Travel Agents Have Their Favorite Getaways
Travel agents are exposed to
destinations all throughout the
world. They have information about
cruises, Israel, Europe, Asia,
Australia, South America, Canada
and almost everywhere one could
take a vacation. In addition, for their
own pleasure and to gather
information for their clients they will
travel to these far-off destinations.
Some local travel agents recently
responded to a L'Chayim survey
about their favorite spots. Here are
the results:
I once traveled to Dubrovnik not
realizing I would come upon Jewish
heritage. I haven't forgotten the
warm feeling when I happened
upon Yehudin St. and there was a
tiny synagogue. I found there were
15 Jewish people in the surrounding
area. The synagouge was cared for
by an old spinster and her two
equally old bachelor brothers. The
sanctuary was not open but I did
get to meet the three "caretakers."
Just meeting them in this unlikely
place made me feel at home.
—Janet Randolph,
President,
Book Couzens Travel
• • •
Besides Israel, I find Italy a
very exciting and interesting
destination for the Jewish traveler.
There has been an active Jewish
presence in Italy for more than
2,000 years.
The arch of Titus in Rome,
constructed to commemorate the
destruction of the Temple in
Jerusalem in 70 C.E., was built
ironically by Jewish slaves.
Jews have lived in Rome since
139 B.C.E. Remains of the Temple
Divo are in the Roman Forum.
Recently discovered are the Second
and Third Century Jewish
catacombs under the knoll of Via
Torlonia. Wall decorations show the
menorah, shofar and lulavim.
The first Jewish ghetto began in
1515 in Venice. In Florence, the
synagogue is on the site of the old
ghetto across from the ancient
burial ground.
—Regina Goldstein,
Vice President,
Goldstein Travel
• • •
Israel is my favorite Jewish
destination, but Spain is an unusual
Jewish destination. I love the history
in Toledo (Spain), the Jewish sites
SAVE THE DATE!
JEWISH
TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
A free, fun-filled afternoon
of family-oriented travel opportunities
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1989
Jewish Community Center of West Bloomfield
Door Prizes
Entertainment
Special Travel Packages
Refreshments
Sponsored by:
The Jewish News and Jewish Experiences For Families
in cooperation with
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Detroit
and
Detroit's Most Accommodating Travel Agencies
L-4
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1988
in Seville (including the old Jewish
quarters) and the museums in
Madrid. Toledo was especially
interesting because it was the
capital of Sephardic Judaism. It had
two Jewish quarters and at least 10
synagogues.
—Rochelle Lieberman,
President,
Gateway Travel
• • •
My favorite Jewish travel
destination is New York City. The
Jewish flavor of the Lower East Side
is very much apparent in the
restaurants and shops of Orchard
and Houston Streets. I can identify
with my parents' recollections of life
in that area during the 1920s and
1930s. It's like going back in time.
At the same time, the sophistication
of New York's theaters, museums
and midtown shopping is always
exciting.
—Annette Langwald,
President,
Elkin Travel Inc.
Cruises Only! Ltd.
• • •
My favorite Jewish travel
destination is unquestionably the
beautiful land of milk and honey,
Israel. Everyone should visit Israel
in their lifetimes. The experience is
overwhelming. It is amazing to see
how the Israelis have turned a
desert into an oasis, a magnificent
Jewish homeland. One can see
everything from ancient history to
modern structures and breathtaking
scenery. Be sure to make next year
in Jerusalem.
—Gloria Pianko,
President,
Travel Unlimited, Inc.
• • •
A most exciting and different
Jewish vacation can be had in
Switzerland, where there are
numerous kosher hotels in a variety
of resort areas. Each region
has its own "national" tongue:
French, German and Italian, and, of
course, to the seasoned Jewish
traveler, Yiddish, Hebrew and
English.
Starting at the airport in Zurich,
one is reminded of being in a
supermarket, where fruit, produce
and many consumer items are
openly on display. Everything is
geared for the traveler, with
convenient trains leaVing regularly
from inside the airport. A train ride
to or renting a car in Lugano is in
itself a worthwhile trip. Lugano is on
a most beautiful lake, where there is
a small and friendly Chasidic hotel
with many larger and more elegant
hotels nearby.
From Lugano, there is easy train
access to places like Venice for a
one- or two-day side trip. Take a
romantic gondola ride in Venice
under the Bridge of Sighs or visit
the Jewish Ghetto to understand
some important Jewish history.
Back in Switzerland, stay in
Grindelwald for a few days at the
Silberhorn Kosher Hotel. It's
expensive, but luxurious, with
magnificent snow-capped mountains
overpowering Lake Goliath; you can
see this view from every room. The
kosher hotels have Orthodox
services and there is even a kosher
mikvah.
—Miriam Stebbins
Travel Consultant
Jules Doneson Travel
Agency Inc.
• • •
Exotic Hong Kong blends junks,
rikshaws, horse racing and high
technology with a small but vital
Jewish community. Though Jewish
institutions are rare in Hong Kong,
institutions with Jewish roots
abound from the world famous
Peninsula Hotel to the China Light
and Power Co. Ohel Leh
Synagogue, built in 1902, is a
graceful, Oriental-style synagogue
with marble floors and mahogany
bimah. Orthodox Sabbath services
are held and all are invited to
kiddush after Saturday prayers.
There is a quaint Jewish cemetery
tucked behind an orange Buddhist
temple.
—Harold Kalt,
President,
Bee Kalt Travel
• • •
When the entire world is open
to Jewish travelers, (except for most
mideastern countries) it is
sometimes difficult to select a
meaningful destination. But,
there is only one place in the entire
world where a Jew must visit — that
place of course, is Israel.
Whether this is your first or 51st
visit, the thrill begins when you first
see the coast of Israel from your El
Al plane and the captain plays
"Nava Nagila" on the intercom
system.
Even if Israel did not have so
much to offer visitors of every
denomination it would still be the
one place on earth that every Jew
must visit to appreciate the miracles
that have occurred in this embattled
land from ancient time until the
present.
—Jerry Rogers
Travel Consultant
Berkley Tours and Travel,
Inc.