History of Israel

History of Israel
Abraham's descendants were thought to be enslaved by the Egyptians for hundreds of years
before settling in Canaan, which is approximately the region of modern-day Israel. The
word Israel comes from Abraham's grandson, Jacob, who was renamed “Israel” by the Hebrew
God in the Bible
Traditions of Israel
Shabbat
(Friday evening through Saturday) is a time to relax and reflect while recharging for the next
week. Whether secular or religious, Ashkenazi or Sephardic, a local Israeli or a visitor from
abroad, you will find yourself settling into the Shabbat atmosphere each week. After spending
Friday morning finishing any last-minute chores, most people gather for a meal with family or
friends in the evening. On Shabbat, some spend the day at synagogue, others visit friends and
family, and some hang out at places like the beach or go hiking. Most stores and many
restaurants are closed, and you can feel the difference from the rest of the busy week. Make
time for your friends (who you’ll grow to call your Israeli family) and yourself to join the
collective experience of celebrating Shabbat.
Hannukah
Things calm down a bit until Hannukah. Get ready for some new delicious foods! To celebrate
one of the miracles of Hannukah – that a small pot of oil lasted for eight days instead of one –
we switch to a rich diet in oily and delicious foods. Israelis switch from latkes (potato pancakes)
in favor of sufganiyot – Israeli jelly donuts! Deep fried, just to keep the connection to oil alive,
these donuts are incredibly imaginative in their flavors.
Passover
In the month leading up to Passover, stores start to dispose of their wheat products and move
some of the not-Kosher-for-Passover foods off the shelves. Israelis spend their days cleaning
and organizing in a “Spring Cleaning Gone Mad” kind of way. Once the day of the Seder arrives,
a calm comes over the country, as everyone makes their way to family or friends to spend the
evening remembering our Exodus from Egypt and the long struggle for freedom as we read
the Haggadah. More than 95% of Israelis attend a Seder every year on Passover. Let us know if
you are interested in attending one too! None of the stores sell pita or bread for the whole
week, and even places like McDonald’s replace their hamburger buns with wheat-free versions.
Just like during Sukkot, you can head to a desert festival or spend the week by the beach at the
Sea of Galilee. As soon as the holiday finishes, people rush back to their local markets to stock
up on bread and cereal all over again.
Shavout
From Passover we count the 49 days of the Omer to Shavuot, when we remember getting the

Torah at Mount Sinai. For generations, we have eaten meals rich in dairy for this holiday. The
supermarkets stock tons of cheeses and dairy products so that Israelis can make an incredible
array of food – quiches, pies, blintzes, cheesecake, burekas, and more. On
many kibbutzim, there is a ceremony to remember the “first” offerings of the year – an
agricultural reminder to bring the first fruits of the year to our Temple in Jerusalem, dating back
more than two thousand years. The cutest part of the modern variation is when all the new
moms and dads bring out the babies that were born over the last year.
Summer
Once Shavuot ends, Israelis spend their summer at the beaches, hiking through the nature
trails, or visiting archaeological sites before gearing up for Rosh Hashanah all over again. You
can also take a look at the wide range of exciting summer events in Jerusalem and Israel.
Customs of Israel
Stocking up on bread before Passover
During Passover, the sale of leavened goods is forbidden, thus, causing nothing short of an
annual bread-scare among non-observant Israelis. Storing up on bread ahead of the week has
become a secular tradition in its own right.
Standing during memorial sirens
On Memorial Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israel remembers those who have died
with a national siren, and during this time, Israelis collectively bow their heads. It’s a sight: an
entire country stands for up to two minutes, no matter if they’re on the highway, bus or even at
the beach.
Riding your bike on Yom Kippur
Once a year, Israel grinds to a halt for Yom Kippur—the day of atonement. For secular urban
Israelis, it’s a great day to ride your bike with your family on the empty streets, as driving a car
is still socially taboo on this day.
Clapping when El Al flights land in Israel
For some reason, Israelis clap when their plane safely lands, especially on El Al flights and
especially when they land in Israel.
Raising the volume on your radio to hear news every hour
Once an hour, on the hour, most Israelis, especially the older generations, will tune into Army
Radio for the hourly newscast. Heralded by three short beeps, the sound of the broadcaster’s
voice rising as you turn up the volume on your radio to hear the headlines is a recurring
experience for many in the news-heavy country.
Religion in Israel
is a central feature of the country and plays a major role in shaping Israeli culture and lifestyle.
Religion has played a central role in Israel's history. Israel is also the only country in the world
where a majority of citizens are Jewish. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the
population in 2011 was 75.4% Jewish, 20.6% Arab, and 4.1% minority groups.[2] The religious
affiliation of the Israeli population as of 2019[1] was 74.2% Jewish, 17.8% Muslim,
2.0% Christian, and 1.6% Druze, with the remaining 4.4% including faiths such
as Samaritanism and Baha'iism, and irreligious people with no faith.[3][4] According to Pew
research, Israel ranks fifth among the world's countries in the level of "social hostilities related
to religious norms", and is sixth-highest in the level of "interreligious tension and violence".[5]\
Facts about Israel
1) Israel has the eighth longest life expectancy in the world: 82 years, which is more than the
United Kingdom, the U.S. and Germany.
2) Relative to its size, Israel is the largest immigrant absorbing nation on Earth; it has absorbed
350 percent of its population in 60 years.
3) Israel has more Nobel Prizes per capita than the United States, France and Germany. It also
has more laureates, in real numbers, than India, Spain and China.
4) About 93 percent of Israeli homes use solar energy for water heating, the highest
percentage in the world.
5) Israel has the highest number of museums per capital in the world.
6) There are over 100 sushi restaurants in Tel Aviv, which makes it the city with the most sushi
restaurants per capita after Tokyo and NYC.
7) Israel was the first country to ban underweight models.
8) Israeli banknotes have Braille markings on them.
9) The largest known dog cemetery in the ancient world was discovered in Ashkelon.
10) Israel has the most Bauhaus buildings in the world.

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SUBMITTED BY:
Group 6 (Israel)
SUBMITTED TO:
MA’AM JENNY BEB C.

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History of Israel

From Passover we count the 49 days of the Omer to Shavuot, when we remember getting the

Stocking up on bread before Passover

Standing during memorial sirens

Riding your bike on Yom Kippur

Clapping when El Al flights land in Israel

Raising the volume on your radio to hear news every hour

Facts about Israel

7) Israel was the first country to ban underweight models.

8) Israeli banknotes have Braille markings on them.

10) Israel has the most Bauhaus buildings in the world.

MA’AM JENNY BEB C.

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