festivites
Here are some of the major festivities and holidays celebrated in Israel:
1. Rosh Hashanah: Celebrated on the first and second day of the Jewish month Tishrei, usually in September or October. It marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year and is a time for introspection, repentance, and renewal. It is celebrated by attending synagogue services, hearing the shofar (a hollowed-out ram's horn), eating festive meals, and dipping apples in honey to symbolize a sweet new year.
2. Yom Kippur: Also known as the Day of Atonement, it falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah. Jews fast for 25 hours, abstaining from food and water, and spend the day in prayer and reflection, asking for forgiveness for their sins committed during the previous year.
3. Hanukkah: Celebrated for eight days starting on the 25th day of Kislev, usually in December. It commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks and the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Jews light candles on a menorah each night, eat traditional foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and play games with a dreidel (a spinning top).
4. Passover: Celebrated for seven or eight days in the spring, usually in March or April. It commemorates the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. It involves a seder meal, where families gather to retell the story of the exodus and eat symbolic foods such as matzah (unleavened bread), maror (bitter herbs), and charoset (a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, and wine).
5. Purim: Celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, usually in February or March. It commemorates the salvation of the Jews in ancient Persia from a plot to destroy them. It is marked by reading the Book of Esther, wearing costumes and masks, giving gifts of food to friends and family, and eating hamantaschen (triangular-shaped pastries filled with sweet filling).
These are just a few examples of the many holidays celebrated in Israel, each with their own unique cultural traditions and significance.
seasons
Israel has three main tourist seasons:
1. Peak season: June to August is the peak season for tourism in Israel, with high temperatures and a large influx of tourists. It's recommended to book accommodations, tours and transportation in advance due to high demand.
2. Shoulder season: April to May and September to November are considered shoulder seasons in Israel, with mild weather and fewer crowds. This is a good time to visit popular sites with fewer crowds and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and cycling.
3. Low season: December to March is low season in Israel, with cooler temperatures and occasional rain. However, this is still a great time to visit the country for those interested in cultural and historical sites as well as winter sports.
Regardless of the season, it’s important to check current travel restrictions and safety guidelines related to COVID-19 before booking a trip to Israel.
visa
Some special VISA rules for visiting Israel for certain country citizens include:
1. Visa-free entry: Citizens of over 100 countries, including the United States, Canada, most European countries, and Australia do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days.
2. Visa on arrival: Citizens of some countries, including China and India, can obtain a visa on arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for a fee of approximately USD 75-85.
3. Pre-approved visa: Citizens of some countries, including Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, must apply for a visa in advance through the Israeli embassy or consulate in their home country. The cost for this type of visa varies depending on the country but generally ranges from around USD 40-100.
4. Palestinian Authority travel document holders: Travelers holding Palestinian Authority passports or travel documents are subject to different entry requirements and should consult with the Israeli embassy or consulate in their home country for more information.
Note that visa requirements and fees may vary based on individual circumstances and are subject to change, so it's always best to check with the relevant authority before making any travel plans.
souvenirs
1. Dead Sea beauty products like mud masks, lotions, and salts (Price range: $10-50). You can find these in most tourist shops, as well as in the markets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
2. Judaica items such as menorahs, mezuzahs, and Kiddush cups (Price range: $20-100). These can be found in Jewish gift shops and marketplaces throughout Israel, including in Jerusalem's Old City.
3. Israeli wine and olive oil (Price range: $10-30). Look for these items in specialty food stores and markets throughout Israel.
4. Handmade ceramics and pottery (Price range: $20-100). Check out artist cooperatives and galleries in cities like Safed and Jerusalem.
5. Israeli jewelry, particularly those made with unique stones such as Eilat stone (Price range: $30-200). You can find these at boutique jewelry stores across the country, including in Tel Aviv's Nachalat Binyamin Market.
Note that prices may vary depending on the location and quality of the item.
If you have 1 week
🔒CLASSIC: Hello! Israel is a country rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Here are some suggestions for a one-week itinerary:
Day 1: Jerusalem - Explore the Old City of Jerusalem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit its iconic religious sites, such as the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock.
