Abigail Klein Leichman
March 21, 2016

Kathie Lee Gifford, co-host of the “Kathie Lee & Hoda” segment of the US television talk show Today, toured Israel the week of March 6. She’s sharing highlights in a series of videos this week in honor of Holy Week.

“I’ve been going to Israel for 45 years, since I was 17,” she told co-host Hoda Kotb, who is of Egyptian ancestry.

Gifford made this latest trip with her children, stepdaughter, granddaughter and several friends. She and singer-songwriter David Pomeranz wrote 12 songs for the journey, all downloadable from the Today show site.

Gifford brought her co-host a cache of gifts from Israel, including a ring and bracelet designed by jeweler to the stars Nathan Kashi; Dead Sea mud; polished wooden goblets from Bethlehem; a heart-shaped stone from the Elah Valley, where David slew Goliath; and chocolate tahini and wine-flavored halva from the Machane Yehuda shuk (marketplace) in Jerusalem.

“I found out that Israel has become the top gastronomical place in the world. It’s on the cutting edge of all great things food,” she told viewers.

Gifford also toured Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, the Judean Desert, Caesarea and Tel Aviv, and floated in the Dead Sea with Israeli supermodel Michael Lewis.

Watch here as Kathie Lee tells Hoda all about her trip.