CLAUDE STERNBERG - ENGLISH GUIDE

Nous avons passé 2 jours et demi avec Claude à Jérusalem avec nos deux grands enfants. Nous savions en luindemandant de nous guider qu'elle serait faite sous un certain éclairage mais c'est justement cela qui était intéressant. Ses explications étaient passionnantes, érudites, parfois drôles parfois aussi provocatrices. Nous sommes partis avec l'envie de revenir.

I did me to discover Israel, from north to south passing and stopping in Jerusalem, a group of 22 Belgian people, all religious ideas or not. We were guided by Claude Sternberg and had complete comments Claude is a guide, very scholar in Biblical history, which can meet all questions that are the Jewish and non Jewish tourists. Of course, it is very attached to the country, Which prevented it not staying in its balanced judgements. I ready to leave for a new adventure in Israel with Claude in 2013.

I had to meet Claude in October 2011 in a Medical Congress of study of allergies in Jerusalem. Claude was chosen as guide for our group of doctors from eulogistic commentary on "Petit Futé". It guided us not only in Jerusalem but also in Nazareth, Massada, Jumble, Caesarea etc. All the expected, given the historical importance, cultural and religious this holy city three times, feel, perhaps not "syndrome of Jerusalem", but at least a quiver linked to the spirituality of the place. Instead of that, Claude, very cultivated guide, were ingénié for mainly to a "political" message even Zionist.
Pas de long explanations concerning the way of the cross of Christ who, in its eyes, was no more than a hundred Jew among others, crucified by the Romans (quid of the trial of Sanhedrin?). The visit of the city was done with the "pas de course", lacquered critics barely veiled on the look that us, French, portions necessarily on the State of Israel
Same in Nazareth or visit the cave of the Annunciation seemed to be a drudgery for him.
However we were entitled to a real classes "biblical archeology" to legitimate the current State of Israel on the traditionalist of the United Kingdom of Juda and Israël de David and Solomon according to the "book of kings" (By know that the historic controversy currently is in Israeli Archaeology modern see Israel Finkelstein).
Massada was the highlight of this stay. How to make parallelism between the fight of the Zealoies (by way of sicaires, mercenaries hunted of Jerusalem by their compatriots according to Flavius Joseph!) against the Roman invader and current against Palestinian.
The role of guide is not to give a personal message and even less political but to share with its people you a history, culture that they are unaware sometimes (but not always), while highlighting the convictions (religious or different) all in a total impartiality.
Claude did not respect these ethical statue, worse, it showed some contempt with respect to our group (who being French could be only Palestinian pro) and insult with our intelligence by transforming knowingly some historical facts.
IT is licit to embellish some historic episodes but not to disguise historic reality or deny other less eulogistic or irritating episodes!
The opinion that I send is unfortunately divided by the majority of our group that guards of this stay an impression of unfinished. I could not express this opinion that tardily discovering your site.
Not strongly with whoever wants to feel a legitimate emotion on a tour of these holy places (even if it is atheé)
jean-luc Charles