes. There are stores that sell bags, shoes and practical art.

The Electricity Park Compound, also known as Collective 6940 (in the square between Levontin Street, Hahashmal Street, Mikveh Yisrael Street and Barzilai Street) is a relatively new fashion spot. In the past two years dozens of young Israeli designers came to the area and opened charming stores that sell clothes, bags and jewelry. This is the fastest developing fashion area in the city.

There are a number of very select stores in the picturesque Neveh Tzedek neighborhood. The ambiance there is very different from the designers in the Electricity Park Compound. There is no neo-punk atmosphere of a new enterprise, rather the scent of the old stylized Tel Aviv. Here one would find fashion houses, jewelry stores and stores of designers of household items.

To view a full list of "Fashion Houses" in Tel Aviv please click here

Shalom Israel - A Winter Escape | February 15-25, 2007

11 Day | Israel Tour Program | From only $1999* per person

Come experience the Land of Israel!

The program facilitates face-to-face encounters with Israelis from all walks of life: Kabbalat Shabbat services with members of Israel's Reform community in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Druze hospitality near Haifa, and a dialogue with Kibbutzniks on "Kibbutz Ideology and Israeli Reality in the 21st Century" as well as many other opportunities to interact with Israelis.

]]> The Shalom Israel tour program takes you to Independence Hall in Tel Aviv where the declaration of Independence of the State of Israel was signed in 1948. You will also be introduced to Jerusalem at the Herzel Interactive Center on Mount Herzel and view the new three-dimensional computer generated presentation of life during the time of the Temple.

You will take part in a Social Welfare project with the Israel Religious Action Center and personally contribute to the betterment of Israel. You will also have the chance to participate in an active dig at the Bet Guvrin caves and get your hands dirty as you uncover pottery from the Hellenistic period (2,300 years ago!).

This eleven-day program includes round trip flight from New York to Tel Aviv, 9 nights accommodations in first class hotels, all transfers including meeting and assistance at the airport, 14 meals: 9 breakfasts and 5 dinners, exciting sightseeing in a modern air-conditioned motor coach with panoramic windows, reclining seats, and foot rests, the services of a friendly and professional English-speaking tour educator-guide, all entrance fees, restaurant tipping in hotels, and all hotel and airport portage.

In addition each participant will receive a guide book titled “The Spiritual Guide to Israel” by Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, Arza World neck cushions, document holder, luggage straps and name tags.
This program is ideal for first time visitors to Israel and returnees; it is geared towards both families and empty nesters.

For a detailed program, additional information about accommodations, or to register, please click here or visit http://www.arzaworld.com/tours/2006/ARZAWorldIsraelTourWinter2007.html

*This remarkable price of $1999 per person reflects a $200 gift from Arza World Travel in support of the URJ pilgrimage resolution which stated: “This year in Jerusalem”. Discount applies to registrations received prior to September 22, 2006 (Erev Rosh Hashanah).

Peace of Mind Travel Protection: You can cancel for any Reason. Choose to protect yourself with our 'Peace of Mind: Cancel For Any Reason' waiver program. Cost: $178 per person.

Online booking available on www.arzaworld.com, for more information or to register by phone call our travel coordinators at 888-811-2812.

A story about a cluster of grapes

When people think of Israel, the first thought that comes into their heads is not usually that it is a land flowing with...wine. However, Israel is overflowing with surprises as there is always something new to discover in this fascinating country. Did you know that there are 200 wineries in Israel? Many produce wines on par with other regions of the world, and frequently win awards at international exhibitions.

]]> There is a long history of wine flowing throughout Israel. The story begins with Moses who sent twelve spies across the river to explore the Promised Land. As the story is told, two of the spies returned with a cluster of grapes and those grapes yielded enough wine to last the people for their forty years wandering in the desert.

Israel used to offer only sweet, syrupy wine utilized primarily for ceremonial purposes. The wine culture dramatically changed after the 1970’s when experts discovered that the soil and climate of the newly-captured Golan Heights was ideal for cultivating grapes. Vines were planted, and in 1983 the first wines produced in the Golan Heights were released to the public. Some of the famous wineries that can be found throughout Israel are located in Rishon Lezion, Zichron Ya’acov, Castel and Tzora.

For your next trip to the Holy Land, don’t miss the chance to experience the best wine Israel has to offer, when customizing your next program, ask your ARZA World program specialist about incorporating a private visit to a boutique vineyard in Israel.

European River Cruise | Air & Land from $999 per person | Cruise Only from $499 per person

The Danube River surges through Central Europe, she has been a sort of magical bridge between West and East through the centuries. Cruise by great valley gorges; visit famous cities of great cultural interest like Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Passau, treat yourself to an exquisite vacation and watch the beautiful river landscapes floating before your eyes. For more information about our river cruise programs please click here.

The Florentin Quarter: A Tel Aviv Neighborhood not to be missed!

By Rachel Spitz

Intensity lingers about the neighborhood despite its stillness. One gets the sensation that the neighborhood of Florentin by night is only half the story.

During the day, Florentin is a busy, bustling, neighborhood filled with craftsmen, carpenters, upholsterers, cobblers and bakers. And, for each trade, there are countless shops; some have been around for decades, others are just sprouting up now. Day or night, Florentin awakens the senses.

]]> Sounds of life call out from Vital Street just a few meters away. This street is an oasis of modernity that, in the last few years, has rejuvenated the nightlife in this neighborhood. A side street boasts trendy cafes, pubs and dance clubs filled with young, hip people. Music and conversation spill into the street, breathing energy into this district.

The Florentin Quarter was named after David Florentin, a Greek Zionist who purchased the land from Arabs in the late 1920s. Early inhabitants found the area appealing since, at the time, it lay near a train line from Jaffo to Jerusalem. Ashkenazi artists were the initial inhabitants of the neighborhood.

In the 1990s, a gentrification campaign sponsored by the municipality started bringing back Ashkenazi artists, yuppies and hippies. A small renaissance has been set in motion by young Tel Avivians who are interested in inexpensive apartments, Bauhaus architecture, and chic night life. Today, bakeries, pubs and restaurants compete with old-fashioned, family-owned hummus and bureka shops whose names seldom even appear on their dusty awnings.

Pedestrians, cars and bicycle riders all compete for space in the narrow streets. Trucks stop in the middle of the traffic to unload furniture, inviting a cacophony of car horns and shouts. Shiny, new convertibles inch past immigrant workers on their bikes. Young men with Rasta dreadlocks impatiently weave around old men whose shopping carts get caught on the potholed pavement.

Florentin’s bustle extends throughout the entire neighborhood. On Levinsky Street, spice shops overlap each other seizing your senses. Burlap sacks brimming with colored seasonings are labeled in both Arabic and Hebrew; their scents blur together into one overwhelming fragrance of rosemary, oregano, curry and vanilla. Wolfson, Matalon and Herzl Streets are lined with countless stores that sell furniture, household appliances and various light fixtures. Window after window shows off similar displays, leaving you with a wonderful feeling of knowing that you are witnessing a diversity of cultures all in one block.

Between Vital and Stern Streets, a lane exists that, at first glance, seems a charming respite from the surrounding stimulation. Brick replaces pavement underfoot, trees line the middle of the lane, and lampposts with candy-cane curves smile onto park benches. Blooming flowers decorate the porches overhead - this street could resemble a tiny slice of Europe.

Venturing into the Florentin Quarter is like entering a melting pot. Old and new converge into one with jumbled ease, providing a sense of curiosity. The neighborhood’s character may be a complex one, but it clearly speaks for itself.

Experience all the wonderful sights and cultures that Israel offers.

ARZA World is committed to using a holistic approach to the educational experience. Our programs are designed thematically, combining educational and geographical considerations while in Israel. Please call ARZA World Toll Free: 888-811-2812 or e-mail: groups@arzatravel.com

Moments that remind one that occasionally a group trip to Israel can change your life. Every day.

By Rabbi Keith Stern

I am exhausted. Up and down Masada. Ein Gedi Springs. Just wrote a long blog entry that disappeared. But...I have to report on the amazing moment that my group shared on Masada. Way up on top of this mountain in the middle of the desert...

