shaland Archives - Global Travel Authors

October 12, 2026October 12, 2026

Face-to-Face with Africa: Through the Eyes of a Jewish Explorer Oct. 20

Dear friends,

Join us on October 20th for Irene Shaland’s virtual presentation,
“Face-to-Face with Africa: Through the Eyes of a Jewish Explorer.”

Hosted by: BZD – Baltimore Zionist District

Date & Time: October 20, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time

Format: Virtual event on Zoom

Registration: https://bzdisrael.org/face-to-face-with-africa-through-the-eyes-of-a-jewish-explorer/

About the Program

Travel across Africa through the lens of Jewish history, culture, and discovery. Author, historian, and educator Irene Shaland invites you on a captivating journey to South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar, revealing breathtaking landscapes, remarkable wildlife, diverse cultures, and surprising Jewish connections.

Through Irene’s storytelling—and photographs by her husband, travel writer and photographer Alex Shaland—you’ll:

Meet Africa’s legendary Big Five
Witness the Great Migration across Kenya and Tanzania
Visit a Masai village and explore its Old Testament-like legends
Discover the dramatic Great Rift Valley
Step inside the Nairobi Synagogue and learn about Kenya’s vibrant Jewish community

Experience Africa’s beauty and wonder through a unique blend of travel, history, culture, photography, and Jewish heritage.

About the Speaker

Irene Shaland is an internationally published author, Jewish historian, educator, and lecturer known for her work on global Jewish communities and cultural heritage. She presents widely at universities, museums, and cultural institutions. Irene combines scholarly research with personal travel experience to illuminate Jewish life across continents and centuries.

Learn about Irene Shaland’s books on the subject: https://amzn.to/3DM6rDk

Register here: https://bzdisrael.org/face-to-face-with-africa-through-the-eyes-of-a-jewish-explorer/

Questions? Email: office@bzdisrael.org Phone: 410‑484‑4510

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021

Review of Jewish Guide to Malta and Corsica

Book cover of Shaland's Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica

By Barbara Miller, the author of “If I Survive: Nazi Germany and the Jews.”

This book is a masterpiece in bringing to light the unknown history and rich cultural treasures of Malta and Corsica which are situated in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea but off the beaten track for most tourists. Author Irene Shaland’s experience as an art and travel writer, educator, and theatre reviewer brings a richness and depth not normally found in travel guides. Her husband, Alex, an internationally-acclaimed photographer has contributed a huge number of amazing photos that bring the story to life.

And this is much more than a travel guide. It also opens the door on the Jewish story of Malta and Corsica. As Jewish migrants from Russia to the USA, they bring unique insights to this travel guide.

Many gems of information for the curious are revealed like the first alphabet, the temples built well before the pyramids of Egypt, and much more but you need to read it to find out. You will be surprised at how pivotal these two small islands were in the history of Europe and the Middle East. When you pick this book up, you’ll not be able to put it down. Even if you don’t plan to travel there, you’ll be carried along as Irene’s skills as a detective and researcher draw you into this amazing story.

If your Amazon account is in the US (www.amazon.com), please follow one of the links below to take a look at the paperback or eBook edition of Irene’s book:

Paperback edition: https://amzn.to/3nfjH9s

eBook (Kindle) edition: https://amzn.to/3uJRTeQ

If you live outside of the US and your Amazon account is based in your country, please go to your Amazon account and type “Shaland’s Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica” in the search box.

Learn more about Irene Shaland.

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May 28, 2019December 8, 2020

Beautiful Manor Russum – Your Best Hotel in Calvi, Corsica

Calvi is considered one of the most beautiful and fashionable seaside resorts in Corsica. It is located on the northwestern coast of the island, some 165 kilometers from the Corsican capital Ajaccio. Founded by the Romans in the first century CE, the city was ruled by the Genovese maritime republic from 1278, until it was given away to France in the 18^thcentury.

September 28, 2016December 9, 2020

The “Jewish Question” in Vienna (excerpt from The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories)

Don’t look for the Steinedererinnerung in your guidebook: the murdered Jews of Austria have neither a Rick Steves nor a Frommer. And Vienna, basking in its Baroque and Art Nouveau splendor, would rather have you waltzing from Schonbrunn palace to Sachertorte’s shops instead of searching out the synagogues and homes of long-gone Jews. An Austrian sarcastic proverb, as noted by Magrit Reiter in her conference presentation “Antisemitism in Austria after the Shoa,” declares that Germans were the “better Nazis,” while Austrians were definitely the “better anti-Semites.”