Susannah Schild, at The Blogs

Susannah Schild

Creator of Hiking the Holyland

Oct 18, 2026, 2:58 PM

For these summer travelers, even America's grandest vistas can not rival the one place in the world 'upon which God's eyes are fixed'

Oct 29, 2025, 7:23 PM

Five Perfect Picnic Spots in Israel

Not every outdoor adventure requires kilometers of hiking. Some of the most memorable moments in nature happen when you drive to a gorgeous spot, spread out a blanket, and soak in the beauty around you. Whether you’re looking for a...

Sep 15, 2025, 4:08 PM

From Auschwitz to Aliyah: Papa’s Victory at 96

Thirty voices singing Hebrew songs of welcome filled the Ben Gurion arrival hall as Papa stepped off the plane into the loving arms of his family. Jerry Stein—aka Gedalia Dan, aka Papa—our 96-year-old patriarch who had survived the inferno...

Dec 26, 2024, 9:41 AM

5 Family Hikes for Hanukkah in Israel

The Hanukkah holiday is upon us! And just in time too…with the arrival of the rainy season, things are just starting to get really glorious outdoors. Winter weather has come to the Holy Land, nourishing nature and bringing greenery...

Jun 27, 2024, 2:21 PM

Guide to Israel’s Outdoors: Summer 2024

Summer – what a wonderful time of year! As a kid, I remember looking forward to summertime pretty much all year long. Summer meant freedom, early morning swim practice in an Olympic Pool, and as much ice cream as...

Dec 13, 2023, 8:33 AM

Faith, light, and miracles

To my dear friend in the US, It was great speaking to you the other day. Your last message got me thinking… I know this war isn’t easy on any of us. In Israel and abroad, Jews are suffering. Many of...

Dec 10, 2023, 11:59 AM

Hope for the holidays: Shmini Atzeret to Hanukkah

Last week, on a drive out to Tzomet HaGush to buy Hanukkah supplies: candles, oil, and wicks, I noticed something mind-blowing. Next to the turn, a big sign screamed: “Sukkot for Sale!” With regular life on hold, nobody had ever...

Nov 26, 2023, 12:42 PM

The secret superpower of the Jewish people

12 tactical army vests. 30 multi-tools. 270 ski masks. I sat in bed on Saturday night with this shopping list at hand, the glow from my laptop illuminating the room in faint light. Seasoned online shopper that I was, I...

Nov 15, 2023, 9:51 AM

Israel at war: Supermom no more

Dear Son, It’s been almost three weeks since we last heard from you…how’s it going over there in Gaza? This probably comes as no surprise, but I wanted to let you know that we mothers have everything under control. While you soldier on in...

About Me

Susannah Schild writes about land, memory and life in Israel at Sacred Trails on Substack (susannahschild1.substack.com). She is the founder of Hiking the Holyland, Israel’s leading English-language hiking site, and the author of From Southerner to Settler. She is now writing Still Here, a memoir weaving together her husband’s grandfather’s survival of the Holocaust and her own life in Israel since October 7th. Follow her on Instagram @hikingtheholyland.

Contact Me