Haifa is Israel’s third-largest city, after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It is beautifully set on the slopes of Mount Carmel facing the Mediterranean Sea. It is also known as one of Israel’s busiest ports along the Mediterranean coastline and now one of the centers of the country’s renowned high-tech industries. Haifa is … Read more
As with other Muslim communities around the globe, Israeli Muslims celebrate their own religious holidays. But since Israel is a predominantly Jewish country, Muslim holidays are not national holidays. As these holidays are not officially part of the Israeli calendar, observant Muslims can take personal days off work and Muslim-owned establishments can … Read more
Gone are the days when Israelis lived by hummus and falafel alone. Over the past few decades, Israel has grown into one of the world’s cuisine frontrunners. If you’d like to embark on your Middle Eastern and Mediterranean gastronomic adventure, it’s logical to go to Israel as your starting point. After all, … Read more
As with other Christian communities in other countries around the world, Israeli Christians celebrate their own religious holidays. But because Israel is a predominantly Jewish country, Christian holidays are not considered national holidays, despite the fact that it is also the birthplace of Jesus Christ. If you want to best experience and … Read more
Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday. It is observed for eight nights and days that begin on the 25th of the month of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar (or around late November to late December in the more familiar Gregorian calendar). Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew. It is thus named as … Read more
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the survival of the Jews who were marked for death by their Persian rulers during the 5th century BCE. As you might have guessed, Purim is a happy and joyous occasion. It is characterized by dressing up in colorful masks and costumes, eating festive meals, … Read more
The Jewish Shabbat (Sabbath) is a day of rest on the seventh day of the week. It is a day of abstinence from work and of religious observance. On Shabbat, the Jewish people commemorate the day that God rested after the creating the world in six days. Shabbat literally means “he rested.” … Read more
When in Israel, one of the places you should visit is Yardenit, a baptismal site along the Jordan River in the Galilee region. Yardenit, which means “Little Jordan” is Hebrew, is visited by hundreds and thousands of tourists each year. They come not just to enjoy the scenery, but also to be … Read more
Apart from the major holidays, Judaism has minor holidays. These minor holidays are observed without any special prayers or any religious requirements or restrictions. They may be observed by certain communities or sectors, and may or may not have various customs associated with them. One of the minor Jewish holidays is Lag … Read more
Almost all countries around the world follow the Gregorian calendar, and thus, celebrate the New Year every the first day of January. However, there are many countries that celebrate the Western New Year and then observe their own New Year. It’s because they follow their own traditional and religious calendars that are … Read more