The most interesting facts about Israel. ♥ღ♥10 facts about Israel that you didn't know♥ღ♥ Locals are very fond of promotions and discounts

The creation of an independent Jewish state was announced on May 14, 1948. Since then, the confrontation with Palestine and other Arab countries has been part of the daily life of the Israelis.

2. Israel is the only Jewish state in the world, but it is a multinational country, and Jews make up only three-quarters of its total population.

3. In total, representatives of about seventy peoples live in Israel.

4. Despite the difficult political situation, Israel was able to become one of the most economically developed countries in Southwest Asia.

5. The country of Israel is so small that it can be driven from east to west in 2 hours, and from south to north in 9 hours.

Jerusalem

6. The official capital of Israel is not Tel Aviv, as many are sure, but Jerusalem. Although the first, of course, is the cultural, economic and tourist center of the country.

7. There is no formally accepted version of the Israeli Constitution in Israel. The role of the Constitution of the State of Israel is performed by the so-called set of "Basic Laws".

8. 24% of Israel's workforce has a college degree (third place after the US and the Netherlands) and 12% a degree.

9. There are three seas in Israel: the Mediterranean - along the western coast of the country, the Red - in the south in Eilat and the Dead - a famous health resort.

10. Israel has the highest percentage of people with higher education in the world.

Israel's first astronaut Ilan Ramon

11. Israel has its own space program. This country has repeatedly launched its own satellites into orbit.

12. Israel has 2 official languages ​​- Hebrew and Arabic. Modern Hebrew has been revived from a language that was considered bookish for several centuries.

13. Many Israelis also know English well.

14. There is also enough Russian-speaking population in Israel. This is due to the fact that after the collapse of the USSR, a large number of Soviet Jews immigrated to Israel.

15. Israel is in the top 10 countries in terms of life expectancy. In Israel, she is one of the highest - 82 years.

City of Haifa

16. Haifa - one of the most important cities in Israel on the Mediterranean coast. The city is located on Mount Carmel and is famous for its seaport.

17. The smallest subway in the world with a length of 2 kilometers is also located in Haifa. Its name is "Carmelite". These are 6 stations and a train of 4 cars that pass through a mountain tunnel by cable car. Thus, from the lower city you can get up in just 10 minutes.

Bahai Garden in Haifa

18. Since many Christians live in Haifa, before Christmas and New Year, a Christmas tree and a menorah (a symbol of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah) are placed on the main square of the city, and the street is decorated with garlands and decorations.

19. One of the oldest Israeli universities, Technion, is located in Haifa. It occupies the highest rankings among technical universities in the world.

20. Israel is the only country in the world where women are called up for military service.

Eilat resort

21. Eilat is a famous Israeli resort in the south of the country, located on the Red Sea on the border with Egypt.

22. Here you can go diving and watch the underwater world of colorful fish and corals.

23. Also from Eilat there are excursions to the city of Petra (Jordan), which is one of the new wonders of the world.

24. Despite the fact that half of the country remains a desert, Israel has a huge number of parks, trees, flowers. Everything is planted by human hands, and a water supply system is connected to each bush.

25. Also in the center there is a chic park of rare plants and orchids Utopia.

National Library of Israel

26. Israel publishes more books translated from other languages ​​than any other country in the world.

27. In Israel, there is no change of seasons, familiar to most people. It is warm here all year round, which, of course, pleases everyone.

28. The best time for a beach holiday is May-June and September-October. It is very hot here in July and August.

29. In winter, it rains heavily for several days, and sometimes even snow falls in the north. Then the Israelis go in droves to look at this miracle and play snowballs with the children.

30. The famous valley of Armageddon is located in Israel.

The Dead Sea

31. The Dead Sea is the lowest point in the world. Due to the high concentration of salt on it, it is easy to stay afloat, but you will not be able to swim in the standard way. In addition, do not stay in it for more than 10 minutes.

32. On its shore there is a whole tourist town with hotels and spas.

33. Israel ranks first in the world in terms of the number of museums per capita.

34. Every year, thousands of letters addressed to God come to Jerusalem.

35. Israel was the first country to ban underweight models from showings.

Kinneret - Sea of ​​Galilee in Israel

36. Kinneret (or the Sea of ​​Galilee) is the largest lake in the country, the lowest on the planet, a place of natural "forays", and until recently the only source of fresh water in Israel.

37. Every year thousands of letters addressed to God come to Jerusalem.

38. Every year, more than a million notes are left in the Wailing Wall. The wall is cleared of notes before Passover and Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year).

