Our Guides
SANDEMANs NEW Europe supports local small business by helping independent free-lance tour guides find a voice for their passion. By providing marketing services for local entrepreneurs, we take away some of the stress of developing a marketing strategy and allow fantastic independent tour guides the freedom to focus on what they do best.
Meet some of them and find out why they are so passionate about sharing the best of Jerusalem with you!
Alex
Alex Minkin, originally from Edison, NJ, made aliyah in 2002. He got his tour guide license from the Israel Ministry of Tourism in 2008, and has since given hundreds of tours in the Old City and all over Israel. Aside from being a tour guide, Alex enjoys birdwatching and hiking. He lives in Kochav Yaakov with his wife and their three children.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Alon
Alon moved to Israel from Toronto Canada 6 years ago leaving behind a successful painting and restoration business there to study at Tel Aviv University and complete his Masters Degree in Middle Eastern Studies. While working as a research assistant there he couldn’t stop looking out the window and decided to combine his love for education with his love for the great outdoors and has since been working as a licensed tour guide around the country. His love for archaeology and history are only trumped by his love for meeting new people from diverse backgrounds who come to Jerusalem to explore one of the holiest cities in the world.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Ayal
Ayal was born in Rehovot, Israel after his parents emigrated from New York. He loves hiking and being outdoors and has been working in education and tourism for the past 4 years. He is studying social work and is into social issues… living in Jerusalem, married and a new father…and he loves drinking beer, just like his family name…
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Danny
Danny was born and grew up in Jerusalem. As a youngster he used to travel a lot in Israel with the boy scouts and with friends.
After his military service he travelled for about 9 months in Africa, where almost got eaten by a lion in Kenya while going to the toilet at night time. He had to hitchhike in Namibia when his car broke down and had to sell paintings in South Africa in order to finance his flight ticket back home.
After returning back home he studied geography and communication in the Hebrew university in Jerusalem and after graduation he travelled in India for 5 months, where he studied how to meditate. Afterwards he worked as a broadcast supervisor in a communication company for about six years until eventually he realized that he wants to become a tour guide, and since 2009 this is what he does for living and very happy with it.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Dvir
was born & raised in Jerusalem and has been guiding friends & family in his hometown from a young age. After 2 years of living in NY City he followed Mom’s advise & came back home to become a professional tour guide. That proved to be the best decision of his life!
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Itay
Itay took a short trip to India just before he began his army service. While he was there he fell in love with yoga. His yoga practice eventually brought him back to the heart of Asia for five years that he spent teaching English in Taiwan, picking cherries in Australia, meditating in quiet Himalayan ashrams and of course practicing yoga!
He has been back in his homeland for the last three years and has come to realize that he comes from one of the most fascinating places on earth. He is excited to guide travelers from all over the world and he loves sharing the unique stories of the holy land.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Gil
Gil Zohar, who was born in Toronto, Canada and moved to Jerusalem in 1982, is a journalist writing for The Jerusalem Post and other publications. As a professional tour guide he likes to weave together the Holy Land’s multiple narratives. Gil wrote 100 pages of Fodor’s Guide to Israel (7th edition, 2009) and was contracted by the Ministry of Tourism in 2010 to write a 12-article campaign for London’s Jewish News. He loves sharing his knowledge and love to this city with it’s visitors.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Jerry
Jerry has traveled extensively in the world, including a few close calls in Bosnia and surgery in the Hindu Kush Mountains far away from civilization. Coming to Israel on a vacation, a certain brunette caught his eye. Running over to her, he convinced her to allow him to buy her a cup of coffee, (besides, who says no to free coffee in the morning?). The next thing Jerry is doing is going back to Florida, selling his home, his car, resigning from his job, converting to Judaism, and flying back to Israel to get married to that same brunette. Jerry takes much care in giving not just the history of the sites with assorted legends and stories, but also a social tour of the people themselves who make Israel the Israel that it is.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Kobi
