Purely Jewish life or how you get scammed in Israel. Foreign life: how Russians live in Israel Life of Russian Jews in Israel
For those who decide to leave their homeland, Israel is attractive primarily due to the government's emigration policy. But in order to decide whether it is worth trying to move to live in distant Israel, you need to evaluate all the positive and negative aspects.
Benefits of moving:
- social support and support in ;
- high pay;
- culture of the population;
- pleasant climate.
Immediately after repatriation, financial assistance is provided, the country has a decent standard of living and salary, and quality medicine. The streets are clean, well-maintained, and residents will not encounter beggars or drunkards (except on the outskirts of large cities).
Life in Israel is strongly influenced by religion, perhaps because of this the attitude towards older people and the disabled is more humane than in the CIS. Jews respect repatriates; here an immigrant will not face humiliation. The service is impeccable, there is virtually no domestic crime, and the weather is warm all year round.
Disadvantages of emigration
Disadvantages that await immigrants:
- cultural and linguistic differences;
- proximity to military conflicts;
- ecological problems.
Hebrew is a rather complex language
If you evaluate life in Israel, the pros and cons are intertwined so closely that sometimes you can’t tell them apart. For example, only Jews are allowed to marry; condoms are prohibited after marriage. Despite how many Russians there are in Israel, the Russian language is not widespread; knowledge of English and Hebrew is required.
Confrontations in Palestine and the Gaza Strip have not subsided since the formation of the state. The hot spots of Syria and Libya are located nearby; there has been a civil war there for several years. Without embellishment, we can say that there is a slight paranoia and panicky fear of terrorist attacks in the country; they are very aggressive towards Arabs. However, explosions are rare, and the lives of returnees are safe.
Most of the territory is located in the desert and is not inhabited, so the density of life in cities is high. Due to the heat in the summer months, you need to constantly drink, as the air is dry and sweat quickly evaporates from the skin. Water is expensive, the cost is primarily related to the scarcity of sources and overpopulation; food and clothing cannot be called cheap either. However, this is compensated by good incomes for the majority of citizens.
Today the heroes of our article are those who have left to live or are in the process of moving to Israel. Their stories help to understand the specifics of this country, the peculiarities of doing business, as well as key differences from Russia.
Roman Super, Radio Liberty correspondent:
“It’s easier for a Jew to become a citizen of Israel than to get a subscription to a swimming pool in Moscow”
We received Israeli citizenship six months ago. Since then, the center of vital interests has gradually shifted towards the Middle East, which in reality turned out to be not so near and not so east. We rent an apartment in the south of Tel Aviv, which reminds us of a cross between good old Goa, Berlin and Athens. There is a very relaxed atmosphere here, despite the frightening news of continuous terrorist attacks.
Everything is good here with interior design. Amazing food. Transparent sea. And a monstrously expensive life, comparable to London. This last circumstance saddens us terribly. We take a close look at Israel: how to study here, how to work, how to get treatment, how to raise a son and many other “hows”. For now, these “hows” are our main concern.
This is a super comfortable country, especially for living with a child.
We moved to Israel for two reasons. First - and most importantly - I am a Jew. This means that there are no bureaucratic obstacles to obtaining Israeli citizenship. Indeed, no. It is easier for a Jew to become a citizen of Israel than to get a subscription to a swimming pool in Moscow. And this is not an exaggeration. The second circumstance is that I love Israel very much. This is a super comfortable country, especially for living with a child. Comfortable in every sense of the word, except for one - very expensive.
It’s easier to name the similarities with Russia. But there is a whole ocean of differences. The attitude towards human life in Russia and Israel is colossal. Medicine in Israel is a dream. We are not afraid of the Israeli police, we are not afraid of the Israeli military, we are not afraid of meeting chavs on the street, we are not afraid of anything at all. We are mostly proud.
Alina Farkash, journalist-editor:
“Here the system works to make people’s lives better”
I have been living in Israel since the end of June last year. The choice of this country is due to two factors.
Firstly, it is important to me that it is warm in Israel. I can hardly stand the winter and the cold. Every time I ran after my daughter here in the winter and persuaded her to wear a sweater to kindergarten, I remembered how in Russia, in Moscow, we went to kindergarten in the winter and dressed as if we were going into outer space. All these high-tech clothes, overalls, helmets, felt boots. It was a long time. And here is a dress and blouse. And the kindergarten is very close - both psychologically and physically. And we have an apartment with a garden - a plot of land with tangerine trees. This, of course, shocks me.
And here there is a very subtle difference between the bureaucracy in Russia and the bureaucracy in Israel.
