The "Menorah Tour" Experience

It is a pilgrimage to Israel, much more than just a holiday, as it also affords an abundance of spiritual growth. The main reason for this "pilgrims tour" to Israel is to experience the terrain and actual places mentioned in the Bible. As you follow the footsteps Jesus has trod as if you are walking through the Holy Bible.

The tours are led by retired pastor Rykie Steyn of the Full Gospel Church of God (FGC) with more than fifty-two years’ experience. To date he has conducted more than 270 tours to Israel that included between 1500 to 2000 pilgrims a year.

His first pilgrimage to Israel commenced in August 1969 under the capable leadership of the late Dr. Pieter Swanepoel, with Pilgrims Tours. He continued touring with Pilgrims Tours until 2004. From 2004 to 2009 he travelled under the banner/name of "SA Friends of Israel."

In 2009 Rykie Steyn established "Menorah Tours" accompanied with his daughter Adri Pretorius, currently the office manager, his wife Grieta who has accompanied Rykie on more than 240 tours. His son Elmo was appointed as media operator. The eldest daughter, Ilze de Nysschen, retired from her work in 2018 and joined Menorah Tours. The two sons in law, Gérard Pretorius and Carel de Nysschen now also form part of the Menorah Family..

There were many highlights over the fifty-two years. Pastor Rykie was chairman of the "SA friends of Misgav Ladagh hospital" in Jerusalem.

During the inauguration of the hospital in 1987 Rykie had the privilege to accompany the following esteemed people: Yitzhak Shamir, the Prime Minister of Israel at the time, State President Chaim Herzog, Vice President Yitzhak Navon and Teddy Kollek, Mayor of Jerusalem. Dignitaries enjoyed a dinner at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem afterwards.

The "Tourism Council" of Jerusalem honoured Rykie in 2010 for exceeding One Hundred tours to Israel which was repeated in 2017 when the tours exceeded Two Hundred.

In 2017 EL-AL (Israel's airline) presented Menorah Tours with a Golden Travel certificate as an “Accredited EL-AL Travel Agent” on producing excellent sales level for the year.