Coming to Israel? Here's What You Can't Plan For
- Suzanne Lieberman
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
For years, Libby and Yossi had dreamed of celebrating their eldest son Aryeh's Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem.
They had started working with me many months in advance, and the excitement grew with every planning meeting. Every detail had been carefully thought through: a pre-Bar Mitzvah trip to the north, the ceremony at the Kotel surrounded by family and friends, a photographer to capture every moment, new suits packed for the men and boys, Libby's elegant gown carefully folded into her suitcase, and a celebratory brunch with a custom menu already confirmed.
But on Libby's first day in Jerusalem she realized her mistake: the elegant gown she had bought back home, was all wrong for a Jerusalem summer; it was far too uncomfortable for the 95°F heat, the weather forecast was predicting for the day of the simcha.
Yossi called me in a panic. As the saying goes, happy wife, happy life - and he was determined that Libby's special day wouldn't be overshadowed by the wrong dress.
I spoke with Libby and got an understanding of what she was looking for, and then after a couple of hours of phone calls, WhatsApp messages and calling in a few favors, I had a solution. By the time the family emerged from their tour of the City of David, I was able to send Libby the names and addresses of two boutiques that potentially had exactly what she was looking for. All she had to do was order a Gett taxi and go shopping.
Crisis over. Peace and tranquility were restored in the Burger family. (Yes, she found the perfect gown - and claims it was much better than the original one).
Not every family needs to replace a gown at the last minute. Not every visitor discovers their apartment has been double-booked.
But every trip has its own surprises.
Sometimes it's finding the right dress. Sometimes it's locating a doctor. Sometimes it's arranging a wheelchair, replacing lost tefillin, finding an English-speaking pharmacist, or tracking down a restaurant that can accommodate a last-minute celebration.
These aren't things you'll find on an itinerary, but they can make the difference between a stressful vacation and an unforgettable one.
It's not about writing an itinerary.
It's about having someone on the ground who knows who to call, where to go and how to solve the little problems that inevitably crop up during a family trip to Israel.
Because when you've invested so much in creating memories, you deserve to spend your time making them: not worrying about everything else.
If you’re planning your own Israel journey and want things to run smoothly - even when the unexpected happens, I’d be happy to help. You can reach out via my contact form
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