Secondly, Israelis are very fond of complaining about the bureaucracy, how badly the whole system works, and so on. And here there is a very subtle difference between the bureaucracy in Russia and the bureaucracy in Israel. Here the whole system works so that, in the end, people's lives become better. For example, everyone who has Jewish roots immediately becomes a full-fledged Israeli citizen on the day of arrival at the airport. When we first arrived, in addition to documents and insurance, right there at the airport we were given SIM cards for the phone, already paid for, so that we could insert them into the phone and call, start communicating right away. At the same time, they apologized for a long time that they had regular SIM cards, but there were no microSIM cards for the new iPhones. It amazed me. The girl at the airport said that many requests had already been sent to the Israeli government, but microSIM cards had still not been delivered.
There, at the airport, they gave us an envelope with cash - about a thousand dollars, but in shekels. And when we clarified that this money should be transferred to the card, we were told that when we arrive, we will need cash to buy milk, for example.
In Russia you can meet a very kind official, very humane, who wants to help. But he works, first of all, for the system, not for you. He can do something good bypassing or contrary to the system.
When we moved, our daughter was 2 years old and our son was 9.5 years old. My son has a complex character and it’s hard for him to get used to changes. And when I came to school some time later, the employee who assesses the child’s adaptation said that the situation with his studies was improving very much. “I have good news,” she said. - Last week, a music teacher came to me and complained that your son was disrupting the lesson: he was amusing the kids in the class, he was making faces. We were very happy: finally he began to behave like a normal child, very positively. Because he walked along the wall, lowering his eyes when he saw the teachers. But now he’s so used to it that he amused the whole class and didn’t let everyone sing normally.” Can you imagine the head teacher of a Russian school who would say: “Hurray, we have achieved success, your boy disrupted his singing lesson!”?
Evgeny Kogan and Lena Tsagadinova, creators of the Babel bookstore:
“Many people want to help and, what’s important, they help”
We came from Moscow. We have been living in Israel for six months. We work in our own bookstore “Babel” in Tel Aviv. We came up with it a year before we left. This is a Russian book store, which also hosts lectures, meetings, master classes, and has a co-working area where you can drink tea or coffee. The choice was determined by our dream of such a place. We have been to Israel many times, we like it here, we have many friends and relatives here.
Our current type of activity is radically different from what we did in our homeland. We had nothing to do with business, we worked as editors and journalists.
Opening a small business in Israel is easy when it comes to registration and so on.
Opening a small business in Israel is easy when it comes to registration and so on. And to survive, we think, is just as difficult as anywhere else. The only thing, and this is noted by everyone, is that you need to have patience.
In Israel, everything does not happen very quickly, the main thing is to wait. A noticeable difference from Russia is friendliness. We have hardly encountered any negativity - on the contrary, many people want to help us and, what is important, they help us.
Arkady Mayofis, founder of the YOFFI company:
“They’re in no fucking hurry!”
I have been living in Israel permanently for a year. I used to come here regularly before. The country was not foreign. But not my own - I didn’t learn the language, I didn’t encounter the customs of office work or the local authorities.
Our company makes edible souvenirs. On the one hand, Israel is a tourist country. About 3 million tourists come here every year. Plus, the Israelis themselves are active travelers. About 4 million people a year leave the country as tourists. On the other hand, Israel has a large number of holidays. We take them very seriously. These are all traditions that are thousands of years old. And during the holidays an incredible number of gifts are given - corporate and personal. At the same time, Israel is a delicious country. A lot of things grow here. And all this is alive, natural and healthy. And delicious. And there are very few souvenirs made from these products. That’s why they bring magnets and blessed water with crosses from here. And they give each other non-local chocolate.
Israel is the only country where they were waiting for us.
It seemed to us that this niche - edible souvenirs - was free. And we began to make souvenirs from dates, herbal tea, carob, honey and much more, which grows and is produced in abundance here. We are my family. Me and my wife. My eldest daughter and her husband. Mother of a daughter, that is, my first wife. My 16-year-old son and 9-year-old grandson help us. Our company was named “YOFFI”, which translates to “beauty” in Hebrew, and is part of our family name.
Everyone we tell about our former life here is very surprised. I worked in television for almost 30 years. At the end of 1990, he created one of the first non-state television companies in the Soviet Union, which successfully existed for almost 25 years. It was in Tomsk. And the television company was called TV-2. A little over a year ago it was closed for ideological reasons. And I was forced to leave. Soon my daughter and her family also left. They also did television. But in Moscow. So our life has changed dramatically.
Israel has different ideas about time and space.
