Israel 2017 with JWRP

Shalom! Warning: tons of photos ahead of my Israel trip with JWRP and the Ministry of Tourism. Proceed for gratuitous photos of hummus.

And this is the edited version, I swear. You may remember I went to Israel a few years ago (read part I and part II of my last trip to Israel), but I was thrilled to go back to the motherland with the JWRP and Israel Ministry. I was especially honored to be chosen as a Media Magnet with 30 other inspiring ladies. I knew it would be a great trip, but was surprised to feel a much stronger bond with Israel than on any of my past visits, plus the women I traveled with (check them out here) seriously made the trip. I’d say it’s sort of rare to have 30 women together who not only get along but actually encourage each other. Writers, chefs, authors, doctors, actresses, activists, and Judaica store owners (that’s me). It was quite the group. Check out this epic video of our trip here! I ugly cry every time I watch it.

The JWRP (Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project) aims to “empower women to change the world through Jewish values that transform ourselves, our families, and our communities.” You ma be eligible for one of their FREE trips! Check it out here.

Day 1, we landed in Tel Aviv in time to watch the sunset (see above). I refueled after the long flight with a krembo. Yummm.

How cool is this?? My brother and his fiance were also in Israel – we overlapped by just 12 hours. But they made time to stop by our hotel in Tel Aviv for a quick selfie and high five!

After meeting the ladies and having dinner, I snuck off for a second dinner to talk Jew food with Chef Ido at Salva Vida. Including this tuna with wasabi cream and pomegranate arils. So good.

I woke up super early the next morning to sneak (I sure was sneaky those first few days in Israel) off with Delicious Israel for some hybrid food. Shakshuka in challah (!) Must recreate asap.

Embarrassing.

Pomegranate Jews Juice from the shuk.

And one of the best things I ate all week, Humshuka from Shlomo Ve Doron! Hummus meets shakshuka. (!!!)

That yolk though. Drool.

Then I reunited with the group and we went on a VIP graffiti tour of Tel Aviv with Niro Trip to check out all the political and beautiful graffiti in Jaffa.

Photo above by Aviram Valdman.

We even added our own graffiti. Rebel. WJWE4EVA (Boots by Naot) Pit stop at fashion designer Alembika and a sneak peek at the 2018 summer collection. Then we explored Jaffa and ended up at Na Lagaat, Tel Aviv’s all blind and deaf theater. It was super inspiring to see how they learn through touch.

That view! With our leader and love Adrienne Gold. (If you’re wondering, and I was, her hat says “hat” in Hebrew. Genius.)

Adrienne led workshops throughout the week and fed us tidbits of wisdom. Seriously she’s such an amazing, articulate and wise woman, not to mention hysterical and a heck of a fashionista, and we were lucky to have her with us. She coined JOMO (the joy of missing out), which is the new FOMO. I can get onboard with that. A special shoutout to Judy, who I didn’t get a photo with, who planned everything and was also just the best. And not only because she followed “Judyism” (lolz).

See ya later Tel Aviv!

Then off to the mystical city of Tzfat.

This Yemenite flatbread called Lachuch was one of the best things we ate all week. Fermented bread with cheese, tomato, and spices.

I think he was saying, back up everyone, I’m making Amy’s lachuch now.

Emma and I shared one! I wish we shared two. I guess that wouldn’t be sharing but still.

Then we went to a hospital that treats wounded Syrian refugees. It was crazy to see these young patients and kind of mind-blowing to discuss the conflict of Israelis treating Syrians, but human welfare trumps politics in this situation, and always.

The next day was a heavy one back in Jerusalem. We started with Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Center.

600 photos to represent 6 million. Our tour guide told us this amazing story of a heroic woman who jumped off a train headed to a concentration camp, snuck back to town, hid, changed her name, got kicked out of her hiding place, and eventually reunited with her fiance after years apart. At the end, she revealed this woman was actually her mother, and it’s why she moved to Israel and works at the museum. Cue the ugly crying again. It was amazing to hear of the struggles and sacrifices Jews made just to live in Israel. You could feel the pride.

Photo above by Aviram Valdman.

And met with Miriam Peretz at the Israel National Military Cemetary on Mount Herzl. She is the mother of two fallen soldiers and such an inspiring speaker as well. So positive despite the heartache of losing two young sons.

Photo below by Aviram Valdman.

Followed by lunch at Medita. I could eat all these amazing dips and sauces and pickled things every day. Pass the pita.

And a little tequila. Necessary. Hey, it’s noon somewhere.

Later that night, a private concert with Israeli hunk David D’or. The ladies were swooning.

Photo above by Aviram Valdman.

Chef Chaya force-fed me wine. I love her.

The next day we started things off at Israel’s famous Shuk market. I spent all my shekels on za’atar. No regrets.

Ooh spicy. People always ask me to define Jewish food, which is tricky. Someone on this trip described it as the best from every Grandma and neighbor combined, and I love that description.

Photo above by Aviram Valdman.

Rugelach!

Pita!

Dried fruit! Total candid group of NJGs. In my happy place! The shuk is amazing because you see all types of Jews, non-Jews, everyone, shopping together for delicious food. It reminds me how there are many things that drive us apart, but food can bring us together. It’s why I love to cook!

Not the best photo, but this Georgian Cheesy Bread with pickled carrots and spicy condiments was AMAZING!

Chicks dig chickpeas.

I think I was 70% hummus by this point.

Then, off to the kotel. Holy cow. Literally.Shabbat shalom with Amber! On Shabbat, we had a fabulous 3-hour lunch turned therapy session with a local family. No photos allowed! We ended with Havdalah with a quirky lovable Rabbi and dinner at The Eucalyptus.

The next day, off to Masada! The view Israeli great, right? lolz. Hiking with the Beckerman twins! And the Dead Sea! It was way cooler floating in the salty sea than I remember when I was last there at 16. Muddy.

We’re floating!
That night we were on our own and I met up with Chaya aka Brown Sugar Jew with Melissa and it was kind of the best time ever. Chaya is just one of those people you feel ALIVE around. Everyone knows her and wants to be around her, and her positive energy just radiates. Plus, she is always game for an impromptu photo shoot. “Not today, Satan!” Chaya and I met at a Jewish event when we both lived in Texas but she made aliyah (moved to Israel) a few years ago. I love her chutzpah. The shuk is our runway.

Melissa got this gold jacket on the streets of Jerusalem and I had to steal it for a photo. 

For dinner I had this Beet Kubbe Soup with lots of lemon that looks kind of blah but tasted amazing! I need to recreate it asap. Last breakfast in Israel (SAD!)We were all tired at this point, but perked up on our visit to the residence of President Reuven Rivlin. We met with Senior Foreign Policy Advisor, David Saranga. David talked about his challenge to show a side of Israel besides the conflicts. He started sponsoring Israel floats in gay pride parades to show Israel’s love of equality. He also discovered Gal Gadot when he put her and other soldier-models (fact: every Israeli citizen serves in the army) in Maxim Magazine. Because what a hot look, right? When controversy arose over the issue, Gal accidentally became an ambassador for Israel. And the rest is history.
Last stop, Neot Kedumim Biblical Nature reserve to see a really old Torah.  And plant a tree!Closing night! Love these ladies. It’s amazing how bonded we are after just one week. BFFs forever.

JWRP and the Israel Ministry of Tourism sponsored my trip, but all opinions are my own. Toda for your support!