Yalla Israel with Leontine & Alan

This week, we talk about public transportation in Israel.

In this episode, Leontine and Alan, introduce their listeners to a picturesque Arab village located just 15 minutes from Jerusalem on the way to Tel Aviv worth visiting, Abu Ghosh.

Merry Christmas to those celebrating today! In this episode, Leontine and Alan discuss how Christmas is celebrated in Israel.

Hanukah is being celebrated in Israel this week with the light of the Hanukah menorah, latkes, sufganiyot, and dreidels.  Leontine and Alan talk about all of the holiday's customs in this episode. 

Leontine and Alan record this week from "Cafe Birma" in the beautiful German Colony of Jerusalem and talk about the German Templars who established 7 colonies in Palestine during the late 1800s before being expelled by the British during WWII.

In this episode Leontine and Alan talk about places that are so top secret, they cannot talk about....unless they kill you. Just kidding, of course? Many listeners also want to know if the Old City of Jerusalem is accessible for people with disabilities.

In less than 2 weeks, Israelis will head to the polls for the 5th time in  the last 4 years for another election. In this episode  Leontine and Alan discuss the complicated yet fascinating electoral process in Israel.

This week, we talk about many of the peculiar but festive customs and practices you can see displayed all over Israel during the holiday of Sukkot, the "Feast of Tabernacles".

 The "chaggim" period (holidays) continue  in Israel. We are in between Yom Kipper and Sukkot. In this episode, we introduce you to one of Israel's hidden gems, Akko. Akko is an authentic medieval walled city filled with history, culture, beauty and unexpected delights  on the Western Galilee coast. Not surprisingly, Akko is one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites because of the O...

Prompted by the birth of Alan's first born male descendent, Leontine and Alan talk about the 3500 year old ritual of circumcising everyJewish male as the fundamental sign of the covenant between God and Israel. The "Brit Milah" is much more than just a medical procedure!

Happy Jewish New Year! In this episode, Leontine and Alan tell you all you need to know about celebrating Rosh Hashanah in Israel.

Steel cranes dominate the skylines of every city and town in Israel. Ancient remains  are routinely being uncovered with each building project. In this episode, we talk about "salvage excavations" and the top archaeological discoveries this past year.

In this episode Leontine and Alan highlight Conrad Schick, a self-taught clock maker, scholar, model builder, architect, archaeologist, and all around 19th century renaissance man who left his mark all around Jerusalem. A listener also wants to know if travel from Israel to Lebanon is possible.

The Bible mentions Israel 16 times as the "Land flowing with Milk & Honey." In this episode, Leontine and Alan uncover where you might find the milk and honey and reveal  their favorite Israeli musicians.

Not surprisingly, Leontine and Alan disagree about the better market.  In this episode, Leontine and Alan debate the pros and cons of Israel's two more popular outdoor markets. Leontine prefers the grittier Carmel Market in Tel Aviv, while Alan's favorite hands down is the Mahane Yeuhuda in Jerusalem.

This week, Leontine and Alan discuss the topic of "looking Jewish". What does it mean to "look Jewish"... is there even a Jewish look? Tune in to hear what these two have to say.

Today is Tisha b'Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. In this episode, Leontine and Alan reveal the 10 most important things you'll need to know before visiting Israel, and a listener was surprised to discover how  lush Jerusalem is despite being so close to the desert.

In episode 16, Leontine and Alan discuss the tragic end to a short lived Crusader fortress straddling the Jordan River in the Korazin Heights. They are unable to answer  a listener who wants to know why there are so few food options on the way to Masada.

Alan talks about his journey from the "Bible Belt" to the "Land of the Bible" fulfilling his lifelong dream of returning home. Also, find out why there are two challah breads on Shabbat and not just one.

This week's episode is ALL about Leontine and her journey from Holland and France to becoming a proud Israeli citizen. Alan confronts his fear of bats once again at the Luzit Caves, and a listener asks if there are mosquitoes in Israel.

A favorite topic of this podcast, food, is this week's focus when Leontine and Alan reveal the difference between "Jewish" and "Israeli" foods. A listener wants to know if dogs are popular pets in Israel. 

It's the beloved cherry season in Israel! This week, Leontine and Alan focus on the the magnificent  "Solomon Pools," the time they were detained by the Palestinan Authority police, and why there are so many darned cats in Israel.

This week, find out what unemployed tour guides do during a pandemic, visit ancient Susiya or is it Sussya, and find out who serves in Israel's army.

As the long hot summer begins, Leontine and Alan turn their attention to ice cream and the beautiful Nachsholim beach.  A listener wants to know if kibbutzim still exist in Israel today. 

This week, Leontine and Alan kvell over the graduation of their daughters from Israel universities, and talk about Israel's limited natural resources, the Muslim hidden tomb of Moses and what happens to the notes left by visitors in the Western Wall.