Israel is the only country where they were waiting for us. And I really appreciate it. And yet we are Jews. And not, say, the Spaniards. There are many differences here from Russia. Let me give you an example. There is a company called Strauss here. Its cost is $13 billion. One of the largest in Israel. For example, they own the brands “Elite” and “Max Brener”. In general, they are one of the 2-3 main food producers in Israel. The company is owned by the Strauss family. Well, at the top is Comrade Strauss himself. So, one of our former compatriots became friends with me on Facebook; he is involved in attracting investments in startups. The sphere has nothing to do with us. He was personally touched by the story of my family, the story of our repatriation, and he simply wrote an email to this Strauss and told about us. Although he didn't know him. For some reason, Strauss was also offended by this, he asked his assistant to go to our website and take a closer look. She also treated us favorably. Then Strauss sent two people to our office, one of whom is the big boss in their corporation. We met and showed what we were doing. They wrote a report. Then three more people came to us. And now we are waiting for proposals from them. I don’t know if anything will come of this, that’s not what I’m talking about now. I'm talking about attitude. And there are many such examples. There are other differences too. Israel has different ideas about time and space. Being incredibly temperamental, they are in no damn hurry! And sometimes it just blows you away. It's difficult to negotiate a time.
Well, in general, at 53 years old in a foreign country, starting an unfamiliar business is a challenge. So let's see if we have an answer to it or not. In six months everything will become clear with us.
Roman Chelyuskin, head of the Fastcult project:
“Here is a great opportunity to enter international markets”
I have been living in Israel for 1.5 years. In the fall of 2014, my wife and I arrived from Moscow, and literally a month later we had our long-awaited baby, Leva.
In Israel I do marketing. Practically what I did in Russia. For the first six months after moving, I studied and examined the Israeli market and then began to act. I “transported” my Internet project Fastcult with me, which I plan to reformat for the local market. There are several other projects that I am working on.
The Israeli market is very specific. Israel is a small country, almost half the size of Moscow, but this market has everything.
To fully and successfully work with an Israeli audience, you need to live here a lot of time and understand the mentality and demand. Therefore, at the moment my projects are focused on Russia and the CIS.
From the very first day of moving, I knew perfectly well what I would do in Israel. Before moving, I had been here many times as a tourist and each time I felt close and comfortable in Israel. Of course, there are many problems here, but where there are none. The sun, sea, fruits and friendly people partially compensate for many problems.
The most important thing is that Israel is a small country in which absolutely everything is concentrated. I don’t speak Hebrew very well yet, so I mostly communicate with Russian-speaking citizens. And again, despite the seemingly unifying factor of the Russian language, all compatriots are very different. Depends on the country and city you came from and, of course, the time.
In Israel, many business processes move very slowly. This is largely due to their mentality - Israelis are never in a hurry. But after Moscow, this seems unusual to me.
A small number of professionals with a large number of “experts in everything” makes the Israeli market funny. There are, of course, many differences, but the main thing, as I have said more than once, is the scale. But at the same time, Israel is very interesting and offers a curious Global World View - this is a great opportunity to enter international markets.
Israel is a unique and distinctive country in many ways. Here:
- the highest degree of social protection;
- better medicine;
- prestigious education.
Average life expectancy in Israel breaks all records by Russian standards, and old people do not find themselves abandoned and forgotten. The visa-free regime agreement opens the borders of 161 states, which is a gift for those who love to travel and explore the world.
Religion dominates many issues
The country has no constitution, and secular life is tightly intertwined with a religious component. State institutions do not register marriages here - only a religious ceremony for two Jews is recognized. If one of the couple is not Jewish, you will either have to live in a civil marriage (and then prove your status in court with certificates and testimony), or go to get married in another country.
The six-day work week includes Shabbat on Saturday. Most establishments and tourist attractions are closed on this day. But there is always a way out. Some shops are even open 24 hours a day; instead of public transport, you can use a taxi or Shabbat transport. You just need to get used to these rules.
About the Israelis
Here everyone serves in the army - women for two years, men for three. This is the duty. This is life in Israel without embellishment.
Visitors will have to get used to the fact that it is noisy and people talk a lot here, this is a national trait, and they also smile. This is a character and the ability to enjoy life and every little thing.
Israelis are spontaneous and can easily talk to a stranger on the street or tell him not to frown. They always come to the aid of those who, from their point of view, need it.
Here they will not pass by a person who feels ill on the street. This is how life in Israel and Russia is radically different.
Salary
With such features of religion, culture and traditions, the standard of living of the population in Israel is rightfully considered one of the highest in the world. The average salary here is about 9 thousand shekels (approximately 2500 US dollars). That's quite a lot. But living here isn't cheap either. Not everyone has their own apartment - usually only a few. The rest rent housing.
