The Symbols

Pesek Zman: in hebrew, פסק זמן, translated to “time out”. Pesek Zman consists of an inner filling of wafer roll, hazelnut cream and an outer layer of chocolate. Pesek Zman was launched by Elite in 1982 and quickly became the king of chocolate bars. Since then, many different versions of the snack were created. Pesek Zman was born of a need that is common to each and every one of us—the need for time out and a moment of pure indulgence. Pesek Zman assumed the role of reminding us that sometimes we need to take a break from the intensity of life for an intimate sweet moment.

Born in Jerusalem in 1922, Yitzhak Rabin was the first sabra, or native-born, Israeli Prime Minister. As a child, he dreamt of becoming a farmer and studied at the Kadourie Agricultural School, but he answered the call of duty and served in the pre-State military effort. As chief of staff of the IDF during the 1967 Six-Day War, he spoke eloquently about the need to balance the joy of victory with the reality of the heavy human toll of the war. He served as PM twice, from 1974-1977 and from 1992-1995, earning a Nobel Peace Prize together with Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat for the Oslo process. Rabin, who called himself a “soldier for peace,” was assassinated in 1995 by a Jewish Israeli law student at a peace rally in Tel Aviv.

Founded by 66 Jewish pioneers in 1909 as the first modern Jewish city, Tel Aviv was designed as an answer to overcrowding in the nearby ancient port city of Jaffa. Today, Tel Aviv, which merged with Jaffa to form one municipality, is the country's cultural and financial center. Its vibrant economy, culinary scene, nightlife, and startup culture make it an exciting place to visit around the clock. The downside: the cost of living is among the highest in the world. The preserved Bauhaus buildings earned the city status as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Jerusalem Train is more than just a way to travel—it's a powerful symbol of Israel's past, present, and future! From its early days connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to today’s high-speed and light rail lines, it brings people together, linking Israel's heart—Jerusalem—to its bustling cities. It helps families, students, and visitors reach the Kotel, explore the Old City, and connect to Jewish history. Even through challenges, it keeps moving forward, just like the Jewish people—strong, united, and always building for the future!

Also known as Jaffa. The meaning of the name Jaffa (Yaffo) is lovely or pretty. As one of the oldest cities in Israel and once the main point of entry into pre-State Israel, Jaffa remains an important part of the combined city; the modern city of Tel Aviv grew around Yafo, eventually swallowing it up. The modern city is officially called “Tel Aviv—Yafo". Reconstructed and renovated, Old Jaffa's cobblestone paths and winding alleys twist through the massive stone fortifications that surround the city. Old Jaffa was transformed from a slum into an artists’ quarters and entertainment hub complete with galleries, cafes, and shops; yet, few artists can really afford to live in the area.

Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has 120 members and is located in Jerusalem. Modeled on the ancient governing body, HaKnesset HaGedolah, the modern Knesset operates as a parliamentary democracy similar to those found in many European countries. Knesset debates tackle the issues and ideas that matter most to the public, often reflecting the tension involved in finding the balance between being a Jewish and a democratic state. Knesset members are chosen through democratic elections open to all citizens of Israel over the age of 18. Any party that passes a minimum threshold of votes gains representation in the Knesset. No party has ever won a majority of 61 seats out of 120, so multiple parties must form a coalition to create a majority government. This system gives disproportionate power to small parties.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) emblem, in Hebrew צבא ההגנה לישראל Tzva Hahaganah leYisrael, meaning "Army for the Defense of Israel" and known by the acronym צה"ל, is the national military of the State of Israel. The center of the emblem contains a sword wrapped in an olive branch inside a Star of David, with a banner containing the words Israel Defense Forces underneath. The olive branch wrapped sword was the symbol of the Haganah, a pre-statehood paramilitary force and the IDF's primary predecessor organization. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister. David Ben-Gurion (first Prime Minister) ordered that the IDF needed to be formed on 26 May 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence.

Cherry tomatoes were developed in the 1970s by Israeli scientists. The tomatoes were genetically engineered to be firmer, sweeter, and have a longer shelf life. The Israeli government encouraged scientists to develop tomatoes that could grow well in the hot Israeli climate. Nathan Goldenberg provided funding and seeds to Professors Nahum Kedar and Haim Rabinowitch of Hebrew University. The scientists aimed to develop a tomato that was easy to package, had a long shelf life, and was flavorful. The scientists developed a variety that was sold to Israel companies and became popular in the late 1980s. The tomatoes were introduced to Europe and then North America, where they became a staple ingredient in kitchens.

Alon, translates to "oak tree". The Alon tree can withstand heat and dryness and provide plenty of shade, which will make you feel comfortable while sitting under his broad canopy. In addition, it rises to a high height - sometimes even over 15 meters! The bark is especially thick, and thanks to it, the Alon tree is resistant to fires. Alon trees grow mainly in the Golan Heights, in woodlands and in the Lower Galilee.

Every Israeli city has an open-air market, shuk, where vendors sell everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to clothing, appliances, and souvenirs. There's no other place that feels more authentically Israeli than a shuk on Friday afternoon, as seemingly everyone shops for Shabbat. Drawn by the freshness and variety of produce, Israelis and tourists alike flock to the shuk, turning it into a microcosm of the country. Shuks in smaller cities and towns operate just one day per week, while larger markets often play a key role in the city’s cultural life. At night, after the vendors go home, Machaneh Yehuda—Jerusalem’s shuk, turns into the city’s nightlife hub. Artists have painted the shutters of shops with portraits of heroes of Israel and the Jewish people, turning the alleyways into an outdoor after-hours museum.

In Hebrew, פיצוחים, Pitzuchim is a colloquial term referring to varieties of nuts and seeds that are cracked open with one's teeth and eaten as a snack. Pitzuchim are a popular snack at soccer games. Sunflowers did not always grow in the Middle East. They're indigenous to the Americas and introduced to the Old World by the Spaniards in the 16th century. These light loving plants adapted well to the climate of northern Israel and have become a cheaper alternative to almonds or pistachios. From antiquity, roasting was used to improve the keeping qualities of agricultural produce, whether seeds, nuts or fresh legumes, before the advent of refrigeration. This also transformed them into the first snack food.

Israel's banknotes offer an opportunity to explore the history of the Jewish State. The name of Israel's currency, shekel, honors the currency used in biblical times. The story of Israeli banknotes is not just a story of wear and inflation. Like street names, stamps, or coins, banknotes have symbolic, political, and commemorative significance—a reminder of our history every time we open our wallets. In 1985, coins in denominations of 1 agora, 5 agorot, 10 agorot, ₪½, and ₪1 were introduced. In the late 1990's the ₪5 and ₪10 coins were introduced. In the early 2000's the ₪2 was introduced. Production of 1 and 5 agorot were removed from circulation in 2008.

Located in the rim of the Ramon Crater (Makhtesh Ramon). The crater is the world's largest erosion crater. Mitzpe Ramon is a small town in the southern Negev desert established three years after the State of Israel was founded. Mitzpe Ramon offers fascinating geological history of the formation of the makhtesh (crater) as well as marveling at the endless sea of stars in the night sky, or enjoying an exhilarating jeep ride; Mitzpe Ramon is truly one of the most impressive sites in southern Israel.

Adapted by immigrants from the classic Viennese Wiener Schnitzel made with veal, Red meat was expensive, and pig meat is not kosher. The Israeli version originally featured turkey, due to the high cost of veal and kosher dietary laws, chicken became the primary meat used for schnitzel in Israel. A defining feature of Israeli schnitzel culture is the schnitzel sandwich. Often served in pita bread or a baguette, it's typically accompanied by hummus, fries, and Israeli salad, showcasing the fusion of flavors and culinary traditions. Schnitzel in Israel has become more than just a meal; it's a symbol of comfort food, affordability, and cultural identity. It's a dish that's enjoyed by people from all walks of life, representing the diverse culinary tapestry of Israel.

