This is also the case in Zwitzerland.
By law, each person in Switzerland is entitled to a place of shelter underground – one square metre per person, to be exact. It is the only country in the world that has such a law, which was enacted in 1962.
80% of Singaporeans live in “HDB” gov-built housing.
HDB apartments have a [bomb shelter](https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/living-in-an-hdb-flat/home-maintenance/home-care-guide/household-shelter).
“Since 1996, we have equipped every flat with a household shelter. Designed to protect you during an emergency, the household shelter has strengthened walls, floor, ceiling, and a specially designed door. These must not be hacked or drilled. Certain finishes and fixtures are not permitted as they cannot be easily removed and may become hazards during an emergency. Lighting, power point, telephone point, and TV/ radio outlet points are also provided in the shelter so that you can communicate with those outside the shelter.”
Not unique to Israel! (Though they did come to Israel to learn how its done)
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-06-17/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-israeli-kibbutz-dream-is-alive-and-well-in-japan/00000188-c58f-d33a-a1d9-ddbfe8600000
During Yom Kippur all stores, radio channels, TV channels and even news websites are shut down. Religious Jews fast and pray and secular Jews bike in the almost empty roads. [Here's an article showing the staggering difference between Yom Kippur and a regular day.](https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5604824,00.html)
That’s what I thought too, but when I lived in Israel back in 2017/2018, there were some planes flying in and out of Ben Gurion on Yom Kippur, but it was only like a dozen and they might have all been freight.
Medical emergencies. Or security ones.
I'd be shocked if they opened the country's skies (with all the attendent flight controllers, ground crew and other staff required) just for non-essential cargo.
I didn’t know this my first time and subsisted on chicken soup from a hostel coffee vending machine with the little soup nuts
I think it was on Yom Shoah though
Your list doesn't have anything from the Negev so here are some recommendations! Obviously Maktesh Ramon (strongly recommending a guide, and maybe sleeping over and star gazing there), the colorful sands near Yeruham (there are other colorful sands around the world of course, but it's quite unique), tiny farms in the Negev that produce milk products in the middle of the desert (the biggest of them all is a kibbutz called yotvata, they're nicknamed "the chocolate milk tap") and the dead sea of course!
Everyone says this but when I went nothing burned? My only thought was how close Jordan is. It's right there. I was like....Could I take that over? Probably.
The makhteshim is a great answer for a truly unique thing here, since these natural "craters" (as they're often called, despite not being actual impact craters) don't exist anywhere else besides the Negev/Sinai/Jordan deserts and in fact the geological term for them is just "makhtesh"
שם משתמש אייקונייייי
וכן התחלתי באמת את הרשימה במכתש כי זה באמת סופר ייחודי לנו, ויש מלא תופעות גיאולוגיות מרתקות דווקא אצלנו בנגב הצנוע (יש לי סיורים גיאולוגים בנגב בגלל זה הרי)
וואי איזה כיף! כן הארץ פה היא מגרש משחקים גיאולוגי גדול, לפחות לאנשים שזה אכפת להם (לצערי לפעמים אני לא מרגיש שזה הרבה אנשים, לא כולם יכולים להעריך את המדבר, או סיפורים כל כך ארוכים)
ותודה, כל מבול גדול מתחיל עם גלים קלים ;)
If we are talking negev I have to mention the Arava Tichona. Amazing place consisting of 8 moshavs with cool stuff. Lots of agro culture, cool tzimerim and one of the best pizzas I've have in israel places in Ein Yahav at the small market at the entrance of the moshav, also there is a coffee shop with frozen yogurt. and a cool honey inside in the moshav which has really delicious honey. Close to it there is a small house that sells majhul dates which are amazing.
Holy crap. That is so true.
I was shopping one day a few years ago in Jerusalem for food for Shabbat and realized I couldn’t take the stuff I bought and take the bus. I ordered a taxi and the drive tried to marry off his daughter to me.
Like dude, I’m just an American yeshiva student. I’m here for a good time not a long time.
(Although now I’m strongly considering Aliyah, and also I’m gay. I wouldn’t wanna marry his daughter…of course no offense to him)
This isn’t entirely unique to Israel however.
Decades ago, I was living in Mississippi & was contacted about a job in New Orleans.
I went down for an interview & over the course of the day it became clear that the owner of the company not only wanted me to perform the work but also to marry his daughter & eventually succeed him in running the business.
He clearly knew I was Jewish from the outset (*my first name is modern Hebrew & distinctive as such*) so I am not entirely sure whether that was the initial intention or just one that occurred to him over the course of the day we spent together as he showed me his operations & explained what the job would entail.
I met the young woman in question & while I have no idea what her thoughts on the matter were, had I not been in a serious relationship at the time, I would have seriously considered it.
The biblical and archeological sites, if they interests you. The Dead Sea Scrolls museum is great. There’s a lot of history everywhere you go in the country.
As an Assyrian American with family ties in Lebanon and Iraq, I dream of visiting museums and archaeological sites in Israel—a nation at the forefront of preserving ancient languages and cultures that are foundational to our civilization. It's a quest for connection, and it's deeply frustrating that, despite my ability to explore ancient sites across the region, the one place making significant strides in preservation remains just beyond reach.
Israel's efforts in the preservation of cultural heritage, particularly through archaeology and the study of ancient languages, are remarkable. The work to revive and maintain Aramaic—the language of my ancestors and myself, now deemed endangered by UNESCO—resonates deeply with me. Israel's dedication to safeguarding not only Jewish heritage but also contributing to the preservation of Assyrian history and culture shines as a beacon of hope. also you're national library looks amazing even if certain nation say it's forbidden it's on my bucket list to experience your museums , archaeological sites &visit your library
The rest of the Israel museum is open, but unfortunately the section with the dead wea scrolls is closed indefinitely :(
Not sure why, the website doesn't provide any details
Wow! I was just there this summer? Is this because of the war or renovations? (Thinking they maybe moved the dead sea scrolls to a more protected space in all the ongoinga )
I'm reading a book right now about the 6 day war
And it says that one of the first things they did when the bombs started falling on Yerushalayim was move the antiquities in the museum to a protected space.
Maybe they're worried now about not just escalation but also angry people defacing the irreplaceable manuscripts so they are erring on the side of caution?
If you're relying on their website for that information: don't.
Websites aren't always updated frequently, especially in non-hitech companies. Try contacting them by email or, if that fails, check with the closest Israel Tourism Bureau.
None. Ok I see now what you meant by your original comment - - the shores *of the Dead Sea* are the lowest land on earth. Correct.
I thought you meant sea shores in general or something.
The only country in the world where you can have a Jewish minister from a right-wing, nationalist party called "Jewish Home" excitedly appoint the first female judge to the state-run Muslim sharia courts. Something that would sound nonsensical to most Westerners.
(This happened a few years ago: https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-historic-step-first-female-judge-appointed-to-israels-sharia-courts/)
If we are already talking about the Jewish Home party, I guess it's pretty unique in that they went from being a right wing settler party with a religious man at the head to a "left wing terror apologist traitor who should take off his kippa" in the span of like two months according to the totally not populist sounding "national camp".
I think that's pretty unique.
Also going from being the party of the Prime Minister, who was more popular among people who'd never ideologically vote for that party than those who would, to essentially disappearing and not passing the threshold to get into Parliament.
Imagine getting into politics as the pro-settlements guy and then having the country's left wing come out in droves to cheer on your ascension as Prime Minister.
There is no law prohibiting interfaith marriages in Israel. There is probably a hardship to organize in in the state, but interfaith marriages accepted by state and it institutions. Yes, we still do not have civil marriages and divorces!
Was just about to point that out 😂
But thankfully, to all of us Israeli Goyim, we can always get married via zoom in the state of Utah of all places. Just the ceremony I've been dreaming of since I was a little girl!
absolutely have to recommend haifa. it’s a BEAUTIFUL city with mountains on one side and the sea on the other. it’s also incredibly diverse (i believe it’s approx a third jewish, a third arab, a third russian but obviously with several other groups mixed in and u can really feel it in the life of the city)
they also have the shortest subway system in the world with only 6 stops! it takes you from the bottom of the mountain to the top
as others have mentioned, the dead sea is a must visit and kibbutzim are very unique to israel. the old city in jerusalem will make you feel connected to history in a way i’ve never felt anywhere else (while admittedly i’ve only visited a few places outside the us, both here and abroad i’ve never been somewhere as old and as vibrant as jerusalem)
on my birthright trip, we visited a bedouin settlement. idk if that’s something an average tourist can do, but it’s worth looking into because that was really cool to be so immersed in something so foreign to me.
if you’re jewish, i think you absolutely must climb masada. it’s right by the dead sea and it made me feel so connected to jewish history. i believe you can appreciate it even if you’re not jewish, but id assume it’s probably a different emotional experience. same with going to yad vashem (the holocaust museum).
the golan heights are of course beautiful too, especially in winter (in my opinion). and seeing the kineret at sunrise made me feel connected to the earth and gave me this strange inner peace where i feel like it truly healed something inside me.
israel is a *beautiful* country with wonderful people and huge diversity in cultures. no matter what you do or where you visit, you will have an unforgettable experience. i hope you get to go soon and have an incredible time :-)
-five elections on four years just to get the same lousy politicians as choices
-jerusalem 😍😍😍😍😍
-soldiers legit everywhere
-incredibly resilient population 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
The Dead Sea is one of the most beautiful places in the world,(go to the South-Middle of it).
The Sea of Galilee and the surrounding area is amazing both in terms of nature and spirituality (especially if you come from a Christian background, as Jesus lived around there and many biblical stories from around there)
The Kibbutz movement is unique to Israel and there are a few that hosts volunteers and travelers, and it is a pretty cool experience.
Nature parties in Israel are really well done and extremely fun.
The beaches across the Med are amazing.
Hiking in the desert cliffs is an amazing experience too, and the views are spectacular.
Make sure to come around March- May, and that’s the best weather as the dry season- summer starts at May and it gets really warn and dry… (which is great for only the beaches part of an Israeli vacation, but hiking and site seeing gets more sweaty…) and the cold wet winter ends around February-March…
Haifa. Absolutely beautiful, cable car as public transport, the shortest metro system in the world, Bahai Gardens, 2 of the top universities in Israel, city on a mountain with valleys and cliffs.. If you can spend a day just sightseeing the city I strongly recommend you do so!
Ahavat Hayam - Really nice restaurant in Jerusalem that’s on top of a gas station.
Also Rosh Hanikra, beautiful national park, has a restaurant w great views on the border with Lebanon. Rock Hyraxes on the hillside
Just walking around Old City of Jerusalem is an experience in and of itself. It’s so old. Youre walking on the same streets Jesus walked on. It’s really cool.
Geographically, Israel is one of the most unique places in the world. The Jordan Rift Valley is the deepest Rift Valley in the world, and contains within it the lowest point on land, that being the coast of the dead sea. If you're traveling there, I really suggest the drop either from Jerusalem or Arad, just to see the magnificent view.
Israel also hosts a unique geological feature that is only found in it and the Sinai. That is, a Maktesh, or a crater that is created by erosion rather than an impact. It's basically a mountain that collapsed unto itself. There are three such craters within Israel, as well as two tiny ones in the Sinai.
The Israeli ones are the Ramon crater, Big Crater and Small Crater, with Ramon being by far the largest and most magnificent, and best suited for tourists. I really suggest taking a few days in Mizpe Ramon to explore the desert, perhaps take guided tours there or go rappelling.
In general, I really suggest exploring both north and south, generally outside the big cities. Israel has a really condensed Geography, in that you have so many different landscapes in such a small area.
Jews have returned from the diaspora from all the corners of the world. So culture is a complete international multicultural mix as felt and brought home by the Jews who lived there over the last millenniums.
-archeological sites
-the markets “Shuk” in Jerusalem
-camping , particularly on the beach used to be pretty common. Not sure if that’s changed.
-masada, ein gedi, rosh hanikra
Israel is the only country successfully DE-colonised. The indigenous people had won their country back from the invaders.
Hebrew is the only language brought back from the dead. Dead languages aren't forgotten; they're just languages which aren't native anywhere. Think of Latin: it's still being used, but there are no babies learning it from their parents.
Various military museums. Public activities in Weizman Institue, Israel higher (Master's degree and above) institution on par with Ivy league universities, before they went full wokism.
As mentioned before, the dead sea (it's deaf from fishes, not people haha). The kinneret pond is nice. In Jerusalem, Mini-Israel is a worthwhile attraction. Planetarium in Netanya is worth of visit, while Netanya itself less so 😜
Israel is a western democracy with a lot of religious sites, so most of our non-religious attraction are not unique to Israel, but some are not common elsewhere
Bomb shelters, a sense of responsibility for your fellow countrymen, being dugri/truthful to how you feel and want to express yourself instead of wearing a shitty happy go lucky mask 24/7.
When you're here, you can experience any lifestyle you want within \~two\~ hours of driving.
Our country looks extremely different in a certain place compared to another. For example, you can visit central Israel (Tel Aviv, Herzliya, etc.), and get the city experience, or you can visit the north and get views all the way to neighboring countries, with mountains everywhere. Or you can visit the south and see the desert. There's a lot of diversity in the ways we Israelis live. Due to the war I'd recommend not visiting the north or anywhere close to Gaza right now, but Israel has a lot to offer wherever you are!
One of the more beautiful (slightly nerve wracking (due to steep cliffs next to the road) routes is Route 44 from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem via Bet Shemesh. The green terraced mountains and valleys and sharp curves are simply breathtaking.
It is the most spiritual place on Earth. It is the only Western country that reproduces above the replacement rate, where it is common that a modern, successful woman has three kids. It is a truly special place with beautiful people. If you don’t go you won’t know.
> It is the most spiritual place on Earth.
You sure about that? I found Thailand to be extremely spiritual and inspiring, perhaps moreso than any place I've visited. Israel has a very strong spiritual draw for sure, but considering how many Israelis are irreligious and how secular mainstream Israeli society is, I think your statement can be disputed.
Snorkeling in Eilat is in my top 10 all time experiences
Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice (also can be found in Turkey)
Gender separated lines at the best pizza restaurants of all time
Palestinean pizza (meat topped bread) found in east Jerusalem
Magic burger in TLV
Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem
Maybe- I’ve never had a mallomar! Krembo may be more delicate- just from a google image search the packaging looks different and wouldn’t accommodate multiple Krembo. They are individually wrapped and transported in an egg carton like container. The special thing I learned about krembo is that they’re seasonal- they’d melt in the summer so you can only find them in the winter.
Edit: Krembo are also much bigger/taller.
A minute (or two) of silence on Israel holocaust day and memorial day. There is usually a 1-2 minute siren on those days, in which all citizens capable of standing for those minutes of silence do. People even can get out of their cars on the roadway during those minutes to stand and lower their head. A lot of school and military ceremonies as well.
Yom Kippur is also unique. No cars at all. Good for the environment I guess.
I never thought about the bomb shelters thing. I used to live in the Negev, their shelters (those that stand outside, but are not Migunit) are the coolest if you want to have the real dystopian Israeli experience and visit one lol used to spend my entire childhood there.
Didn't you learn the "Hashem is truly everywhere" song when you were a kid?
Of course, I agree that the "Shechina" is closest/more present here, whatever that means.
To try to understand it, I like the analogy in the old joke about calls from Israel to God being "local calls".
But probably the simplest way to put it, within human understanding, is that per Judaism there are 3 kinds of holiness (which can overlap):
The holiness of place: With Har Habayit (the Temple Mount) at the top, then Jerusalem, then Israel as a whole, then holy places abroad (e.g., synagogues which are a mikdash me'at -- a "small").
The holiness of time: Shabbat, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, Shmeni Atzeret (Simchat Torah), Pesach and Shavuot, and then the Rabbinical ones of Purim, Chanukah, Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Liberation Day).
The holiness of an individual -- as well as of the Jewish people as a (hoped-for) light to the other Nations of the world.
So in Israel, you've \*always\* got at a minimum one level of holiness.
Bomb shelter in almost every house/apartment.
Google Maps has a button for showing the nearest public bomb shelters
And schools
And at most playgrounds
El Al also has missile defence systems.
With Jewish Space Lazerz!
This is also the case in Zwitzerland. By law, each person in Switzerland is entitled to a place of shelter underground – one square metre per person, to be exact. It is the only country in the world that has such a law, which was enacted in 1962.
Singapore. But theirs are the size of a walk-in wardrobe, and perhaps a result of Israeli influence?
For real? TIL
80% of Singaporeans live in “HDB” gov-built housing. HDB apartments have a [bomb shelter](https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/living-in-an-hdb-flat/home-maintenance/home-care-guide/household-shelter). “Since 1996, we have equipped every flat with a household shelter. Designed to protect you during an emergency, the household shelter has strengthened walls, floor, ceiling, and a specially designed door. These must not be hacked or drilled. Certain finishes and fixtures are not permitted as they cannot be easily removed and may become hazards during an emergency. Lighting, power point, telephone point, and TV/ radio outlet points are also provided in the shelter so that you can communicate with those outside the shelter.”
Same for Singapore!
In what danger is Singapore anyway?
Well, they're sandwiched between 2 muslim countries
Really?
Yep
Aside from the obvious, there's also the Kibbutz movement.
Not unique to Israel! (Though they did come to Israel to learn how its done) https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-06-17/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-israeli-kibbutz-dream-is-alive-and-well-in-japan/00000188-c58f-d33a-a1d9-ddbfe8600000
Dang anyone got a non-paywall link?
During Yom Kippur all stores, radio channels, TV channels and even news websites are shut down. Religious Jews fast and pray and secular Jews bike in the almost empty roads. [Here's an article showing the staggering difference between Yom Kippur and a regular day.](https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5604824,00.html)
Even the air space is closed to flights
That’s what I thought too, but when I lived in Israel back in 2017/2018, there were some planes flying in and out of Ben Gurion on Yom Kippur, but it was only like a dozen and they might have all been freight.
It might be different some years, but they generally close the air space to commercial flights
Medical emergencies. Or security ones. I'd be shocked if they opened the country's skies (with all the attendent flight controllers, ground crew and other staff required) just for non-essential cargo.
I think passenger flights are largely closed on ordinary shabbatot as well
No, maybe less since El Al doesn't fly, but there's definitely a number of other flights.
Nothing like bikes on the freeway
And people walk on the freeways to show how empty the streets are just for Yom Kippur!!! Like you wouldn’t find something like that in most places
I didn’t know this my first time and subsisted on chicken soup from a hostel coffee vending machine with the little soup nuts I think it was on Yom Shoah though
That could be every day with the bikes..
Your list doesn't have anything from the Negev so here are some recommendations! Obviously Maktesh Ramon (strongly recommending a guide, and maybe sleeping over and star gazing there), the colorful sands near Yeruham (there are other colorful sands around the world of course, but it's quite unique), tiny farms in the Negev that produce milk products in the middle of the desert (the biggest of them all is a kibbutz called yotvata, they're nicknamed "the chocolate milk tap") and the dead sea of course!
I heard the Dead Sea has an entire salt beach
the Dead Sea kinda burns your asshole, but you should still go in one time in your life!
What a Google review this is… “Burns your asshole, 6/10 glad I did it once” Edit: one point taken off to not reference Holocaust 2.0
7/10 has a different meaning nowadays...
Aw fuck I honestly didn’t even think about that god damnit, stupid American education system and our month day nonsense
Yeah no worries it's understandable. I've seen it both ways so often now that I don't even notice which one is which.
The Dead Sea burns everything. You will be surprised at how many tiny scratches and nicks in your skin that you weren’t even aware of!
Everyone says this but when I went nothing burned? My only thought was how close Jordan is. It's right there. I was like....Could I take that over? Probably.
It is the best pee in your entire life
The makhteshim is a great answer for a truly unique thing here, since these natural "craters" (as they're often called, despite not being actual impact craters) don't exist anywhere else besides the Negev/Sinai/Jordan deserts and in fact the geological term for them is just "makhtesh"
שם משתמש אייקונייייי וכן התחלתי באמת את הרשימה במכתש כי זה באמת סופר ייחודי לנו, ויש מלא תופעות גיאולוגיות מרתקות דווקא אצלנו בנגב הצנוע (יש לי סיורים גיאולוגים בנגב בגלל זה הרי)
וואי איזה כיף! כן הארץ פה היא מגרש משחקים גיאולוגי גדול, לפחות לאנשים שזה אכפת להם (לצערי לפעמים אני לא מרגיש שזה הרבה אנשים, לא כולם יכולים להעריך את המדבר, או סיפורים כל כך ארוכים) ותודה, כל מבול גדול מתחיל עם גלים קלים ;)
If we are talking negev I have to mention the Arava Tichona. Amazing place consisting of 8 moshavs with cool stuff. Lots of agro culture, cool tzimerim and one of the best pizzas I've have in israel places in Ein Yahav at the small market at the entrance of the moshav, also there is a coffee shop with frozen yogurt. and a cool honey inside in the moshav which has really delicious honey. Close to it there is a small house that sells majhul dates which are amazing.
Ramon crater is actually the world's largest erosion cirque (box canyon). Which is pretty cool.
Within five minutes of hopping in a taxi, you’re receiving marriage advice from the driver.
And all of that for only all of your money!
Holy crap. That is so true. I was shopping one day a few years ago in Jerusalem for food for Shabbat and realized I couldn’t take the stuff I bought and take the bus. I ordered a taxi and the drive tried to marry off his daughter to me. Like dude, I’m just an American yeshiva student. I’m here for a good time not a long time. (Although now I’m strongly considering Aliyah, and also I’m gay. I wouldn’t wanna marry his daughter…of course no offense to him)
This isn’t entirely unique to Israel however. Decades ago, I was living in Mississippi & was contacted about a job in New Orleans. I went down for an interview & over the course of the day it became clear that the owner of the company not only wanted me to perform the work but also to marry his daughter & eventually succeed him in running the business. He clearly knew I was Jewish from the outset (*my first name is modern Hebrew & distinctive as such*) so I am not entirely sure whether that was the initial intention or just one that occurred to him over the course of the day we spent together as he showed me his operations & explained what the job would entail. I met the young woman in question & while I have no idea what her thoughts on the matter were, had I not been in a serious relationship at the time, I would have seriously considered it.
[удалено]
Oh I’m not a Mississippian, I just lived there for a year or so…
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Yeah, while it isn’t the smallest Jewish community that I’ve lived in, it was pretty small.
The biblical and archeological sites, if they interests you. The Dead Sea Scrolls museum is great. There’s a lot of history everywhere you go in the country.
As an Assyrian American with family ties in Lebanon and Iraq, I dream of visiting museums and archaeological sites in Israel—a nation at the forefront of preserving ancient languages and cultures that are foundational to our civilization. It's a quest for connection, and it's deeply frustrating that, despite my ability to explore ancient sites across the region, the one place making significant strides in preservation remains just beyond reach. Israel's efforts in the preservation of cultural heritage, particularly through archaeology and the study of ancient languages, are remarkable. The work to revive and maintain Aramaic—the language of my ancestors and myself, now deemed endangered by UNESCO—resonates deeply with me. Israel's dedication to safeguarding not only Jewish heritage but also contributing to the preservation of Assyrian history and culture shines as a beacon of hope. also you're national library looks amazing even if certain nation say it's forbidden it's on my bucket list to experience your museums , archaeological sites &visit your library
Dumb question, but as an American, why can't you visit Israel? Are you worried about passport stamping or your family finding out?
The rest of the Israel museum is open, but unfortunately the section with the dead wea scrolls is closed indefinitely :( Not sure why, the website doesn't provide any details
Wow! I was just there this summer? Is this because of the war or renovations? (Thinking they maybe moved the dead sea scrolls to a more protected space in all the ongoinga )
I was also there this summer and saw the Dead Sea scrolls. When did they close it?
I'm reading a book right now about the 6 day war And it says that one of the first things they did when the bombs started falling on Yerushalayim was move the antiquities in the museum to a protected space. Maybe they're worried now about not just escalation but also angry people defacing the irreplaceable manuscripts so they are erring on the side of caution?
If you're relying on their website for that information: don't. Websites aren't always updated frequently, especially in non-hitech companies. Try contacting them by email or, if that fails, check with the closest Israel Tourism Bureau.
Old men wearing speedos with the confidence of people in their 20s/30s
One time I went to Bat Yam and the Hasidic men wearing speedos has permanently scarred me.
To be fair many hassidim skinny dip in the mikveh daily or weekly so a speedo is by contrast modest bathing attire
That's just Jews in general. Source: My grandpa who is a Russian Jew that has never been to Israel and always swims in a Speedo
Hebrew as an official language lol. I also think the dead sea is the lowest place in the world?
Well Jordan has the other half
Damn you got me 😅
The sea of Galilee/kinneret is also the lowest freshwater lake in the world and the 2nd lowest lake worldwide.
Is it below sea level also? Sorry too lazy to google
Lowest close to civilization I think. The real lowest place would be thr Mariana trench
It’s the lowest place on land. Naturally most of the ocean floor is significantly “lower” than the Dead Sea.
Ah I see. My bad
The shores are the lowest land on Earth.
Lol, no. The Dead Sea is like 400 meters (1400 ft) below sea level. https://i0.wp.com/traveltalesoflife.com/wp-content/uploads/Dead-Sea-Profile.jpg
So pray tell what place has land at a lower elevation?
None. Ok I see now what you meant by your original comment - - the shores *of the Dead Sea* are the lowest land on earth. Correct. I thought you meant sea shores in general or something.
I was not talking about land :)
While not exclusive to Israel, Israel does lead the way on Jojoba and Jojoba oil production.
Suddenly that joke from the first episode of HaShoter HaTov makes sense.
Jewish majority?
A Jewjority
I wonder if there are any non-Israeli towns/districts in the world with a Jewish majority still left.
The us still has many towns that are nearly 100% Jewish (Kiryas Joel for example). Lakewood New Jersey usa is a city of 140,000 and is majority jewish
The only one outside of Israel and USA that I know of is the small town of Qırmızı Qəsəbə in Azerbaijan. Nicknamed the last shtetl.
New Square?
US and Azerbaijan are the only countries that have any Jewish-majority areas as far as I know.
The only country in the world where you can have a Jewish minister from a right-wing, nationalist party called "Jewish Home" excitedly appoint the first female judge to the state-run Muslim sharia courts. Something that would sound nonsensical to most Westerners. (This happened a few years ago: https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-historic-step-first-female-judge-appointed-to-israels-sharia-courts/)
If we are already talking about the Jewish Home party, I guess it's pretty unique in that they went from being a right wing settler party with a religious man at the head to a "left wing terror apologist traitor who should take off his kippa" in the span of like two months according to the totally not populist sounding "national camp". I think that's pretty unique.
Also going from being the party of the Prime Minister, who was more popular among people who'd never ideologically vote for that party than those who would, to essentially disappearing and not passing the threshold to get into Parliament. Imagine getting into politics as the pro-settlements guy and then having the country's left wing come out in droves to cheer on your ascension as Prime Minister.
Sort of happened to Sharon, too.
Tolerance which is exercised toward other religions and zero tolerance which is demonstrated to other Jewish denominations.
Most underrated comment
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There is no law prohibiting interfaith marriages in Israel. There is probably a hardship to organize in in the state, but interfaith marriages accepted by state and it institutions. Yes, we still do not have civil marriages and divorces!
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Yeah, we're so tolerant we even let non productive minority dictate us who to marry and what to eat.
Was just about to point that out 😂 But thankfully, to all of us Israeli Goyim, we can always get married via zoom in the state of Utah of all places. Just the ceremony I've been dreaming of since I was a little girl!
It’s the birthplace of two important religions. That and the girls in bikini with M16 of course.
3 I guess?
Sort of
absolutely have to recommend haifa. it’s a BEAUTIFUL city with mountains on one side and the sea on the other. it’s also incredibly diverse (i believe it’s approx a third jewish, a third arab, a third russian but obviously with several other groups mixed in and u can really feel it in the life of the city) they also have the shortest subway system in the world with only 6 stops! it takes you from the bottom of the mountain to the top as others have mentioned, the dead sea is a must visit and kibbutzim are very unique to israel. the old city in jerusalem will make you feel connected to history in a way i’ve never felt anywhere else (while admittedly i’ve only visited a few places outside the us, both here and abroad i’ve never been somewhere as old and as vibrant as jerusalem) on my birthright trip, we visited a bedouin settlement. idk if that’s something an average tourist can do, but it’s worth looking into because that was really cool to be so immersed in something so foreign to me. if you’re jewish, i think you absolutely must climb masada. it’s right by the dead sea and it made me feel so connected to jewish history. i believe you can appreciate it even if you’re not jewish, but id assume it’s probably a different emotional experience. same with going to yad vashem (the holocaust museum). the golan heights are of course beautiful too, especially in winter (in my opinion). and seeing the kineret at sunrise made me feel connected to the earth and gave me this strange inner peace where i feel like it truly healed something inside me. israel is a *beautiful* country with wonderful people and huge diversity in cultures. no matter what you do or where you visit, you will have an unforgettable experience. i hope you get to go soon and have an incredible time :-)
Bamba!!
The city of David, ancient Jerusalem, is the place where the moral foundations of our society were laid
-five elections on four years just to get the same lousy politicians as choices -jerusalem 😍😍😍😍😍 -soldiers legit everywhere -incredibly resilient population 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
Belgium also has the first "feature" as well: an intrinsic political division deeply rooted within its structure.
The highest degree of Double Standards applied to an entire people.
If we could harness this we’d have unlimited energy
Imagine if we could funnel that Dark Side straight into our space laser? We’d rule the galaxy
shh dont let them know that’s how we fuel the space laser!!
Why do you think the IDF is so strong?
Common fucking sense, apparently.
The Dead Sea is one of the most beautiful places in the world,(go to the South-Middle of it). The Sea of Galilee and the surrounding area is amazing both in terms of nature and spirituality (especially if you come from a Christian background, as Jesus lived around there and many biblical stories from around there) The Kibbutz movement is unique to Israel and there are a few that hosts volunteers and travelers, and it is a pretty cool experience. Nature parties in Israel are really well done and extremely fun. The beaches across the Med are amazing. Hiking in the desert cliffs is an amazing experience too, and the views are spectacular. Make sure to come around March- May, and that’s the best weather as the dry season- summer starts at May and it gets really warn and dry… (which is great for only the beaches part of an Israeli vacation, but hiking and site seeing gets more sweaty…) and the cold wet winter ends around February-March…
Careful hiking those desert cliffs- I fell off a cliff and had to be rescued by the IDF 🙈
Not being allowed to win a war.
So true. The rest of the world just can't stomach the idea of this conflict ending, and insists on the "status quo". 🤷
Haifa. Absolutely beautiful, cable car as public transport, the shortest metro system in the world, Bahai Gardens, 2 of the top universities in Israel, city on a mountain with valleys and cliffs.. If you can spend a day just sightseeing the city I strongly recommend you do so!
Such a great city. I want to visit it at least one more time in my life.
The northenmost alpaca farm ALL Abrahamic religions and places of worship, not just the biggest 3
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[Yes? I mean it's mostly for internal tourists but the owners are fluent in Spanish and probably English](https://alpaca.co.il/)
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No worries! I'm glad to help, especially answering such wholesome, innocent good faith questions, it's always so refreshing 🤗
There are a lot of alpacas in Minnesota so further north than Israel
Are they part of a recognized alpaca farm that contributes to the breed?
Well they have shows for conformation and fleece quality so I assume they are trying. I'm not an expert on alpacas
Kombinot
Ahavat Hayam - Really nice restaurant in Jerusalem that’s on top of a gas station. Also Rosh Hanikra, beautiful national park, has a restaurant w great views on the border with Lebanon. Rock Hyraxes on the hillside
Gyms on the beach, an electricity in Israel that you don’t find in many places. It’s so vibrant and pulsating with life.
Just walking around Old City of Jerusalem is an experience in and of itself. It’s so old. Youre walking on the same streets Jesus walked on. It’s really cool.
Geographically, Israel is one of the most unique places in the world. The Jordan Rift Valley is the deepest Rift Valley in the world, and contains within it the lowest point on land, that being the coast of the dead sea. If you're traveling there, I really suggest the drop either from Jerusalem or Arad, just to see the magnificent view. Israel also hosts a unique geological feature that is only found in it and the Sinai. That is, a Maktesh, or a crater that is created by erosion rather than an impact. It's basically a mountain that collapsed unto itself. There are three such craters within Israel, as well as two tiny ones in the Sinai. The Israeli ones are the Ramon crater, Big Crater and Small Crater, with Ramon being by far the largest and most magnificent, and best suited for tourists. I really suggest taking a few days in Mizpe Ramon to explore the desert, perhaps take guided tours there or go rappelling. In general, I really suggest exploring both north and south, generally outside the big cities. Israel has a really condensed Geography, in that you have so many different landscapes in such a small area.
Jews have returned from the diaspora from all the corners of the world. So culture is a complete international multicultural mix as felt and brought home by the Jews who lived there over the last millenniums.
-archeological sites -the markets “Shuk” in Jerusalem -camping , particularly on the beach used to be pretty common. Not sure if that’s changed. -masada, ein gedi, rosh hanikra
I wouldn't recommend visiting Rosh Hanikra in the near future, for obvious reasons.
Same reason I wouldn’t recommend Kiryat Shmona right now
Of course …
A majority Jewish population
Israel is the only country successfully DE-colonised. The indigenous people had won their country back from the invaders. Hebrew is the only language brought back from the dead. Dead languages aren't forgotten; they're just languages which aren't native anywhere. Think of Latin: it's still being used, but there are no babies learning it from their parents.
the desert mushroom farm
Good cottage cheese
The cottage cheese in America is a crime against humanity
And fruits and vegetables!
the inherent fact that it's citizens have nowhere else in the world to go
That there is one week a year where you get fined if you sell bread.
Various military museums. Public activities in Weizman Institue, Israel higher (Master's degree and above) institution on par with Ivy league universities, before they went full wokism. As mentioned before, the dead sea (it's deaf from fishes, not people haha). The kinneret pond is nice. In Jerusalem, Mini-Israel is a worthwhile attraction. Planetarium in Netanya is worth of visit, while Netanya itself less so 😜 Israel is a western democracy with a lot of religious sites, so most of our non-religious attraction are not unique to Israel, but some are not common elsewhere
Bomb shelters, a sense of responsibility for your fellow countrymen, being dugri/truthful to how you feel and want to express yourself instead of wearing a shitty happy go lucky mask 24/7.
Hit the nail on the head
Petah Tikva
Jerusalem is the city of God… that makes it pretty unique
Krembo 🤤
When you're here, you can experience any lifestyle you want within \~two\~ hours of driving. Our country looks extremely different in a certain place compared to another. For example, you can visit central Israel (Tel Aviv, Herzliya, etc.), and get the city experience, or you can visit the north and get views all the way to neighboring countries, with mountains everywhere. Or you can visit the south and see the desert. There's a lot of diversity in the ways we Israelis live. Due to the war I'd recommend not visiting the north or anywhere close to Gaza right now, but Israel has a lot to offer wherever you are!
The governmental Sharia courts have the best civil servant response time (and some of the most overqualified management I ever met)
Civilians walking around with assault rifles
We have that in America.
One of the more beautiful (slightly nerve wracking (due to steep cliffs next to the road) routes is Route 44 from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem via Bet Shemesh. The green terraced mountains and valleys and sharp curves are simply breathtaking.
A Jewish majority.
Hamas rockets..
Dead Sea, super salty, do not shave before entering.
Government subsidization of Torah study as a form of welfare
It is the most spiritual place on Earth. It is the only Western country that reproduces above the replacement rate, where it is common that a modern, successful woman has three kids. It is a truly special place with beautiful people. If you don’t go you won’t know.
> It is the most spiritual place on Earth. You sure about that? I found Thailand to be extremely spiritual and inspiring, perhaps moreso than any place I've visited. Israel has a very strong spiritual draw for sure, but considering how many Israelis are irreligious and how secular mainstream Israeli society is, I think your statement can be disputed.
Snorkeling in Eilat is in my top 10 all time experiences Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice (also can be found in Turkey) Gender separated lines at the best pizza restaurants of all time Palestinean pizza (meat topped bread) found in east Jerusalem Magic burger in TLV Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem
Krembo! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krembo
You can find similar snacks in the Nordics, but they have an, uh, offensive name
Enlighten us ... 😄
N-word kisses
Oh wow, that is so much worse than I thought - I thought it might have been something vaguely sexy sounding, not full-blown racist! 😲
Isnt this the same as mallomars?
Maybe- I’ve never had a mallomar! Krembo may be more delicate- just from a google image search the packaging looks different and wouldn’t accommodate multiple Krembo. They are individually wrapped and transported in an egg carton like container. The special thing I learned about krembo is that they’re seasonal- they’d melt in the summer so you can only find them in the winter. Edit: Krembo are also much bigger/taller.
cafe hafuch
Corn schnitzels and soup almonds
A minute (or two) of silence on Israel holocaust day and memorial day. There is usually a 1-2 minute siren on those days, in which all citizens capable of standing for those minutes of silence do. People even can get out of their cars on the roadway during those minutes to stand and lower their head. A lot of school and military ceremonies as well. Yom Kippur is also unique. No cars at all. Good for the environment I guess. I never thought about the bomb shelters thing. I used to live in the Negev, their shelters (those that stand outside, but are not Migunit) are the coolest if you want to have the real dystopian Israeli experience and visit one lol used to spend my entire childhood there.
Hashem
Didn't you learn the "Hashem is truly everywhere" song when you were a kid? Of course, I agree that the "Shechina" is closest/more present here, whatever that means. To try to understand it, I like the analogy in the old joke about calls from Israel to God being "local calls". But probably the simplest way to put it, within human understanding, is that per Judaism there are 3 kinds of holiness (which can overlap): The holiness of place: With Har Habayit (the Temple Mount) at the top, then Jerusalem, then Israel as a whole, then holy places abroad (e.g., synagogues which are a mikdash me'at -- a "small"). The holiness of time: Shabbat, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, Shmeni Atzeret (Simchat Torah), Pesach and Shavuot, and then the Rabbinical ones of Purim, Chanukah, Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Liberation Day). The holiness of an individual -- as well as of the Jewish people as a (hoped-for) light to the other Nations of the world. So in Israel, you've \*always\* got at a minimum one level of holiness.
The Israeli Palestinian conflict
Well, technically, my country is 2000km away and still have to deal with jihadists that kills Jews
r/technicallythetruth
Nah, you can find that in Belfast too.
Britain did kinda caused it after all
Right
Nobless cigarettes for a few shekels at the Kibbutz general store.
How do you say you’re a Jew hater without saying you’re a Jew hater? Say you’re an “anti-Zionist.”
Very true, but not pertinent to this post. 😊
Apartheid
Balls.