Let’s figure out how much life costs in Israel if utility bills eat up $200-300. In addition to rent and utility bills, necessary expenses include health insurance, food and a mobile phone. If you have a child under 3 years old, and both adults plan to work, you will have to spend money on a private kindergarten. These payments (for a family of 2 adults and a child) will average about 10,000 shekels. When two adults earn 18,000, a rather impressive amount remains for pleasant little things.
Programmers have the highest salaries – about $6,000; qualified doctors – about $5,000 a month. Behind them, no matter how surprising it may be for Russians, come utility workers - about 4.8 thousand dollars a month. Bankers and civil servants are in third place with average salaries of 4.2 thousand dollars. For these categories, the cost of living in Israel, despite all increases in prices, remains above average.
Life of repatriates in Israel
The life of repatriates in Israel will certainly be intertwined with the army - this is another national cult. Jews, even those living in other countries, come here to fulfill their duty to protect the Holy Land - this is how they imagine love for the Motherland. But there is also a mercantile interest in this - military service can open doors to prospects that cannot be compared even with having a university education.
Such attention to the issue of self-defense is understandable - the country has been living in a tense situation not for a year, but for decades, so unprecedented security measures are being taken. They sometimes make life in Israel too stressful for Russians - metal detectors are everywhere - in schools and shopping centers, in hospitals and government agencies. But at the same time, the country never ceases to be interesting to tourists - pilgrims and travelers from all over the world come here.
Standard of living
According to WHO, Israel leads in many indicators of living standards. Thus, the average life expectancy of men in Israel reaches 80 years, which is the sixth highest in the world. There is low infant mortality, and the health and life of women in Israel is protected by a set of government programs. They live on average to 83 years.
The country promotes a negative attitude towards the use of drugs and alcohol. This is one of the lowest levels of such abuse. Mandatory and high-quality vaccinations increase the chances of not getting sick or surviving serious cases of infection. The population vaccination rate is 94%.
The high quality of life in Israel has made it possible to minimize the mortality rate from diabetes and cancer, heart attacks and strokes. Only 9% of Israelis in the 30-70 age range die from these diseases. According to these indicators, Israel is ahead of France and the United States of America, Germany and the UK - where the mortality rate is higher.
The high standard of living in Israel makes it attractive to those who dream of obtaining a second citizenship. And the Russians are no exception in this regard - some of our fellow citizens dream of living here and travel to the Promised Land. And this despite the fact that the country is among the 20 most expensive places to live.
For example, the life of emigrants in Israel if they settle in Tel Aviv will be more expensive than if they lived in Moscow or Paris. Therefore, repatriates carefully choose a place to live, analyzing not so much the geographical location with all the pros and cons, but the economic component.
Food and life in retirement
If we consider the cost of living in Israel from the point of view of food, then at the state level there is a policy of regulating pricing for basic products of the consumer basket. The rest are left to the market and depend on many factors. Prices can vary by 100% - this is the Israeli reality. Those who want to save money take the risk of buying food in Arab neighborhoods - it is cheaper there. But for smokers, the answer to the question of what life is like in Israel is clear – it’s expensive! Cigarette prices are rising every year and are not going to stop.
For example, one pack of LS costs $9-10.67.
The life of pensioners in Israel in terms of payments consists of two parts - this is the funded part and the required old-age benefit, which everyone receives upon reaching a certain age. The first payments depend on length of service. On average, Israeli pensioners with 30 years of service receive $1,641. Separately, there are additional payments and benefits. Important - the Israeli pension is transferred to any country in the world at the place of residence of the elderly person.
RICC, a Russian-Israeli consultation center, can assist in moving to Israel and obtaining citizenship and a passport of the country. Here they will help you prove that you belong to the Jews, collect and prepare the necessary package of documents, learn all the intricacies of the interview procedure and prepare for it properly. All this is done without unnecessary delays and hassle. The company guarantees that in 99% of cases everything will be resolved successfully and quickly.
My husband and I have been living in Israel for fifteen months now. We are new repatriates. Our life is so busy and interesting that there is practically no time left for blogging. 🙂
Being in new conditions gradually changes people. By assimilating, a person allows previously dormant qualities to reveal themselves. I can say that Israel has an extremely beneficial effect on me. Perhaps, of course, this is the result of a cumulative effect: a new country plus a long-chosen one. 🙂
So, what have I learned in just over a year of living in Israel? Here's a short list.
In Israel, I learned to be friends with people of different nationalities, races and religions. Here we have a real international community. It completely reformats your consciousness and is very inspiring. If a few years ago they told me that my friends, in addition to the usual Slavic brothers, would be the British, Ethiopians, Druze, and Argentines, I would never have believed it. But it turns out that everything is simple. Despite some differences, we are quite similar and you can recognize a kindred spirit even under an unusual shell.
