128hanah Tova ht

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bring to all our
customers, friends and,
family good twattlit,
happiness and prosperity.

HARPER

FURNITURE

Arab Hospitality
In The Galilee

SIMON GRIVER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

W

hen Israel decided to
expand its tourist in-
frastructure in the
Galilee, accommoda-
tions were created by transform-
ing farming communities into
holiday villages. Hundreds of
small homes across the Galilee
have become "bed and breakfast"
establishments and small guest
houses.
Jewish villagers took to the
idea immediately, but Galilee
Arab communities were more re-
luctant to become involved. The
main reason was that it was felt
to be offensive to the basic tra-
dition of Arab hospitality to ac-
tually ask your guests to pay for
their room and board.
"The rural Arab communities
of the Galilee are ideally suited
to become holiday villages," says
Ruth Avidor, coordinator of the
"Galilee Bed and Breakfast" pro-
ject for Israel's Ministry of
Tourism, who lives in the region.
"Families live in very large homes
which often have many empty
rooms once children have grown
up, married and moved to their
own homes."

There are currently 50 homes
offering bed and breakfast in the
Galilee Arab villages of Kaukab,
Deir Haanna and Arraba.
As word spread, families in 17
more Galilee Arab villages regis-
tered for future Ministry of (\
Tourism courses.
At modest prices of $25 per
night per couple, including break-
fast, the bed and breakfast deal
has been a big hit both with Is-
raelis vacationing in the Galilee
and with visitors from abroad,
the latter including many Chris-
tian pilgrims.
For a modest fee, many homes
offer half and full board as well
— an irresistible opportunity to
sample the delights of Arab cui-
sine.
"The idea is that visitors can
enjoy an all-encompassing ethnic
experience," stresses Ms. Avidor,

Visitors enjoy an all-
encompassing
ethnic experience.

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z 'ci "not merely find just another roof

g over their heads."

Several local music and nature
festivals now include Arab cul
"' thre contributions combined with
group bookings for the bed and
breakfast homes; and fall "olive
harvest" vacations will be offered,
where visitors may help in pick-
ing olives, seeing the olive press-
es and learning how olive oil is
made.
The rustic charm of the
Galilee's Arab bed and breakfast
Villages in the Galilee.
establishments is proving a pow-
erful attraction to holiday mak-
Many houses were designed ers intent on visiting the region
with separate entrances for var- for its religious and historic sig-
ious branches of the extended nificance as well as for its mag-
family, and the amount of cook- nificent landscapes. 0
ing done by large, extended fam-
ilies means that extra portions of
food are readily provided.
"We focused our initial atten-
The Jewish News has early
tion on the picturesque village of
deadlines
for the issues of Sept
Kaukab in the Western Galilee,"
29 and Oct. 6:
says Ms. Avidor. "The Arab vil-
Display ads
lagers were skeptical, but since
Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept.
many knew me personally they
22, for the Sept. 29 issue and 5
were prepared to trust my judge-
p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, for the
ment."
Oct 6 issue.
The Ministry of Tourism pro-
Classified ads
gram includes entrepreneurial
Deadline is 10 a.m. Tuesday,
courses, focusing on general as-
Sept. 26, for the Sept. 29 issue
pects of tourism, the kind of ser-
and 10 am. Monday, Oct. 2, for
vices which should be provided
the Oct. 6 issue.
for tourists, and the financial de-
Local news
tails of running a small business.
Normal deadlines of noon
Thursday, eight days prior to
Loans are provided where ap-
publication
propriate.

c i)

Early Deadlines

(