EDI Extras
Authentic Bedouin Experience
Beyond a traditional meal in a Bedouin tent that many tourists enjoy
while visiting Israel, this EDI Extra offer a far more authentic experience.
You will trek into the desert by foot and arrive at one of several
Bedouin areas where this nomadic tribe calls home. You will see how
they live, how their unique community operates, share a meal and engage
in open conversation with Boaz Shalgi as your guide and translator.
Well beyond the beaten path, this "extra" will take you deep into
the heart of one of Israel's most interesting communities.
Meeting the Druze - A Unique Community in Israel
An unusual community in Israel, the Druze represent a secret religious
sect of Islam that is both strictly monotheistic and loyal to the
state. Druze distinguish themselves in Israel's army and in the string
of Druze villages that span the Galilee and Golan. With relatives
and commerce crossing the Syrian border, the Druze are a unique link
to neighboring countries. As an EDI Extra you will visit a typical
Druze village, meet with elders of the community and partake in a
traditional Druze meal.
A Day in the Desert
One of Israel's natural treasures, the expanse of deserts
from the Negev through the south provides beautiful escape and a compelling
adventure for those interested in its allure. In this EDI Extra you
will travel deep into the desert with an expert desert guide who will
teach you the wonders of the geology, vegetation and wildlife that
make up the ecosystem of this environment. Enjoying a delicious meal
under the open sky, you will also learn the secrets of survival in
the challenging desert terrain.
Nahal Kidron Archeological Dig
Right in the heart of Jerusalem, you can participate in an archeological
dig at the Emek Tsurim National Park located at the foot of Mt. Scopus
and the Mount of Olives. As an EDI Extra you will get your hands dirty
as you sift through earth and debris to help Bar Ilan University archeologists
Gabriel Barkai and Itzchak Zeig find ancient stamps (bula) from the
First Temple Period, or coins from the great Jewish rebellion against
the Romans in 66 CE, or pottery shards from the First and Second Temple
Periods. Be a part of bringing history to life.
Tzedaka - Tikkun Olam on Tour
Tzedaka, repairing the world through acts of charity, is a cornerstone
of Jewish religion and culture. In Israel there are many opportunities
to participate in charitable activity and through this EDI Extra we
can provide you with volunteering options to meet your personal interests
and time commitment. From soup kitchens for the hungry to preparing
gift packages for soldiers; from recycling used furniture and home
appliances for needy families to painting walls of schoolyards in
distressed neighborhoods; from visiting children in hospitals to bringing
Shabbat flowers to elderly Holocaust survivors, the spectrum is rich
and the time invaluable. This unique experience, beyond helping others,
can bring special meaning to your visit to Israel and intensify your
connection to the land and its people.
Jeep tour along northern border
Israel's northern border represents one of the key security flashpoints
for the country. The site of several wars and skirmishes, this critical
line represents a key defense system against threats from Lebanon,
Syria and further east. At the same time, it is offers some of the
most beautiful views and landscapes in Israel. In this EDI Extra we
will take you on a jeep tour along the border in an area usually inaccessible
to civilians. We will have lunch with IDF soldiers at a military outpost,
visit the "Good Fence" that once represented a gateway to better relations
with our Lebanese neighbors, look out over the fields and villages
of Lebanon to learn about security issues facing Israel today, and
more.
Home hospitality
For an Israeli experience that brings you as close to home as you
can possibly get, this EDI Extra invites you to a very special home
hospitality experience. EDI general manager Boaz Shalgi and his wife
Maggie will host you for a night or more in their spacious home on
beautiful Kibbutz Gonen in the Upper Galilee. After an extensive day
of touring, you will come home with Boaz, join his family at the kibbutz
pool, visit the cowshed or just take in the fresh air and green fields.
In the evening, over a tasty home cooked meal, you will learn first
hand about the life and culture on kibbutz, and the development and
history of the region.
The Archeology of Biblical Jerusalem
In this special EDI Extra you will explore the archeological excavations
that surround the Old City of Jerusalem. Led by senior Israeli archeologist
Meir Ben Dov, who headed the archeological excavations of the Temple
Mount and supervised the Western Wall Tunnel excavations, you will
be treated to an expert's perspective on what Jerusalem may have been
like in the days of the Bible. Sharing some of the drama of the dig,
and the significance of unique findings, this is a must for those
who want to get to the deepest roots of the Jerusalem experience.
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