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Shabbat and Jewish Holidays

One of the first things you should know on a visit to Israel would be that Saturday is the Jewish day of rest, and that most businesses shut down on this day. Buses and trains will not run and almost all commercial activity will be at a standstill. It is important to note that this is one of the most important customs in Israel. So do not try to offer material inducement to any Israeli in exchange for their breaking the Shabbat. Because of the secular nature of Tel Aviv, you may still be able to get a certain level of services in that city. Taxis and buses run, and some businesses open for business. Outside Tel Aviv, however, you may have great difficulty getting any service during the Shabbat. So travel with that in mind.

Entering Religious Neighborhoods

A lot of first time visitors to Tel Aviv come expecting something out of biblical times. Most likely, they expect that the customs in Israel will still match what they have read in the bible. Tel Aviv however is a modern city, and you can dress and walk as you would in any other big city in the world. When you are visiting a religious site, or entering into Jerusalem as a whole, women are required to use some head covering. Their dresses should not expose their legs and arms. Obviously, that means that the use of shorts and sleeveless tops would not be appropriate considering the customs in Israel. It is also not the custom in Israel to show affection publicly. That would imply that hugs, the holding of hands, and all sort of acts of endearment are best left for when you are in private. If you own a camera, it will also be wise to be careful as to when and how you take photographs of people in religious sites.

Getting Directions

One thing I have noticed about the customs in Israel is the natural inclination to be of help to strangers. Israel is one of the least likely places where one would be lost in the middle of a crowded city. They will always be happy to answer whatever questions you may have. But a word of caution is necessary at this point: Sometimes the desire of Israelis to sound off their mastery of English on a native speaker may get in the way of their directions. So they may be more interested in having a chit-chat with you than actually getting you to your destination as fast as possible. So if you are not pressed for time, this would be an opportunity for you to do some social tourism.

Give back

Give a little of your English language skills for what you need! It will also be wise if you confirm directions from at least three persons before you take it as fact. This is because sometimes honest directions may lose their meaning in the translation. For instance, an Israeli’s efforts to tell you that he “is not quite sure, but take the turn that is far left” may become “take the turn at the far left” because of their limited English skills.

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