Israel is becoming a destination to which A-list celebrities are flocking. Some of the biggest names in music, television, and sport, have visited the country recently, both for vacations and concert events.
Madonna is one of the most regular visitors to Israel – visiting both for vacations and as part of her concert tours. Madonna’s was taken by her world tour to Israel in 2009 for two concerts, and she is now returning in 2012 for further concerts in Israel. Madonna is said to own a property in the north of Israel in the quaint town of Rosh Pina, just a few miles from Safed, the world center of the Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, which she follows. In fact, on her visits to Israel, Madonna has also brought friends including Hugh Jackman, and Donna Karan.
Aside from Madonna, other celebrities who have taken tours of Israel include Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, and Zach Braff, who fell in love with the city of Tel Aviv. In fact, Braff loved it so much that he told an Israeli paper that he planned to write a film about an American in Israel!
And, when A-listers visit Israel for work, they have been known to extend their trip to explore the sites. For them, it is not a question of what to do in Israel. Justin Bieber, for instance, when he gave a performance in Israel in 2011, took the opportunity to explore the country. Bieber toured the country for a few days taking a Jerusalem tour and visiting the important Christian sites in Israel as well as doing some more adventurous activities. Bieber said ahead of his trip that one of his greatest ambitions was to “walk where Jesus did.”
Lady Gaga visited Israel in 2009. Like Bieber the primary reason for the trip was a concert, but Gaga took the opportunity to explore the country – visiting Jerusalem, where she famously “toned down her image” when visiting the city’s holy sites. Lady Gaga also took a swim, or, more like a float in the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, where the salty waters make people float.
So maybe it is all this A-list interest, which explains why some celebrities are taking their visits to Israel to the next level by offering fans to join them. Backstreet Boy Howie D has just announced that he will be inviting fans to join him on a tour of Israel in late 2012! He is expected to sing to his fans as they pass across the famous Sea of Galilee in a Jesus-era boat!