39. The most common street name in Israel is Hazait, which means Olive Street.

40. Taxes in Israel are extremely high, second only to taxes in Sweden and Switzerland.

41. Small cherry tomatoes were bred in Israel, in the 70s. These tomatoes were bred as a variety resistant to lack of moisture.

42. There are more than 40 kosher McDonald's in Israel. The only kosher McDonald's outside of the Jewish state is in Buenos Aires.

43. A large proportion of Israeli land is desert, but the Israelis are actively planting forests. In terms of the growth of green spaces, Israel occupies one of the first places in the world.

44. Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world, and the highest among women and people over 55.

45. Any person with Jewish roots from 18 to 26 years old is entitled to a free 10-day trip to Israel to get to know the country, culture, and traditions.

Holiday - Rosh Hashanah

46. ​​Israel does not celebrate the standard New Year. It has its own holiday - Rosh Hashanah, which begins on different dates every year according to the Jewish calendar. Usually it is September-October.

47. There is no central heating in Israel, and there are tiles on the floor in the apartments. Almost all houses in Israel use solar energy to heat water, as in Cyprus.

48. The working week in Israel starts on Sunday. Many also work half day on Friday.

49. Shops, malls and other establishments close after lunch on Friday and until the end of Shabbat (Saturday evening). Stops walking and transport.

50. Now the country has already developed its own seawater desalination system, but local residents are still economical about its use.

Tel Aviv

photo from internet

I have been living in Israel for several years, and now I have a desire to introduce you to this amazing country. I'll start with a review of simple facts. From them it is already clear how this country differs from others.))

1. The working week in Israel starts on Sunday. Many also work half day on Friday.
2. Shops, malls and other establishments close after lunch on Friday until after Shabbat (Saturday evening). Stops walking and transport. So, it is advisable to stock up on groceries in advance.
3. In Israel, there is no change of seasons familiar to most people. For example, I miss the multi-colored autumn foliage, the snow before the new year. Although this is not about precipitation, but about the mood that every season brings. Here it is warm all year round, which certainly pleases. The best time for a beach holiday is May-June and September-October. August is very hot. In winter, it rains heavily for several days, and sometimes even snow falls in the north. Then the Israelis go in droves to look at this miracle and play snowballs with the children.
4. In Israel, there is no central heating, and the floors in the apartments are tiled. All because of the almost year-round heat. The problem is that the house is very cold in winter. However, it can be hot outside during the day. We literally go for walks more often to warm up.)) In addition, there is no hot water - it is heated only from solar boilers.
5. There are three seas in Israel: the Mediterranean - along the western coast of the country, the Red - in the south in Eilat and the Dead - a famous health resort.
6. - the lowest point in the world. Due to the high concentration of salt on it, it is easy to stay afloat, but you will not be able to swim in the standard way. In addition, do not stay in it for more than 10 minutes. On the shore there is a whole tourist town with hotels and spas.
7. Eilat is a famous Israeli resort in the south of the country, located on the Red Sea on the border with Egypt. As a tourist, you can go diving here and watch the underwater world of colorful fish and corals. Also from Eilat there are excursions to the city of Petra (Jordan), which is one of the new wonders of the world.
8. - the largest lake in the country, the lowest on the planet, a place of natural "forays", and until recently the only source of fresh water in Israel. Now the country has already developed its own seawater desalination system, but local residents are still economical about its use.

Favorite photo: Dead Sea coast and infinity. Yes, yes, on the left - salt!
This is what swimming in the Dead Sea looks like.))
On the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of ​​Galilee).

1. Israel does not celebrate a standard new year. It has its own holiday - Rosh Hashanah, which begins on different dates every year according to the Jewish calendar. Usually it is September-October.
2. There are a lot of holidays and weekends in Israel. This year, almost the whole of October consisted of non-working days: starting from Rosh Hashanah and ending with Sukkot. During Catholic Christmas this year there will be Purim in the spring, when everyone puts on carnival costumes, and then, almost at the same time as the celebration of Orthodox Easter.
3. On Yom Kippur (Judgment Day) in Israel, all roads are blocked, transport stops running. The whole day you can freely roller-skate, bike and just walk along any streets of the country.

1. Despite the fact that half the country remains, Israel has a huge number of parks, trees, flowers. Everything is planted by human hands, and a water supply system is connected to each bush. Also in the center there is a chic park of rare plants and orchids.
2. Israel's currency is the new shekel (there used to be Israeli lira).
3. The official capital of Israel is not Tel Aviv, as many believe, but Jerusalem. Although the first is certainly the cultural, economic and tourist center of the country.

View of Tel Aviv from old Jaffa.
Viewpoint in Jerusalem.

