Information Exchange

Jewish Information Centers

By Carolyn Ali

Travelers to Israel who want to learn more about Judaism should visit two great resource centers located in the heart of the Old City in Jerusalem. The Jewish Student Information Center focuses on students but aims to help all Jewish people rediscover their Jewish heritage. The center offers tours of the Old City and the Western Wall tunnels, Jewish holiday tours and educational seminars, and runs a Shabbat home hospitality program that matches Jewish visitors with local residents to share a Friday Shabbat meal.

If you're not Jewish but still want to learn more about Judaism, head to the Torah Outreach Program (TOP) office just around the corner from the Jewish Student Information Center. This great resource center overflows with books and videos about the Jewish faith and culture and is staffed by friendly volunteers. The center can also arrange for non-Jewish visitors to take part in a Shabbat meal with a Jerusalem family.

The Jewish Student Information Center is at Ohel Avaham, 17 Shonei HaLachot St.; Tel. 011-972-2-628-2643; jseidel@netmedia.net.il, www.jeffseidel.com. The Torah Outreach Program (TOP) office is located at 54 Chabad St., Old City, Jerusalem; Tel. 011-972-2-628-8968; top@actcom.co.il.

Carolyn Ali
Vancouver, BC