Day 2: Masada and the Dead Sea - Take a day trip to Masada, an ancient fortress located on a mountaintop overlooking the Dead Sea. After touring the site, take a dip in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.
Day 3: Tel Aviv - Visit the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, known for its beaches, nightlife, and Bauhaus architecture. Wander around the Carmel Market, stroll along the beach promenade, and soak up the city's lively atmosphere.
Day 4: Haifa and Akko - Travel north to the coastal city of Haifa and visit the Bahai Gardens, a stunning terraced garden complex that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, head to the nearby town of Akko to explore its well-preserved Crusader-era citadel and narrow alleys.
Day 5: Galilee - Drive to the scenic region of Galilee and visit the picturesque town of Tzfat, home to many artists and spiritual seekers. Explore its winding streets, galleries, and synagogues, and enjoy views of the surrounding hills and valleys.
Day 6: Caesarea and Jaffa - On your way back to Tel Aviv, stop at the ancient Roman port city of Caesarea to see its impressive ruins and amphitheater. Then, head to the historic port of Jaffa, which offers panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and houses artist studios and galleries.
Day 7: Negev Desert - Take a day trip to the Negev Desert, which covers more than half of Israel's land area. Visit the Ramon Crater, a massive erosion cirque that offers spectacular views and hiking opportunities.
🔓JAILBREAK: Hello! Wow, you're in Israel? You must be surrounded by so much history, culture, and natural beauty! If I were you, I would definitely do some exploring around here. Here are some suggestions for your one-week itinerary:
Day 1: Jerusalem - You can't come to Israel without visiting the holy city of Jerusalem! Explore the Old City and check out its many religious sites; they're all so interesting and different from each other. Be sure not to miss the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock.
Day 2: Masada and the Dead Sea - Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and head to Masada, an ancient fortress with breathtaking views of the desert landscape. Afterward, take a dip in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, where you'll feel like you're floating on air!
Day 3: Tel Aviv - Get a taste of modern Israeli life in Tel Aviv, Israel's most vibrant city. Check out the amazing street art, food, and nightlife, and relax on its beautiful beaches.
Day 4: Haifa and Akko - Go north to explore Haifa, a city known for its lush gardens and stunning views of the Mediterranean. Be sure to visit the Bahai Gardens, a terraced garden complex that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, head over to Akko to explore its medieval citadel and winding alleyways.
Day 5: Galilee - Take a scenic drive to the Galilee region and visit Tzfat, an artistic and spiritual hub with tons of character. Its narrow alleys, galleries, and synagogues are sure to charm you.
Day 6: Caesarea and Jaffa - Check out the fascinating ruins of Caesarea, an ancient Roman port town. Then, head over to Jaffa, an old port city with a lively artist scene and fantastic views of the sea.
Day 7: Negev Desert - Time for some desert adventure! The Ramon Crater is a must-see; it's one of the world's largest erosion craters and has some amazing hiking trails. Don't forget your sunscreen and plenty of water!
If you have 2 weeks
Sure thing! Israel is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture. Here's a suggested two-week itinerary for you to explore the best of what Israel has to offer.
Week 1:
- Tel Aviv: Start your trip in this vibrant city on the Mediterranean coast. Enjoy the beaches, nightlife, and world-class cuisine. Visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Bauhaus Center to learn about the city's art and architecture.
- Jerusalem: No trip to Israel is complete without a visit to its capital city. Explore the Old City and its historic sites such as the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Dome of the Rock. Take a walk through the bustling Mahane Yehuda Market and enjoy the local food scene.
- Masada: Head south to this ancient fortress perched on a mountaintop overlooking the Dead Sea. Hike up to the top and marvel at the stunning views. Learn about the site's fascinating history and significance to Jewish heritage.
- Dead Sea: End your first week with a relaxing day at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Float in the salty water and cover yourself in rejuvenating mud for a unique experience.
Week 2:
- Haifa: Travel north to this coastal city known for its beautiful gardens and Bahai Temple. Visit the Bahai Gardens and Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for breathtaking views.
- Acre: Explore this charming old town on the Mediterranean coast. Walk through the labyrinthine alleys of the Old City and visit the Crusader Fortress, a testament to the town's rich history.
- Galilee: Spend a few days exploring the lush region of Galilee in northern Israel. Hike in the beautiful nature reserves and visit the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus is said to have walked on water. Don't miss out on the local wine and culinary scene.
- Golan Heights: End your trip with a visit to this stunning plateau in Israel's northeast. Enjoy the natural beauty of the area and visit the ancient ruins of Gamla. Take a jeep tour to see the unique wildlife and landscapes.
This itinerary offers a mix of history, nature, culture, and relaxation, showcasing the best of what Israel has to offer. It's worth noting that some places may be affected by the current situation in the country, so it's important to always stay up to date with travel advisories and safety protocols. Regardless, I'm confident you will have an unforgettable trip exploring the wonders of Israel.
Culture
Israel's diverse culture stems from the diversity of its population. Jews from diaspora communities around the world brought their cultural and religious traditions back with them, creating a melting pot of Jewish customs and beliefs. Arab influences are present in many cultural spheres, such as architecture, music, and cuisine. Israel is the only country in the world where life revolves around the Hebrew calendar. Work and school holidays are determined by the Jewish holidays, and the official day of rest is Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.
Israeli literature is primarily poetry and prose written in Hebrew, as part of the renaissance of Hebrew as a spoken language since the mid-19th century, although a small body of literature is published in other languages, such as English. By law, two copies of all printed matter published in Israel must be deposited in the National Library of Israel at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 2001, the law was amended to include audio and video recordings, and other non-print media. In 2016, 89 percent of the 7,300 books transferred to the library were in Hebrew.
In 1966, Shmuel Yosef Agnon shared the Nobel Prize in Literature with German Jewish author Nelly Sachs. Leading Israeli poets have been Yehuda Amichai, Nathan Alterman, Leah Goldberg, and Rachel Bluwstein. Internationally famous contemporary Israeli novelists include Amos Oz, Etgar Keret and David Grossman. The Israeli-Arab satirist Sayed Kashua (who writes in Hebrew) is also internationally known. Israel has also been the home of Emile Habibi, whose novel The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist, and other writings, won him the Israel prize for Arabic literature.
Israeli music contains musical influences from all over the world; Mizrahi and Sephardic music, Hasidic melodies, Greek music, jazz, and pop rock are all part of the music scene. Among Israel's world-renowned orchestras is the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, which has been in operation for over seventy years and today performs more than two hundred concerts each year. Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman and Ofra Haza are among the internationally acclaimed musicians born in Israel. Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest nearly every year since 1973, winning the competition four times and hosting it twice. Eilat has hosted its own international music festival, the Red Sea Jazz Festival, every summer since 1987. The nation's canonical folk songs, known as "Songs of the Land of Israel," deal with the experiences of the pioneers in building the Jewish homeland.
Ten Israeli films have been final nominees for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards since the establishment of Israel. The 2009 movie Ajami was the third consecutive nomination of an Israeli film. Palestinian Israeli filmmakers have made a number of films dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict and the status of Palestinians within Israel, such as Mohammed Bakri's 2002 film Jenin, Jenin and The Syrian Bride.
Continuing the strong theatrical traditions of the Yiddish theatre in Eastern Europe, Israel maintains a vibrant theatre scene. Founded in 1918, Habima Theatre in Tel Aviv is Israel's oldest repertory theater company and national theater.
The 2017 Freedom of the Press annual report by Freedom House ranked Israel as the Middle East and North Africa's most free country, and 64th globally. In the 2017 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Israel (including "Israel extraterritorial" since 2013 ranking) was placed 91st of 180 countries, first in the Middle East and North Africa region. Reporters Without Borders noted that "Palestinian journalists are systematically subjected to violence as a result of their coverage of events in the West Bank". More than fifty Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israel since 2001.
The Israel Museum in Jerusalem is one of Israel's most important cultural institutions and houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, along with an extensive collection of Judaica and European art. Israel's national Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem, is the world central archive of Holocaust-related information. ANU - Museum of the Jewish People on the campus of Tel Aviv University, is an interactive museum devoted to the history of Jewish communities around the world. Apart from the major museums in large cities, there are high-quality art spaces in many towns and kibbutzim. Mishkan LeOmanut in kibbutz Ein Harod Meuhad is the largest art museum in the north of the country.
