About Israel is Beautiful
Israel is Beautiful is the brainchild of Dr. Peter Abelow and Onnie Schiffmiller. Learn more below about Peter, Onnie and the other professional tour guides who make Israel is Beautiful so special.
Dr. Peter Abelow
Co-founder of Israel is Beautiful
Israel Educator & Tour Guide
Peter is a licensed tour guide. For 18 years, until his retirement in 2017, he was one of the Directors of Keshet – the Center for Educational Tourism in Israel. He continues to inspire and engage families and groups as they tour the length and breadth of the country, as well as through virtual you-are-there online tours.
Peter grew up in New York City and attended the High School of Music and Art. He has degrees in engineering (CCNY) and law (Brooklyn Law School) as well as an extensive Jewish education. His love of the outdoors however probably began as a member of the Boy Scouts, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Before immigrating to Israel with his wife and four children in 1990, Dr. Abelow was a principal in Jewish high schools, first in New York, and then in Baltimore, MD. For 13 years, he also taught basic Judaism to beginners and converts in the highly acclaimed adult education program of the Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York City.
Onnie Schiffmiller
Co-founder of Israel is Beautiful
Licensed Tour Guide
Onnie has been a licensed tour guide in Israel for nearly 10 years and loves touring the country with couples, multi-generational families, and business executives. Onnie feels equally at home touring the country in-person, as well as the thrill of bringing Israel into homes around the world with her online virtual tours!
Onnie grew up in Connecticut and has B.A. degrees in American Studies from Barnard College and Talmud from the Jewish Theological Seminary. She also has an Ed. M from Teachers College, Columbia University. Onnie pursued a career in Jewish communal service; first at UJA-Federation of New York and then as a director of quality assurance for a series of group homes for developmentally disabled children at Mishkan in Brooklyn. Onnie and her family moved from New York to Israel 'for a year' seventeen years ago and has never looked back.
Dani Abelow
Licensed Tour Guide
Born and raised in the USA, first in New York City then Baltimore, Maryland, Dani moved to Israel with his family when he was 14 years old. After yeshiva studies and service in the IDF, Dani spent time working as a delegate for the Jewish Agency as an emissary in Jewish communities abroad, in Australia, South Africa and the USA, as well as participating in a delegation of Israelis to the USA, speaking to American college students.
For the last 15 years, Dani has been working in the field of Educational Tourism; creating, managing, and guiding in Israel various Jewish groups and program participants from around the world. He believes that a trip to Israel is one of the most effective ways to strengthen the bond and connection between Israel and Jewish communities in the Diaspora. As a licensed tour guide he loves showing people his love and passion for Israel. He enjoys travelling and skiing! Dani lives in Efrat with his wife and four children, close to his parents and siblings!