Originating from the Levant, shawarma has been embraced and perfected by Israelis, becoming a significant part of Israeli street food culture, with many variations and adaptations found in the country. Shawarma is a succulent, marinated meat, slow-cooked on a rotisserie. Israelis (and tourists) eat shawarma on a plate or in a fluffy and warm pita bread with hummus, and a few add-ins such as fried eggplant (Iraqi style), amba (pickled mango sauce from Iraq), s’houg (Yemeni spicy sauce), Moroccan carrot salad, onions and sumac and chips (french fries).

Masada offers a compelling place to consider notions of Jewish sovereignty, self determination, and the sanctity of human life. A large fortress overlooking the Dead Sea in Southern Israel, Masada was built by King Herod in the 30s BCE. Approximately 100 years later, Jewish zealots fled to Masada after the Romans destroyed the Second Temple. They lived there until the Roman siege in 73 CE, when, according to the account of Josephus Flavius, their lives ended in a mass suicide. Today, Masada is the third most visited site in Israel, and it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can hike up the Snake Path or the Roman Path, or ride a cable car to the top to watch the sunrise and view the remains of the ancient fortress, complete with a bathhouse—remarkable when you consider its location atop a mountain in the middle of the desert!

The dish's origins are unclear, but some believe it originated in Tunisia, Morocco, or Yemen. Jewish immigrants from these countries brought the dish to Israel making it very popular throughout the region.

The traditional Shakshuka featurs a few poached eggs (depending on pan size) in a spicy tomato sauce, seasoned with peppers, onion, garlic, and various spices. The word shakshuka comes from Maghrebi Arabic dialect and means “mixed.”

The Sabra is a type of cactus, specifically the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia), known for its tough, spiky outside and soft, sweet inside—just like the spirit of the Israeli people! Though it grows all over Israel today, the sabra originally came from the Americas and was brought to the region centuries ago. It has since become a true local symbol, thriving in Israel's dry, sunny climate, just like the Jewish people have rooted themselves in their homeland, standing strong and resilient!

The olive tree is a symbol of peace, wisdom, and vitality in Israel and Judaism. It's also the national tree of Israel. Biblical significance: The olive tree is mentioned many times in the Bible, and was used to light the Menorah in the temple. Olive trees are native to the Mediterranean and can survive in semi-arid desert climates. Olive trees can grow to be about 20 feet tall and can live for thousands of years. The olive tree is one of the “seven species”. Did you know? Olives are green when unripe, and turn purple-black when ripe. The fruit can be eaten, turned into oil and has proven medicinal properties. Want some history too? Check the books and you will find that I have been here for thousands of years, an integral part of this Land.

The Kotel, also known as the Western Wall, is a sacred site in Jerusalem. It is a remaining part of the retaining wall that surrounded the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. The wall is considered the holiest place where Jews can pray because it is the closest accessible site to the Temple Mount, the holiest location in Judaism.

Many visitors place written prayers into the cracks of the stones, a tradition that has been practiced for centuries. The site is also significant in Islam and Christianity due to its proximity to the Temple Mount, which houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

Netta Barzilai, is an Israeli singer. After winning the fifth season of HaKokhav HaBa, she earned the right to represent her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song 'TOY' and eventually took home the trophy, winning the Grand Final with 529 points.

Identifiable by the iconic black eye patch that he wore after a bullet pierced his left eye during World War II, Moshe Dayan was born in Kibbutz Degania Aleph in 1915. As one of the first children born in the new kibbutz, he was treated as a communal baby. His long military career began when he served in the Haganah before the establishment of the State. He was appointed Defense Minister on the eve of the 1967 Six-Day War, helping to calm the nervous Israeli public when war seemed inevitable and the people feared the military was not prepared. He helped negotiate Israel's 1979 peace treaty with Egypt, which was signed two years before his death.

Many microchips have been developed in Israel, including the Intel 8088, the Centrino chip, and the Graviton processor. Israel has also been a site for research and development for other tech companies, such as Amazon, Apple, and Google.

• Intel 8088: Designed at Intel's Haifa lab, this microprocessor powered the first IBM PC.
• Centrino chip: Developed in Israel, this chip enabled the use of WiFi.
• Graviton processor: Developed by Amazon after acquiring Annapurna Labs, an Israeli chipmaker.
• Axion: Developed by Google's Israeli microchip division, this processor is Arm-based and was introduced at Google Cloud Next.

The lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below sea level. Also known as the Sea of Salt, the salt content is so high that no living thing can survive in it, allowing people to float while enjoying the natural minerals that form in the mud. The minerals of the Dead Sea are in high demand around the world as beauty aids. Due to the precarious water situation in Israel, the Dead Sea, which historically was filled by the Jordan River, has been shrinking dramatically, raising questions about what the future holds for this natural resource and the medical tourism industry that has developed around it.

Menachem Begin was born in 1913 in Belarus, arriving in pre-State Israel, he led the Etzel underground military organization, working in opposition to the more mainstream Haganah. After 1948, he was elected to the Knesset and led the parliamentary opposition until he became Prime Minister in 1977. He believed in the right of the Jewish People to all of the Land of Israel. He surprised many by negotiating a peace treaty with Egypt, Israel’s largest and most powerful neighbor. His first official act as PM was to welcome 77 Vietnamese refugees, saying that Israel would never forget when the world refused to help Jews in need during the Holocaust. Heartbroken after the death of his wife, Aliza, in 1982, Begin resigned from office in 1983 and died in 1992.

Matkot often called "Israel's unofficial national sport,” is a beloved beach paddle ball game that has become as much a part of Israeli culture as hummus and falafel. Played with wooden paddles and a small rubber ball, this seemingly simple game fills Israel's Mediterranean coastline with its distinctive "tok-tok," creating a soundtrack that has become synonymous with Israeli beach life. Unlike traditional sports, matkot isn't about winning or keeping score—it's about keeping the ball in continuous motion between players, requiring skill, coordination, and cooperation. Born on Tel Aviv's beaches in the early days of the state, matkot perfectly captures the Israeli spirit of leisure and community.

The drink's name combines "limon" and "nana," the Hebrew words for lemon and mint, respectively, it's Israeli mint lemonade. The most refreshing drink of the summer! Limonana is made by blending fresh lemon juice, sugar, and water with a handful of fresh mint leaves. The mixture is then poured over ice and blended to create a deliciously tangy and revitalizing slushy. Combining citrusy lemon and the cooling sensation of mint creates a harmonious balance of satisfying and thirst-quenching flavors necessary for braving the heat in a hot country. The origins of limonana can be traced back to Israel, where it gained popularity in the 1990s. Its creation is often attributed to a local restaurant that wanted to offer a cooling beverage to combat the region's hot climate.

Takes 5 minutes to make. Easy, vegan, kosher, pareve.

*Blend lemon juice, sugar, mint leaves, water, and ice until
smooth, then strain (if desired)

The Bedouin are a traditionally nomadic Muslim group in the Arab world. Approximately 250,000 Bedouin are citizens of Israel, where they live in all parts of the country, with the largest concentration in the Negev. Since 1967, when the government established Tel Sheva, the first permanent town for Israeli Bedouin, the community has been transitioning from their traditional way of life and embracing Western lifestyle. While today most live in permanent cities and towns, the government continues to navigate the tensions over unofficial communities and disputes over where Bedouin-owned livestock can graze. Many serve in the IDF, where their nomadic roots make them excellent trackers. Some receive support from organizations to help them adapt to 21st century life while preserving their traditions, including the rich culture of tent life, embroidery, and more.

Krav Maga—literally Combat-Contact—combines aspects of karate, aikido, boxing, judo, wrestling, and realistic fight training. While Krav Maga trainers will tell you that the best way to win a fight is to avoid fighting in the first place, if you must fight, Krav Maga focuses on making every move efficient, designed to incapacitate your opponent. Hungarian-born Imi Lichtenfeld developed Krav Maga based on his experiences as a street fighter defending the Jewish Quarter of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, in the 1930s. After moving to Israel, he shared his expertise with the IDF and Israeli security services, which embraced its focus on an aggressive mix of offensive and defensive moves. Its popularity has spread to the civilian sector in Israel and around the world, thanks, in part, to a long list of celebrities who train in it, including Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Lopez.

