Personal Details:

Maxie Katzir was born in 1951 in Haifa, on the heights of Mount Carmel. Later years took Maxie north, where he grew up in the Western Galilee. He now lives in the settlement of Klil, in the Western Galilee, living an ecologically sound existence using only environmentally friendly electricity. Although not personally religious, Maxie has a vast amount of Torah and Judaic knowledge, and a personal respect and love for Judaism.

Professional Details:

He has been tour guiding for several decades. He is currently a senior lecturer in Biology and Middle Eastern Studies. Previously the General Manager of the field school in the Sinai Desert, he has a soft spot for desert life, and spends a significant amount of time guiding in various countries in the Middle East. Maxie makes his living by manufacturing olive oil using only ancient techniques;

helping Ethiopian artists show and sell their products and, of course, spending a lot of time outdoors.

Military Details:

Maxie has a long and distinguished career in the Israel Defence Forces. Maxie’s final posting was in the elite Paratrooper Reconnaissance Unit. As a former fighter and Major, Maxie believes very strongly in the ability of people to deal with any challenge put to them, both as individuals or as a team; a theory borne out by his actions and the actions of his unit in the Entebbe raid, in Ma'alot and in several other occasions and activities which for now must remain classified.

Extracurricular Activities:

Maxie was one of the pioneers in the exploration of the deserts of the Middle East and deeply believes that the Jewish nation was formed in the desert. Since then he has been searching after his and our collective roots in their sands.