In Israel, I learned to be proud of my working profession. I have already talked about that. Perhaps I would be proud of my working profession in Ukraine, but I just didn’t have that kind of experience. All my life before repatriation I worked in offices and only here I turned from a pale and sickly office worker into a strong cowboy (in a woman’s face, of course :)). I hope I’m wrong, but something tells me that in Ukraine, wages hardly allow farm workers to feel normal and worthy. If this is not the case, I will be very happy!
Surprisingly, I got used to the local six-day work week. Yes, yes, there is only one day off in Israel. Oddly enough, everyone here works 10 or even 12 hours a day. You quickly get sucked into it. Maybe this is part of the success of the Israeli economy?
In my new homeland, I realized that there is no shame in learning its language and speaking it with errors. Israel is a country of repatriates. Almost everyone came here at some point and learned the language. The reaction to broken Hebrew is the same - people instantly feel a special warmth towards you, ask how long you have been in the country and how things are going, if you need help, and the like. By the way, there is also a saying: if you speak the language of a country with an accent, it means that in addition to it you know at least one other language. 🙂
Here I am used to giving free good things, furniture and utensils that I don’t need, as well as accepting them. In Israel, objects are given to each other both from hand to hand and impersonally (through special platforms organized near). This is a kind of exchange of items (mutual assistance) on a national scale.
Of course, I’m repeating myself, but I want to especially emphasize that in Israel there is no shame in being a “commoner.” The whole country consists of repatriates, their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. Perhaps that is why there is such an atmosphere of mutual assistance and support.
In just over a year of living “in my historical homeland,” I learned to treat the police and army with trust and love. They are great guys and they serve us. For which they are honored, praised and warmly treated.
At first, I was surprised by female military personnel. And then I got used to seeing smiling girls in uniform, with machine guns, makeup, long hair and some kind of “Hello, Kitty” handbag. Cool picture. Now I treat this as the norm. And I even regret that I came to the country at a non-conscription age.
Life in Israeli kibbutzim taught me how to tramp (hitchhike) without money. And also give “voters” a lift if it’s on my way. Also free, of course. This is how it is done in kibbutzim.
In Israel, it is absolutely natural to start talking with the first stranger you meet. The people here are open, friendly, always ready to talk and lend a helping hand. This is very impressive. Perhaps the excess of sun manifests itself this way, or perhaps centuries-old history (the need to survive) has formed the special warmth and cohesion of the people.
There is a law here that prohibits picking flowers. The law is correct, we immediately adopted it and support it.
I learned a long time ago to clean the floor in the Israeli style. In our kibbutz, they pour a bucket of water on the floor, and then move the water with a special mop (with a sponge at the end). True, the floors here are all tiled and have special drains. 🙂
I have already written about my affection for tahini and other local delicacies.
Thanks to the warm climate, I learned to swim in the sea all year round. In winter, the water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea is approximately 18 degrees. Not everyone understands me, but I swim. 🙂
I started wearing it all the time. As they say, not for the sake of fashion, but only out of necessity. 🙂
Oh, I remembered something important! Living in Israel, I was especially convinced of the benefits of my healthy habit of drinking a lot of water. They say that in the local climate you can’t live without 2 liters of water per day! I don't know if this is true, but the indigenous population does not get kidney stones. Allegedly, this is a disease of arriving repatriates. We, supposedly, don’t drink water and this causes us to accumulate a lot of problems over the years, including stones. And every Israeli always carries a bottle of clean water with him. Drinking water is advice that I hear here at every turn.
Having broken another pattern in my head, I got used to saying “you” to people. In Hebrew there is no such thing as “You” at all. I suppose that this is one of the roots of the general equality that reigns here.
With warmth and tenderness, an understanding came into my life: a dad walking with his children is normal. This is the norm here. In Israel, people are very child-loving. Local dads are proud of their litters of babies. Mothers are no less involved in raising and raising children. Or maybe more.
What particularly pleases me is the Israeli ability to cheerfully celebrate holidays without alcohol (and sometimes even without food). My husband and I have accepted this tradition and still never cease to be amazed by it.
We have learned to save natural resources. And resources in general. Water, electricity. Money.