Israel has the highest number of museums per capita in the world. Several Israeli museums are devoted to Islamic culture, including the Rockefeller Museum and the L. A. Mayer Institute for Islamic Art, both in Jerusalem. The Rockefeller specializes in archaeological remains from the Ottoman and other periods of Middle East history. It is also the home of the first hominid fossil skull found in Western Asia, called Galilee Man. A cast of the skull is on display at the Israel Museum.
Israeli cuisine includes local dishes as well as Jewish cuisine brought to the country by immigrants from the diaspora. Since the establishment of the state in 1948, and particularly since the late 1970s, an Israeli fusion cuisine has developed. Israeli cuisine has adopted, and continues to adapt, elements of the Mizrahi, Sephardi, and Ashkenazi styles of cooking. It incorporates many foods traditionally eaten in the Levantine, Arab, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, such as falafel, hummus, shakshouka, couscous, and za'atar. Schnitzel, pizza, hamburgers, French fries, rice and salad are also common in Israel.
Roughly half of the Israeli-Jewish population attests to keeping kosher at home. Kosher restaurants, though rare in the 1960s, make up around a quarter of the total, perhaps reflecting the largely secular values of those who dine out. Hotel restaurants are much more likely to serve kosher food. The non-kosher retail market was traditionally sparse, but grew rapidly and considerably following the influx of immigrants from the post-Soviet states during the 1990s. Together with non-kosher fish, rabbits and ostriches, pork—often called "white meat" in Israel —is produced and consumed, though it is forbidden by both Judaism and Islam.
The most popular spectator sports in Israel are association football and basketball. The Israeli Premier League is the country's premier football league, and the Israeli Basketball Premier League is the premier basketball league. Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem are the largest football clubs. Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv have competed in the UEFA Champions League and Hapoel Tel Aviv reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. Israel hosted and won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup; in 1970 the Israel national football team qualified for the FIFA World Cup, the only time it participated in the World Cup. The 1974 Asian Games, held in Tehran, were the last Asian Games in which Israel participated, plagued by the Arab countries that refused to compete with Israel. Israel was excluded from the 1978 Asian Games and since then has not competed in Asian sport events. In 1994, UEFA agreed to admit Israel, and its football teams now compete in Europe. Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. has won the European championship in basketball six times. In 2016, the country was chosen as a host for the EuroBasket 2017.
Israel has won nine Olympic medals since its first win in 1992, including a gold medal in windsurfing at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Israel has won over 100 gold medals in the Paralympic Games and is ranked 20th in the all-time medal count. The 1968 Summer Paralympics were hosted by Israel. The Maccabiah Games, an Olympic-style event for Jewish and Israeli athletes, was inaugurated in the 1930s, and has been held every four years since then. Israeli tennis champion Shahar Pe'er ranked 11th in the world on 31 January 2011. Krav Maga, a martial art developed by Jewish ghetto defenders during the struggle against fascism in Europe, is used by the Israeli security forces and police. Its effectiveness and practical approach to self-defense, have won it widespread admiration and adherence around the world.
Chess is a leading sport in Israel and is enjoyed by people of all ages. There are many Israeli grandmasters and Israeli chess players have won a number of youth world championships. Israel stages an annual international championship and hosted the World Team Chess Championship in 2005. The Ministry of Education and the World Chess Federation agreed upon a project of teaching chess within Israeli schools, and it has been introduced into the curriculum of some schools. The city of Beersheba has become a national chess center, with the game being taught in the city's kindergartens. Owing partly to Soviet immigration, it is home to the largest number of chess grandmasters of any city in the world. The Israeli chess team won the silver medal at the 2008 Chess Olympiad and the bronze, coming in third among 148 teams, at the 2010 Olympiad. Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand won the Chess World Cup 2009 and the 2011 Candidates Tournament for the right to challenge the world champion. He lost the World Chess Championship 2012 to reigning world champion Anand after a speed-chess tie breaker.
Religion
Israel comprises a major part of the Holy Land, a region of significant importance to all Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Samaritanism, the Druze Faith and the Baháʼí Faith.
