Culture and Customs

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General Attitudes

Israel is a very informal country. First names are commonly used, even in business. . It is very important in Israel when among the people to be very open, humorous, and considerate. Family is among one of the most important aspects of the Israeli lifestyle. The Israeli people take much pride in the state, and both men and women serve in the Israeli Defense Forces. Orthodox Jews and Israeli Arabs are not drafted. However, Bedouin and Druze community members often volunteer to serve in the IDF.

Personal Appearance

The common code of dress in Israel is very similar to Western dress codes preferring open-neck collars and jeans, but on formal occasions a suit and tie is considered appropriate. Summer time is a wonderful time for everyone to wear shorts and sandals. Women usually wear dresses or pants similar to men. The more religiously conservative an Israeli is, the more conservatively he or she dresses.

When attending a religious place it is mandatory for all men to wear a head covering and pants, and for women to wear long skirts. Despite any religious affiliation, all people respect these customs.

Greetings

Informality continues with the greetings in Israel. “Shalom”, meaning hello, goodbye, and peace is the most common. Handshakes are very common among the Israeli people, except that Orthodox men and women will not shake hands with members of the opposite sex.

Gestures

Hands are commonly used in conversation to enhance meaning and liveliness to the conversation. Respect for elders is very important, and it is customary to give up one’s seat for an older person.

Visiting

Visiting friends and relatives is very similar to visiting others in America. When guests arrive it is customary for the host to proved food and beverages.

Food and Diet

In Israel three meals a day is customary. Breakfast is considered very light and is usually a salad. Lunch is early in the afternoon and dinner is served later in the evening.

The usual diet in Israel consists of several items of food: Salat, which is fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and onions; Shwarma, which is made with lamb and turkey; Schnitzel, which is fried chicken patties; and Falafels, which are fried chick peas usually served with with pita bread and salat. Also fresh fruits and vegetables are common from the daily market.

Holidays

Holidays are always kept in a conservative manner. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and is one of the major holidays. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) takes place 10 days later, followed by Sukkot, the feast of Tabernacles. Six lunar months and two weeks later is Passover which is one of the most religious and important holidays in the Jewish religion. The most common holiday in Israel is Shabbat which takes place every Friday night at sundown and through Saturday until sundown. If you are traveling to Israel on business, it would be wise to avoid the weeks around the fall holidays as well as the week of Passover, as many businesses are closed, and people are often away on vacation.

Commerce

It is required by State Law that each worker have one day of rest every week. Muslims usually take Fridays off, Jews usually take Saturdays and Christians usually take Sundays off. General business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. Many businesses are open all day, and on Friday they close early at 2:00 p.m. for Shabbat. Israeli government offices are closed on Friday and Saturday, and reopen on Sunday.

Government

Israel was declared a democratic state in 1948. There are two major political groups one being Likud and the other is Avodah (Labor), as well as many smaller parties that cater to particular interests. There is a prime minister as well as a president. The lawmaking body is called the Knesset. For more information on Israel’s government, go to https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html.

Economy

The economy is well developed, but happens to be based on a union system. Agriculture takes about 5% of the labor force in Israel. The industrial sector is thriving. This part of the work force usually consists of technology and diamonds. The Real Gross Domestic Product Per Capita is approximately $15,000.

Health

All Israeli citizens are covered by health plans run by the state and financed by salary deduction. Health care facilities are modern with levels of care equal or superior to that found in the U.S.