The ubiquitous “Israeli Salad” – Salat Katzutz (“Chopped Salad”) in Hebrew – is a tasty mixture of tomatoes, cucumbers and other ingredients – doused with fresh lemon juice – that accompanies any meal. It’s scooped into pita along with falafel and shawarma. It’s served for breakfast, accompanied with cheese and eggs. In the 1880s, when Jews began moving to the Land of Israel in large numbers, they embraced the popular local combination of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Gil Marks notes that Israeli Salad is similar to the Turkish salad known as coban salatsi, or Shepherd’s salad. Very quickly it became a common dish in the communal dining halls of kibbutzim.

Recipe:
· 8 small cucumbers, cut into ¼ inch dice
· 2 plum tomatoes, cut into ¼ inch dice
· ½ purple onion, minced
· 1 ½ t kosher salt
· 1 t coarsely ground black pepper
· 2 lemons, juiced
· 2 T extra virgin olive oil

Place all ingredients into a bowl. Toss to combine.

Israel's national flower is the red Anemone coronaria (scientific name). The calanit is a buttercup that looks like a poppy. It's common in the fields of southern Israel in the spring. The Calanit symbolizes the fragility and resilience of Israel. Did you know? The Calanit closes when the sun goes down or when it is cloudy to protect its dry pollen.

The combination of blue and white as the colors of the Jewish flag was derived from a poem written in 1860 by Austrian Ludwig August Frankl, named "“Judah’s Colors,” and its origins date back to the late 19th century during the First Zionist Congress held in Basel, Switzerland. The blue stripes on the Israeli flag were also inspired by the stripes on the tallit (prayer shawl). They provided “religious and ritual symbolism of Jewish life guided by precepts of the Torah. The Star of David in the center reflects the unity of the Jewish people.” The white background symbolizes purity. Together, these elements form a powerful emblem of hope, independence, and the enduring spirit of the Jewish people.

The emblem is shaped like a shield, and it features a seven- branched menorah in the center. The menorah used in synagogues today—and in the historical Temple of Jerusalem—has seven-branches, as commanded in the Bible (Exodus 25:31-40). Seven is a sacred number in Judaism.

On either side of the menorah is an olive branch. The olive is one of the seven species of Israel, and the olive branch, symbolizes both peace in general and the hope of the Israeli state to exist in peace. (The "seven species” are seven sacred species of edible plants mentioned in the Bible). Additionally, the olive tree was adopted as the national tree of Israel in 2007, adding further meaning to the choice. At the bottom of the emblem is "Israel" written in Hebrew: ישראל.

The map shows Israel, officially the State of Israel, a country in the Middle East with a coastline at the Mediterranean Sea in the west and access to the Red Sea in the south. Jews, Christians, and Muslims regard the region as the biblical Holy Land. Israel is bordered by Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the Palestinian territories (West Bank and the Gaza Strip;) it shares maritime borders with Cyprus. spoken languages are Hebrew and Arabic. Designated capital is Jerusalem, the country's largest and most populous city.

All of Israel watched in excitement as Ilan Ramon trained with his NASA colleagues after he was selected to be the first Israeli astronaut in space. Ramon, whose Air Force career included participating in the 1981 bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor, was the first astronaut ever to request kosher food in space, and brought on the Space Shuttle a mezuzah and a Torah that had been rescued from the Holocaust. His regular communications with Israeli media raised awareness and national pride. Looking down on earth from the Space Shuttle, Ramon and another astronaut said they saw no borders and that the view reminded them of John Lennon's song, Imagine. He died, along with the other six members of the Columbia crew, when the Space Shuttle crashed upon re-entry.

