Started in Jerusalem. And we had a tour bus for a few days. And we drove all around. Tel Aviv, Dead Sea, Masada (where my cousin was Bar Mitzvah'd), Golan Heights, Bethlehem (saw the manger). So many places. I don't think they can go to the Golan Heights now.

I was 11. But I still have vivid memories. It was amazing. In Jerusalem my parents gave me and my 7 year old brother money and told us just go wander around. We walked through the markets in the old city. Bought tons of Bazooka gum. The comics were in Hebrew.

IMO this was the coolest thing. We walked by a school and there were two boy playing basketball. Turns out they were brothers and we were about the same age. They spoke little english but i spoke a bit of hebrew as I had been in Hebrew school for a couple of years.

We played a friendly game for a while before it got dark and it was time to head back to the hotel. The King David, natch. We saw Danny Kaye checking in. I didn't know who he was at the time but the parents were impressed.

I really want to go back and take my family. My wife would love to go. We want to do a cruise that goes to Israel and Egypt. Again, my wife and kid are not Jewish. But she loves to travel and I think my kid would like it.

And this is a life's mission for me to do: