Israel

Israel is a little smaller than

the state of New Jersey290 miles in length and

85 miles in widthLocated in the Middle EastMediterranean Sea borders

the western side of Israel

Israel Population Facts

• 806,000 residents when Israel 1st became a state (country) in 1948

• Current Population – 7,337,0005,542,000 (75.5%) Jewish1,477,000 (20.1%) Israeli Arabs318,000 (4.4%) immigrants

Israel Facts

• Has the highest number of scientists and engineers per capita in the world

• Has the highest number of museums in the world

• Home to 3 major religions:JudaismChristianityIslam

Israel Festival

Interesting Facts

• Contains 40.6% of the world’s Jewish population

• 75.5% of the population are Jewish

• 20.1% are Arabs

• 92% of the population live in urban communities

• 65% of the Jewish population were born in Israel compared to 35% in 1948

Jewish Festivals

Shabbat (the Sabbath – day of rest on Saturday)

Rosh Hashanah (beginning of the Jewish New Year)

Yom Kippur (the day of atonement, of Divine judgment – day to pray for foregiveness)

Sukkot (Feast of the Tabernacles – celebrate the Exodus from Egypt)

Jewish Festivals continued

• Hanukkah (Festival of Lights - celebrates the triumph of the Jews over the Greeks)

• Passover (Pessah – celebrating the liberation and bondage from Egypt)

• Independence Day (held on the anniversary of the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel – May 14, 1948)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5tDDkvXSI8

Jerusalem

Jerusalem

• Capital of Israel

• Seat of government and the historical, spiritual, and national center of the Jewish people

• Largest city in Israel (population 719,000)

• Urban population of 1,036,500

• Jewish, Muslims, and Christian live side by side

City Wall

Worship Centers

• 1,204 Synagogues

• 158 Churches

• 73 Mosques

Wailing Wall

Tower of David

St. Andrews Church

Gethsemane

Jerusalem at Night

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv

Israel’s 2nd largest city (population of 360,000) Israel’s largest metropolitan area – 2,896,900 Tel mean “mound” and Aviv means “spring” –

“The Hill of Spring” Israel’s commercial, financial, and transportation

center 1st all-Jewish city in modern times Founded in 1909 as a suburb of Jaffa

Tel Aviv Jaffa (Old Town)

Tele Aviv Facts continued

• City was originally built on sand dunes

• Most densely populated area in Israel

• 9 mile Mediterranean Coastline (beach)

• Carmel Market in the Yemenite Quarter is one of the largest open air markets in the Middle East

Tel Aviv Bus Station Bombed

Tel Aviv at Night

Walkway in

Jaffa

Simon’s House

Haifa

Haifa

• Israel’s 3rd largest city (population of 250,000)

• Israel’s northern capital• City built on the slopes of Mount Carmel• Home of the World Headquarters of the

Bahai faith• Israel’s only subway is located here• Considered to be Israel’s most progressive

city

Haifa

• Technion – Israel’s leading technology company

• MATAM industrial center – one of Israel’s largest concentrations of high technology

Stairway to

Heaven

Bahia Gardens

Rocket Attack

Hezbollah Rocket Attack in Haifa

Terrorist Attack

Jericho

Dead Sea

Dead Sea Facts

• Highest salt concentration of any water on earth (33%)

• Evaporation increases the minerals and salt

• Located on the Syrian/African fault line (plate separated)

• Considered to be holy – site where Jesus was baptized

• Alternative cure for arthritis

Mud is thought

to be

therapeutic