What can be done in Israel is not possible. What is not allowed in Israel (a reminder for tourists)

Rules of conduct for tourists in Israel: how to swim in the Dead Sea, where you can drink alcohol and how to dress properly to visit Israeli shrines.

In any country there is an unspoken but clearly working set of rules. Israel also has it, and if you go there on vacation, it’s better to get acquainted with it. Then the journey will be cloudless and will leave only positive emotions. Tours to Israel are a great opportunity to combine business with pleasure.

Stunning Dead Sea

The first thing that may surprise an uninitiated tourist is the meticulousness that Israel pays to security issues. This includes a meticulous inspection of luggage and personal belongings at the airport, and at least one security guard as an indispensable attribute of any, even small, store. When going shopping, be prepared to have you and your bags checked with a metal detector. This does not mean that you look suspicious or like a potential terrorist: body searches are standard procedure in Israel.

At train stations, airports and other objects considered strategic, precautionary measures are even stricter, so it is not only recommended not to take pictures in these places, but also to remove equipment from your bag at all. As for luggage, never leave it unattended. The point is not that your things can be stolen: a bag standing alone against the wall can be perceived as filled with explosives. IN worst case you will have to prove to the security service for a long time that you are simply forgetful and did not mean anything bad.

Tourists, as a rule, do not have problems with the police in Israel - except for those cases when they really behave provocatively or break the law. True, if you do fall into the category of “suspicious” citizens, you may be detained until your identity is determined and for questioning for a period of from several minutes to several hours. If you spent at least a third of an hour in the police station, remember: such a detention already falls under the category of arrest. If it is unfounded, you can go to court to protect your rights and demand compensation for moral damage. Any detention must be documented by the police: in the form of a written report issued to you.

Special requirements for appearance there is also no tourist, except when you visit holy places. The weather in Israel can be hot, but even then you should dress as modestly as possible, covering your shoulders and legs. And in order not to catch sidelong glances in temples, it is recommended (though not strictly) to wear a special headdress.

Play gambling You won’t be able to do this in Israel - casinos are officially prohibited there. But if you still can’t imagine a vacation without such an adrenaline rush, there is a way out: become a passenger in one of the “floating casinos” plying within the waters of Eilat. In appearance, these are ordinary ships, but as soon as they enter neutral waters and formally leave Israel, they turn into floating zones for gambling tourists.

In 2010, Israel passed a law prohibiting drinking alcoholic beverages in public places. Moreover, at night, law enforcement officers are authorized to confiscate the alcohol you have, so it is better not to display it in public if you are in crowded places. It is now also impossible to buy alcohol in stores from 11 pm to 6 am: it is sold only in drinking establishments.

One of the most popular tourist sites in the state of Israel, the Dead Sea, deserves special attention. Without knowing certain rules, swimming in it will not only not benefit your health, but can also be harmful. Remember: you should go into dense salted water no more than twice a day, and one dive can last no more than 20 minutes. Make sure that water does not get into your nose, mouth or eyes, and if this happens, immediately wash yourself in a regular fresh shower stall. In any case, you need to take a freshwater shower after the end of the session. To avoid accidentally injuring your feet, go into the water in slippers that fit your feet: if the shoes do not fit tightly around your feet, they will definitely float up. Swim carefully and carefully: The Dead Sea is not a place for ordinary pranks and water games: you can not only injure yourself, but also harm other swimmers.

IN lately Israel has become a very popular holiday destination among Russian tourists. First of all, this happened due to the introduction of a visa-free regime between our countries. Israel is also one of those countries where you can go in winter to bask in the sun. Tourists enjoy the rich program of excursions and the opportunity to visit the resorts of the Dead Sea.

Most often, tourists choose Jerusalem for their trips. Thousands of Christian pilgrims from all over the world come to the capital every year. Such famous cities as Nazareth and Bethlehem also attract visitors. Visit the city, which is all a national park - Caesarea. In the city huge amount ancient architectural masterpieces.

You can also visit the resorts of the Mediterranean Sea, the cities of Tel Aviv, Netanya and Herzliya. Holidays in Israel are varied. You just have to choose the place where you want to go and what you want to see.

Upon arrival in the country, customs control awaits you. Be prepared for it to be very tough. You may be asked to leave a deposit for some of the things you bring into the country. Such things usually include video cameras, diving equipment, and so on. The deposit left will be returned to you upon departure, when you present these items again.

People usually travel around the country by bus. It is worth considering that buses do not operate on Saturdays, as well as on Jewish holidays. It will be more convenient to rent a car. For this you will need international law and a credit card, and you must be at least 21 years old. Renting a car will not cost much.

