Geography
My country
is the State of Israel. The
capital of Israel is Jerusalem. Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon
and the Mediterranean Sea borders Israel. Israel is located in
the Eastern Hemisphere and in the Middle East (Asia). Israel
is about the size of New Jersey.
Israel has a
variety of terrains. There are beaches and deserts, plains and
rivers. One landmark is the Jordan River. The river runs from
Mount Hermon in Syria to the Dead Sea. The lowest level is the
Dead Sea. It is 408m below sea level and the highest point is
Har Meron, which is 1,208 m above sea level.
Population
 The
population of Israel is 6,029,529 and almost 90% of those people live in cities. 97% of
males over 15 can read and write. 93% of females over 15 can read
and write. In total, 95% of people over 15 can read and write.
Females live 81.01 years and males live 76.82 years. In all, people
live an average of 78.86 years.
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Climate
Israel has a
subtropical climate. The rainy season is from November-April.
Usually it is 84ş(Fahrenheit) on the Western Coast in August and
48° in January. It is usually hot and dry in the desert regions.
Government
Leaders are elected by
the public every 4 years. They do not vote for individuals but
rather, parties. The Knesset or Legislative branch, write and debate laws.
Currency
I US dollar
=4.66800 ILS
Religion
80.1%
are Jewish, 14.6% are Muslim, 2.1% are
Christian and 3.2% are other religions.
Family Values
Men are
generally the head of the family. Both parents can work outside of
the home. Young people are expected to respect their elders.
Children are also given a lot of attention and care.
Children
begin school at age 5. They are expected to continue through
the 10th Grade. The schooling is free until the 10th grade
too. Some choose to go on to college, others do not. A college
diploma is important in getting a job.
Food
Israel's staple
food is vegetable salads mixed with olive oil, lemon juice and
spices. In a typical day, falafel (pita bread filled with
balls of fried chickpea batter), kebab ( meat and vegetables
on a skewer), tshulnt (traditional bean stew) and burékas( a pastry filled
with cheese and spinach). Chicken soup, cholent, which is a
heavy stew, chicken paprika, honey cake, carrot salad and Tarato
soup might also be eaten.
Useful Expressions:
Mostly Hebrew and English are spoken
in Israel.
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Israeli Images
Old City
Wall |
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Sports and Recreation
In Israel,
people like to have fun. They like to go to movies, concerts and
beaches. They play tennis, swim, do gymnastics, go hiking and go
camping. The most popular sports are soccer and basketball. In their
spare time, they read, watch TV and visit friends.
Holidays and Festivals
 In
Israel, Hanukah is a major holiday. Hanukah is the festival of the
Lights. It celebrates the victory of the Maccabees, the rededication
of the Jerusalem temple and commemorates the oil that burned for 8
days.
The Jewish High Holy Days
are also a major holiday. The first day is called Rosh Hashanah, the
Jewish new year. The last day is calledyom Kippur, the day of
atonement. On Rosh Hashanah, there are family gatherings, special
meals and sweet foods. On Yom Kippur, fasting, reflection and prayers
take place.
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Culture Walls 
Author: Sophie