Eh, what I regret is the lost opportunity to take a bath. All three apartments where we lived had only a shower. Perhaps city apartments in Israel are equipped with bathtubs, but in kibbutzim there are only showers everywhere. Economically, of course. Well, that’s okay - I’ll compensate for the inability to “sink off” with a long “hippo wallow” in the sea surf. 🙂
Israel and, especially, kibbutz life taught us to trust people. There is practically no street crime here (at least in our area). Fraud is clearly covered by the law. You can safely walk wherever and whenever you want, without fear of attacks on your life or property. If we talk about Kibbutz Ein HaShofet, then here you can leave cars with open windows and personal belongings on the street without any problems. Household appliances (washing machines, ovens, etc.) are installed under awnings in front of the houses. Recently I managed to drop the keys next to my car in Ein HaShofet. So they were immediately found and hung on the notice board in the kibbutz canteen. All found items are placed there. Nice, isn't it?
I’m used to not being afraid of jackals (they don’t touch) and military planes (they protect us). Local color.
I learned not to tense up and not to cross to the other side of the street when encountering noisy groups of teenagers and young people. They are cheerful and absolutely positive guys.
In Israel, I am used to seeing people and entire families playing sports. This is fine. And this makes me very happy.
Also, I have long been accustomed to the fact that the elderly people here are cheerful, active, and smart. Very creative. In every district there is a club “Age of Light”, in which pensioners, while drinking tea and coffee, embroider, paint pictures, make crafts, create sculptures and other unique things. An excursion to such a club, arranged by an old lady I knew, literally shocked me. For the first time in my life, I regretted that I was not a pensioner yet. 🙂
In just over a year of living in Israel, I learned a strange, IMHO, but invigorating custom of greeting even unfamiliar people in the style of “Hello! How are you doing?". There are a great variety of greeting questions here. For example: “How is your health?”, “What news?”, “What have you heard?”, “What’s interesting?” At first I tensed up, giving specific answers to everyone I met. And then I learned to parry “Great! And how are you?" or have time to smile and say hello first. Apparently, the process of transformation of the “severe native of the post-Soviet space” into an Israeli woman has reached cruising speed. Hurray, comrades!
Our reader Olesya writes: I have been to Israel several times, my friends live here. Much was recorded from their words.
1. Israel is a paradise for tourists. There are excursions here to suit every taste. Religious tourists can go to biblical sites. You can visit Christian Jerusalem or Jerusalem of three religions, where you will be taken to places significant for Muslims, Christians and Jews. Those who like to improve their health and soak up the sun can go to the Dead Sea, where they can not only lie in salt water without drowning, but also visit hydrogen sulfide and mud baths. Men will be interested in an excursion to the Open Air Tank Museum, where military equipment from different countries and years is collected. Not far from the museum is the Latrun Monastery of the Virgin Mary, where silent monks live. There is a small cozy shop at the monastery that sells wine and brandy. Those interested will be given a tasting. In the same area is the Mini Israel Park, where all the significant sights of Israel are presented in miniature. The park will be interesting for both adults and children. For flora lovers, the Utopia Park is open, where orchids grow and butterflies soar. And women should check out the Diamond Exchange in Tel Aviv, where experienced gemologists will help you choose a stone to suit your taste and budget.
2. Israel is a desert. When approaching the coastline, you will see nothing but sand and houses the color of sand. But once you get on the ground, your first impression will change. There is a lot of greenery here: cacti, palm trees, lawns. All lawns have an irrigation system. You can calmly lie down on the grass to rest, which is what not only tourists, but also local residents do. But there is plastic grass on the road dividing alleys; you don’t need to lie on it.
3. Ben Gurion - a man and an airport. It has been voted the best airport in the Middle East three times by the Airports Association International. They say that only two suitcases out of a thousand are lost at Ben Gurion. I experienced it personally: on one of my flights, another passenger took my bag by mistake, and the bags turned out to be exactly the same. And I found his bag on the conveyor belt. That same evening they delivered it to me in another city.
4. The capital of the country is Jerusalem. The main government institutions are located there. But Tel Aviv is recognized as the business center of Israel, where the headquarters of international corporations and the consulates of most countries are located.
5. Just as in Russia every city has Lenin Street or Lenin Square, and sometimes both together, so in Israel every city has a street named after David Ben Gurion or Theodor Herzl. In general, the ideologists of Zionism are glorified here in every possible way.
6. The institution of official, that is, formalized by the registry office, marriage does not exist. They tried to push through the bill more than once, but it did not get the required number of votes in the Knesset (local parliament). Therefore there is only religious marriage. Only representatives of one religion can get married. Interfaith lovers will have to travel to Cyprus or the Czech Republic, where you will be signed in the town hall in 5 minutes. Israel recognizes marriages performed in other countries.
7. Due to the current situation, the so-called “Paraguayan marriage” is common. This is a marriage that does not require the presence of both parties at the ceremony. It is concluded by a notarized power of attorney for marriage from the future spouse. The marriage certificate is certified by the Israeli consul in Paraguay and officially recognized. Such a marriage is recommended for couples who fear that if they leave, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will refuse to let their spouse, a citizen of another country, into the country.
