Top 10 Places to Visit and Love in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

For most American tourists visiting Israel, frequenting our distant shores can be synonymous to a 7-year-old stepping into a candy shop. There’s just too much of a good thing to go around…

So where do you go if you’re a hard-working businessman with little time on your hands to make the most of your Holy Land experience? We’ve come up with a list of the top 10 places to visit in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; Israel’s top two tourist attractions.

1. 2C 50^th story bar & restaurant atop Azrieli Tower, Tel-Aviv

Enjoy delicious gourmet Mediterranean cuisine for reasonable prices while gazing down on colorful yachts dotting the blue sea below. If you’re looking for a great bargain, get a sandwich or cold drink at the bar without having to pay a whole lot, and still get an incredible view of greater Tel-Aviv, large stretches of the Mediterranean, and considerable swaths of the Judean desert.

2. Ben Yehuda Street, Jerusalem

Ben Yehuda Street is Jerusalem’s prime hangout that captures the spirit of Israel’s capital city. Throngs of tourists gather here at all times of the year to listen to impromptu street shows including professional musicians, trained acrobats, and live mannequins showing off their skills. A must-see for anyone visiting the Holy City.

3. Nahalat Binyamin Street Fair, Tel-Aviv

Every Tuesday and Friday (including holidays) artists, clowns, and musicians display their merchandise in at the Nahalat Binyamin Street Fair right along the famed Carmel Market. Even if you’re not there to purchase a prized piece of art, you’ll definitely enjoy – and get entertained by this incredible taste of Israel.

4. Old Jaffa, Tel-Aviv

The historic Jaffa harbor, where the modern State of Israel sprung its roots, is an enchanting maze of romantic gardens, enchanted paths, and a rich selection of first-rate restaurants. The mighty Mediterranean shore where Napoleon’s army was repelled for over a month by the Ottoman ruler with the help of his right-hand Jewish adviser serves as a back-drop to the hotels and skyscrapers of the booming metropolis of Tel-Aviv.  Enjoy a care-free evening and discover a hidden side of Israel at this pristine location.

5. Old City, Jerusalem

The Old City of Jerusalem is perhaps the greatest wonder of the entire world. Built more than three thousand years ago, its stones have witnessed almost all the upheavals in the history of mankind. Its colorful markets, narrow alleyways, and spellbinding history give it a quality unlike of any other place in the world. The Old City is an absolute must for anyone visiting Jerusalem.

6. The Tayelet, Tel-Aviv

Tel-Aviv’s famed promenade runs along the shore of the Mediterranean and offers tourists a riveting glimpse of Israel. There are hundreds of sun-glazed bars offering an assortment of alcoholic beverages and mouthwatering delights.  Enjoy the sun and soak in the sights and sounds of life in the Big City! You’ll be sure to bring home some unique stories…

7. Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem

The Mahane Yehuda market has come to symbolize Israel’s capital city. The colorful market attracts thousands of local and foreigners on a daily basis thanks to its unique Middle Eastern appeal. You won’t want to miss this Israeli marvel and dine in one of its prize-winning restaurants or bars!

8. Sarona Market, Tel-Aviv

The recently-opened Sarona Market at the heart of Tel-Aviv offers visitors 89 businesses under one roof. It’s an experience that reflects the dynamic culture of the “city that never sleeps” boasting 8,700 square meters of pure delight. Check it out – you’ll enjoy every bit!

9. Nachlaot, Jerusalem

Nachlaot is one of Jerusalem’s foremost cultural and religious hubs. Built in the late 1800’s, this historic landmark is home to a fascinating mixture of older generation Torah scholars alongside young American hippies.

10. King David Hotel, Jerusalem

The fabled King David Hotel is the residence of choice for world leaders and dignitaries visiting Israel. Walking down its lobby, you’ll see signatures of some of the world’s biggest celebrities who’ve stayed there including Madonna, Mohammad Ali, and the Grateful Dead. The 5-star hotel features sprawling suites and Jerusalem’s largest outdoor swimming pool along with picturesque villa looking out at the Old City. 

My Top 7 Chicago Bulls of All Time

 1. Michael Jordan (1984-’93, 1995-’98) – Who else??

AKA “MJ,””Air Jordan,” “His Airness”- and no, ain’t never been a better playa in NBA history than Air Mike!

Jordan was bigger than life itself. No kid growing up in Chicago – perhaps the entire world – in the early 90’s didn’t know his name.

MJ’s accolades include: 6 NBA championships, 5 MVP Awards and 14 All-Star appearances. His net worth currently stands at $1.14 billion and he is the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets basketball team.

 

 2. Norm Van Lier (1971-1978) 

“Stormin’ Norman” was a TV show host in the 90’s when I had just started watching the Bulls. You could tell he was the ultimate gentleman who personified the American spirit that extended far beyond sports. Van Lier came off as completely unselfish. His love for the game of basketball was unparalleled.

As far as his career accomplishments, Van Lier is the Bulls’ third all-time leader in both assists and steals behind Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

3. John Paxson  (1985-1994)

Johnny Pax was my favorite Bull for much of his career. His style on and off the court really spoke to me, and his game-winning 3 in game six of the 1993 NBA Finals is perhaps my favorite moment in Bulls history. 

