Mid-term report

Cultural specificities of Isarel

Name: Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong

Class: FNB7
Subject: Cross cultural communication
1. Orientation
 Identification: According to the Bible, Israel is the name given by God to Jacob. The
modern country of Israel includes two distinct nationalities, the Palestinian and the
Jewish. Each nationality is inextricable from its religious identity. The Palestinians are
Arabs whose traditions are founded in Muslim culture; the Jews define their culture in
large part around their religion as well. Each group identifies as part of a larger,
international religious and cultural community, and each has a history in the region that
goes back to ancient times.

 Location and Geography: Israel is in the Middle East on the Mediterranean Sea,
bordering Egypt, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. Its total
area is 8,019 square miles (20,770 square kilometers), slightly smaller than New Jersey.
The Negev Desert covers the south of the country. Mountains rise in the central region
from the low coastal plain along the Mediterranean. The Jordan River stretches 200 miles
(322 kilometers) from Syria in the north, emptying into the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea
(technically a lake) is, at 1,312 feet (400 meters) below sea level, the lowest inland sea on
earth.
 Demography: Israel's population in 2000 was 5,842,454. This includes an estimated
171,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights,
6,500 in the Gaza Strip, and 172,000 in East Jerusalem. The population is roughly 80
percent Jewish; of the total population, 32.1 percent were born in Europe or America;
20.8 percent in Israel; 14.6 percent in Africa; and 12.6 percent in Asia. Most of the 20
percent who are not Jewish are Arab.

 Linguistic Affiliation: Hebrew is the nation's official language. The modern Hebrew
language was designed by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, a Lithuanian Jew who moved to
Palestine in the 1880s. Previously, biblical Hebrew had been the language of prayer,
whereas the vernacular of most Jews was Yiddish (Ladino for Spanish and Portuguese
Jews). David Ben-Gurion's vision of a national language, which would allow Jews from
different parts of the world to communicate with each other, was an important element of
the Zionist movement. Arabic is the official language of the Arab minority. English is
studied in school and is the most commonly spoken foreign language. Immigrants from
various countries also bring their languages with them, and Spanish, Italian, African
dialects, and especially Russian are often heard.

 Symbolism: The flag consists of a blue six-pointed star on a white background, with a
horizontal blue stripe above and one below. The star, called a Magen David, or Shield of
David, is a symbol of the Jewish faith.
 The Israeli national anthem, Hatikva, is over one hundred years old. Its melody is of
unknown origin, although some believe it comes from an Eastern European fold song. Its
lyrics are explicitly Zionist, extolling the return of the Jews to their holy land. The song
was banned from the airwaves during the British mandate, and it continues to be
somewhat controversial today; there has been some debate as to whether its Zionist
message is still valid.

2. Food and Economy

 Food in Daily Life: Falafel, ground chickpeas mixed with onions and spices formed into
balls and fried, are served in pita bread as a sandwich. Other popular dishes include
tabuleh (a salad of bulgar wheat and chopped vegetables), hummus (chickpea paste),
grilled meats, and eggplant. Cumin, mint, garlic, onion, and black pepper are used for
flavoring. Baklava is a popular dessert of Arabic origin and consists of flaky dough
layered with honey and nuts. Coffee is often prepared in the Turkish style, extremely
strong and thick and served in small cups.

Jews are bound by a set of dietary laws called kashrut, which, among other restrictions,
forbid the consumption of pork and shellfish, as well as the consumption of both meat
and milk products at the same meal. Not all Israelis observe these rules, but many
restaurants do.

Falafel
 Tabbouleh

 Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions: Food plays an important role in nearly all
Jewish celebrations. The Sabbath, observed on Saturday, is ushered in on Friday evening
with a family meal including an egg bread called challah.At the Jewish New Year the
challah is baked in a circle, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life. Apples and honey also
are eaten, symbolizing the wish for a sweet new year. Hamentaschen are traditionally
served at Purim, the celebration of Queen Esther's triumph over the evil Haman, who was
trying to annihilate the Jewish people. These are cookies filled with lekvar(prune
preserves) and baked in the shape of a triangle. Some believe hamentaschen symbolizes
the tricornered hat of Haman; others think it is his pockets, and still others think it
represents his ears, which were clipped as a sign of shame. During Passover, Jews abstain
from eating all leavened foods (bread, pasta, etc.). Instead they eat matzoh, a flat,
crackerlike bread. This is in memory of the Exodus from Israel, when the Jews could not
wait for their bread to rise, and so carried it on their backs to bake in the sun. Passover
also is observed with a ritual meal called a seder. Four glasses of wine, representing
God's four promises to Israel ("I will bring you out of Egypt;" "I will deliver you;" "I will
redeem you;" and "I will take you to be my people"), are drunk throughout the evening.
Other symbolic foods at the occasion include boiled eggs (symbolizing new life) and
charosis (a mixture of apples and walnuts, representing the mortar the Jews used as
slaves). On Shavuot in the late spring, dairy-based treats are served. Because cooking is
 forbidden on the Sabbath, a traditional Saturday meal is cholent, a thick stew that is left
in the oven to simmer overnight.

 Basic Economy: Israel's economy was originally based on a socialist model, in which the
Histadrut trade union was the most powerful organization, controlling most of
agriculture, industry, and health care. However, in the past few decades, Histadrut's
power has been diluted as the country has adopted more capitalist policies. The economy
today is based largely on advanced technology. Its high-tech firms play an important role
in the global economy, and foreign investment in these firms is abundant. Despite its
limited natural resources, the country has become nearly self-sufficient in food
production (with the exception of grains). Still, agriculture accounts for only 2 percent of
the GDP and employs roughly 2 percent of the labor force. Services account for 81
percent and industry for 17 percent. The Israeli economy grew significantly during the
1990s, thanks to an influx of skilled immigrants and growth in the technology sector.
While 2000 was the most financially successful year in Israel's history, gains in
prosperity, and particularly foreign investments, feel somewhat tenuous after the recent
outbreaks of violence.

 Land Tenure and Property: Some land is privately owned and some is public property.
Israel also has a system of kibbutzim(singular:kibbutz), cooperative farms in which
property is collectively owned. Residents share chores, and instead of a salary receive
housing, medical care, education, and other necessities. There are also moshav, farming
communities in which each family owns its own house and is responsible for its own
land, but in which other functions, such as selling their products, are done collectively.

 Commercial Activities: Israel produces a variety of agricultural goods, including meat

and dairy products, vegetables, citrus, and other fruits. Computer industries and
technology account for a large amount of the nation's commercial activity. Tourism is
another important sector. Israel draws roughly two million tourists each year, with its
historical and religious sites as well as resorts and health spas near the Dead Sea.

 Major Industries: Israel has a variety of industries, including food processing, textiles,
diamond cutting and polishing, metal products, military equipment, high-technology
electronics, and tourism.

 Trade: The main exports are machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, textiles,
and agricultural products. These go primarily to the United States, the United Kingdom,
Hong Kong, the Benelux countries, and Japan. Israel imports raw materials, military
equipment, rough diamonds, fuel, and consumer goods from the United States, the
Benelux countries, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

 Division of Labor: Palestinian Israelis generally do not have access to as good an

education as Israeli Jews and therefore are more likely to occupy less skilled and poorly
 paid positions. Immigrants as well, even highly educated ones, often are forced to take
jobs of a low status, and many are unemployed.

3. Social Stratification
 Classes and Castes.Israel is not highly stratified economically; most people have a
similarly comfortable standard of living. However, the majority of the poor are
Palestinian. Recent immigrants from Africa and Eastern Europe also tend to be at a
disadvantage economically.

 Symbols of Social Stratification.Among Israeli Jews, clothing is often an indication of

religious or political affiliation. Men wear yarmulkes, or skullcaps, for prayer; more
observant men wear them at all times. Conservative Jewish men can be distinguished by
their black hats, whereas liberal Jews wear white crocheted caps. In the strictest Orthodox
communities, men dress all in black and wear peyes, long sidelocks. Women keep their
heads covered; traditionally, after marriage, they shave their heads and wear wigs.
Secular or less conservative Jews, who comprise the majority of the population, wear
Western-style clothes. Many Arabs wear traditional Muslim dress, which for men is a
turban or other headdress and long robes, and for women is a long robe that covers the
head and the entire body.

Yarmulkes
 Jewish men

Muslim Arabs
 Yemenite Jews

4. Marriage, Family, and Kinship

 Marriage: Traditionally, in both Arab and Jewish societies, marriages were often
arranged, but that is uncommon nowadays. However, there are powerful social taboos
against intermarriage, and it is illegal for a Jew to marry a non-Jew in Israel. Those
wishing to do so must go abroad for the ceremony. Even within the Jewish community, it
is unusual for a very observant Jew to marry someone secular. Divorce is legal, but
Orthodox Jewish law applies. According to this statute, men have the power to prevent
their ex-wives from remarrying. If the woman enters into another relationship, the courts
refuse to recognize it, and any children from such a union are considered illegitimate and
themselves cannot marry in the State of Israel.

 Domestic Unit: The most common family unit consists of a nuclear family. In more
traditional families, grandparents are sometimes included in this. In the original kibbutz
system, the living arrangements were different. Husband and wife lived in separate
quarters from their children, who were housed with the other young people. Some
kibbutzim still operate in this way, but it is now more common for children to live with
their parents, although their days are still spent separately.

5. Socialization
 Infant Care: Babies are generally adored and showered with affection. The extended
family plays an important role in helping to raise the baby, but the mother generally takes
primary responsibility. Jewish boys are circumcised eight days after birth in a religious
ceremony called a bris.
 Child Rearing and Education: In most of Israeli society, children are raised in the
setting of a nuclear family. However, collective child care is common, especially for
mothers who work outside the home. In kibbutzim, they stay separately from their
parents, and usually see them only at night or on weekends. Children are generally
indulged and are not strictly disciplined.

 In the Arab tradition, boys and girls are raised separately. They have different
responsibilities at home, where girls are expected to help much more with domestic
chores. The schools are also usually gender-segregated.

 Education is mandatory from the ages five through fifteen. The state runs both religious
and nonreligious schools; 70 percent of children attend the nonreligious ones. There is a
separate education system for Arab children, where the language of instruction is Arabic.
The quality of education in these schools is often lower due to a relative unavailability of
teachers and poor resources, and they have at times been subject to closings due to
violence and political instability. Arab schools receive some funding from the
government, as well as from religious institutions. There are three types of high schools:
academic, vocational, and agricultural.

 Higher Education: Israel has seven universities. Entrance standards are high, and
students must pass a national exam before being admitted. The oldest and most
prestigious of these is Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which also has one of the
strongest medical schools in the Middle East. Ben-Gurion University, in Beersheba,
specializes in natural conservation, and Technion in Haifa focuses on science and
engineering. The Weizmann Institute in Rehovot supports postgraduate study. There also
are vocational, agricultural, and teacher training institutes. Yeshivot are religious
academies (generally not open to women) that train future rabbis and Jewish scholars.
6. Religion

7. Art
 Visual arts: From the beginning of the 20th century, visual arts in Israel have shown a
creative orientation, influenced both by the West and East, as well as by the land itself, its
development, the character of the cities, and stylistic trends emanating from art centers
abroad. In painting, sculpture, photography, and other art forms, the country's varied
landscape is the protagonist: the hill terraces and ridges produce special dynamics of line
and shape; the foothills of the Negev, the prevailing grayish-green vegetation, and the
clear luminous light result in distinctive color effects; and the sea and sand affect
surfaces. On the whole, local landscapes, concerns, and politics lie at the center of Israeli
art, and ensure its uniqueness.

The earliest Israeli art movement was the Bezalel school of the Ottoman and early
Mandate period, when artists portrayed both Biblical and Zionist subjects in a style
 influenced by the European Art Nouveau movement, symbolism, and traditional Persian,
Jewish, and Syrian artistry.

 Tiles in the Bezalel style, 1920s

 Music: Classical music in Israel has been vibrant since the 1930s, when hundreds of
music teachers and students, composers, instrumentalists and singers, as well as
thousands of music lovers, streamed into the country, driven by the threat of Nazism in
Europe. Israel is also home to several world-class classical music ensembles, such as the
Israel Philharmonic and the New Israeli Opera. The founding of The Palestine
Philharmonic Orchestra (today the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra) in 1936 marked the
beginning of Israel's classical music scene. In the early 1980s, the New Israeli Opera
began staging productions, reviving public enthusiasm for operatic works. Russian
immigration in the 1990s boosted the classical music arena with new talents and music
lovers.

The contemporary music scene in Israel spans the spectrum of musical genres, and often
fuses many musical influences, ranging from Ethiopian, Middle-Eastern soul, rock, jazz,
hip-hop, electronic, Arabic, pop and mainstream. Israeli music is versatile, and combines
elements of both western and eastern music. It tends to be very eclectic, and contains a
wide variety of influences from the Diaspora, as well as more modern cultural
importations: Hassidic songs, Asian pop, Arab folk (especially by Yemenite singers), and
Israeli hip hop or heavy metal. Also popular are various forms of electronic music,
including trance, Hard trance, and Goa trance. Notable artists from Israel in this field are
few, but include the psychedelic trance duo Infected Mushroom.
 Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, 2006

8. Tourism, travel and recreation

Principal tourist attractions are the many holy and historic places, which include sites
sacred to three religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. In particular, the Old City of
Jerusalem contains the Western ("Wailing") Wall, the Dome of the Rock, and the Church
of the Holy Sepulchre; nearby are the Mount of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane.
Another holy place is Bethlehem, the birthplace of both King David and Jesus. Also of
great interest are the ruins of Jericho, the world's oldest city; the caves of Qumran, near
the Dead Sea; and the rock fortress of Masada, on the edge of the Dead Sea Valley and
the Judean Desert. Tourists are also drawn to Israel's rich variety of natural scenery,
ranging from hills and greenery in the north to rugged deserts in the south, and including
the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on Earth. The most popular team sports are football
(soccer) and basketball; popular recreations include swimming, sailing, and fishing.

A valid passport, proof of suffi cient funds, and onward/return ticket are required for
tourists; a three-month visa may be issued upon arrival. The Tourist Industry
Development Corporation fosters tourism by granting loans for hotel expansion and
improvement. A total of 1,063,381 tourists visited Israel in 2003, a 23% increase from
 2002. There were 46,368 hotel rooms with 114,041 beds and an occupancy rate of 45%.
The average length of stay was two nights.

In 2004, the US Department of State estimated the daily average of staying in Tel Aviv at
$336. Estimated daily expenses in Jerusalem were $312 per day in 2002.

9. Culture Crossing

Greetings
 Man greeting Man: Men shake hands warmly when greeting one another and maintain
direct eye contact.  Handshake are often combined with slight touches on the arms and/or
elbows.  Good friends and family may engage in light hugs. Some men greet men with a
handshake in a business setting and a cheek kiss (first right cheek, then left cheek) in a
social setting.  Always use the right hand when greeting Muslims.

 Woman greeting Woman: At a first meeting, a handshake will suffice.  Friends may kiss
each other once on the cheek.   Always use the right hand when greeting Muslims.

 Man greeting Woman: At a first meeting a regular handshake will do.Men greet women
with a handshake in a business setting and a cheek kiss (first right cheek, then left cheek)
in a social setting. If you are addressing a person who is religiously observant (men
would be wearing a kippah, women would be in a skirt covering her knees, a shirt that
covers her chest and arms below the elbows, and perhaps a head covering if she is
married) follow their cue as to whether or not to shake hands or simply exchange verbal
greetings.   

Note: It is taboo for religiously observant men to touch women and vice-versa.

Communication style
 Israelis are known to be very direct and to the point.  Many foreigners feel they are blunt.

 Israelis tend to speak quite loudly and at a fast pace.  It may appear as if they are yelling
and annoyed but it is most likely a normal tone of voice.

 Market places and traffic are crowded and aggressive. People become impatient and honk
and yell. Additionally, cabs may try to rip you off if they know you’re foreign, so ask
them specifically for the meter. (In Hebrew, “efshahr moneh?”)

 Israelis appreciate honesty and discourse over hypocrisy and insinuations.Israelis are
warm people, very open, honest, and direct. They will tell you exactly how they feel and
what they think.
 Personal space and touching
 Israelis usually stand close to one another while talking.  One to two feet is normal.  It
can be considered rude to back up or away from someone while they are speaking. People
speak at closer than an arms distance. They may touch while speaking, although religious
people will keep a great distance away and not touch the opposite gender.

 Note: Personal space for religiously observant men and women is farther apart and there
is usually no touching between the two.

Eye contact
 Israelis favor direct eye contact over indirect.  Maintaining eye contact is viewed as sense
of respect and interest in the person who is speaking.

Views of time
 Israelis favor direct eye contact over indirect.  Maintaining eye contact is viewed as sense
of respect and interest in the person who is speaking.

Gender issues
 Israeli men and women are equal for the most part. 

 Women are educated, work in all parts of society, but also raise children and are active in
home life. There is a larger separation between male and female spheres with religious
people, they tend to interact only with people of their own sex.

 Women hold the same rights as men and hold positions of power in the political,
corporate, and civil defense arenas.

 In religiously observant households, women are expected to do most if not all of the
cooking, cleaning, and child rearing.  Most do not work outside the home.

Gesture
 The OK sign is common and shares the same meaning as it does in the United States. 
Same goes for the "thumbs up" sign.

 To point, you use your index finger. To beckon someone, you would say “come here” (bo
l’poh to a boy, boi l’poh to a girl) and with your elbow down, fingers pointed up waving
your fingers to your palm, moving your hand down. Shaking a hand with the thumb
pressed against the other four fingers, with the palm up and the back of the hand down
means “patience, give me a second!” Israelis use a lot of large gestures while speaking.
The middle finger is an obscene gesture.
 Taboos
 Putting your thumb in between your middle and index finger while making a fist is an
obscene gesture.

 When dealing with the Muslim community in Israel, avoid showing the sole of your foot
or using the foot to move or pass anything to someone.  Avoid giving & receiving objects
with your left hand as well.

 Israelis are very hospitable and may take offense if you do not accept an invitation. When
eating in someone’s house, they will offer you more food then you can eat, so it is
important to be grateful and compliment the chef without forcing yourself to overeact.

 It is considered rude to be excessively drunk in public.

Law and order

 The legal drinking age in Israel is 18 years old.  It is somewhat enforced.

 18 is the minimum age to purchase both cigarettes and tobacco.  Smoking is banned in
most public spaces.

 Smoking is extremely common among people of both genders and of all ages. The legal
drinking age is 18 and is increasingly enforced. Drugs are somewhat common but not
readily available, use is illegal and punishable. J-walking is punishable with a fine (50-
100 shekel).

 Drugs are illegal in Israel.  Possession can result in heavy fines, imprisonment, or
deportation. Trafficking will most likely result in a lengthy prison sentence.

Cultural Conflict
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict began when the United Nations partitioned off part of the
Palestinian Territory to create Israel. Both Jews and Arabs have lived in this area for
thousands of years, and it is a holy site to each group. Palestinians now control much of
the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and most of the conflict now focuses around control of
Jerusalem, a holy city for both faiths. The belligerents are the Israeli Military, the
partially recognized State of Palestine, and the terrorist group Hamas. There have been
over 21,000 fatalities in the conflict.
10.Business Culture in Israel

Titles and business cards

 Titles are somehat important and it is best to address people directly by using Mr., Mrs.,
or Miss, followed by the surname.

 Most Isarelis will want to move to addressing one another on a first name basis rather
quickly. You should always wait to be invited to use first names before doing so
yourself.
 Meetings
 Punctuality valued so it is best to arrive on time for meetings.

 There is usually very little time for small talk as Israelis tend to get down to business
quickly.

 Meeting agendas are common and usually followed quite carefully.

 Meetings do not tend to last that long as the focus is on accomplishing the task at hand
and moving on to the next one.

Gift giving
 Gifts are often given in business settings.  Simple gifts tend to be most appreciated. 
Avoid anything too expensive or elaborate.

 If invited over for dinner you should always bring a gift. Either a bottle of high quality
wine/liquor, flowers, or nicely wrapped chocolates/sweets is a good idea.

Summary
Before settling in Israel, Israelis were spread out in many different countries. As a result, Israel
has a very unique culture due to the influence its people received from the countries and cultures
they previously resided in. Israel is an adventurous, creative and diverse country where you can
explore a plethora of exciting cultures and people.
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—ELEANORSTANFORD

Culture crossing

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