Jerusalem: The Experiential Guidebook by Tali Kaplinski Tarlow, ScaVentures, Jerusalem, © 2018, p. 198, plus supplemental material, NIS 150, about $42.00.
By Fred Reiss, Ed.D.
WINCHESTER, California – Jerusalem is surely a must-see by anyone visiting Israel, and author Tali K. Tarlow gives us an unusual twist to an epic visit – a scavenger hunt to find holy places, common places, and places out of the way; all within the City of Jerusalem.
She asks her travelers to divide up into roles, which can be fixed or exchanged: a tour guide, mission manager, prophet, navigator, and detective, and each role has tasks, such as, reading about the visited stations and biblical quotes, recording information, navigating with maps, and taking photos.
Tarlow partitions Jerusalem: The Experiential Guidebook into five chapters, or routes, ranging from exploring historical landmarks to the city’s open market to the national cemetery on Mt. Herzl, and each route offers scores of missions, or stations. Chapters open with an introduction, including aims, preparation, and a description of “how to get there.” Each station gives background and a history, places to visit, things to record, games to play, and even tests to see if the knowledge were retained.
Yet, Jerusalem: The Experiential Guidebook is more than just a sightseeing guide and a venue for storing photographs by offering a tremendous amount of historical detail, including stunning color and black and white modern and historic photos set within a colorful and eye-pleasing 8-1/2 x 10-inch format. An appendix holds pull-out leaflets with maps, pictures, and a train game.
Jerusalem: The Experiential Guidebook is as valuable a “coffee-table” book for the arm-chair traveler as it is a useful guide to the city. Indeed, it’s almost too pretty to put to its intended use, but by using it as part of a trip to Israel Jerusalem: The Experiential Guidebook is sure to become a treasure for the entire family.
At this time, Jerusalem: The Experiential Guidebook is only available for purchase in select locations in Israel, or from ScaVentures website at https://israelscaventures.com/.
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Dr. Fred Reiss is a retired public and Hebrew school teacher and administrator. His newest works are The Comprehensive Jewish and Civil Calendars: 2001 to 2240, The Jewish Calendar: History and Inner Workings, and Sepher Yetzirah: The Book That Started Kabbalah, Revised Edition. The author may be contacted via fred.reiss@sdjewishworld.com.
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