|
|
|
|
| Israel |
| Israel Travel Guide |
| Israel, slightly larger than Massachusetts, lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Egypt on the west, Syria and Jordan on the east, and Lebanon on the north. Its maritime plain is extremely fertile. The southern Negev region, which comprises almost half the total area, is largely a desert. The Jordan, the only important river, flows from the north through Lake Hule (Waters of Merom) and Lake Kinneret (also called Sea of Galilee or Sea of Tiberias), finally entering the Dead Sea, 1,349 ft (411 m) below sea levelthe world's lowest land elevation. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Succoth
"The week long holiday of Succoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri. It is usually held in September and October. Succoth occurs at harvest time, and has elements of a harvest festival. Thus, it is also the Jewish Thanksgiving because it is known as the ""Festival of the Harvest"". Other names of this festival are Sukkot, Festival of the Booths, Jewish Harvest Festival and Feast of Tabernacle.
In Judaism, this festival commemorates the time when the Israelites lived in the wilderness during the Exodus from Egypt. As a reminder of the shelters used in the wilderness, huts are built and used for eating and sleeping during the seven-day celebration."
Shabbat
"(the Sabbath - the weekly day of rest) on Saturday, is marked in Israel with most people spending the day together with family and friends. Public transport is suspended, businesses are closed, essential services are at skeleton-staff strength, and leave is granted to as many soldiers as
possible. The secular majority take advantage of their weekly day of rest for leisure time at the seashore, places of entertainment and excursions in outdoor settings. The observant devote many hours to festive family feasts and services in synagogue, desist from travel, and refrain from working or using electrical appliances
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish new year. Its origin is Biblical (Lev. 23:23-25): a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts [of the shofar, the rams horn]. The term Rosh Hashanah, beginning of the year, is rabbinical, as are the formidable themes of the festival: repentance,
preparation for the day of Divine judgment, and prayer for a fruitful year. The two-day festival falls on 1-2 Tishrei in the Jewish calendar, usually September in the Gregorian calendar, and starts at sundown of the preceding evening, as do all Jewish observances. Major customs of Rosh Hashanah include the sounding of the shofar in the middle of a lengthy synagogue service that focuses on the festival themes, and elaborate meals at home to inaugurate the new year. The prayer liturgy is augmented with prayers of repentance."
Yom Kippur
"eight days after Rosh Hashanah, is the day of atonement, of Divine judgment, and of affliction of souls (Lev. 23:26-32) so that the individual may be cleansed of sins. The only fast day decreed in the Bible, it is a time to enumerate ones misdeeds and contemplate ones faults. The Jew is expected, on this day, to pray for forgiveness for sins between man and God and correct his wrongful actions against his fellow man. The major precepts of Yom Kippur - lengthy devotional services and a 25-hour fast - are observed even by much of the otherwise secular population. The level of public solemnity on Yom Kippur surpasses that of any other festival, including Rosh Hashanah. The country comes to a complete halt for 25 hours on this day; places of entertainment are closed, there are no television and radio broadcasts (not even the news), public transport is suspended, and even the roads are completely closed. Yom Kippur in Israel has special meaning due to memories of the 1973 war, a surprise attack launched by Egypt and Syria against Israel on that very day." |
|
|
|
Jerusalem
"Jerusalem is not only the capital of Israel, but also the largest city and one of the fastest growing towns with a population of about 650,000 inhabitants of which about 70% is Jewish and 30% is non Jewish population. The fast growth is due to a high birth rate and high number of immigrants.
Jerusalem is situated in the Judean Hills at a height of about 762 meters above sea level.
The Israeli parliament, the presidents residence and the government offices are located in Jerusalem. The city has went through many political and religious turmoil, the main reason is because Jerusalem is honored by three major world religions (Christians, Islam, Judaism). Jerusalem has warm and dry summers and rather Jerusalem has warm and dry summers and rather cool and rainy winters. The average temperature in January is about 9C and in August about 24C."
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is Israels largest city and biggest commercial center. It is stretched along the beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean and is a busy metropolis offering to its visitors an atmosphere of excitement and Tel Aviv is the second biggest city in Israel after Jerusalem and has a population of about 360.000 inhabitants. There is a typical Mediterranean climate with cool and rainy winters and warm and dry summers. The average temperature in January is about 12C and in August about 25C.
Ashkelon
"Ashkelon is a coastal city in Negev, Israel. It home to a populace of over 110,000 permanent residents, making it the eighth largest city in Israel. Earlier known as Asqana, it is one of Israels culturally and economically developed cities.
Ashkelon enjoys a perfectly balanced climate which is predominantly cool and dry. Summers are mild with cool breezes alleviating the temperatures. Winters, apart from being extremely cold, are also very dry. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit the place.
Regarded as one of the oldest cities in the world, Ashkelon has been an economically active city. Its economy is mainly based on agriculture, cement, plastic, electronics and tourism." |
|
|
|
Time Zone
GMT + 2 Hour
Language Spoken
"Adyghe , Amharic , Arabic, Judeo-Iraqi."
Passport/ VISA
"British citizens require a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to three months."
Climate
"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." |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