8. The week starts on Sunday. And on Saturday (Shabbat) everything dies out. Although, as local residents say, it is no longer the same as 15 years ago, some shops are open.
9. The population of the entire country is equal to the population of half of Moscow. A quarter of them are Russian-speaking immigrants from the CIS countries.
10. The official languages in the country are Hebrew and Arabic (this is the second language, but the main one is Hebrew), but English (signs are even duplicated in it), Russian (where would we be without it), Georgian, French and Amharic are also recognized.
11. There are probably not as many French people in Israel as there are in France. There is even a joke about this: “If you want to learn French, go to Eilat.” (Eilat is a resort and the southernmost city of the country, located on the shores of the Red Sea).
12. Hebrew is a simple and very logical language. You just need to get used to it, especially to the fact that the alphabet has no vowels and is written from right to left. The urge to open books from the beginning, and not from the end, as expected, is difficult to overcome.
13. There are few words in Hebrew, and there are generally four times fewer verbs than in Russian. Therefore, at the very least, you will be able to express yourself quite quickly; it will take about 6 months, subject to constant conversational practice. It will take much more time to read philosophical works, but you will pick up “Shukovsky” (from the word shuk - market) Hebrew quickly.
14. You can live your whole life in Israel and practically not know Hebrew, even Israelis born here will understand you. But as a job you won’t be able to advance beyond being a salesperson in a store selling souvenirs for Russian tourists. To find a good job, you need to know Hebrew.
15. And here is Russian folklore from repatriates from the CIS countries: “I live in a hole, I swim in a hole,” which translated means: “I live in an apartment, I swim in the sea.” Apartment in Hebrew - dira, sea - yam :)
16. The climate is humid and hot. In winter, however, it is quite cool: +15 degrees here feels the same as “0” in Russia.
17. Here you can easily meet a girl in sandals and a fur coat, or vice versa in short shorts and a T-shirt, but in fur boots.
18. Around June, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea becomes extreme. A myriad of scalding jellyfish approach the coast. Their venom leaves severe burns on the skin. It is better not to swim and wait until the number of these sea inhabitants decreases. When they leave, droplets of poison will annoy vacationers for another week, so take a bottle of vinegar with you. If the burn is large, then until professional medical assistance is provided, vinegar will save you.
19. Buying land as a property is almost impossible. There is a private sector, but the land has been leased for almost a century. A 3-room apartment without renovation will cost approximately 200–250 thousand dollars. That's why many people live in rented housing for decades or take out a mortgage.
20. The average salary here is 2 times higher than in Russia, but at the same time the prices for a number of goods are 3 times higher. Therefore, if you receive 2000 thousand dollars here, you will pay half for renting a small apartment, a quarter will go on food and household goods.
21. Utility bills eat up another quarter of your salary. Electricity is 2 times more expensive, water is almost worth its weight in gold. Everyone has a filter at home, since drinking from the tap is not recommended. Otherwise, the kidneys will contain not only sand and stones, but also bricks for building a house :)
22. Everyone has split systems in every room in the apartment. But they try not to turn them on and tolerate them until the last moment, both when it’s hot and when it’s cold, electricity is expensive.
23. If you get a personal car here, get ready to pay 7 shekels ($2) for a liter of gasoline. And the price is constantly rising. But locals are ready to spend any amount just to travel in their own car rather than on public transport.
24. By the way, every Thursday evening and every Sunday morning it’s impossible to squeeze into buses and trains without special skills. The reason is that soldiers are allowed to go home from the army on weekends. Almost everyone is released one by one, no matter where they serve, and every 2 weeks.
25. Both boys and girls, thin and fat, tall and short, healthy and not so healthy, serve in the army - everyone finds something to do.
26. Patriotism has developed to unprecedented heights. Almost all young people, even repatriates who came here as teenagers, consider it their duty to serve 3 years in the army. They say that if not them, then who will protect their parents and home.
27. Israel's relations with neighboring countries are tense. Here, more than anywhere else, the phrase “If you want peace, prepare for war” is relevant. And Israeli citizens are ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
28. Many citizens carry weapons. Most often this is a service weapon. Security officers, guards, etc. Not to mention conscripts who generally go on leave with machine guns. It's wild at first, but then you get used to it.
29. In front of the entrance to every shopping center (canyon), government office, school and university there is a metal detector frame and one or two security officers. While you pass through the frame, your bag will be opened and the contents examined. And absolutely without demand. They take safety very seriously here.
