Culture of the Month : Israel  (December 2007)

Every month, our Cultural Awareness prefects - Menen  Hailu and Eva Oppong - will bring to this page information and interesting facts about a particular culture. 

ISRAEL

Capital: Jerusalem
Official Languages: Hebrew/ Arabic
Main religion: Judaism

 The State of Israel is divided into six main administrative districts – Center District, Haifa District, Jerusalem District, Northern District, Southern District, and Tel Aviv District.

Conflict between Israel and Palestine over ownership of the Gaza strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem is a big issue in current affairs.

Israel is the only country in the world where life revolves around the Hebrew calendar. Work and school holidays are determined by the Jewish holidays, and the official day of rest is Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.

Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest nearly every year since 1973, winning the competition three times and hosting it twice.

The Israel Museum (The Shrine of the Book) in Jerusalem is one of Israel's most important cultural institutions and houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the only known surviving copies of Biblical documents made before 100 AD, along with an extensive collection of European art.

Food - Falafel (pictured) is a fried ball or patty made from spiced fava (broad) beans and/or chickpeas. Falafel is a staple of the Israeli diet. It has become the national dish of Israel.

Israeli folk dancing is similar to American line dancing as repetitive choreography is used.

 Israel is home to Nazareth. It holds great biblical importance as it was where Jesus was raised.

 Famous Israeli…Actor Oded Fehr plays the Medjai Ardeth Bey in The Mummy.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Best wishes

Menen Hailu and Eva Oppong - the Cultural Awareness Prefects.

View other Cultures of the Month: Click on one of the following:

Cape Verde - November 2007

Ethiopia - September / October 2007

Malta - June 2007

Ghana - May 2007