For 4000 years, the Land of Israel has been the focus of travelers, pilgrims, and tourists who have been coming to Israel to experience a trip of a lifetime. Israel is a very small country, with the sea on one side and the desert on the other, but never has such a small place meant so much to so many. To millions of Jews, Christians and Muslims this is the Holy Land where King David ruled, Jesus died and Muhammad visited. As we visit places we’ve heard about all our lives, and see the ruins scattered throughout the country by the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders and Turks, we will be thrilled by the rush of history we encounter.
Israel today is a modern, progressive country where English is spoken everywhere. The warm, friendly people have come to Israel from over 100 countries, producing a potpourri of custom and dress that is reflected in the panorama of everyday life. It is, perfectly located at the fulcrum of Europe, Asia and Africa, is a world-class destination for sophisticated travelers. Israel offers cultural attractions on a par with Europe, the U.S. and Canada, luxury hotels, glamorous spas and a hot restaurant scene - all within an atmosphere that combines the very ancient with the ultra high-tech, and the exotic with the contemporary.
The highlight of the visits to Israel is Jerusalem, sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. With all of the excavations of the past few years, the City of Peace and the Center of the World has never looked more awe-inspiring.
Over 1.5 million tourists come to Israel annually and discover a county that is ancient and ultra-modern, biblical and high tech, holy and secular; Israel is a land of spiritual adventures that can be combined with a world-class Mediterranean vacation. Israel's diversity as a tourism destination makes it a unique and unforgettable experience.
Official name: State of Israel (Hebrew: Medinat Yisrael)
Capital: Jerusalem ( Yerushalayim )
Official Language: Hebrew (Ivrit), Arabic
Languages: Israel's official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. English is the main language for purpose of business and tourism. Most Israelis speak English and the majority of signposts are also in English. Since Israel is a land of immigration, additional languages are spoken among the various immigrant communities especially Russian
National symbols: Flag of Israel l
National Anthem: Hatikvah
National Emblem: Menorah
Area : 21,643 square kilometers
Population: The State of Israel has approximately 7 million inhabitants.
Besides the main division of the country’s inhabitants into Jews (80%) and Arabs (20%), there are many more subdivisions. The Jews, for example, are divided into religious and secular and the Arabs are divided into Moslems, Christians and Druze.
Distribution by Religion : 76.5% Jews, 16% Moslems, 2% Christians,1.5% Druze, 4% without religious classification
Quality of Life Classification : 22nd place in world
International Dialing Code : 972
Internet Suffix : IL
Time: Standard time: 2 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +2). Daylight-Saving time: GMT +3 (Effective on April 1-Oct. 3).
Time Zone: Israel is in the European Standard Time zone; 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and seven hours ahead of US Eastern Standard time. Daylight saving time is observed from late March/early April through the beginning of September.
Currency: New Shekel (NIS) or shekel for short. One shekel=100 agorot (agora in singular).
Power supply: 220 volts at 50 Hertz. Three pin sockets also match double-pin European electrical appliance plugs.
Location: Israel is located in Southwest Asia, between the Mediterranean and the deserts of Syria and Arabia. The country's borders are the Mediterranean Sea to the West, the Jordan Valley Rift to the East, the mountains of Lebanon to the North with Eilat Bay making the country's southern tip.
Climate in Israel
Israel is located, between 29°-33° north of the equator, which is characterized as a subtropical region, between the temperate zone and the tropical zone. The northern and coastal regions of Israel show Mediterranean climate characterized by hot and dry summers and cool rainy winters. Whereas the southern and eastern areas of Israel are characterized by an arid climate.
The rainy season extends from October to early May, and rainfall peaks in December through February. Rainfall varies considerably by regions from the North to the South. Highest rainfall is observed in the North and center parts of the country and decreases in the southern part of Israel, from the Negev Desert to Eilat where rainfall is negligible.