In Hebrew, דוכיפת, Duchifat. As part of the festivities around Israel's 60th birthday, the state bird was finally chosen. The Hoopoe has a special look with black and white wings that are clearly visible during flight. Their impressive striped feather crown spreads occasionally when the bird is alert. It has a long sharp beak that the hoopoe uses to dig in the ground and probe for all kinds of insects and other invertebrates. Sometimes it gets lucky and finds a small reptile and then uses its sharp beak as a sword to immobilize it and throw it into the air in order to swallow it in one piece. Did you know? Its monotone song, "hood, hood" instilled its Arabic name. In Aramaic it was known as the "mountain carver" because ancient tales tell of the Hoopoe bringing King Solomon the Shamir worm to carve the stone with which to build the Temple.

The Bahai Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is possibly the most distinct tourist attraction in all of Haifa and is very likely the most visited. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals alike travel to the Bahai Gardens on Mount Carmel in Haifa.

The Bahai faith is a relatively new one. It was founded 200 years ago by a Persian of the name Siyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi. He revealed himself as the prophet Bab (meaning “gate” in Arabic) who sought to spread his beliefs. Bab was shunned by the Shia clergy even though he gained tens of thousands of followers. He was eventually executed, only six years after he began his movement. His efforts were continued by Mirza Husayn Ali Nuri who chose the name Baha'u'llah. Also hounded by the clergy and was expelled from the Ottoman Empire.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre: known in Hebrew as Knesiyat stands in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City within the Christian Quarter. This ancient church got its name because Christians believe it contains both the site of Jesus's crucifixion (Golgotha) and his tomb (sepulchre means tomb). The original church was built in 326 CE when Jerusalem was under Roman rule, after Emperor Constantine's mother Helena identified what she believed to be these holy sites. What makes this building particularly interesting from a historical perspective is how it has witnessed Jerusalem's diverse history – it has been damaged, rebuilt, and renovated many times as different empires controlled the city. Today, the church is like a small neighborhood of its own, shared by six different Christian denominations: Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Syriac Orthodox. An especially fascinating aspect of the church's history is that since the 12th century, two Muslim families – the Nuseibeh and Joudeh families – have been entrusted with opening and closing the church doors each day, a tradition that continues to this day as a symbol of Jerusalem's complex cultural tapestry.

Born to an assimilated Jewish family in Budapest in 1860, Theodor Herzl went on to become the father of the Modern Zionist movement that later led to the establishment of the State of Israel. As a reporter in Paris, he witnessed the Dreyfus Affair—in which a French Jewish army officer was wrongly convicted of treason—and concluded that the Jews needed a national home so that an event like this would never happen again. In 1897, after convening a Zionist Congress, he wrote in his journal that a Jewish state would be founded within 50 years—and exactly 50 years later, the UN voted to establish a Jewish state. He died at the age of 44 and never saw his greatest dream come to fruition, but his contributions played a crucial role in the effort. He was reburied in Jerusalem, atop Mt. Herzl, which was named in his honor.

When Eliezer Ben-Yehuda set out to revive the Hebrew language, he had a dream of turning what had long been thought of as a “dead language” into a modern, spoken tongue. Today, of course, Hebrew is the No. 1 official language of Israel, and it’s estimated that nine million people around the world speak the language. Hebrew and Arabic are Israel's official languages, though English and Russian also get used a lot; most street signs throughout the country use Hebrew, Arabic, and English. In all, 35 languages are spoken on a regular basis in Israel—including Yiddish, Amharic, Romanian, German, French, Ladino, Spanish, and Israeli Sign Language.

Born in 1898, Golda Meir's family fled from anti-Semitism in the Ukraine and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She moved to pre-State Israel in 1921, becoming one of two women to sign the Declaration of Independence, and to date the only woman to serve as Prime Minister of Israel. In early 1948, she was sent to the US to raise funds for the developing State, returning home with $50 million, making it possible to achieve statehood. She served as ambassador to the Soviet Union and Foreign Minister before becoming PM during a period that included the 1972 Munich Olympic Massacre and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. She died in 1978 and is remembered as a most influential strong female in the history of the State of Israel.

Mountain gazelles are one of the few mammals, where the male and female have horns. Males have bigger horns with rings around them. Females also have horns, but they are thinner and shorter. Gazelles are excellent runners and can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour. Gazelles live up to 12 years. Gazelles have excellent hearing and vision, which enables them to sense a predator or danger from a distance. In Israel there are three sub-species: the Israeli gazelle, the Negev gazelle, and the Shitim gazelle, of which very few individuals remain, in the Arava region.

The USB flash drive is one of Israel's most famous inventions, created in 1999 by Israeli inventor Dov Moran and his team at the Israeli company M-Systems. Moran's tiny device revolutionized how we carry digital information. This small stick, which can be plugged into any computer, started with the ability to store just 8MB (about 5 photos today), but it replaced the clunky floppy disks everyone used back then. This invention is one of many that helped Israel earn its nickname as the "Start-Up Nation," showing how Israeli innovation continues to impact our daily lives worldwide.

Gal Gadot—now most widely known as Wonder Woman—was crowned Miss Israel in 2004 at the age of 18, and has been a popular model and actress ever since. She has had roles in the Fast and the Furious franchise, and she's been the spokeswoman for everything from fragrances and fashion to websites and cell phones. She credits her two years of IDF service, where she trained combat soldiers, with preparing her for her role as Wonder Woman, and in interviews she regularly expresses pride in her country.

Figs are a common fruit in Israel, which is scattered widely among the country’s mountains, and are a significant part of the country's agriculture. Figs varied uses as food and for medicinal purposes. The fig tree is native to Israel, and is often mentioned in the Bible: “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill; a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey.” (Deuteronomy 8:7-9) Did you know? The leaves fall off in winter. When cultivated, the fig gives two kinds of fruit, the first in early summer from figlets of the previous year, and the second in autumn.

Falafel is a prominent part of Israeli cuisine, and is often served in a fluffy pita bread with hummus, tahini, Israeli salad as staples; with a few add-ins such as fried eggplant (Iraqi style), amba (pickled mango sauce from Iraq), s’houg (Yemeni spicy sauce), Moroccan carrot salad, onions and sumac and french fries. Falafel is made from seasoned, ground chickpeas that are deep-fried into balls. Falafel sandwiches were made popular within the Jewish community in Israel by Yemeni Jews in the 1950s. Did you know? Back in the day falafel was made in two ways: either as it is in Egypt today, from crushed, soaked fava beans or fava beans combined with chickpeas, spices, and bulgur; or, as Yemenite Jews and the Arabs of Jerusalem did, from chickpeas alone. But favism, an inherited enzymatic deficiency occurring among some Jews—mainly those of Kurdish and Iraqi ancestry, many of whom came to Israel in the 1950s—proved potentially lethal, so all falafel makers in Israel ultimately stopped using fava beans, and chickpea falafel became an Israeli dish.

Founded in November 1948 as Israel's national airline, EL AL operated its first scheduled flight on 31 July 1949 from Tel Aviv, Israel to Rome and Paris.

The name ‘EL AL’ comes from the Bible's book of Hosea and means ‘to the above’ or more poetically ‘to the skies’. Regular scheduled flights from Tel Aviv to New York began in April 1951; the voyage spanned 1-1/2 days between Tel Aviv and New York, including many stops, some for refueling.

Deni Avdija is a proud Israeli basketball star who carries the spirit of Israel onto the world stage. Born in Beit Zera, Israel, he is the son of Zufer Avdija, a Muslim former Serbian basketball player, and Sharon Artzi, a Jewish Israeli athlete. Growing up in a multicultural home, Deni represents the strength and unity of Israel, showing how sports can bring people together. With his dedication, talent, and love for his country, Deni Avdija inspires young Jews everywhere to dream big and never give up.

Israel is a leading producer of Medjool dates, which are native to the region and have been grown for thousands of years. The country's climate and fertile soil are ideal for growing dates; growing in fairly warm areas, for example, the Arava region and the Jordan Valley. There are orchards from the Kinneret Valley in the north to the southern Arava. Picking season is in late summer and continues into October. The date palm has many uses: from a roof for the sukkah, to eating the fruit or making honey and wine. The Date Palm, Tamar, is mentioned in the Bible, and as a result a lot of boys and girls in Israel are named after it. Did you know? Recently, a 2000 years old date seed has been germinated in Israel. The seed was found in the archaeological excavations. This type of date had unique qualities, but it disappeared 500 years ago.

In Israel, cats and doors tell a fascinating story where ancient meets modern. The country’s distinctive doorways, many dating back centuries, feature stone arches called "mashkof" and intricate designs carved into Jerusalem stone, often adorned with mezuzot and blessed with hamsa symbols for protection. These historic entrances, some with their original heavy wooden doors still intact, become natural shelters for Israel’s countless street cats, have become a beloved symbol of Israeli street life, where history and daily life blend seamlessly together, and every doorway tells a story of both past and present.

Motorola's research and development center in Israel developed the first cell phone in 1973. Israeli engineers have also contributed to many other mobile phone technologies.

Motorola's Israel R&D center developed the first cell phone. The first cell phone was heavy and bulky, and was nicknamed "the brick".

The dromedary camel also known as the one hump camel or Arabian camel, makes up 85% of the world camel population. Collectively called a caravan, flock, train or herd, it inhabits the Negev deserts.

Did you know? The camel is able to drink as much as 200 liters in 3 minutes, It can weigh between 300 to 1000 kg, has a life expectancy of 40 to 50 years, and can reach a height of 2.85 meters to the shoulder and 2.15 meters to the apex of the hump.

David Ben-Gurion declared independence for the Jewish State and became Israel's first Prime Minister in 1948. One of his early achievements as PM was to create the Israel Defense Forces by merging several pre-State fighting forces into one unified army. He immigrated from Poland in 1906, and later met his future wife, Paula, in New York. He believed that all Jews should participate in building and strengthening the new country, and worked with World Jewry to forge understandings about different kinds of support. He urged Israelis to settle the Negev and make the desert bloom. After retiring from public life, he lived at Kibbutz Sde Boker, where he and his wife are buried.

The Azrieli Center, which includes three towers with different shapes: the Square, Triangular, and Round towers, define Tel Aviv's skyline. The Azrieli Center Tel Aviv also includes a hotel and a shopping mall.

The Square Tower—At a height of 154 meters, the Square Tower includes 41 floors.

The Triangular Tower—With a height of 169 meters, the Triangular Tower includes 45 floors,

The Round Tower- With a height of 187 meters, the Round Tower includes 49 floors.

Bamba is a peanut butter-flavored puffed corn snack that originated in Israel. The snack was created by Osem, Israel's leading food manufacturer. In 1964, Osem first produced Bamba as a cheese-flavored snack, but it was unpopular. In 1966, Osem switched to a peanut butter flavor, as Bamba became a staple of Israeli culture and is now Israel's national snack. Currently, Bamba is available in many flavors including corn, grill, caraway, peanut butter, nougat-filled, halva-filled, and strawberry.

Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount. The term Al-Aqsa Mosque is often extended to denote the entirety of the plaza on which the mosque and the Dome of the Rock stand, although the plaza is known formally as Al-Haram al-Sharif (“the Noble Sanctuary”).

The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has been rebuilt and expanded many times throughout its history. It has been a place of worship for Muslims for almost a thousand years.

The first mosque was built in 705 AD. The mosque was destroyed by an earthquake in 746 AD. The mosque was destroyed by another earthquake in 1033 AD.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque is significant to Muslims, Jews, and Christians

Arabic is an official language of Israel, along with Hebrew. Students can learn Arabic during middle school and high school years. Roughly 20% of the Israeli population speak Arabic, predominantly by Arab citizens of Israel, but also by Jews who arrived in Israel from Arab countries and those who learned it in school.