4. Horace Grant (1987-1994)

Grant was an integral part of the Bulls’ ’91-’93 Three Peat. Horace’s trademark goggles and jovial attitude always endeared him to me. He was the ultimate competitor and another all-around good guy.

5. B.J. Armstrong (1989-1995, 1999-2000) 

I will never forget Bulls announcer Johnny “Red” Kerr telling the story of how one of Michael Jordan’s kids had been asked who his favorite Bull was. He said it was B.J. “because he’s a kid like me.”

Armstrong was a too-cool guy with a great shot. He was well respected by all – even with his babyface appearance-which might just be one of the reasons for his relative fame despite having just one All-Star appearance to his name.

6. Toni Kukoc (1993-2000)

Toni began his professional career starring for his hometown Jugoplastike Split team where he won three consecutive Euroleague titles.

When Kukoc finally made it across the pond in 1993 and played on three Bulls championship squads along with MJ, Pippen and Rodman, the basketball world witnessed one of the greatest European ballers of all time step up his level of play and fit in to a tee with a championship Bulls team filled to the brim with superstars.

“The Waiter” won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1996.

 7. Dennis Rodman (1995-’98)

The numerous fights and antics “Dennis The Menace” engaged in over his pro career made him enemy of the people #1 around the league.

He was primarily a rebounding specialist, performing acrobatic stunts to nab the ball out of what sometimes appeared as thick air.

Some of “The Worm’s” accomplishments include:

1. Getting married…to himself (!!!)
2. Having an affair with Madonna.
3. Coaching a topless basketball league team.
4. Coming out with a book (about himself) with a picture of himself naked on the front cover (basketball replacing fig leaf to prevent having to father too many illegitimate future ballers/thugs).
5. Befriending North Korean dictator and one of the world’s most evil men, King Jong-un and making numerous trips to N. Korea to “engage in diplomacy” with the rogue state.

Top 5 Jewish Dating Sites

Prior to finding my beshert more than 3 yrs ago, I discovered a variety of high-quality Jewish dating sites in the great world wide web. Each seems to be tailored to a specific audience. For example, there are those that target the Haredi public, those for the religious Zionists out there, those for the not-too-concerned Jews amongst us, etc...

Here are the top 5 Jewish dating sites according to my personal experience:

1. SawYouatSinai and its sister website SeeYouinIsrael: (free in Israel) you get your choice of shadchan/shadchanit who (if they care about what they're doing--and in my experience, while some are better than others, you simply can't go wrong) will "suggest" at least five matches for you/week. This means that they will send either you or a potential match either his/her profile or your profile. If you choose to put down a little extra cash, you get an unlimited amount of matches.

If you "accept" a match, he/she has 7 days to either "accept" or "decline." If he chooses to declines the match, his/her choice will appear in your "Matches" box but obviously without the reason they declined. If they accept as well (the second party has 5 days to decide), the guy gets the girl's phone number and has three days to call her. They can talk things over and schedule a date if they so choose.

Both parties are advised to follow up with their respective shadchanit regarding "match progress." You fill in a blank once you've gone on the first date, once you're "dating," and once you're "engaged." The site states that you must pay your shadchanit a certain bonus if a match is made. I feel that this "symbolic" payment is well worth the reward.

My shadchan has made 11 matches (this number has probably doubled since I last posted). That's simply remarkable based on the fact that both him and his wife work full time and have almost a minyan-full of lil ones at home.

2. Shlish Gan Eden: I believe this is by far the best dating site in Israel. If you're the least bit religious and living in the Holy Land, Shlish is definitely the way to go! They continuously update their site with new candidates. It's not a shadchan-based dating experience; rather, you get to interact directly with the other party.

There are advantages to this system. For example, instead of a matchmaker picking out girls/guys for you based on what they know about your personality, looks, lifestyle, level of religiosity, etc., you get to "approach" the people you're interested in yourself. There's a certain charm to this. Perhaps, it feels more natural--as if you're approaching someone on the street and asking them for their phone number, only you're doing it in a discrete setting. Highly recommended!

3. JWed: possibly the best Jewish dating site intended for marriage purposes only (as it states on the landing page). It features the same setup as Shlish--meaning singles get to see profiles of one another and approach each other without first having to go through a third party. It's intended mainly for English-speakers.

4. JDate: while this dating site is mostly intended for the secular or non-frum population, I personally

know of a religious couple who met via JDate. You'll see a lot of people interested more in looks and social status than other issues that I feel hold a deeper significance, but if you're that happy-go guy/gal who have a steady income and aren't "overly" religious, this might be the site for you!

...and last but definitely not the worst option, a site where a close friend of mine met her husband (this site is not all Jewish...)

5. OkCupid: OKCupid has a very unique setup that separates it from the field and gives it an added advantage. It lets singles fill out a compatibility profile and matches up other singles who have similar backgrounds, interests, goals, and life visions. While it's not a "Jewish" site per say, the fact that it will only show you singles who would be a good match based on the amount of qualities you have in common, you're more than likely to find that Jewish guy/girl who lives in your neck of the woods. Unlike of the other sites, OkCupid is also completely free!