About Israel
- Capital: Jerusalem
- Population: 8.9 million
- Official language: Hebrew
- Land area: slightly larger than New Jersey
- Location: bordering countries include Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria
Read more in the CIA World Factbook.
About Jerusalem
Reflecting a balance between spiritual and historical magnetism, Jerusalem has a population of almost a million people. The city holds significance for the three largest monotheistic religious: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The city is divided between the Old City, around 3,000 years old, and the New City, which offers both local and international cultural experiences through entertainment and restaurants.
About Tel Aviv
With a population of nearly half a million people, Tel Aviv is known for being Israel’s center for culture, creativity and innovation. The city’s world-famous cuisine, endless beaches and vibrant nightlife attracts international students and visitors as both an academic and global destination. It has a unique mixture of old and new sites and traditions.
Israeli culture
Food
Meals are the center for family and friends gathering and spending time together. Israel prides itself on a rich food culture surrounding diverse cuisine to reflect Jewish culture with bread and hummus being the most popular dishes. Jews typically adhere to a Kosher diet, which means only certain types of meat are consumed, and dairy dishes much be cooked and eat separately from meat dishes. Arabs typically follow a Halal diet, which consists of eating only certain types of meat and refraining from alcohol. The Israeli eating pattern usually entails a large breakfast, hot lunch and lighter evening meal.
Tipping
In typical restaurants, you are expected to leave a tip around 10 percent for acceptable service, 12 percent for typical service and 15 percent for good service. If visiting a bar, the normal tip is a few shekels. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip, but it is polite to allow the driver to keep small changes when paying with cash.
Festivals
Countless festivals and events are held throughout the year across Israel. Find out more about some of them on these websites: