Israeli Culture

Although the actual translation of the word Shalom is 'peace', it is also used as a greeting for 'hello', as well as to say 'goodbye'. When greeting someone for the first time in Israel, a handshake is appropriate, both for business and in social settings

Israel was named the second most-educated country in the world in 2012, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's “Education at a Glance report”. The report found that 78% of the money invested in education comes from public funds and over 45% of the population has a university degree or a college diploma

This, as an internationally-accepted gesture is not considered taboo. However, putting your thumb in between your middle and index finger while making a fist is considered an obscene gesture

Although Israelis will have quite a large breakfast, with cheeses, salads, olives, Israeli bread, juice and coffee on the table, lunch tends to be the principal meal of the day, served around midday when children get home from school. Most Israelis eat a light meal in the evening, with dinner generally consisting of just dairy products, salads or eggs as the standard menu fare

Women have exactly the same rights as men in Israeli society and hold positions of power in politics, the corporate world, and civil defence. It is only in very religiously observant homes that women tend not to work outside the home, confining themselves to looking after all family and domestic matters

Approximately 83 languages have been recorded as being spoken in Israel, although the speakers of those languages are encouraged to learn Hebrew or Arabic so as to integrate better into local education and commerce. Many native Hebrew and Arabic speakers are also very fluent in English, it being offered as a core subject in school in recognition by education, business and commerce that English is a much more international language. There are many English-language television and radio programmes as well as newspapers and magazines

Millions of visitors come to Israel each year from all denominations to visit the museums dedicated to religion, history, art and science. Jerusalem's famous Israel Museum has a special pavilion showcasing the Dead Sea scrolls as well as a large collection of Jewish religious art, Israeli art, sculptures and Old Masters paintings. Despite Israel being at the forefront of internet communication and development, newspapers continue to be published in dozens of languages, and every city and town still publishes a local newsletter

All Jewish marriages in Israel are registered with the office of the Chief Rabbi and not with the ‘state’, with the ceremony following traditional Jewish practice. While weddings do not have to be held in a synagogue, civil ceremonies are not performed in Israel

This is Israel's main international airport, and handles almost 15 million passengers a year. It is considered to be one of the world's most secure airports and has never seen a terrorist hijack attempt succeed. The airport was renamed in 1973 in honour of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion

The teachings from the Talmud or Book of Jewish Law states that once the world is destroyed, the damage is irreversible. It is therefore an ethical responsibility to prevent this happening. Judaism created specific laws that are more sophisticated than many if not most of the current environmental laws. There is a biblical law, still followed today in Israel, where the land must lie fallow (unused) once in every seven years, to preserve the earth and make it more fertile and there must be a suitable and appropriate distance between city and rural areas in order to create a healthy ecological balance