The religious affiliation of Israeli Jews varies widely: a social survey from 2016 made by Pew Research indicates that 49% self-identify as Hiloni (secular), 29% as Masorti (traditional), 13% as Dati (religious) and 9% as Haredi (ultra-Orthodox). Haredi Jews are expected to represent more than 20% of Israel's Jewish population by 2028.
Muslims constitute Israel's largest religious minority, making up about 17.6% of the population. About 2% of the population is Christian and 1.6% is Druze. The Christian population is composed primarily of Arab Christians and Aramean Christians, but also includes post-Soviet immigrants, the foreign laborers of multinational origins, and followers of Messianic Judaism, considered by most Christians and Jews to be a form of Christianity. Members of many other religious groups, including Buddhists and Hindus, maintain a presence in Israel, albeit in small numbers. Out of more than one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union, about 300,000 are considered not Jewish by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
The city of Jerusalem is of special importance to Jews, Muslims, and Christians, as it is the home of sites that are pivotal to their religious beliefs, such as the Old City that incorporates the Western Wall and the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa Mosque compound) and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Other locations of religious importance in Israel are Nazareth (holy in Christianity as the site of the Annunciation of Mary), Tiberias and Safed (two of the Four Holy Cities in Judaism), the White Mosque in Ramla (holy in Islam as the shrine of the prophet Saleh), and the Church of Saint George in Lod (holy in Christianity and Islam as the tomb of Saint George or Al Khidr). A number of other religious landmarks are located in the West Bank, among them Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, the birthplace of Jesus and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The administrative center of the Baháʼí Faith and the Shrine of the Báb are located at the Baháʼí World Centre in Haifa; the leader of the faith is buried in Acre. A few kilometres south of the Baháʼí World Centre is Mahmood Mosque affiliated with the reformist Ahmadiyya movement. Kababir, Haifa's mixed neighbourhood of Jews and Ahmadi Arabs is one of a few of its kind in the country, others being Jaffa, Acre, other Haifa neighbourhoods, Harish and Upper Nazareth.
Demographics
, Israel's population was an estimated 0. In 2022, the civil government recorded 73.6% of the population as Jews, 21.1% of the population as Arabs, and 5.3% as "Others" (non-Arab Christians and people who have no religion listed). Over the last decade, large numbers of migrant workers from Romania, Thailand, China, Africa, and South America have settled in Israel. Exact figures are unknown, as many of them are living in the country illegally, but estimates run from 166,000 to 203,000. By June 2012, approximately 60,000 African migrants had entered Israel. About 93% of Israelis live in urban areas. 90% of Palestinian Israelis reside in 139 densely populated towns and villages concentrated in the Galilee, Triangle and Negev regions, with the remaining 10% in mixed cities and neighbourhoods. Data published by the OECD in 2016 estimated the average life expectancy of Israelis at 82.5 years, making it the 6th-highest in the world. Israeli Arab life expectancy lags behind by 3 to 4 years, still highest among Arabs or Muslims in the world.
Israel was established as a homeland for the Jewish people and is often referred to as a Jewish state. The country's Law of Return grants all Jews and those of Jewish ancestry the right to Israeli citizenship. Retention of Israel's population since 1948 is about even or greater, when compared to other countries with mass immigration. Jewish emigration from Israel (called yerida in Hebrew), primarily to the United States and Canada, is described by demographers as modest, but is often cited by Israeli government ministries as a major threat to Israel's future.
Approximately 80% of Israeli Jews are born in Israel, 14% are immigrants from Europe and the Americas, and 6% are immigrants from Asia and Africa. Jews from Europe and the former Soviet Union and their descendants born in Israel, including Ashkenazi Jews, constitute approximately 50% of Jewish Israelis. Jews who left or fled Arab and Muslim countries and their descendants, including both Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews, form most of the rest of the Jewish population. Jewish intermarriage rates run at over 35% and recent studies suggest that the percentage of Israelis descended from both Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews increases by 0.5 percent every year, with over 25% of school children now originating from both communities. Around 4% of Israelis (300,000), ethnically defined as "others", are Russian descendants of Jewish origin or family who are not Jewish according to rabbinical law, but were eligible for Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return.