In Israel there is a special taxi for tourists. It is marked with an emblem depicting

While in the country, respect local customs and traditions. Not only Christians live in Israel, but also Muslims. Don't insult their beliefs. Even smoking in public on Shabbat would be an offense. There is also a tradition here of not eating meat and dairy foods at the same time. Pork and some seafood products are prohibited. When in public places, be quiet and calm. Challenging behavior is unacceptable. It is prohibited to drink any alcoholic beverages on the streets.

When visiting shrines there are traditions and customs. Clothing should cover legs and arms as much as possible. This applies to both men and women. You must take off your shoes before entering the mosque.

For any violation you will be expelled from the mosque or temple. Remember that all types of gambling are prohibited in Israel.

You should not take photographs of local residents without their permission. There is no need to photograph government objects, such as bridges, train stations, airports, or government institutions. Otherwise, you may have problems with law enforcement officials.

There are areas in Israel that should not be visited due to the tense situation there. This is the Arab quarter in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, the Gaza Strip and the cities of Nablus and Janin. In general, tourist routes do not pass through dangerous areas, so there is no need to worry about this.

Language is one of the main components of culture and life. To help you understand and experience Israel a little better during your trip, we have prepared a list of some phrases that will help you with this.

"ShalOm, BrukhIm abaIm!"

"Shalom" in Israel means both "hello" and "goodbye", and according to the pronunciation of this magic word local residents will immediately and unmistakably guess which country (and sometimes even city) you come from.

In fact, this word is translated as “peace, prosperity,” and therefore appears in many songs, poems and prayers.

As for the slightly longer “bruchim abayim,” you will encounter this phrase right at the airport. Large blue letters in the arrivals area greet guests for a reason. Literal translation sounds like “Blessed are those who come”, isn’t it, very exciting and nice words? This is what people say to visitors of major exhibitions, to shoppers in secluded colorful shops, and just to guests at a family dinner.

“Eyfo?”

One of the most necessary questions for tourists is – Where? Be careful, in Israel it is very easy to get lost in the intricate Hebrew signs and narrow streets. Don’t let unfamiliar speech scare you: Israelis are very friendly and will be happy to show you the way and explain where to go to everyone accessible ways. Smile widely and say “Eifo... (and the name of the place).” And you can choose and book a hotel or hostel to stay in Israel.

“KAMA ze ole?”

How much does it cost? This phrase will come in handy for you. Fresh fruit, musical instruments at a flea market, or just souvenirs - you can safely ask for a discount on all this. By the way, you can (and should) bargain even on the central streets in private stores. In English, of course, people will understand you, but a conversation that begins with a phrase in Hebrew will ensure favor from the seller.

"Lo Medaber Hebrew"

Israel is a surprisingly multicultural country, so you may be mistaken for a local and try to speak Hebrew. It is for such cases that you learn 3 words “LO MEDABER IBRIT” to explain to your interlocutor that I don’t speak Hebrew.

“SlikhA”, “TodA”, “Bevakasha”

“Magic” words, as my mother used to say. "SlikhA" - sorry. "Toda" - thank you. "Bevakasha" - please. Short, concise, easy to remember!

“NaAg, tatsOr!”

If you go to conquer one of the cities of Israel on, be careful and watch out for stops. The fact is that before you get out, you need to notify the driver by pressing the button on the handrail. At rush hour, when there are more than enough people in transport, you can shout “NaAg, tatsOr!” - driver, stop. Probably other passengers will do the same. Don't forget to add "please", you already know how to say it! For more convenient travel around the country, you can also rent a car.

"Heshbon, bevakasha"

Or “Bill, please!” After a long and busy day, you can treat yourself to dinner or just a pleasant drink in a cafe. Interesting fact: in Israel there is a special gesture with which they usually ask for a bill in . You need to raise your hand and seem to sign with a pen in the air. Please note that a tip of 10% of the order amount is required.

“Ma nishma? - BesEder!

This is not just a short dialogue, it is a kind of greeting ritual. Both strangers and bosom friends ask when they meet: “How are you?”, and it is quite normal to answer with the same question. Answering a question with a question is generally very Jewish. “BesEder” is a completely universal word, or rather the phrase “okay.” They can describe everything from the smell of cologne to the state of affairs in life.

Using these phrases, of course, it is difficult to have long conversations. But it is possible to give the impression of an interested traveler. We hope that even with such a small vocabulary, Hebrew will become a little clearer, more pleasant and interesting, and the journey will be entertaining.

