First day in Belgrade, and first pictures.

Dear Travelers and Lovers of dance in Israel,

Klezmer musicians in Safed

Please join us for the trip of a lifetime to the land of the bible: Folk dance, and more in: Israel.
Below is our Israel itinerary plus our 2018 tour schedule. Also see it at: https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours-2018/israel-march-11-22-2018/

Any questions?
Email or call me.

Jim

Israel        

March 11-22, 2018

Jerusalem, Masada, Tel Aviv,Galilee,  Haifa,
Tiberias, Safed, Golan Heights, and more!

 Led by Jim Gold and Dr. Joe Freedman

See the new-old, multi-faceted culture of Israel!
Meet the Israeli people, learn their songs and dances, visit historic sites!
Folk dancing with Israeli choreographers, Balkan dance with Dunav.
Meet Yemenite, Bedouin, and Druze cultural groups. 
Attend Arab and Druze Debka dance workshops.
Price includes city tours, private deluxe motor coach, folk dance workshops, entrance fees, professional tour guide, breakfasts, most dinners.
Note: Our tour is appropriate for people who keep kosher and observe Shabbat.

 Our itinerary:

Day 1:  Sunday,  March 11: Depart on airline of your choice.

Day 2:  Monday, March 12: Arrive in Israel. Meet in late afternoon to check-in to Tel Aviv’s Dan

Day 3: Tuesday, March 13:  TEL AVIV:  Independence Hall, with focus on the founding and growth of Tel Aviv.  Arts and crafts fair on Nahalat Binyamin street. In the town of Or Yehuda, visit the Museum of  Babylonian Jewry to appreciate the history and culture of Jews of Iraqi origin. Return to Tel Aviv. Free for dinner. Evening workshopwith an Israeli folk dance teacher/choreographer.  Overnight Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv.

Day 4: Wednesday, March 14:  Travel to the northern Negev Desert. In the Bedouin city of Rahat learn first-hand about Bedouin hospitality. Afternoon transfer to Dead Sea hotel .Use of  spa facilities.  Float on the Dead Sea while reading a newspaper! Group dinner and overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Ein Boqeq, Dead Sea.

Day 5: Thursday, March 15: Tour the finds on Masada and walk through the nature reserve of Ein Gedi, ascend to Jerusalem.  Free time for dinner. Evening: Optional Balkan dancing with the Dunav Club.  Overnight: Dan Panorama, Jerusalem.

Day 6: Friday, March 16:  Old City of Jerusalem: Visit the Christian Quarter and Church of the Holy Sepulcher,  Jewish Quarter, Kotel (Western Wall).  Optional Friday night Sabbath services at the Kotel. “Shabbat” dinner at the hotel.  Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem. 

Day 7: Saturday ( “Shabbat”), March 17:  Day of leisure. Optional walking tour of Tower of David.  Afternoon walking tour of first neighborhoods outside the City Walls.  On your own for lunch and dinner. Evening: optional Israeli dancing in one of a variety of folk dance clubs. Overnight at Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem.

Day 8: Sunday, March 18:  Drive through Jerusalem’s Cultural Mile to the  Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Afternoon: Tour the various ethnic neighborhoods in the Nahla’ot area as well as the colorful Machaneh Yehuda Open-Air Market.  Evening Yemenite dance workshop.  Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem. 

Day 9:  Monday, March 19: Travel north along the Jordan Valley Road. Stop at Qasr al-Yehud  – the traditional location of the Israelites’ crossing over the Jordan River and perhaps the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Arriving in the Lower Galilee we learn Circassian dances and hear about the history of these ethnic Moslems, originating in the Caucasus mountains, who live in the village of Kafr Kama. Arriving at the Kinneret  (Sea of Galilee) we pause to dance to the songs of the poetess Rahel  and of the song writer Naomi Shemer. Dinner and overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Hotel on the Kinneret Sea.

Day 10: Tuesday, March 20:   In Haifa take-in a breathtaking panoramic view of the Bay and the Bahai Gardens.   With the staff of Bet HaGefen, an Arab-Jewish community center, we will walk through the Arab neighborhood of Wadi Nisnas,  with its imaginative street art.  In the late afternoon we travel to Deir el Assad to participate in an Arab Debka dance workshop with the amazing Yihye Abu Juma.  At a Druze Village we hear about the history and culture of this colorful ethnic group and enjoy their traditional dinner. Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Hotel on the Kinneret Sea.