The total number of Israeli settlers beyond the Green Line is over 600,000 (≈10% of the Jewish Israeli population). , 399,300 Israelis lived in West Bank settlements, including those that predated the establishment of the State of Israel and which were re-established after the Six-Day War, in cities such as Hebron and Gush Etzion bloc. In addition to the West Bank settlements, there were more than 200,000 Jews living in East Jerusalem, and 22,000 in the Golan Heights. Approximately 7,800 Israelis lived in settlements in the Gaza Strip, known as Gush Katif, until they were evacuated by the government as part of its 2005 disengagement plan.
Israeli Arabs (including the Arab population of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights) comprise 21.1% of the population or 1,995,000 people. In a 2017 telephone poll, 40% of Arab citizens of Israel identified as "Arab in Israel" or "Arab citizen of Israel", 15% identified as "Palestinian", 8.9% as "Palestinian in Israel" or "Palestinian citizen of Israel", and 8.7% as "Arab"; 60% of Israeli Arabs have a positive view of the state. According to Sammy Smooha, "The identity of 83.0% of the Arabs in 2019 (up from 75.5% in 2017) has an Israeli component and 61.9% (unchanged from 60.3%) has a Palestinian component. However, when these two components were presented as competitors, 69.0% of the Arabs in 2019 chose exclusive or primary Palestinian identity, compared with 29.8% who chose exclusive or primary Israeli Arab identity."
Israel has four major metropolitan areas: Gush Dan (Tel Aviv metropolitan area; population 3,854,000), Jerusalem metropolitan area (population 1,253,900), Haifa metropolitan area (population 924,400), and Beersheba metropolitan area (population 377,100).
Israel's largest municipality, in population and area, is Jerusalem with residents in an area of 125 km2. Israeli government statistics on Jerusalem include the population and area of East Jerusalem, which is widely recognized as part of the Palestinian territories under Israeli occupation. Tel Aviv and Haifa rank as Israel's next most populous cities, with populations of and, respectively. The (mainly Haredi) city of Bnei Brak is the most densely populated city in Israel and one of the 10 most densely populated cities in the world.
Israel has 16 cities with populations over 100,000. In all, there are 77 Israeli localities granted "municipalities" (or "city") status by the Ministry of the Interior, four of which are in the West Bank. Two more cities are planned: Kasif, a planned city to be built in the Negev, and Harish, originally a small town that is being built into a large city since 2015.
Israel's sole official language is Hebrew. Until 2018, Arabic was also one of two official languages of the State of Israel; in 2018 it was downgraded to having a 'special status in the state' with its use by state institutions to be set in law. Hebrew is the primary language of the state and is spoken every day by the majority of the population. Arabic is spoken by the Arab minority, with Hebrew taught in Arab schools.
As a country of immigrants, many languages can be heard on the streets. Due to mass immigration from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia (some 130,000 Ethiopian Jews live in Israel), Russian and Amharic are widely spoken. More than one million Russian-speaking immigrants arrived in Israel from the post-Soviet states between 1990 and 2004. French is spoken by around 700,000 Israelis, mostly originating from France and North Africa (see Maghrebi Jews). English was an official language during the Mandate period; it lost this status after the establishment of Israel, but retains a role comparable to that of an official language, as may be seen in road signs and official documents. Many Israelis communicate reasonably well in English, as many television programmes are broadcast in English with subtitles and the language is taught from the early grades in elementary school. In addition, Israeli universities offer courses in the English language on various subjects.
Israel comprises a major part of the Holy Land, a region of significant importance to all Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Samaritanism, the Druze Faith and the Baháʼí Faith.
The religious affiliation of Israeli Jews varies widely: a social survey from 2016 made by Pew Research indicates that 49% self-identify as Hiloni (secular), 29% as Masorti (traditional), 13% as Dati (religious) and 9% as Haredi (ultra-Orthodox). Haredi Jews are expected to represent more than 20% of Israel's Jewish population by 2028.
