Guide profile:
Shmuel was born in Israel to Canadian parents and grew up in Ottawa so he's a native English speaker. As a student he came to Israel to visit, travelled and fell in love with this incredible country. It was just a matter of time and in 1986 he made aliya (immigrated), did his army service and settled down in Jerusalem with his spouse and now 5 children (so he has experience with kids and touring with them). Six years ago he enrolled in the tour guide course to become a licensed guide fulfilling his dream. Shmuel can help you plan a personalized itinerary, guide it and make it come alive.
Tour guide services/sample itinerary:
Shmuel guides throughout Israel customized to your interests, time and budget. He creates a personalized itinerary in consultation with you.
Here are some suggested tours that Shmuel has guided, each can be customized to your interests:
Old City $1 tour: 4 quarters walking tour; additionally 3 religions and 2000 years of history in 4-8 hours at extra cost
Herodium: a comprehensive tour that includes Lower Herodium excavated by Netzer as well as the archaeological park
German Colony: a walking tour, can include arrangements for dinner afterwards
Mahane Yehuda: a walking tour to experience this fascinating outdoor market and tastes of Israel
Someone to Tour With: a kids-oriented walking tour of Jerusalem accompanied by a golden retriever
Alternative Hurva Synagogue tour: a) following in architect Louis Kahn’s footsteps visit St George and Mar Saba monasteries in the Judean desert and then b) hear the real story of the Hurva, its destruction in 1948 with the fall of the Jewish quarter and its rebirth after the Six Day War (you can do part a, b or both a & b
Barluzzi Churches: a walking tour of some of the incredible buildings designed by architect Antonio Barluzzi
In general, I build a tour in consultation with you so that you get a tour that is customized to your interests. I do tours of Jerusalem (I live in the German Colony), the Old City, Jewish Quarter, tours of Christian sites, the ancient City of David including wading through Hezekiah’s tunnel – these tours combine history, archaeology, religion, architecture, etc. I guide a food and people tour of Mahane Yehuda market. I guide tours in Tel Aviv-Jaffa a combination of history, architecture, art and culture.
I am happy to take you farther afield, day trips from Jerusalem to Herodium, desert monasteries, Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, the oases of Ein Gedi and Ein Feshka in the Judean desert, hiking Nahal Arugot or for the more adventurous Nahal Darga, the Dead Sea and Masada.
Transportation by tour guide:
When necessary
Tour guide interests:
archaeology, nature, art, architecture, hiking, food & wine, photography