About

In 2019 I published a one-of-a-kind Hebrew English dictionary about the Land of Israel – Know the Holy Land. The book is available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/author/shaishvalb  

I recently (early 2023) am about to finished writing the manuscript for my second book in English – A Bridge to your Roots (temp.). Using my knowledge of the Bible and Hebrew, my book connects Evangelical Christian believers to the Land of Israel, where all the roots of their faith began at the time of Jesus. I expect the book to be published in mid 2023, so stay tuned!

I offer you my services as a one-stop shop for all your needs in Israel: guidance, transportation, booking hotels, VIP handling at the airport, and anything else you might need.early

After a career as an entrepreneur and a businessman, I decided to turn my passion for the Land of Israel into a career. I am a licensed tour guide, certified by the Israeli ministry of tourism, and I hold a BA degree Graduated with Honors in Middle Eastern studies.

I am 63, married to Sarit, a spiritual teacher and a guide and a couple counselor, father of two children (Omer and Shachar), and live in Ra’ananah (at the center of Israel). Captain in reserves army service.

The thoughts Jerusalem suggests are full of poetry, sublimity, and, more than all, dignity.

Mark Twain

52803648_10218072029532783_8967635141291671552_n
  • Saves money in a professional plan and execution of the tour in Israel. Creating an itinerary by an experienced guide will ensure an unforgettable visit experience, and in most cases will result in a life-changing trip.
  • Helps understand the complexity of Israel, its history, society, flora and fauna, politics, etc. The Land of Israel in general, and the city of Jerusalem in particular, are probably one of the most interesting but yet complicated places in the world. Without a guide you would probably understand very little, and may walk by sites of great importance without being aware to this fact.
  • Helps turn your trip from being a sightseeing trip to an insight-seeing trip.
  • Creates a personalized tour, precisely tailor-made to match your specific schedule and interests.

    A typical Jewish tour  looks different than the Christian one, and a Catholic itinerary looks totally different than the Protestant one.

  • Allows immediate flexibility throughout the way.
    Saves the need to deal with driving, parking, etc., in a foreign country.
  • Optimizes the timing for visiting sites and avoids the crowd, dangerous sites, etc.
  • And on top of all of this – we will get to spend the tour together! Check out the latest testimonials on my TripAdvisor page.

Contrary to what you often hear in the global media – it is usually safe to travel to and be in Israel. In cases where places next to the Gaza Strip or some places in Judea and Samaria (The West Bank), or in the Golan Heights become dangerous – access to those places will be denied, as the Israeli military regulates those areas. Despite its reputation for violence, Israel is a relatively safe country to visit!

Nevertheless, being guided by a professional guide in Israel will eliminate the fear and the danger of finding yourself in an unpleasant situation.

I was told by many of my American guests that they felt much safer in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem in comparison to other big American cities.

So start your journey now and come to Israel!

  •  

The best times to visit Israel are in spring or fall. During those seasons the days are mildly warm, with temperatures around 80°F, and the nights are cool.

During the summertime (June to August), it becomes pretty hot during the day, with average temperatures of 90°F. July to August sites are very busy because of the school summer holiday.

During late fall and early winter (September to November), the weather is mild, and usually, the sites tend to be less busy with tourists.

During the dry and hot summer (May to September), Israel has no rain.

During the rainy and cold winter (October to April), there are about 50 days of rain.

Check out the dates, and make sure you don’t plan to come during the peak seasons, which are the Jewish “High Holidays”: Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot (September to October), or during Easter and Passover time (March to April).

During that time, sites are usually bustling, and the prices of hotels tend to rise.

What to Wear in Israel?!

Keep It Casual Generally speaking, dress codes are highly relaxed in modern Israeli society. Restaurants for dinner – Casual. Usually, no mandatory need for a Jacket or a dress.

Dress for the summer heat In Israel, summer begins around April and can last through October. Recommended clothing is airy, short, and comfortable.

A light jacket or long-sleeve shirt is recommended for evenings spent in the desert, Jerusalem, or the Golan Heights. Also, most places in Israel are fully air-conditioned, which some people find too chilly. That extra layer could come in handy if you’re one of those people.

Rain is extremely rare between May and September.

Use sunscreen to protect yourself from the. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses!

Comfortable walking shoes! No heels, please, during the days! I advise wearing a pair of waterproof sandals-preferred, or Flip Flop shoes in the Dead Sea.

Dress for the short winter Some days can be warm enough for T-shirts. However, we get cold fronts, rain, and the occasional local storm, so bring a rainproof jacket and some warm clothes.

Jerusalem, the Upper Galilee, and the Golan Heights are colder than the coastal areas and can even get some snow during winter. Some people think of Israel as a scorching desert, but it really isn’t. It can get cold and even snow during wintertime. The key to what to wear in Israel during wintertime is Layers.

It can get freezing during the night in the desert during wintertime. Don’t let the sun fool you!

Pack a swimsuit – in any season!

Visiting religious sites cover yourself in any sacred place, such as a mosque, synagogue, church, or the Wailing Wall.

Ensure you cover up to your elbows and knees – both women and men. That means avoiding Bermuda pants or short skirts, or sleeveless shirts. OR carry a long-sleeve shirt and a pashmina with you. Wrap up if you’re asked to.

 

 

To me – Israel is my love and passion that I would like to share with you.