Muslims constitute Israel's largest religious minority, making up about 17.6% of the population. About 2% of the population is Christian and 1.6% is Druze. The Christian population is composed primarily of Arab Christians and Aramean Christians, but also includes post-Soviet immigrants, the foreign laborers of multinational origins, and followers of Messianic Judaism, considered by most Christians and Jews to be a form of Christianity. Members of many other religious groups, including Buddhists and Hindus, maintain a presence in Israel, albeit in small numbers. Out of more than one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union, about 300,000 are considered not Jewish by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
The city of Jerusalem is of special importance to Jews, Muslims, and Christians, as it is the home of sites that are pivotal to their religious beliefs, such as the Old City that incorporates the Western Wall and the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa Mosque compound) and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Other locations of religious importance in Israel are Nazareth (holy in Christianity as the site of the Annunciation of Mary), Tiberias and Safed (two of the Four Holy Cities in Judaism), the White Mosque in Ramla (holy in Islam as the shrine of the prophet Saleh), and the Church of Saint George in Lod (holy in Christianity and Islam as the tomb of Saint George or Al Khidr). A number of other religious landmarks are located in the West Bank, among them Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, the birthplace of Jesus and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The administrative center of the Baháʼí Faith and the Shrine of the Báb are located at the Baháʼí World Centre in Haifa; the leader of the faith is buried in Acre. A few kilometres south of the Baháʼí World Centre is Mahmood Mosque affiliated with the reformist Ahmadiyya movement. Kababir, Haifa's mixed neighbourhood of Jews and Ahmadi Arabs is one of a few of its kind in the country, others being Jaffa, Acre, other Haifa neighbourhoods, Harish and Upper Nazareth.
Education is highly valued in the Israeli culture and was viewed as a fundamental block of ancient Israelites. Jewish communities in the Levant were the first to introduce compulsory education for which the organized community, not less than the parents was responsible. Many international business leaders such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates have praised Israel for its high quality of education in helping spur Israel's economic development and technological boom. In 2015, the country ranked third among OECD members (after Canada and Japan) for the percentage of 25–64 year-olds that have attained tertiary education with 49% compared with the OECD average of 35%. In 2012, the country ranked third in the world in the number of academic degrees per capita (20 percent of the population).
Israel has a school life expectancy of 16 years and a literacy rate of 97.8%. The State Education Law, passed in 1953, established five types of schools: state secular, state religious, ultra orthodox, communal settlement schools, and Arab schools. The public secular is the largest school group, and is attended by the majority of Jewish and non-Arab pupils in Israel. Most Arabs send their children to schools where Arabic is the language of instruction. Education is compulsory in Israel for children between the ages of three and eighteen. Schooling is divided into three tiers – primary school (grades 1–6), middle school (grades 7–9), and high school (grades 10–12) – culminating with Bagrut matriculation exams. Proficiency in core subjects such as mathematics, the Hebrew language, Hebrew and general literature, the English language, history, Biblical scripture and civics is necessary to receive a Bagrut certificate.
Israel's Jewish population maintains a relatively high level of educational attainment where just under half of all Israeli Jews (46%) hold post-secondary degrees. This figure has remained stable in their already high levels of educational attainment over recent generations. Israeli Jews (among those ages 25 and older) have average of 11.6 years of schooling making them one of the most highly educated of all major religious groups in the world. In Arab, Christian and Druze schools, the exam on Biblical studies is replaced by an exam on Muslim, Christian or Druze heritage. Maariv described the Christian Arabs sectors as "the most successful in education system", since Christians fared the best in terms of education in comparison to any other religion in Israel. Israeli children from Russian-speaking families have a higher bagrut pass rate at high-school level. Amongst immigrant children born in the former Soviet Union, the bagrut pass rate is higher amongst those families from European FSU states at 62.6% and lower amongst those from Central Asian and Caucasian FSU states. In 2014, 61.5% of all Israeli twelfth graders earned a matriculation certificate.
Israel has a tradition of higher education where its quality university education has been largely responsible in spurring the nation's modern economic development. Israel has nine public universities that are subsidized by the state and 49 private colleges. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel's second-oldest university after the Technion, houses the National Library of Israel, the world's largest repository of Judaica and Hebraica. The Technion and the Hebrew University consistently ranked among world's 100 top universities by the prestigious ARWU academic ranking. Other major universities in the country include the Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Bar-Ilan University, the University of Haifa and the Open University of Israel. Ariel University, in the West Bank, is the newest university institution, upgraded from college status, and the first in over thirty years.
Cities:
