In the case of the first three countries, the answer is very easy: each of these countries developed a flourishing civilization based on a foundation of a constructive Jewish-Muslim coexistence (and in the case of Spain, Muslim-Christian-Jewish coexistence). A personal love for the history of the Jewish people and for the enthralling beauty of Moorish and Islamic civilization have bound me to these countries.

My own involvement with these far-away places started upon my graduation from Columbia with a Master's degree in Architecture. I had been awarded a post-graduate research fellowship; my proposal was to document and study synagogues in Morocco (which had never been done before and many were in danger of being lost). It was on that first trip that I fell in love with Morocco. I have been back more than 20 times since.

My research continued in Morocco (publishing a book in 1993 and winning a Fulbright in 1995) and expanded into other countries, including Turkey. I became involved in synagogue restoration and was invited to lead a number of tours for prominent American Jewish groups. My work on Turkish synagogues was displayed in a major exhibition which opened in New York and traveled around the country.

I grew frustrated with the inability of Moroccan tour operators to provide quality programs. So I started Heritage Tours in 1995 as a small business specializing in Jewish tours of Morocco. I opened an office in Casablanca, found the best guides in Morocco, and things started to take off. Since then, we have been written up in virtually every major travel publication in the United States.

Clients would come back and tell me that their trip with Heritage Tours was the best trip of their life and where else could they travel with us. At that point, we started seeking the best guides and services in the two other countries dearest to my heart, Spain and Turkey.

The Jewish heritage of South Africa is perhaps the most compelling of all of these countries to people of our own generation. It is one of the countries where the Jewish role continues into our times. Many of the leading white figures in the fight against apartheid are members of South Africa's Jewish community. Many fought hard, among them some of Nelson Mandela's closest advisors, and many served time in apartheid's notorious prisons. The role of the Jewish community is widely acknowledged and the country's beautiful and monumental synagogues are prominent. Although many of the pioneering communities have moved to the larger cities, the community continues to thrive.

I am extremely proud of the growth of our company - we have maintained and increased the quality of what we offer and continue to offer experiences that no other travel company can offer. Nearly 50% of our business comes from repeat clients and from word of mouth.

Many clients say to me, "you are lucky, Joel, because you have so many friends in these countries. When you travel, it must be like going home." Well, we at Heritage Tours try to give you the same feeling and it is our staff in each country and our guides that will make you feel at home and give you a non-touristic, authentic look at each country.

Come to these wonderful countries with Heritage Tours. I hope that they will become as dear to your heart as they have to mine.

Joel A. Zack
President