My mission is to connect my guests to the Land of Israel using their six senses! And if you wonder what your sixth sense is – come to Israel and meet me!

Recommendations

Journey to Masada and the Dead Sea with Shai Shai led us on an informative journey through some of the most interesting Holy Land sites. His enthusiasm for Israel and telling the story of its history and people is both insightful and educational. The colorful way he weaves the narrative parts of the tour leaves a real impression, and we left with more knowledge of the Israeli experience than we ever could have hoped to gain. Shai is the consummate professional. If our travels bring us to Israel in the future, he’d be our go to guide.
SwissfamilyGrass
SwissfamilyGrass
07/01/2023
Very knowledgable and helpful My friend and I booked a trip with Shai from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He picked us up from our hotel, entertained us with history during the drive, and then prepared a great day for us while in Jerusalem. Where i think Shai went above was in honoring request we had during the day, and leading us to have the experiences we wanted to have. For example he arranged for my friend, who is Muslim, to get someone to take him to the temple mount and a day that non-muslims were not allowed, he took us to areas to get the food we wanted, and was quick to leave areas we were not interested in when we indicated so. Lots of tour guides take you on their tours, but shai made it our tour, which was cool. Totally recommended.
BrockosModernLife
BrockosModernLife
05/01/2023
Incredibly amazing experience with our tour guide Chai I just can't express how fulfilling our experience in Israel was with Chai as our tour guide. He customized our tour to see some of the most meaningful locations to us by getting to know us and our interests. Amazingly, he knew dates, names, events and historical happenings from each location we went to, and was also able to give us both Hebraic and evangelical significance of the sites we were at. He was like a walking encyclopedia, in the best way possible. I would highly recommend him and Know the Land. Chai LOVES what he does! He is passionate about it and it doesn't appear to be "work" to him. He genuinely loves the land, the history, the people and those who come to visit as well! May Hashem continue to bless Chai, his family, and the land of Israel and all who pray for her peace. Shalom!!
Julio M
Julio M
15/12/2022
Amazing journey in Jerusalem Shai was an kind, accommodating and knowledgeable tour guide and teacher. He has a board understanding of religious theology for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Specifically he arranged a separate guide for Masjid Al-Aqsa, since non-Muslims cannot go. I was a rewarding experience and I never imagined myself able to perform Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa.Shai is the person you want to your journey in Jerusalem, since the historical sites require a polyglot understanding of religion.He is also a kind and warm person and I certainly enjoyed his company. 10/10!
Nabib E
Nabib E
10/12/2022
Amazing adventure with Mr. Shai It was my first trip to Israel, Telaviv and I was looking for a day trip tour to the Dead sea. I was so lucky to find a local tour guide - Mr. Shai .Mr.Shai is very polite, positive, friendly person and as a guide very knowledgeable.We’ve learned the whole history about Masada while climbing and observing the territory of Masada fortress. He also made sure we drink enough water 🙂 Just felt as if my dad is taking me and my friends for a trip, no crowds - private trip, nice adventure.Highly recommend ☺️
Malishka12
Malishka12
20/11/2022
3 days in the Israel If you want an exceptional professional choose Shai. If you want an exceptionally knowledgeable historian choose Shai. If you want an exceptional expert on social and cultural Jewish life choose Shai. If you want someone who is able to tie Jewish and Christian history together and have it make sense in the current context choose Shai. If you want a flexible guide whose motto is “your wish is my command” choose Shai. If you want a fun and humorous human being choose Shai. Most important if you want a friend when your experience is over choose this talented and compassionate man. HE IS WONDERFUL!
Robert G
Robert G
02/11/2022
Jerusalem Guide Shai is an incredible guide. He is warm and engaging. We laughed, we learned and we enjoyed every minute of Jerusalem. We look forward to returning to Israel and having Shai guide us again.
Alissa L
Alissa L
01/11/2022
Great guide, great person! So happy to have been with Shai. We have been to Israel many times escorted by excellent guides but we think Shai the best. Always prompt, very comfortable new car, and great English and a wonderful sense of humor. And of course most knowledgeable
bshavitz
bshavitz
18/10/2022
A wealth of knowledge, 10/10! Shai gave my partner and I a private tour around the Old City of Jerusalem and we could not have asked for a better experience. Shai is extremely knowledgeable, thorough, and most importantly, fun to be around. He gave us the flexibility to customize our day how we saw fit, and made all of the planning very simple. I would highly recommend Shai for any of your needs in Israel, 10/10 A+!
Luke P
Luke P
19/09/2022
Touring Israel with a friend Had a wonderful day touring Masada, Ein Gedi & the Dead Sea with Shai. He was punctual, prepared, engaging and incredibly knowledgeable and proud of his country's history and culture. He provided detailed and pertinent historical information regarding the places we visited and he made it all very interesting. He mixed in current affairs with his commentary and was frank and candid and did not shy away from answering any questions. It was like spending the day with an old friend. Highly recommended Shai!
travelling88
travelling88
15/09/2022

From The Blog

Masada, the Judean Desert
Uncategorized

Herod the Great

King Herod loved the good life. He wanted himself and his guests to live in Masada, in the middle of nowhere, as though they were

Start your journey NOW!

Send me an email or call me, and I’ll be happy to assist you!

Skip to content