]]> Way up on top of this mountain in the middle of the desert where Herod built his winter palace and 1000 Jews committed suicide rather than surrender to the Romans is an ancient synagogue. It was built by the Zealots in the 1st century. In that synagogue is a room double locked and in that room is a safe with an ark cover over it. With the right keys I opened it and pulled out a Torah. Can I tell you what it's like traipsing across Masada with a Torah in my hands? The overwhelming feeling of somehow continuing a process? Of doing a bold new thing?

Rabbi Keith Stern

I can't describe it. It was too new, too intense, too over determined... Walking into the room where the Temple Beth Avodah group was waiting, and seeing their eyes as I entered with that scroll. It could've been a thousand years ago -- 2 thousand years ago. To see the excitement and the joy in their faces.

We made a ceremony honoring our most recent Bat Mitzvah, Monique and our next Bat Mitzvah, Halley. Standing on one side of the room were all those who already had a Bar/t Mitzvah. On the other, those kids and adults who never had one. I had all the Temple Beth Avodah post Bar Mitzvah celebrants line up and pass the Torah to Monique, who then gave it to Halley who held it as all the younger kids touched the Torah. Talk about symmetry and a perfect moment.

I then asked the non-Bar/t Mitzvah adults a question: Is anyone ready to declare that they are ready to commit to the next adult B'nei Mitzvah class? No pressure, really. Just 2 thousand years of history swirling through the air. Reesa, Suzanne, Deborah and Michele and John stepped up. How amazing was that?

These are the moments that reminds one that occasionally a group trip can change your life. Every day.

The Cuisine of the Ottoman Turks: The Perfect Snack to eat while in Israel

By Rachel Spitz, who currently resides in Tel Aviv and is continuously inspired by Israel's multi-culturalism.

A young couple walked hurriedly down the Tel Aviv sidewalk simultaneously chatting and preparing their Friday morning breakfast. The woman held open a plastic sack for her boyfriend while he extracted a wrinkled, grease-stained bag. As they bit into their burekas, their speedy pace slowed into a leisurely stroll. Flakes of pastry fell from their mouths causing them to pause and brush each other's shirts clean. The woman giggled as she gently wiped the stray pastry from her boyfriend's beard.

]]> “Burekas are a 24-hour food,” said Yigal, owner of the Non-Stop Burekas shop in Tel Aviv. “People eat them in the morning, before going out at night, and after returning from partying.” Yigal and his partner David opened their shop five years ago. The fillings in their burekas range from pizza flavored, mushroom, a type of Bulgarian cheese called kashkaval, potato, and salty cheese. Spinach seems to be their most popular flavor.

The bureka, also spelled boureka, boreka and burreca, is a Sephardic version of the Turkish pastry known as the borek. The cuisine of the Ottoman Turks called for thin layered sheets of pastry, called yufka, filled with sweet or salty filling and served either baked or fried. This concept, deriving originally from the idea of folded bread, dates back to somewhere between the 11th and 15th century.

Penzzo, Old Fashioned Turkish Burekas and Turkish Bread, Levinski St., Tel Aviv

When the Jews fled the Spanish Inquisitions in the 15th century and settled in Ottoman Turkey, they found comfort in the Ottoman borek; the pastry reminded them of their own Spanish dough filled with meat. It was not long before the Spanish Jews adapted the Ottoman Turkish borek into their own cuisine and renamed it the Ladino boreka. Jews living in other parts of the Ottoman Empire, such as the Balkans and Greece, also adapted the Ottoman borek into their own ethnic cuisine.

When Sabi, of Turkish and Greek background, immigrated to Israel from Turkey in 1935, he opened his own bureka stand called Gazoz in the Florentin Quarter of South Tel Aviv. The stand is authentic for more than just its Turkish-style burekas, though. Gazoz is named after and also known for its Turkish drinks: Gazoz, which is similar to cream soda, and Tamarindi, which is made of dates. These drinks are made using a special machine that Sabi, himself, brought with him from Turkey to Israel. As if the large burekas filling the glass counters aren’t reason enough to visit Sabi, his Tamarindi machine is one of only two in Israel.

