Living and Traveling in Israel
Israel is a lovely country situated in the Middle East. Israel is surrounded by Egypt in the South, Jordan in the West, and Syria and Lebanon in the North. In comparison to its size, Israel has variable landscapes and geographic areas: a snow at the north (Golan Heights, mainly at their pick - the Hermon mountain), a desert in the south (the Negev Desert) and even the lowest place on the earth - the Dead Sea (it is called "dead" because its high salt concentration prevent creatures from living there). The Dead Sea is a unique place that attracts many tourists. Additional unique sites are: Jerusalem, the capital of Israel which has a religious significance for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Tel Aviv, Eilat and the Sea of Galilee.
Besides cities, Israel has several types of cooperative agricultural settlements; the most familiar are the Kibbutz and the Moshav. The property of the Kibbutz is shared equally among its residents. Residents usually share a common dining room, common laundry and more. Jobs in Kibbutz include agriculture, factory, and tourism. People of the Kibbutz don't get salary and the incomes go to the "Kibbutz". In return, their basic living necessities such as food and accommodation are provided free.
Majority of the Israeli citizen, males and females are obligated to serve in the Israeli Defense Force. It is the only country in the world that military service is mandatory for women. Women serve two years while men serve three years.
The climate in Israel is Mediterranean, with a pleasant spring and autumn. Summer and winter are the predominant seasons. The winter is the rainy season and it usually lasts from October to April. Rainfall varies significantly between the north and the south parts of the country. The highest rainfall is in the north and center of Israel and the lowest is in the south. The rainy winter has great importance for the renewal of natural water resources. The summer is hot and dry. The coldest month is January and the hottest, August.
Israel has rich variety of plants and animals. Most of the plants grow during the rainy winter and bloom in early spring. Endangered plants are protected by Israeli law. After the first rains the mountains and valleys in the Northern and Central parts of the country are painted green by the new growing plants. Beside wild flowers, many species of flowers are grown across Israel in fields and hothouses for local flower shops www.flowersisrael.com and export.
Holidays are a part of the religious and culture life in Israel. Examples for holidays and rituals: Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur, a day of fasting, considered the most holy day of the year. Sukkot, a ritual of building a booth, Pesach (Passover), symbolizes the liberation of Israeli slaves from Egypt, Yom Ha'atzma'ut - Israeli Independence Day.
The author is an Israeli citizen who loves to travel and explore the country.
