Joe Yudin

Joe Yudin is the founder and lead tour guide at Touring Israel—a company that curates exclusive visits to the Middle East for the luxury traveler. His love for Israel is long-rooted: After graduating Boston University, Yudin set off for Europe in search of his roots, eventually landing him in Israel, where he studied Hebrew, settled down as a kibbutz volunteer, and served in the IDF as a paratrooper. Following his army service, Yudin returned to the states and worked for the UJA New Jersey Jewish communities. When he returned to Israel, he became a tour guide and continued his studies at the University of Haifa, earning a PhD in Israel Studies. Today, Yudin lives in the Jezreel Valley with his wife and three children, and regularly leads visitors on tours throughout the region. He is also the author of the book The Protestant Settlers of Israel: Missionaries, Millenarians, and the African Hebrew Israelites.