moved to Jerusalem from the USA more than 15 years ago in order to jump out of planes for a living. A fear of heights left him grounded and upon his early release from the army (for good behavior) he embarked upon a world tour which lasted 8 years and spanned over 30 countries. Along the way he picked up a degree in Middle Eastern and African Studies, spent a year teaching in Japan, judged a Zulu fashion show, and somehow survived typhoons, earthquakes, volcanoes, tornados, hurricanes, typhoid fever, Turkish prisons, Bangkok nights, Colombian women and the lands without beer until he finally realized that he was happiest (and safest) when he was living and guiding here in Jerusalem!.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Mítch
Mitch has been an Israel tour guide since 2009 and really loves his work! He grew up in sunny Florida, and also lived in New York and Los Angeles. Before moving to Israel in 2005, Mitch worked and taught in the Jewish community in the States. He holds a BA & MA in History & Judaic Studies. When he’s not guiding, you might see him whizzing around with his red bike on the roads of Jerusalem.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Moki
is a true Jerusalemite from birth. Growing up in the neighborhoods of Jerusalem, Moki loves to uncover the secrets of this magical city. When Moki is not running marathons or biking through half the country, he can be found studying Jewish History and Early Christianity at the Hebrew Univeristy.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Naomi
Naomi was born and raised on a Kibbutz in northern Israel. Growing up she spent her weekends traveling around the country and exploring its history. During her army service as a guide she discovered her true calling- to become a tour guide. She was drawn to Jerusalem’s magic and charm and moved here so she could be close to it all. Now she is a student at the Hebrew University and is happy to show others the true magic that is unique to Jerusalem, and that made her fall in love with this special city.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Netanel
Netanel was born near the Sea of Galilee, and like Jesus, moved to Jerusalem when he was fed up by the life of simple people. After serving in the Israeli army, he travelled to Australia and New Zealand and fulfilled his life dream of becoming a soccer player (for a while!). When the dream was over, he started his studies toward his bachelor degree in archaeology and geography in Jerusalem. As a city ambassador of a sharing hospitality network project (aka CouchSurfing), Netanel is not only a great guide but also a genuine Jerusalemite who knows the city like the palm of his hand.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Oren
Born and raised in Israel but a traveler at heart, Oren spent a couple of his childhood years living in the United States and Australia. Upon release from the army he embarked on a journey following the path of World War II from Normandy to Stalingrad. After seeing too many war sites he joined an Amish family for three months. Realizing he didn’t go far enough he flew to Fairbanks, Alaska to work in the northernmost falafel stand in the world. When winter came Oren decided that there is no place like home and returned to Israel.
Now that he has finished his masters in Israeli history he does what he loves most – tour guiding in Israel and the holy/crazy city of Jerusalem.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Paul
Paul was born and raised in London, England and immigrated to Israel in 1980. After graduating with a BA in International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and serving in the Israeli army, he decided to make his home in Jerusalem. For nearly 25 years, he has been working for the Ministry of Tourism promoting travel to Israel and after completing studies to become a professional tour guide, Paul loves sharing his passion and knowledge of Jerusalem’s fascinating history, culture and spirituality with tourists from around the world.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Phil
the Guide has been described as a funny, energetic and well informed guide. Originally from Chicago, Phil first fell in love with Israel at the age of seventeen and moved here in 2002. Phil feels truly blessed to be able to share his passion for this land with travelers from all over the world.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Yaakov
Yaakov has travelled to many distant shores, but he calls Jerusalem home. He is passionate and knowledgeable and enjoys sharing his love of this land with travelers from around the world.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
Yonatan
Yonatan arrived in Israel in 1989 and after several years of working in an office setting, decided that he wanted to be in a profession that allowed him to share his love and enthusiasm for Israel. After receiving his tour guide license in 2001 he then went on to complete a master’s degree in Jewish studies with a focus on Christianity. He has traveled around the world, and spent several years teaching English in the Far East. He is always on the lookout for new learning experiences to share with the groups that he guides.
Tours mastered:
FREE Tour
Holy City Tour
Mount of Olives Tour
