Global Travel Authors

WHAT WE DO

We travel to the four corners of the earth in search of little-known Jewish stories in the familiar and unexpected exotic places. We set these stories against the broad background of the local history, culture, traditions, and beliefs.  Then, we share these stories with you in our lectures, books, blog posts, and magazine articles.

Our mission is to foster cross-cultural diversity, tolerance, inclusion, and understanding worldwide, with an emphasis on Jewish history.

But wait, there is more! Over the years, we explored more than 100 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and many islands. So, in addition to the fascinating Jewish history, we tell stories about exotic places, people, and cultures. Our followers keen on adventure and special-interest travel will find plenty of practical advice and useful information. Browse our blogs and attend our lectures, and we are sure you will find something interesting to read, listen to, and watch.

RECENT & UPCOMING EVENTS

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PROGRAMS OFFERED

Ready to Travel the Jewish World? We will take your interest group on a virtual trip to the most exotic and unexpected places on earth searching for treasures of Jewish history. Our Memories of the Holocaust series examines the painful past and often controversial present. Based on our exploration journeys around the globe and first-hand experience, our Meet New People and Cultures series will open new horizons and foster cross-cultural diversity and understanding.

What audiences say: “Last night’s presentation… was simply mind-blowing! I wish you could turn it into a documentary or a movie. Obviously, the questions that you are posing are not just about Jews, they are about tolerance, humanism, and probably even fate of the civilization.” – J.M. Read more audience comments.

SELECT BLOG POSTS

A few select blog posts below will give you a good idea about our writing. In our complete blog roll, you will also find announcements about upcoming events you may want to attend, book releases and promotions, links to our articles published in various magazines, and articles written by contributing editors.

Discovering Jewish Connections in Sardinia

Sardinia is an island famed for its unearthly beauty. Sardinia is second only to Sicily in its size among the Mediterranean islands. Like Sicily, Sardinia attracted waves of invaders: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, the Italian city-states of Pisa and Genoa… [Continue reading this blog post]

Masai – the Lost Tribe of Israel

As we drove through the vast plains of Masai Mara and Serengeti reserves, we saw the light-skinned, tall, slender people dressed in red. Surrounded by their herd of cattle, they leaned on their long spears or stood on one leg. Bearing remarkable similarities to ancient Romans from North Africa, most had classical profiles, wore red togas and sandals… [Continue reading this blog post]

Preserving Jewish identity in China

Kaifeng, China. We are at the oldest Jewish burial place in China – with Mr. Jin in front of his life-long project, his family memorial. Our new friend dedicated his life savings and his entire life to create this marble memorial book which presents – engraved in English and Chinese – the 900-year story of Mr. Jin’s family within the context of Chinese history… [Continue reading this blog post]

Meeting the Jewish Community of Mumbai India

Jews settled in Mumbai (Bombay) in the 18th century. First, the Baghdadi arrived in the 1730s. Then, the Bene Israel began migrating from the countryside into the city in the 1740s. Today, Mumbai has the largest Jewish community in India: 3,500 to 4,000 people, most of whom are the Bene Israel… [Continue reading this blog post]

Villa Romana Sicily – Must See for Italy History Buffs

Villa Romana del Casale located in Piazza Armerina in the Sicilian heartland is a not-to-be missed site for all history and art enthusiasts. It is a treasure trove of the best Roman mosaics in existence today. Built in Sicily in the 4th century AD by Marcus Aurelius Maximianus who was Roman co-emperor during the reign of Diocletian (286-305 AD)… [Continue reading this blog post]

Click here to browse through all short articles, announcements, and descriptions of events.

SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS

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Global Travel Authors

6 days ago

Dear friends,Please join us on November 17th for Irene Shaland’s virtual presentation “Jews and Aboriginal Australians: An Untold Story of Shared Courage” Hosted by the BZD organization of Baltimore.Date & Time: November 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)Place: On Zoom (Virtual presentation)This is a virtual event on Zoom. Please follow the link for information and registration: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WQJVeCchRz-LT_ksFQ02xQ#/registrationDescriptionDiscover a breathtaking, little-known chapter of Jewish history in a captivating virtual lecture with renowned author and historian Irene Shaland.Travel with Irene from the vibrant streets of Sydney and Melbourne to the rugged beauty of Kangaroo Island, the Great Barrier Reef, and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Together, we will uncover a deeply moving story of two vastly different peoples bound together by a shared struggle for human dignity.The March of the Unsung HeroIn early December 1938—just weeks after the horrors of Kristallnacht—a delegation of Aboriginal Australians marched through Melbourne. They were not protesting their own harsh treatment, though they were stripped of legal rights in their own homeland and shamefully classified alongside the country's "flora and fauna."Instead, led by the heroic leader William Cooper, they marched to demand an end to the Nazi persecution of European Jews. It stands as one of the only private protests against the Holocaust anywhere in the world at that time.A Legacy of GratitudeDecades later, the seeds of that kindness bore fruit. The descendants of the Jewish refugees who found safety in Australia stepped onto the front lines of the civil rights movement, fighting passionately for the constitutional rights of the Indigenous people who had once stood up for them.In this lecture, Irene will reveal:• The unexpected inspiration that compelled an Indigenous leader to defend a distant people across the globe.• The profound alliance that formed between Australian Jews and Aboriginal activists during the fight for racial equality.• The vibrant reality of Jewish life in Australia today, exploring how this unique history shapes the community's modern identity.Don't miss this unforgettable journey through history, memory, and the enduring power of human empathy.About Our Speaker:Irene Shaland is an internationally published author, Jewish historian, educator, and lecturer who has written extensively on Jewish history, cultural heritage, and global Jewish communities. A frequent presenter at universities, museums, and cultural institutions, she holds advanced degrees in Art History, English, and information science, and brings together scholarly research and personal travel experience to create engaging, insightful programs that illuminate Jewish life across time and place.Learn about Irene Shaland's books on the subject: amzn.to/3DM6rDkPlease follow the link for information and registration: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WQJVeCchRz-LT_ksFQ02xQ#/registrationPlease submit any questions to BZD: office@bzdisrael.org.Or call 410-484-4510 ... See MoreSee Less

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