My favorite site to guide is Tel Dan. I love the combination of history and nature and modern day significance. I love how the nature aspects are made accessible so that it’s a suitable site for everyone. I love how in the wading pool you can clearly see what it means for a year to be a drought year as opposed to a rainy year. I love the relative peace and quiet when you go during the week.

My tip for a first time visit in Israel — think hard about the balance between what you want to see and do and how long the days are going to be, especially during the summer when there’s light out till 8pm, and it’s in the 90’s and humid. Think about whether you want to see as many things as possible to cross them off your list, or if you’d rather delve into a place at a slower pace, and really get to see/know/experience it for yourselves. Think if you’d like a whirlwind tour of as much as possible or if you’d like something at a more relaxed pace.

My favorite Jewish/Israeli historical figure is Haim Weizmann, the first president of Israel. He did a lot of work in helping to make the state come about, he contributed greatly to modern science as a chemist, he established the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, and his autobiography is fascinating, as is his house.