1. Israel has 2 official languages ​​- and Arabic. However, many locals speak English well. revived from a language that was considered bookish for several centuries.
2. Israel is a country where more start-ups are opening than anywhere else in the world, as well as a huge number of entrepreneurs.
3. One of the oldest Israeli universities, the Technion, is located in Haifa. It occupies the highest rankings among technical universities in the world.
4. Any person with Jewish roots from 18 to 26 years old is entitled to a free 10-day trip to Israel to get to know the country, culture, and traditions.
5. Haifa is one of Israel's most important cities on the Mediterranean coast. The city is located on Mount Carmel and is famous for its seaport.
6. The smallest subway in the world, 2 kilometers long, is also located in Haifa. Its name is "Carmelite". These are 6 stations and a train of 4 cars that pass through a mountain tunnel by cable car. Thus, from the lower city you can get to the top in just 10 minutes.
7. Since many Christians live in Haifa, before Christmas and New Year, a Christmas tree and a menorah (a symbol of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah) are placed on the main square of the city, and the street is decorated with garlands and decorations. We even have a tradition - to walk here every year on December 31st. You feel like you are in pre-holiday Europe!

View of Mount Carmel and the Mediterranean Sea in Haifa.
Walk through the Bahai Gardens in Haifa.
View of the seaport and the lower city in Haifa.

1. Israel has one of the longest life expectancies at 82 years.
2. In Israel, not only men, but also women are liable for military service.
3. Israeli cuisine is something special! Falafel, hummus, pita, sesame, olive oil, Hanukkah sufganieh donuts... If you order breakfast or dinner in a cafe, you will be served a huge portion, and even with extra goodies.

Hello everyone, my dear viewers!

I am very glad to welcome you to my channel, in this video I want to talk about 10 things that can surprise a Russian person in Israel. If you're interested, stay with me. I would like to note right away that everything I will talk about today is exclusively my experience, my observations and my opinion, and completely different things may be unusual for you. Be sure to write in the comments what surprises you in Israel, it will be very interesting for me to read your opinion on this matter.

So, let's start, the first thing that can surprise a Russian person in Israel is that in Israel there are a lot of people with machine guns: on the street, in a store, in a shopping center, in a cafe - everywhere you can meet people with machine guns. When you come to Israel for the first time, it can be a little shocking that there are people with machine guns everywhere around you: soldiers, people in civilian clothes, fragile girls with machine guns. And when you have been living here for some time, it already becomes so ordinary, so ordinary, that you no longer pay attention to it.

The second thing that can be very surprising for a Russian person in Israel is that most Israelis consider military service not some kind of obligation that they do not want to fulfill, for most Israelis military service is an honor. And for me, as for a Russian girl who has lived almost her entire conscious life in Russia, it was very surprising for me to hear at first that people are happy to give several years of their lives to the army, to the service of their homeland, and that they remember this time as the best time in their lives, that they are proud of it and happy that they served in the army, of course, for me it was very unusual and surprising. Of course, there are exceptions, and there are people in Israel who want to avoid military service, by hook or by crook they try to do it, but this is very, very rare, and other people consider it a real shame, “and how is it that a person does not want to serve the army, does not want to pay his debt to his homeland, this is shameful. And such a person will not be respected for sure. Of course, in Russia, I am sure that there are people who are not trying to get away from the army, and are ready to pay their debt to their homeland, ready to serve in the army with joy, but most young people are trying in every possible, impossible way to get away from the army.

The third thing that can really surprise a Russian person in Israel is some religious traditions, prohibitions, and so on that sometimes reach the point of absurdity. I'll give you an example. Surely all of you know what Shabbat is. This is Saturday, this is the last day of the week in Israel, and on Saturday the believing Jew should only rest, he should not do any work. This does not mean that a believing Jew should not just not work on Saturday, it means that a believing Jew should not use any electrical appliances, he should not start a car, he should not cook, he should not light a fire ... Sometimes, under these religious prohibitions, Traditions should be adjusted by non-religious people who, in general, have some kind of only indirect relation to religion. Let me give you a specific example: we have an elevator in our house, to call the elevator you need to press a button, but a believing, religious Jew should in no case press the button on Saturday. And so all Saturday our elevator runs in Shabbat mode. What does it mean? This means that our elevator travels through all floors, stops at all floors, stays on each floor for a while, about a minute, and goes on, and so it goes up and down, up and down. But the fact is that while he passes all the floors, stops at each floor, it takes a very long time, sometimes you have to wait for the elevator for a very long time - five minutes, and ten, and sometimes even longer. Yes, of course, you can say that you can go down the stairs on foot, you can walk up the stairs on foot. Yes, in principle, you can, we live on the fourth floor, but the fact is that we have a child, and, therefore, a stroller, and somehow with a stroller it’s not very convenient to go up and down to the fourth floor all the time. stairs, so we have to wait.

The fourth thing that may seem very unusual to a Russian person in Israel is, let's say, the style of an average Israeli. As a rule, Israelis do not care what they wear, how they look, and others do not care how you look either. Very often you can meet on the street, in cafes, restaurants, shopping centers people in sweatpants with pulled knees, a torn T-shirt, and no one will look at this person condemningly, no one will think that this is a homeless person or a drunkard, he got into a fight, he they torn a T-shirt... For Israel, this is absolutely normal, and if you go to a restaurant in this form, for example, then no one will tell you that there is a dress control and you cannot enter here in this form. You can enter in any form in almost any restaurant. Of course, there are exceptions, for example, you cannot work in this form in a bank, the bank has some kind of dress code. But basically, people don’t care how they dress, the main thing is that it is comfortable, that everything is ventilated, everything is cool. This also includes the fact that Israeli girls very rarely wear heels. Of course, you can meet girls in heels on the streets of Israel, especially in the centers of large cities, but this is very rare. And mostly girls wear high heels only for some events. When compared with Russia, the vast majority of girls walk in heels, even judging by myself. When I lived in Russia, I constantly wore shoes with heels: I went to work in heels, I rode the subway in heels, went shopping in heels ... But when I arrived here, I realized that there was no such thing here, and this one such a relaxing atmosphere, the atmosphere to dress in something more comfortable, let's just say, it is, of course, very contagious, and I took off my heels, and now I put on shoes with heels only for some events.

Another interesting thing about the style of an average Israeli - a Russian person may be surprised that at 20 degrees Celsius you can meet people on the streets in down jackets, boots, boots. For example, at 20 degrees Celsius I put on a T-shirt, a skirt and open shoes, and very, very dressed people can walk around me, for me dressing like this is only suitable for zero degrees, for minus five degrees, but in Israel, Israelis, apparently, are 20 degrees of heat - it's cold, and therefore they are insulated, this, of course, still amazes me and very, very surprises me. And quite often you can see such situations that there is a guy in flip flops, shorts and a T-shirt, and next to him is a guy in a hat, down jacket, warm pants and some winter boots.

The fifth thing that can be very surprising to a Russian person in Israel is that, as a rule, a car in Israel is only a means of transportation. If in Russia, for example, a car is very often a means of prestige, and a person may not have an apartment, but, having accumulated a certain amount of money, buys a car for himself, then this will not happen in Israel. And very often you can come across such a situation that there is some very expensive mansion, a house in some very prestigious area of ​​Israel, and next to it there is a very, very simple car, some shaggy years. Sometimes you even come across very broken-down cars, in which the headlight is stuck with adhesive tape, the door, you already think, will fall off now. A person with an average income and a very, very rich person can drive one brand of car. You will never determine, either by car or by appearance, how much money a person has. And therefore, there are very few expensive cars in Israel, such as Mercedes, BMW. They, of course, occur, but if you look at the percentage of Russia, they are much smaller. And as for some very expensive sports cars, for example, Ferrari, Maserati, Bugatti, in the three years of my life in Israel, I have never seen such cars. Of course, I am sure that there are such cars in Israel, but I think that they can be counted on the fingers. Although everything here is conducive to the fact that if you have a lot of money, buy yourself such a car and enjoy driving on good roads, because in Israel, in fact, the roads are very good.

The sixth unusual fact that can surprise a Russian person is that there are a lot of stray cats and cats in Israel. This is due to the fact that cats live very, very well in Israel: they know that no one will touch them, they are fed, it’s warm here, it’s good, they sunbathe here in the sun and enjoy life. Of course, the state of Israel is trying to fight the breeding of cats, but somehow it doesn’t work out very well. The state catches cats, castrates them at its own expense and releases them back, but cats tend to multiply exponentially, of course, this method does not really work, so there are a lot of cats in Israel. By the way, a very interesting fact is that when a street cat or cat is castrated, a small piece of the ear is cut off to him or her so that people know whether this cat or cat is castrated or not.

1. Israel is a paradise for tourists. There are excursions for every taste. Religious tourists can go to biblical sites. You can visit Christian Jerusalem or Jerusalem of the three religions, where you will be taken to significant places for Muslims, Christians and Jews. Those who like to improve their health and soak up the sun can go to the Dead Sea, where you can not only lie in salt water and not drown, but also visit hydrogen sulfide and mud baths. Men will be interested in an excursion to the Tank Museum in the open air, where military equipment from different countries and years is collected. Not far from the museum is the Latrun Monastery of the Mother of God, where the silent monks live. The monastery has a small cozy shop selling wine and brandy. Those who wish will arrange a tasting. In the same area is the Mini Israel Park, where all the significant sights of Israel are presented in miniature. The park will be interesting for both adults and children. For flora lovers, the Utopia Park is open, where orchids grow and butterflies soar. And women should look at the Diamond Exchange in Tel Aviv, where experienced gemologists will help you choose a stone to your taste and budget.

2. Israel is a desert. When approaching the coastline, you will see nothing but sand and sand-colored houses. But it is worth finding yourself on the ground, and you will change the first impression. There is a lot of greenery here: cacti, palm trees, lawns. All lawns have an irrigation system. On the grass, you can safely lie down to rest, which is done not only by tourists, but also by local residents. But there is plastic grass on the dividing alleys of roads, you don’t need to lie on it.

3. Ben Gurion - the man and the airport. The International Airports Association recognized it as the best in the Middle East three times. They say that only two suitcases out of a thousand are lost in Ben Gurion. I tested it on personal experience: on one of their arrivals, another passenger mistakenly took my bag, the bags turned out to be exactly the same. And I found his bag on the conveyor. On the same evening, they delivered it to me in another city.

4. The capital of the country is Jerusalem. The main government offices are located there. But Tel Aviv is recognized as the business center of Israel, where the headquarters of international corporations and consulates of most countries are concentrated.

5. As in Russia in any city there is Lenin Street or Lenin Square, and sometimes both together, so in Israel in every city there is a street named after David Ben Gurion or Theodor Herzl. In general, the ideologists of Zionism are sung here in every possible way.

6. The institution of official, that is, formalized by the registry office, marriage does not exist. More than once they tried to push the bill through, but in the Knesset (local parliament) it does not gain the required number of votes. Therefore, there is only religious marriage. Only representatives of one religion can play a wedding. Interreligious lovers will have to make a trip to Cyprus or the Czech Republic, where you will be signed at the town hall in 5 minutes. Israel recognizes marriages performed in other countries.

7. In connection with the current situation, the so-called "Paraguayan marriage" is widespread. This is a marriage that does not require the presence of two parties at the ceremony. It is concluded by a notarized power of attorney for marriage from the future / his wife / spouse. The marriage certificate is certified by the Israeli consul in Paraguay and officially recognized. Such a marriage is recommended for couples who are afraid that if they leave, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will refuse to let their spouse, a citizen of another country, into the country.

8. The week starts on Sunday. And on Saturday (Shabbat) everything dies out. Although, as the locals say, now is not the same as 15 years ago, some shops are open.

9. The population of the whole country is equal to the population of half of Moscow. Of these, a quarter are Russian-speaking immigrants from the CIS countries.

10. The official languages ​​in the country are Hebrew and Arabic (this is the second language, but the main Hebrew), but English is also recognized (even signs are duplicated on it), Russian (where would it be without it), Georgian, French and Amharic.

11. There are probably not as many French as in Israel in France either. There is even a joke about this: "If you want to learn French, go to Eilat." (Eilat is a resort and the southernmost city in the country, located on the Red Sea).

12. Hebrew is a simple and very logical language. You just need to get used to it, especially to the fact that there are no vowels in the alphabet and that it is written from right to left. The craving to open books first, and not from the end, as expected, is difficult to overcome.

13. There are few words in Hebrew, and verbs in general are four times less than in Russian. Therefore, at the very least, you will be able to express yourself pretty soon, it will take about 6 months, subject to constant conversational practice. It will take much more time to read philosophical works, but “shukovsky” (from the word shuk - market) you will “take” Hebrew quickly.

14. In Israel, you can live your whole life and practically do not know Hebrew, even Israelis born here will understand you. But as a job, you will not be able to advance further than a seller in a souvenir shop for Russian tourists. To find a good job, you need to know Hebrew.

15. And here is Russian folklore for you from repatriates from the CIS countries: “I live in a hole, I swim in a hole,” which means: “I live in an apartment, I swim in the sea.” Apartment in Hebrew - dira, sea - yam :)

16. The climate is humid and hot. In winter, however, it is quite cool: +15 degrees here feels the same as “0” in Russia.

17. Here you can easily meet a girl in sandals and a fur coat, or vice versa in short shorts and a T-shirt, but in fur boots.

18. Around June, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea becomes extreme. A myriad of scalding jellyfish approach the coast. Their venom leaves severe burns on the skin. It is better not to swim and wait for the number of these inhabitants of the seas to decrease. When they leave, droplets of poison will annoy vacationers for another week, so take a bottle of vinegar with you. If the burn is large, then before the provision of professional medical care, vinegar will save you.

19. It is almost impossible to buy land for ownership. There is a private sector, but the land is leased for almost a century. A 3-room apartment without repair will cost about 200-250 thousand dollars. Therefore, many live in rented housing for decades or take out a mortgage.

20. The average salary here is 2 times higher than in Russia, but at the same time, prices for a number of goods are 3 times higher. Therefore, when you receive 2,000 thousand dollars here, you will pay half for renting a small apartment, a quarter will go for food and household goods.

21. Utility bills eat up another quarter of the salary. Electricity is twice as expensive, water is almost worth its weight in gold. Everyone has a filter at home, as drinking from the tap is not recommended. And then in the kidneys, not only sand and stones, but also bricks for building a house will appear :)

22. Everyone has split systems and in every room in the apartment. But they try not to turn them on and endure to the last, both when it's hot and when it's cold, electricity is expensive.

23. If you got your own car here, get ready to pay 7 shekels ($2) per liter of gasoline. And the price keeps going up. But locals are willing to spend any amount just to travel in their own car, and not in public transport.

24. By the way, every Thursday evening and every Sunday morning you can’t squeeze into buses and trains without special skills. The reason is that the soldiers are released from the army to go home for the weekend. Almost everyone is released in turn, wherever they serve, and every 2 weeks.

25. The population of Israel today is about eight and a half million people. Therefore, if we take the dynamics from 1948, when only 806,000 people lived in Israel, which allows us to say that the population has grown 10 times over the course of 67 years.

It is worth saying that about 6,251,000 people, or 74.9%, live on the territory of Israel, in addition, the second largest nationality are Arabs. They are home to 1,730,000 people, which is about 20.7%. In addition, there is a category of "others" - these are Christians, non-Arabs who have a different religion. The same class includes repatriates who do not have a religious affiliation, but were repatriated using the "Law of Return". This category in Israel includes about 364,000 people, which is 4.4%.
These statistics take into account all the Jews who live in the lands of Judea and Samaria, while the Arab population living here, who does not appreciate kosher products, is simply not taken into account.

Approximately 176,000 children are born in Israel every year and about 44,000 die. At the same time, children are most often born in Jewish families, while among the Arabs there is a slow decrease in the number.

It is worth saying that in orthodox families, the number of children can reach 6-7, an ordinary Jewish family - 2-3 children, religious - from 4 children. In Muslim families, you can meet from 2 to 4 children. Of the total number of people living in Israel, Bedouin families can be distinguished, in which there are from 4 to 6 children and who are very fond of receiving Jewish gifts.

Up to 32,000 new repatriates come to Israel every year, and since the day Israel declared its independence, more than three and a half thousand repatriates have moved to live, which amounted to about 41.9% of the total population. Of this number, a third of all repatriates are from Asia and Africa, another two-thirds came from Europe, including from the countries of the former USSR, as well as America.
According to religious preferences, Jews are divided into secular Jews - about 43% of the total number of Jews, 20% - consider themselves traditional, while separating from the religious, 15% are traditional religious Jews, 10% are religious and 9% are Orthodox. As you can see, the national composition of Israel is not very colorful, but it has its own specific features.

26. Patriotism is developed to unprecedented heights. Almost all young people, even repatriates who came here as teenagers, consider it their duty to serve 3 years in the army. They say that if not they, then who will protect the parents and the house.

27. Israel has tense relations with neighboring countries. Here, as nowhere else, the phrase is relevant: "If you want peace, prepare for war." And the citizens of Israel are ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

28. Many citizens carry weapons. Most often it is a service weapon. Security officers, guards, etc. Not to mention conscript soldiers who generally go on leave with machine guns. At first it's wild, then you get used to it.

29. There is a metal detector frame and one or two security officers in front of the entrance to every shopping center (canyon), government office, schools and universities. As you pass through the frame, your bag will be opened and the contents examined. And absolutely without demand. They take safety very seriously here.

30. Police cars run here often. But civilians and tourists are not bothered. However, once I saw such a picture: on a three-lane road, a policeman stopped a minibus for speeding. The minibus was moving along the extreme right lane and stopped there, the police car stopped in the middle lane, blocking traffic. The policeman came out, asked the driver of the minibus to leave, and very violently and loudly explained to the driver of the minibus that he was wrong. Gathered onlookers. Temperamental got a servant of the law, although there are all the same. East anyway.

31. There is practically no crime in Israel. As the locals say, they simply have no time to think about all sorts of nonsense, as they have to work very hard. Parents calmly let their minor children go for a walk all night.

32. Currency exchange is carried out mainly by Georgians. Inexplicable but the fact.

33. Trains in Israel are double-decker. Be sure to ride :)

34. Israel is famous for its medicine. And she is really at a very high level here.

35. A working citizen does not have to worry about his health, insurance will pay for even expensive studies and procedures, if they are necessary.

36. There are many old people in Israel, due to the long life expectancy and good medicine. And they do not sit at home, but remain socially active. If necessary, a social worker will be assigned to the elderly person, who will help around the house, prepare meals and keep company for a walk.

37. Children here are full, especially girls. There are generally fewer women in Israel than men, so even not very pretty women can easily find a mate.

38. There are many children in Israel. If you believe the statistics, then approximately 3 children per woman. The country owes this high rate to religious citizens, in whose families there are 5-7 children.

39. The local population is very friendly, they will help and explain on the fingers. If you know a little Hebrew but make mistakes, you will be corrected and absolutely without malice or ridicule.

40. There are no stray dogs, but there are a huge number of cats. When kind locals go out to feed the homeless cats, a whole flock of 20-30 quite heavy muzzles comes running. They don't starve here. Even pigeons calmly pass in front of their noses, absolutely not fearing for their lives and health.

41. Insects in Israel are in trouble. American-sized cockroaches - 5 centimeters in length. It is worth leaving a piece of chocolate on the nightstand by the bed for the night, the ants will eat it and drag you into the anthill. Therefore, everything edible, including potatoes, must be stored in the refrigerator, and not in a bag in the pantry. Cereals and pasta are best stored in airtight glass jars, otherwise the weevil does not sleep, it will destroy everything cleanly.

42. In cafes and restaurants in Israel, they are fed for slaughter. If you order tobacco chicken, be prepared to receive a chicken the size of an adult hen. And if you want to taste pork, then you have a direct road to Russian establishments. Pork is not kosher.

43. In general, with regards to the cuisine, here it is very diverse. After all, repatriates from many countries came to Israel. Some borrowed dishes have become national. Like, for example, the Yemeni khug (something like adjika). It is eaten mainly with meat, but some individuals also add it to borscht :)

44. Also a national dish is hummus - a snack of chickpea puree, which is poured with olive oil, sprinkled with various seasonings and eaten with pita. Some Russians call it a sealant because of its appearance, but it is very tasty.

45. Falafel, deep-fried balls, is also made from chopped chickpeas. The dish is Arabic, but in Israel they are very fond of it. There are even crackers with the taste of Falafel. They are very good with beer.

46. ​​A lot of Russian shops under signs in Russian, with Russian-speaking sellers and Russian products. But I never found the classic Doktorskaya sausage.

47. If you like low-fat kefir, do not trust the inscription in Russian “Kefir 3%”, in terms of density it resembles 15% sour cream, you have to transfer it from the bottle with a spoon into a mug. It is better to take a 1.5% analogue of Israeli production, it is more like a familiar product.

48. In supermarkets, prices are higher than in the market, and much more. Therefore, most people buy at the market, where vegetables are even cleaner than in stores, potatoes are all washed. The choice of fruits is colossal, and they are not considered exotic in Israel.

49. Can you imagine what an oriental bazaar is? The sellers do not just shout, they yell, and not just any words, but simply make sounds to draw attention to their outlet.

50. If you meet a bakery on your way, do not pass by. The pastries are simply amazing: mini pizzas, pies with potatoes, tuna, spinach, cottage cheese, etc., not to mention the classic oriental sweets. Lick your fingers.

51. The most significant of all religious holidays in Israel (which is not actually a holiday, but rather a day of remembrance and mourning) is undoubtedly Yom Kippur or Judgment Day. On this day, a strict fast, you can not drink water. It is forbidden even to brush your teeth and wash your face. Driving a car, talking on a mobile phone is also a taboo, radio and television do not work. But the children are free - they ride bicycles and roller skates right on the roadway, even on the tracks.

52. As in any country in the world, being a tourist and living in it are two different things. But in Israel, this contrast is felt especially.

53. Both boys and girls serve in the army, thin and full, tall and short, healthy and not very healthy - everyone finds something to do.

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My name is Anna. I am a student and have been living in Israel for 7 months. I discovered the country from a different side when I first took part in a bright masquerade and finally got used to greeting everyone with the question “How are you?”. I often notice something unexpected and unusual for people of other cultures. It is about such things that I will talk about in this article.

Specially for website I have collected the strangest, funny and surprising observations about Israel. Some of the notes are impressions rather than facts, since I am not attached to a religious culture.

