# 003 2011 March

IDENTITY’S The Traveller T IPS N EW S AN D IN F OR M AT ION ABO UT

T RAVEL AND ED U C AT ION IN I SR AEL

The new website includes a variety of educational tours to accommo-

date the needs of 2.4 million Christian tourists that visit Israel annually. .

New Christian Travel Website This week Identity Travel announced

the launching of our new Christian

Travel website at www.Christian-

Tour.com. The new website includes a

variety of educational travel itineraries

for all Christian denominations.

The Israeli tourism ministry estimates

that close to 2.4 million Christian tour-

ists visited Israel in 2010. One-third of

them were pilgrims who visited holy

sites in Israel and the West Bank includ-

ing: Nazareth, Capernaum, the Sea of

Galilee, the Church of the Holy Sepul-

chre, the Via Dolorosa, and the Mount

of Olives and Bethlehem, the birthplace

of Jesus.

As with our regular tours, our Christian

itineraries also put emphasis on the edu-

cational aspect of travel by integrating

discussion groups, panels and lectures as

well as other educational activities .

"What is revolutionary about the new

Christian Travel website is its innova-

tive Christian tours that go way beyond

sightseeing and provide a true learn-as-

you-travel experience." says Eran

Kolran, Co-Founder of Identity.

SIGHT of the WEEK The Poreh Nature Reserve is an area of green hills in Israel’s rural south, just north of

Be’er Sheva. This small stretch of land is surrounded by great wheat fields. Just be-

fore Spring sets in these pastures are flourishing with typical Israeli red buttercup

flowers that seem to stain the landscape in spectacularly bright red. The pastoral scene

stands in complete contrast to its location, just a few miles away from the Gaza strip.

We look forward to the day when Palestinians and Israelis can enjoy this great site

together in peace.

SITE of the WEEK

Pg. 1

Hot Air Balloon

Pg. 2

Purim

Pg. 2

Www.IdentityTour.com

Even today, when I talk

about giving a balanced

view exposing people to a

diversity of perspectives

and opinions, some pro-

spects

comforta-

bly state

that their

group has

an opinion

and may

not be open to hearing other

points of view.

We thought of this objec-

tion thoroughly before start-

ing our business. Our con-

tention then was that our

product is for "open minded

people" of all races and

creeds and that this should

be a big enough market.

This was our business bet

and I am glad to say the bet

paid off.

Yes, there are those who are

narrow minded, whose

opinions are based solely on

the their own prejudice and

limited world view.

They are quite con-

tent never to chal-

lenge their own

opinions and further

more to ignore any-

thing that might be

at odds with them.

However, our clients are

different, their mind's eye

constantly scans the world

for other arguments, they

place opinion in constant

scrutiny and they are re-

warded with true wisdom

and understanding. It is our

pleasure to serve these cli-

ents and we hope to have

the privilege to continue to

Letter From the Founders:

Betting on an Open Minded World Our clients are different, their mind's eye con-

stantly scans the world for other arguments,

It has been an eventful month;

we have doubled our manpow-

er, launched a new Christian

website and are working, as

always, to promote

understanding through travel.

When one looks at all of this

progress, one wonders what

makes a business successful?

The truth is that this business

like any other is a bet.

When we first presented our idea

of running educational tours that

would be inclusive to the

multiple narratives and cultures

of Israel, brows were raised.

Our contention then

was that our market is

"open minded people"

of all races and creeds

Identity Travel is happy to welcome Malcolm

Babbin and David Lev Bannister as our new

Account Managers. Malcolm has held posi-

tions in the spectrum of sales and marketing,

from the design and marketing of jewelry, to

his most recent role of co-publisher for an

international automotive publication. Malcolm

is a joint founder and chairman of the charita-

ble organization “You Have a Friend”, provid-

ing food packages to Jerusalem’s needy. He

was born and educated in the U.K.

Mr. David Bannister is a Tourism Ministry

licensed tour guide , his diverse career includes

PR, sales, movie production and even playing

blues on the guitar He was recently engaged

in arranging a delegation of regional conflict

victims for a high level visit to the British

government.

WELCOME TO IDENTITY NEW FACES

The Story Of Purim

This week the Jewish citizens of Israel celebrated Purim. Huge festive

parades marched through the streets. From school children to working

adults, from kindergartens to offices, through every street in the city, it

seemed that everywhere everybody was dressed in costumes and masks.

This age old tradition began long ago in Persia, as recorded in the Biblical

Scroll of Esther. After Jews got the upper hand and escaped persecution,

winning the favor of King Xerxes, it was hip to be a Jew. Many of the

local non-Jews dressed up as Jews in the hope of escaping punishment.

Esther 8:17: “And in every province, and in every city, wherever the

king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and glad-

ness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land be-

haved as Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. “

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

A hot-air balloon festival in the south of Israel. Spectators came

from all over the country and abroad to see the lift off of the color-

ful flying machines.