Florentin is home to another authentic Turkish-style bureka bakery that’s been in existence for more than 30 years. The Mis Bakery on Stern Street is run by the Mis family patriarch, referred to only as ‘grandpa’; he came over from Turkey decades ago and opened the bakery. Walking into grandpa’s bakery can be an overwhelming experience for the senses. A table sits in the middle of the shop filled with cakes, cookies and quiches. The surrounding walls also shelve tantalizing desserts. Trays of burekas, hot out of the oven, are arranged on rectangular tables in a delicious assembly line. There are no labels differentiating the fillings inside, yet one whiff of the fresh pastries is enough to want to sample all of them. Some are golden brown, some are delicately sprinkled with sesame seeds, some are smooth, and some bubble with cheese.

“I recommend the mushroom and onion bureka,” suggested one of the bakers. He handed me one, and I took a bite not caring whether it was cool enough to eat; I didn’t regret my haste.

Once I swallowed the last of my treat and told him of my recent change of loyalty to the mushroom and onion bureka (previously, my favorite was spinach), I asked the baker why, in his opinion, burekas are so popular in Israel.

He shrugged. “Why is pizza so popular in the States?” His attention then turned toward another customer who was waiting for his expert advice. The baker stuffed the indecisive customer’s sack with an assortment of flaky burekas and tossed it to her. She made what seemed to be an impressive catch, but immediately dropped the bag because of how hot its greasy contents were.

Bureka shops, stands and counters dot the entire city of Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, the distances between many of these joints aren’t far enough apart to burn off the calories consumed from even the tiniest of burekas. Some of these shops also serve a variation on the bureka called lahmajoon. This Armenian pastry, which consists of flat dough stuffed or sprinkled with shredded lamb and spices, is also known as Armenian pizza.

An informal survey conducted for this article revealed that most Israelis think the bureka originates from Bulgaria. It’s not a surprising answer given that Bulgarian cheese is such a popular filling. When told that Turkey is the more accurate place of origin, most responses consisted of shoulder shrugs. “The origin of the bureka doesn’t matter,” said one Israeli between bites of his Bulgarian cheese bureka at Yossi’s counter. “The important thing is that they remain a part of Israeli culture today.”

Need dining suggestions? For our online list of recommended restaurants click here.

Become an ARZA World traveler and enjoy a wonderful and life changing experience while in Israel. We extend an invitation to you to plan your trip to Israel! Please call ARZA World Toll Free: 888-811-2812 or email groups@arzatravel.com

Tourists Return to Israel and Prices Drop Accordingly | published by Frommers.com

By Jason Sheftell
The review recommending ARZA World touring programs to Israel was published by Frommer's.

The center of the western religious world, Israel is a special place to many. Drawing believers on religious pilgrimages, Israel's great sites include the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Via Dolorosa where Christ carried the cross, the town of Bethlehem, and the fort on Masada.

While a spiritual land to multitudes, Israel holds appeal for the less devout.

]]> Tel Aviv is a cosmopolitan city filled with a vibrant youth culture. Haifa remains a funky ancient urban corner where intellectuals sell antiques and artifacts from small stalls and stone-walled shops. Eilat, known for snorkeling, is a beach town that can hold its own with any other beach town. If you like spas and healing salts, The Dead Sea with its thick salt water content allows you to float aimlessly, and allegedly has healing powers. As interest in travel to Israel has spiked sharply upwards over the past six months, tour operators are making travel affordable, even for lengthy stays.

For longer trips to Israel with a focus on Jewish heritage and spa add-ons, try ARZA World (tel. 888/811-2812; www.arzaworld.com). Starting at $2,728, a 13-day "Exploring Israel" tour includes round-trip airfare out of New York, three nights in Tel Aviv, two nights in Galilee, two nights in Eilat and four nights in Jerusalem, fifteen meals including four dinners, all sightseeing in a deluxe motor coach, all luggage portage, and a book, The Spiritual Guide to Israel. This tour is filled with discussions, intellectually guided tours, visits to a Kibbutz to see the daily way of life in Israel and to an artist colony, and a rafting trip down the Jordan River. An optional attendance at a Sabbath service is also available. If you're looking to be pampered, a two-night add-on to the Carmel Forest Spa Resort starts at $629. Israel's largest spa, the Carmel Forest Spa resort is just 50 minutes from Tel Aviv in the heart of the Carmel Forest. Certain treatments are included in the price of the package.

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