Both women and men serve in Israel, and it is difficult for those who have not served to find work

Every citizen serves in Israel. From the age of 18, young people are drafted into the army. Men serve 3 years, and women - 2. After that, an Israeli can look for himself and a profession, determine his future. I am 24 years old, but by local standards I am a child.

For those who did not serve here, then it is difficult to find a job. Both men and women serve here, including religious ones. Now the religious party in the government is asking to release believers from the army, but so far no such law has been adopted.

Locals are very fond of promotions and discounts.

Israelis don't like things to go to waste. Therefore, on Friday, all vegetables in the markets fall in price by 2-3 times, especially just before closing.

Also, every Friday, Tel Aviv residents take out unnecessary things from the house. I live in a room with 5 students where 50% of the furniture and appliances are found outside. Here they do not disdain, on the contrary, it is considered absolutely normal.

Israelis are very fond of promotions and discounts. When you walk down the street, each shop calls: "Take 5 chocolates for the price of one!" And sellers are very surprised if you do not take advantage of such an advantageous offer.

Traditions and holidays make up a big part of the life of every citizen

In Israel, religious holidays and Jewish traditions occupy a large part of the life of every citizen. There is a special beauty in this. Plus, it's an extra weekend. I arrived almost 7 months ago, during this time they celebrated here:

• Yom Kippur(Judgment Day). It lasts for days. At this time, all roads are blocked and flights are canceled. Therefore, secular Israelis use bicycles.
• Rosh Hashanah(Head of the Year) - Jewish New Year. According to the Jewish calendar, it is now 5578. I liked the tradition according to which it is customary to eat apples in honey - it is believed that this will be a sweet year.
• Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. It is celebrated for several days, during which small huts for meals are built with thatched or palm leaf roofs, which are decorated with various colored paper toys.
• Hanukkah- the most fabulous holiday. 8 days pass. At this time, everyone eats donuts, Hanukkah lamps are lit on the windows in houses and on the streets. One new candle is added every day.
• Purim. Three-day spring masquerade. This is a weekend only for schoolchildren, but in Tel Aviv people even come to work in suits. This is a city procession where everyone dresses up: both children and adults, both religious and secular.
• Pesach. The only tradition that I was familiar with as a child. One of the brightest holidays of the year. Ordinary bread on the shelves of the city is replaced by matzo.

There is a strong reverse current in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv has a very strong reverse current in the sea, because of this, almost all beaches have breakwaters, and where they are not, swimming is prohibited. However, lifeguards work only until 16:00! At 16:00, the locker rooms also close, so everyone goes to change into the toilets, which is very inconvenient.

Israel is a country of cats and dogs, and all animals are vaccinated

Tel Aviv is a city of dogs. There is even a special beach for them. It is located right between gay beach and datiim (a closed beach for religious people) - such an unusual neighborhood. In Israel, there is a certain tax on the maintenance of a dog, depending on its initial value. Thus, it is more profitable to take home a mongrel. All animals in the country are chipped. City cats are also marked and vaccinated.

In Israel, greetings are not "Hi!" but "How are you?"

At work, I was very surprised that when greeting me, they asked: “How are you?"But this is a question that does not require a specific answer. It is answered with the same question. A form of decency adopted here, which is difficult for foreigners to understand. And the word for "have fun" in Hebrew sounds like "osim haim", which literally means "do life".

Being a meat and fish lover is difficult and very expensive.

Winter here lasts about 2 months a year. At this time, everyone at home warms up in three layers of clothing, sleeps in socks and bathrobes under electric blankets. The fact is that the houses do not have central heating.

In summer, the water is heated by solar panels installed on the houses. And in winter, all hot water is heated by electricity. Here, no one stands in the shower for a long time, does not wash the dishes for a long time, because water is a very expensive resource. But, despite this, in the summer, when the heat is crazy, in every institution you can ask for plain water absolutely free of charge. Everywhere and, in particular, in parks there are drinking fountains.

Living in Tel Aviv as a vegetarian is pure pleasure. When I first visited the cafe here and ordered a fruit shake, the waiter surprised me with the question: "Milk, soy milk, water or juice?" Here it is an absolute norm for any institution. In each area you can find several "green" shops with special products.

A country created for cyclists and fans of electric scooters and electric skateboards

Now I'm doing an internship in a Tel Aviv office, and I live in Ramat Gan, which by the standards of a Tel Avivian is about the same as for a person working in Manhattan to live in Brooklyn. Therefore, for me, the only way to get to the beach and the city on Shabbat is by bicycle, which is used by almost every resident.