Heavy snow falls only in the northernmost part of Golan Heights where the Mount Hermon summit (2,224 m above sea level) remains generally snow covered from December to March. In other parts of the country snow is observed rarely. The city of Eilat, located at the southernmost point of Israel and at the northern tip of Red Sea, has a good climate for beach holidays all year round.
Health Tourism: Israel's health resorts range from the high climate of Galilee to the low mineral-rich Dead Sea. The main centers are the Dead Sea, which is famous for its high concentration of salts and minerals and in Tiberias where there are hot springs.
Sports: Caesarea boasts Israel's only 18 hole Golf Course and a 9 hole Golf Course can be found at Kibbutz Gash near Herzliya. Israel is a diver's paradise and its mild climate assures year-round diving opportunities. The Red Sea awaits dive enthusiasts with miles of coral reefs. Scuba diving centers can be found in Caesarea, Eilat, Nahariya, Tel Aviv as well as centers for paragliding and tandem flights The snow season for skiing on Mount Hermon begins in December or January and last until mid-March.
Israeli Food and Dining: Dining in Israel is as varied as its population. Israeli cuisine is a concept that has involved from the many cooking traditions. Elegant restaurants can be found alongside small cafes or pizza and falafel stands. Israel is influenced in world events, and tries to keep astride of all world changes, including culinary trends. It's important to note that while kosher food is predominant in Israeli hotels, many restaurants are not kosher. You can find almost every cuisine whether Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Arab and American food. In recent years, a thriving quality wine industry has developed along with olive oil manufactures and a few boutique dairies.
National and Jewish Holidays: The Sabbath begins on Friday evening and ends of Saturday night. The Jewish Festivals similarly begin the night before and end in the evening.
Brief History of Israel and the Jewish People
The people of Israel (also called the "Jewish People") trace their origin to Abraham, who established the belief that there is only one God, the creator of the universe (see Old Testament ). Abraham, his son Yitshak (Isaac), and grandson Jacob (Israel), are referred to as the patriarchs of the Israelites. All three patriarchs lived in the Land of Canaan, that later came to be known as the Land of Israel. They and their wives are buried in the Ma'arat HaMachpela, the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
The name Israel derives from the name given to Jacob (see Old Testament). His 12 sons were the kernels of 12 tribes that later developed into the Jewish nation. The name Jew derives from Yehuda (Judah) one of the 12 sons of Jacob (Reuben, Shimon, Levi, Yehuda, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Yisachar, Zevulun, Yosef, Binyamin). So, the names Israel, Israeli or Jewish refer to people of the same origin.
The descendants of Abraham crystallized into a nation at about 1300 BCE after their Exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses (Moshe in Hebrew). Soon after the Exodus, Moses transmitted to the people of this new emerging nation, the Torah, and the Ten Commandments. After 40 years in the Sinai desert, Moses led them to the Land of Israel, that is cited in The Bible as the land promised by G-d to the descendants of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The people of modern day Israel share the same language and culture shaped by the Jewish heritage and religion passed through generations starting with the founding father Abraham (ca. 1800 BCE). Thus, Jews have had continuous presence in the land of Israel for the past 3,300 years.
The rule of Israelites in the land of Israel starts with the conquests of Joshua (ca. 1250 BCE). The period from 1000-587 BCE is known as the "Period of the Kings". The most noteworthy kings were King David (1010-970 BCE), who made Jerusalem the Capital of Israel, and his son Solomon (Shlomo, 970-931 BCE), who built the first Temple in Jerusalem as prescribed in the Tanach (Old Testament).
In 587 BCE, Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar's army captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled the Jews to Babylon (modern day Iraq).
The year 587 BCE marks a turning point in the history of the region. From this year onwards, the region was ruled or controlled by a succession of superpower empires of the time in the following order: Babylonian, Persian, Greek Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Empires, Islamic and Christian crusaders, Ottoman Empire, and the British Empire.