In fact, there are much more things that cannot be done in Israel, as in any civilized country. But we tried to collect prohibitive laws that may surprise a tourist or a new repatriate.
1. Praise Nazism and Hitler. If you go out into the street and loudly shout “Hai Hitler,” you can go to prison for two years.

2. Joking with the security service. If you say that you have a bomb in your luggage or that your mother was packing the suitcase, be prepared to strip down to your underpants for a full check.

3. Drive a car without a T-shirt. Even a man cannot get into a car without a top - this violates the equality of men and women, and you can run into a fine. Interestingly, this does not apply to Arabs. Whatever the child enjoys, as long as nothing blows up...

4. Drive a car on the Day of Judgment. Although there is no law on this matter, according to tradition, only ambulances and police are allowed to ride on Yom Kippur, and children on bicycles and scooters are allowed on the roads.

5. Carry a knife (even a small one) or any other weapon in your bag. Going into any shopping mall or a cafe, the security guard can check the bag and take away any weapon if there is no permission for it, and inform the police about it.

6. Leaving children under 9 years of age unattended. Even 30 years ago, children as young as 5 years old went to the forest to pick mushrooms without adults, and modern Israel, if you leave an eight-year-old child alone at home, the social service can conduct a full check of the family’s well-being and register it. And they can conduct an educational conversation for tourists.

7. Leave any bag, backpack, package or suitcase unattended. An unknown object on the street or indoors is considered a potential explosive device. The police arrive to such calls within 2-5 minutes, and the bomb disposal service neutralizes the object. The special reaction is justified - there have been no terrorist attacks with explosive devices in Israel for many years.

8. Scold children loudly (especially use physical force). The consequences will be more severe than in paragraph 6. Parents can be judged even because of one observed incident, and tourists can be immediately deported from the country.

9. Make noise during quiet times. In the country, the time from 14-00 to 16-00 is officially recognized as a quiet hour, and at this time you cannot make noise, just like at night.

11. You cannot ride electric bicycles: under 16 years of age; on sidewalks; without helmet; holding a phone in his hands. For this, a fine of up to 1,000 shekels is imposed and the bicycle can be confiscated on the spot.

12. Criticize Israel out loud, especially to tourists. Israelis love their country so much that they are certainly willing to give their lives for it. The country's citizens have established a monopoly on criticism, and as soon as a tourist or repatriate criticizes Israel, they immediately come to its defense.

For recent years Israel's restaurants have undergone significant changes. If previously local establishments could not offer anything outstanding, especially to guests from other countries who were satiated with culinary delights, today in Israel you can find many world-class restaurants. The quality of the dishes and their variety are pleasantly surprising: now here you can try virtually any cuisine in the world. Also in better side The quality of service has also changed. However, despite all the positive changes, we should not forget about the specifics of Israeli restaurants.

Many Israeli restaurants offer kosher menus, i.e. such dishes that correspond to Jewish religious canons. In short, they boil down to the fact that dishes should not contain pork, seafood, or combinations of meat and dairy products. Therefore, be prepared for some types of restrictions in kosher restaurants: you should not place orders in such places that violate the principles of kosher nutrition, for example, demanding sour cream or cheese sauce for a meat dish, even if this is provided for in the original recipe.

Some establishments, especially restaurants with local cuisine, offer visitors free additions to their order - a bread basket, sauces, light snacks, pickled vegetables, etc. All this is brought to the client at the very beginning, while the main course is being prepared. But keep in mind that in tourist places a separate fee is charged for such additives, and they are placed on the table by default, without warning the client that they will have to pay for them. The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises is to clarify this issue with the waiter in advance.

It is also worth asking the waiter in advance to show the approximate portion sizes. The fact is that many Israeli dishes are very satisfying, and at the same time they are served in quite large quantities. For example, the main dish might come with a good portion of hummus or vegetables, so it could end up being enough for two. If you come to a restaurant with a large group, then it may be more profitable to order 2-3 dishes for everyone than one for each.

Typically, in Israeli restaurants, tips are not included in the bill, and the customer is expected to leave a tip unless he has a serious, justified complaint about the quality of service. If overall everything went well, and the client did not leave a tip, the waiter has the right to detain him and ask him about the reason. In general, the tip size varies between 10-15%, in most cases 12% will be enough, if the service was beyond praise - then 15%. You can pay tips either in cash or by bank card. The waiters themselves still prefer cash, even if the main bill was paid by card, since they do not always receive their share of card payments.

Restaurants in major cities in Israel are not much different from establishments in other cities around the world. So that you have pleasant impressions from visiting a restaurant, follow simple rules: be polite to the staff, carefully study the menu and do not hesitate to check the bill.