30. Police cars ply here frequently. But they do not harass civilians and tourists. However, I once observed the following picture: on a three-lane road, a policeman stopped a minibus for speeding. The minibus was moving in the far right lane and stopped there; the police car stopped in the middle lane, blocking traffic. The policeman came out, asked the minibus driver to get out and very violently and loudly explained to the minibus driver that he was wrong. Onlookers gathered. I got a temperamental servant of the law, although that’s all there is to it. East after all.
31. There is practically no crime in Israel. As local residents say, they simply have no time to think about all sorts of nonsense, since they have to work very hard. Parents calmly let their minor children go out all night.
32. Currency exchange is mainly done by Georgians. Inexplicable but the fact.
33. Trains in Israel are double-decker. Be sure to take a ride :)
34. Israel is famous for its medicine. And she is really at a very high level here.
35. A working citizen does not have to worry about his health; insurance will even pay for expensive tests and procedures if they are necessary.
36. There are many old people in Israel, due to their long life expectancy and good medicine. And they do not sit at home, but remain socially active. If there is a need, a social worker will be assigned to the elderly person, who will help around the house, prepare meals and keep company on walks.
37. The children here are plump, especially the girls. There are generally fewer women in Israel than men, so even not very attractive representatives of the fairer sex can easily find a mate.
38. There are many children in Israel. If you believe the statistics, then approximately 3 children per woman. The country owes this high indicator to religious citizens whose families have 5–7 children.
39. The local people are very friendly, they will help you and explain things in plain language. If you speak a little Hebrew but make mistakes, you will be corrected without any malice or ridicule.
40. There are no stray dogs, but there are a huge number of cats. When kind local residents go out to feed stray cats, a whole flock of 20–30 quite heavy faces comes running. They don't starve here. Even pigeons calmly pass in front of their noses, absolutely without fear for their lives and health.
41. There is a problem with insects in Israel. Cockroaches are the size of American cockroaches - 5 centimeters in length. If you leave a piece of chocolate on the bedside table overnight, the ants will eat it and drag you into the anthill. Therefore, everything edible, including potatoes, must be stored in the refrigerator, and not in a bag in the pantry. It is better to store cereals and pasta in sealed glass jars, otherwise the weevil will not sleep and will completely destroy everything.
42. In cafes and restaurants in Israel they feed for slaughter. If you order chicken tabaka, be prepared to receive a chicken the size of an adult chicken. And if you want to try pork, then you have a direct route to Russian establishments. Pork is not a kosher product.
43. In general, with regards to the cuisine, it is very diverse here. After all, repatriates from many countries came to Israel. Some borrowed dishes have become national. Like, for example, the Yemeni skhug (something like adjika). It is eaten mainly with meat, but some people also add it to borscht :)
44. Also a national dish is hummus - a snack made from chickpea puree, which is drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with various seasonings and eaten with pita bread. Some Russians call it sealant because of its appearance, but it is very tasty.
45. Falafel - deep-fried balls - is also made from crushed chickpeas. The dish is Arabic, but it is very popular in Israel. There are even croutons with Falafel flavor. They go very well with beer.
46. There are a lot of Russian stores with signs in Russian, with Russian-speaking sellers and Russian products. But I still haven’t found the classic Doctor’s sausage.
47. If you like low-fat kefir, do not trust the inscription in Russian “Kefir 3%”, in terms of thickness it resembles 15% sour cream, you have to transfer it from the bottle into a mug with a spoon. It is better to take the 1.5% Israeli-made analogue, it is more similar to the usual product.
48. In supermarkets, prices are higher than in the market, much more so. Therefore, most people shop at the market, where the vegetables are even cleaner than in stores, and the potatoes are all washed. The choice of fruits is colossal, and they are not considered exotic in Israel.
49. Can you imagine what an oriental bazaar is? Sellers don’t just shout, they yell, and not just any words, but simply make sounds so that people pay attention to their point of sale.
50. If you come across a bakery on your way, don't pass by. The baked goods are simply amazing: mini-pizzas, pies with potatoes, tuna, spinach, cottage cheese, etc., not to mention classic oriental sweets. Lick your fingers.
51. The most significant of all the religious holidays in Israel (which is not really a holiday, but rather a day of remembrance and mourning) is undoubtedly Yom Kippur or Judgment Day. On this day there is strict fasting and you cannot drink water. It is forbidden to even brush your teeth or wash your face. Driving a car and talking on a mobile phone are also taboo, radio and television do not work. But the children have plenty of freedom - they ride bicycles and roller skates right along the roadway, even on the tracks.
52. As in any country in the world, being a tourist and living in it are two different things. But in Israel this contrast is particularly felt.
