On the way home Lenna asked me what the highlight of the trip was. After thinking a moment, I said the highlight was Aran! Without your suggested itinerary, navigation, insight, access, knowledge, and your wonderful demeanor that made our time together so enriching, our visit to your wonderful country would not have been nearly as interesting or fulfilling. Thank you for the lovely photos of your family. You are a handsome group!! Someday, perhaps we will be fortunate enough to meet them all! Please thank your wife and your children for allowing us to monopolize your time last week; it was a wonderful experience for both of us. Brian Blauvelt
November 2009
Aran Shalom!
All i can say to you is that you were the best guide we've ever had... anywhere in the world. We made it home today and returned with a rich appreciation for Jerusalem and Israel. Your insights were wonderful. My kids are alive with stories when they speak to family about this trip. Just wanted to drop you a note of thanks!
Marty Peretz, The New Republic publisher and editor
Aran is a spirited and learned young man of 35. He somehow has the magic that allows him to construct a day or a week that would stimulate children and grandparents. He seems to have the whole map of Israel in his head when discussing plans with his visitors. He also has the joyous spirit of Israel in his soul. So whether one is staying overnight in his own professionally erected tents on a tel in the Negev or visiting archaic sites in the Galilee or on the Golan he has the gift of making the general specific and the specific general. So don't be surprised if a day in Tel Aviv will include a stay at the Waterpark and an exciting visit to the Museum of the Israeli Defense Forces. Aran's specialty is Jerusalem, Old Jerusalem and New Jerusalem. He is an archaeologist, trained at the Bar Ilan University and seasoned at some of the most historically important sites. He can make all of this vivid to you: from the excavations at the City of David that concretizes our deepest roots in Jerusalem to the present.
My first trip with Aran was with two members of our family. Our trip in June was with eight, both for 10 days. We were not exhausted until we got on the plane and slept all the way through to New York.
When we arrived back in New York, my grandson, nearly 7, asked, "Why isn't there someone like Aran in Manhattan?"
July 2008
Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of Paranoia, Killer Instinct, and Power Play
Aran Yardeni is the best tour guide I’ve ever had - enthusiastic, flexible, fun, high-energy, and incredibly knowledgeable. He arranged a terrific, exciting trip around Israel for my family recently - from the Dead Sea to the lush beauty of the Golan Heights, from the Old City of Jerusalem to the astonishing caves at Bet Govrin, from volcanoes to archaeological digs. As a trained professional archaeologist, he was able to take us to sites we never would have seen otherwise and show us the ruins of ancient cities in a hands-on way that brought them to life for us. Aran is also an expert in the history of Israel, from biblical times to today, and best of all he’s a natural storyteller with a great sense of audience - a rare talent among tour guides, I’ve found, but probably the most important. He was able to connect with our teenage daughter as well as he connected with my wife and me. Since my wife isn’t Jewish, he made a point of showing us places central to the life of Jesus and the early Christians, which made this ancient history feel real and immediate. And he was a real pleasure to spend time with - he became a part of our family, and we miss him immensely. Thanks to Aran, our visit to Israel was absolutely, far and away the best trip we’ve ever taken. I can’t recommend him more highly. You’d be lucky to see Israel with Aran Yardeni. We sure were.
June 17, 2008
Dear Aran,
So many thanks to you because you have given our family the greatest trip of our lives. We’ve traveled often, and for so many years, before meeting you, and we’ve had wonderful trips together. But our trip with you was beyond anything we’ve experienced before. Your deep knowledge of archaeology, history, Torah, the New Testament, Islam, ancient and modern political issues, the arts (and much more) brought to us a richness and excitement we’ll treasure forever. Your way of imparting knowledge is the best way, we feel, because we learned everything in the form of great stories, great myths, and great questions. You’re a terrific and spell-binding storyteller.
We also treasure your sense of adventure and great fun. We loved the music you played for us while we drove through the most breath-taking landscapes. We loved swimming near and under waterfalls, floating in the Dead Sea and covering ourselves with its precious mud, sipping wine at the Golan Heights winery and staying in the inn you arranged for us. We loved riding the camels. We loved digging for ancient artifacts (and finding them!) at archaeological dig sites that you knew and worked with.
There’s so much more we’re grateful for. We’re especially grateful that you tailored everything to our interests, desires, and energy levels. And you did everything with warmth and grace.
We look forward to returning to Israel and to you as our guide.
Best regards, Michele
Michele Souda
Founder and President
Wordpower Communications
Dear Aran,
It's raining in Brussels and it's kind of cold, but I don't care - I carry in my heart the sweet memory of wonderful days spent with you.
I would have liked you to share with me much more of your immense knowledge, Aran. We were too short of time, but there will hopefully be another occasion.
Thank you for bringing such a lovely picnic - I cannot believe that I was actually sitting on the "Mont des Oliviers", having lunch with you all - under an old olive tree !
……..
In the meantime, thank you again for the unforgettable days - Bente
Dear Aran, I finally have your email. I must tell you that I still think of my trip to your country and have only fond memories. I really miss picking your brain. However I am very happy to have you as a friend. Both Ruby and I will never forget your hospitality and your ocean of knowledge. Please please give your Family and Uri lots and lots of our love and come soon. We are dying to spoil you. Lots and lots of love to you too.
Keep smiling my friend
Sandeep
hi Aran,
we hope you and your family are doing well. These memories of Israel will stay so intensive in us. Thank you so much and your friend for this fantastic time we had together. Regards, Seerys ;-),
Katerina & Richard