Day 11: Wednesday, March 21: In the mystical city of Zfat (Safed) we visit one of the colorful synagogues and meet with a Kabbalistic (mystical) artist.  Ascending to the Golan Heights we have a unique view of the north of the country. Tour and wine-tasting at the Golan Heights Winery.  Drive down the coast. Farewell Dinner in Tel Aviv (or on the way). Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv.

Day 12: Thursday, March 22: : Depart on airline of your choice.

Israel:  Land Only: $3995

REGISTRATION: I can’t wait to go!  Enclosed is my registration deposit of $200 per person. Israel single supplement: $995. Additional charges: $85 for hotel taxes and service charges. Gratuities not included. Program and prices subject to change without notice. Group air: Minimum 10 people needed for group air rate to apply. If not met, additional fees will be added. Air taxes and fuel surcharges not guaranteed until ticketing one month before departure. Group rate: Cancellations 60 days prior to departure: Total refund: Less than 60 days: No refund. Travel insurance strongly recommended.   Total balance due December 10, 2018

Name/s_________________________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________________________

No. of people_____Phone(_____)__________________Email______________________

Make checks payable to: Jim Gold International, Inc., 497 Cumberland Ave.,  Teaneck, NJ 07666 (201) 836-0362   Email: jimgold@jimgold.com   www.jimgold.com 

Serbians dancing

Dear Travelers,
Welcome to our new season!

1. Our new season of tours starts with the magnificent Balkan Splendor trip
to Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro. ( It’s not called “Splendor” for nothing.)
SEE 2018 TOUR SCHEDULE BELOW.

2. All folk dance classes are starting. For locations and times: https://www.jimgold.com/folk-dancing/

3. Follow our travel and folk dance adventures on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/jim.gold.folk.dancer?bookmark_t=page

See you dancing,
Jim

Jim Gold International Folk Tours: 2017-18

1. Balkan Splendor
October 15-29, 2017 Led by Jim Gold
Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Montenegro
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours/balkan-splendor-2017/

2. Israel
March 11-22, 2018. Led by Jim Gold and Joe Freedman
Jerusalem, Masada, Tel Aviv, Galilee, Haifa,
Tiberias, Golan Heights, Safed
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours-2018/israel-march-11-22-2018/

3. Japan
April 15-28, 2018. Led by Richard Schmidt
Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Kobe,
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours-2018/japan-april-15-27-2018/

4. Norway/Denmark/Sweden
June 12-25, 2018. Led by Lee Otterholt
Oslo, Gothenburg, Helsingborg (Elsinore), Copenhagen
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours/norway-denmark-sweden-2018/

5. Poland
June 11-25, 2018 Led by Richard Schmidt
Krakow, Zakopane, Lodz, Torun, Gdansk, Olsztyn, Warsaw
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours-2018/poland-2018/

6. Balkan 5-Country Adventure!
July 29-August 12. Led by Jim Gold and Lee Otterholt
Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, and Greece!
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours-2018/balkan-countries-2018/

7. Romania
July 1-12, 2018 Led by Lee Otterholt
Bucharest, Sibiu, Cluj, Sighetu Marmatiei, Piatra Neamt, Brasov
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours-2018/romania-2018/

8. Scotland
September 9-22, 2018 Led by Richard Schmidt
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness,
Fort William, Mallaig, Isle of Skye, Inverness, Aberdeen, Perth
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours-2018/scotland-2018-2/

9. Spain
October, 2018. Led by Jim and Lee Friedman
Malaga, Cadiz, Seville, Cordoba, Jaen, Granada
https://www.jimgold.com/folk-tours/spain-october-12-24-2018/

Jim Gold International Specialty Tours: 2017

Culinary Tour of Bulgaria
Sept 4-15, 2017 Led by George Vishegonov
Sofia, Sandanski, Plovdiv, Kazanluk,
Nessebur, Varna, Veliko Turnovo
http://bit.ly/2kGpSA2http://bit.ly/2kPbQyQ

Wine Tasting Tour of Bulgaria
Sept 15-23, 2017 Led by George Vishegonov
Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Turnovo
http://bit.ly/2kGpSA2