Israel Always, Adventure Guaranteed April 2025: Not Your Typical Blog

Visiting Israel is always a good idea and a guaranteed meaningful experience.  I have been to Israel more times than I can count, and even lived there for a year. The history in Israel runs incredibly deep- from the lowest point on earth, at the Dead Sea, to the ancient manuscripts you can find at the National Library. You have the opportunity to directly connect to biblical times, whether through a workshop recreating ancient artifacts or exploring historic sites.

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF EXPERIENCING THE SAME PLACE IN A NEW WAY: THE DEAD SEA

This is the first time I've experienced the Dead Sea by boat. The best part about this boat tour (there are only 2 boats on the entire sea) is that you can explore otherwise inaccessible areas. The Dead Sea (actually a lake) is the deepest salt lake in the world. We stopped at some salt “chimneys,” which are crystallized minerals rising up from the base of the lake. They were large and strong enough to hold 8 of us!

Fun fact: No animals live in the Dead Sea, yet 27 minerals are found in this amazing body of water. 

We also had the opportunity to dig table salt out from the mud, and it came out as perfect cubes! 

Overall, the experience was a 10/10. 

Fun fact: Salt crystals are naturally cube-shaped because the positive and negative ions within the crystal are arranged in a repeating, ordered pattern. The perfect cube shape of the salt we found is proof of the purity of the NaCl (sodium chloride). If there were impurities, the shape would change.

CITY OF DAVID: FLYING THROUGH HISTORY

The City of David National Park offers archaeological tours where visitors can explore ancient sites and the remains of ancient structures. Additionally, there are interactive exhibits and guided tours that delve into the history and significance of this foundational site in Jerusalem's narrative. The Jerusalem suspension bridge is one of the newest attractions here and is the longest suspension bridge in Israel, spanning 663 feet from Mount Zion to the Hinnom Valley. The bridge showcases a unique perspective of Jerusalem—and best of all, it’s free!

For the thrill seekers in your crew, Israel’s longest zipline opened at Mitzpe David just last summer. Could you just imagine ziplining while seeing the old city walls of Jerusalem? This new zipline spans 2400 feet, lasts over a minute, and offers exhilarating fun with a side of history.

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ISRAEL: MUCH MORE THAN JUST BOOKS

The National Library of Israel dates back to 1925. But this state-of-the-art new building is really what puts the library on the map. This stunning 11-story building, located right next to the Knesset, holds a copy of every book ever published in Israel- in some instances, the only copy! It also houses many rare manuscripts that are over 1000 years old, as well as books in over a dozen languages. In a nutshell, this is THE library of the “people of the book.” The beautiful circular library feature is a must-see, and the coffee shop located downstairs is excellent too.

CERAMICS AT KIYOR STUDIOS: GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY AND BRING A PIECE OF ISRAEL WITH YOU

Ceramics have always played an important role in the land of Israel. From ancient pottery used in daily life to beautifully crafted ceremonial pieces, these artifacts tell the story of the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage. We did an amazing workshop with Kiyor Studios in Jerusalem. Bringing home a piece from Israel that you created is really special.

MEZUZAH WORKSHOP

When we planned this workshop on Passover, we didn’t realize that this is the first time the “mezuzah” is mentioned. This workshop, located in Maale Adumim, gave our group the chance to work directly with the amazing artist, Uri Kalfa. We worked on olive wood carving, sanding down the wood to make it smooth, and then decorating our own mezuzah cases. This was not only fun, but also allowed us to think about an object we all have in our home, and connect to what it really represents. 

CHESED (ACTS OF KINDNESS): THE BEST WAY TO ADD MEANING TO ANY TRIP

PINA CHAMA

Pina Chama literally means “warm corner,” which is exactly what this place represents. Located in the Gush Etzion junction, this is a place where you can stop in, drop off some food or cards for soldiers (which you can easily buy next door), and just take a minute to thank them for all that they do for us. This place is completely run by volunteers, and is a great way to stop in for a moment of gratitude. 

MAGEN DAVID ADOM

We visited the Magen David Adom headquarters, the central hub for Israel’s emergency medical services.  From this central location, MDA coordinates its fleet of ambulances, mobile intensive care units, and first responders. Within the headquarters lies Israel's National Blood Services Center. Donating blood in Israel is one more way to help by giving of yourself.

HAYELADIM SHELANU

Joseph Waks has been putting together get-togethers for victims of terror and finding ways to give them moments of joy. Get in touch, meet these people one-on-one, and truly understand the full meaning of Am Israel. 

Hayeladim Shelanu

No matter how many times you visit Israel, you will never run out of things to do. What I find most exciting about visits to Israel is that you can visit the same historical place one year, and when you come back a few years later, you’ll find the landscape transformed. You can see all the excavations that have been done, as if layers have been peeled back and history is exposed. 

You can be presented with the same lookout or experience you have been to multiple times, but now get to explore it from a completely different perspective. If you are even contemplating visiting Israel, don’t think twice- just go for it.  There is so much you haven’t seen, so much you haven’t explored. 

It’s always the right time to plan your next trip to Israel.

Piecing small cute places together is “Camp Lisa's” specialty. Customizing the stops along the way or creating an itinerary just for you is what Camp Lisa’s all about.

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