Israel today is a modern, progressive country where English is spoken everywhere. The warm, friendly people have come to Israel from over 100 countries, producing a potpourri of custom and dress that is reflected in the panorama of everyday life. It is, perfectly located at the fulcrum of Europe, Asia and Africa, is a world-class destination for sophisticated travelers. Israel offers cultural attractions on a par with Europe, the U.S. and Canada, luxury hotels, glamorous spas and a hot restaurant scene - all within an atmosphere that combines the very ancient with the ultra high-tech, and the exotic with the contemporary.
The highlight of the visits to Israel is Jerusalem, sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. With all of the excavations of the past few years, the City of Peace and the Center of the World has never looked more awe-inspiring.
Over 1.5 million tourists come to Israel annually and discover a county that is ancient and ultra-modern, biblical and high tech, holy and secular; Israel is a land of spiritual adventures that can be combined with a world-class Mediterranean vacation. Israel's diversity as a tourism destination makes it a unique and unforgettable experience.
Official name: State of Israel (Hebrew: Medinat Yisrael)
Capital: Jerusalem ( Yerushalayim )
Official Language: Hebrew (Ivrit), Arabic
Languages: Israel's official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. English is the main language for purpose of business and tourism. Most Israelis speak English and the majority of signposts are also in English. Since Israel is a land of immigration, additional languages are spoken among the various immigrant communities especially Russian
National symbols: Flag of Israel l
National Anthem: Hatikvah
National Emblem: Menorah
Area : 21,643 square kilometers
Population: The State of Israel has approximately 7 million inhabitants.
Besides the main division of the country’s inhabitants into Jews (80%) and Arabs (20%), there are many more subdivisions. The Jews, for example, are divided into religious and secular and the Arabs are divided into Moslems, Christians and Druze.
Distribution by Religion : 76.5% Jews, 16% Moslems, 2% Christians,1.5% Druze, 4% without religious classification
Quality of Life Classification : 22nd place in world
International Dialing Code : 972
Internet Suffix : IL
Time: Standard time: 2 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +2). Daylight-Saving time: GMT +3 (Effective on April 1-Oct. 3).
Time Zone: Israel is in the European Standard Time zone; 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and seven hours ahead of US Eastern Standard time. Daylight saving time is observed from late March/early April through the beginning of September.
Currency: New Shekel (NIS) or shekel for short. One shekel=100 agorot (agora in singular).
Power supply: 220 volts at 50 Hertz. Three pin sockets also match double-pin European electrical appliance plugs.
Location: Israel is located in Southwest Asia, between the Mediterranean and the deserts of Syria and Arabia. The country's borders are the Mediterranean Sea to the West, the Jordan Valley Rift to the East, the mountains of Lebanon to the North with Eilat Bay making the country's southern tip.
Climate in Israel
Israel is located, between 29°-33° north of the equator, which is characterized as a subtropical region, between the temperate zone and the tropical zone. The northern and coastal regions of Israel show Mediterranean climate characterized by hot and dry summers and cool rainy winters. Whereas the southern and eastern areas of Israel are characterized by an arid climate.
The rainy season extends from October to early May, and rainfall peaks in December through February. Rainfall varies considerably by regions from the North to the South. Highest rainfall is observed in the North and center parts of the country and decreases in the southern part of Israel, from the Negev Desert to Eilat where rainfall is negligible.
Heavy snow falls only in the northernmost part of Golan Heights where the Mount Hermon summit (2,224 m above sea level) remains generally snow covered from December to March. In other parts of the country snow is observed rarely. The city of Eilat, located at the southernmost point of Israel and at the northern tip of Red Sea, has a good climate for beach holidays all year round.
Health Tourism: Israel's health resorts range from the high climate of Galilee to the low mineral-rich Dead Sea. The main centers are the Dead Sea, which is famous for its high concentration of salts and minerals and in Tiberias where there are hot springs.
Sports: Caesarea boasts Israel's only 18 hole Golf Course and a 9 hole Golf Course can be found at Kibbutz Gash near Herzliya. Israel is a diver's paradise and its mild climate assures year-round diving opportunities. The Red Sea awaits dive enthusiasts with miles of coral reefs. Scuba diving centers can be found in Caesarea, Eilat, Nahariya, Tel Aviv as well as centers for paragliding and tandem flights The snow season for skiing on Mount Hermon begins in December or January and last until mid-March.
Israeli Food and Dining: Dining in Israel is as varied as its population. Israeli cuisine is a concept that has involved from the many cooking traditions. Elegant restaurants can be found alongside small cafes or pizza and falafel stands. Israel is influenced in world events, and tries to keep astride of all world changes, including culinary trends. It's important to note that while kosher food is predominant in Israeli hotels, many restaurants are not kosher. You can find almost every cuisine whether Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Arab and American food. In recent years, a thriving quality wine industry has developed along with olive oil manufactures and a few boutique dairies.
National and Jewish Holidays: The Sabbath begins on Friday evening and ends of Saturday night. The Jewish Festivals similarly begin the night before and end in the evening.
Brief History of Israel and the Jewish People
The people of Israel (also called the "Jewish People") trace their origin to Abraham, who established the belief that there is only one God, the creator of the universe (see Old Testament ). Abraham, his son Yitshak (Isaac), and grandson Jacob (Israel), are referred to as the patriarchs of the Israelites. All three patriarchs lived in the Land of Canaan, that later came to be known as the Land of Israel. They and their wives are buried in the Ma'arat HaMachpela, the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
The name Israel derives from the name given to Jacob (see Old Testament). His 12 sons were the kernels of 12 tribes that later developed into the Jewish nation. The name Jew derives from Yehuda (Judah) one of the 12 sons of Jacob (Reuben, Shimon, Levi, Yehuda, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Yisachar, Zevulun, Yosef, Binyamin). So, the names Israel, Israeli or Jewish refer to people of the same origin.
The descendants of Abraham crystallized into a nation at about 1300 BCE after their Exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses (Moshe in Hebrew). Soon after the Exodus, Moses transmitted to the people of this new emerging nation, the Torah, and the Ten Commandments. After 40 years in the Sinai desert, Moses led them to the Land of Israel, that is cited in The Bible as the land promised by G-d to the descendants of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The people of modern day Israel share the same language and culture shaped by the Jewish heritage and religion passed through generations starting with the founding father Abraham (ca. 1800 BCE). Thus, Jews have had continuous presence in the land of Israel for the past 3,300 years.
The rule of Israelites in the land of Israel starts with the conquests of Joshua (ca. 1250 BCE). The period from 1000-587 BCE is known as the "Period of the Kings". The most noteworthy kings were King David (1010-970 BCE), who made Jerusalem the Capital of Israel, and his son Solomon (Shlomo, 970-931 BCE), who built the first Temple in Jerusalem as prescribed in the Tanach (Old Testament).
In 587 BCE, Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar's army captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled the Jews to Babylon (modern day Iraq).
The year 587 BCE marks a turning point in the history of the region. From this year onwards, the region was ruled or controlled by a succession of superpower empires of the time in the following order: Babylonian, Persian, Greek Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Empires, Islamic and Christian crusaders, Ottoman Empire, and the British Empire.
General Information - Israel
TH
IS
E
HOLY LAND
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
@Copyright 2007 Zenith Zion Ltd All Rights Reserved
Site By: zenithzion.net
Site By: zenithzion.net
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Destinations | Flights | Hotels | Blogs | Discussion Boards
Guestbook | Disclaimer & Terms | Community Projects | Search | Site Map
Guestbook | Disclaimer & Terms | Community Projects | Search | Site Map
Get involve.
Make a difference while you are traveling.
Make a difference while you are traveling.
