On our way from NY to Israel

Frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, God describes the Promised Land (now the State of Israel) as a “land flowing with milk and honey”, referring to the fertility of the soil and the bounty that awaited God’s chosen people. And so, the idea of a trip to Israel has long been a “bucket list” item for my husband and me. Recently, that wish became a reality as we packed our bags for a 10-day trip of Israel, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, and all points in-between.  As an anxious and open-minded traveler, this trip offered not only a discovery of new landscapes but also the opportunity to view the State of Israel through new eyes, which I will be describing in next week’s edition of this newsletter.

In the meantime, while Israel celebrates its 75th Anniversary on April 25th….and many television viewers have seen the 30 second ad campaign touting the Dead Sea, the food, the people, and the beauty of Israel….here are many more surprising, amazing, and fun facts about this small but diverse country that I would like to share below. DID YOU KNOW?

Israel’s Economy and People

• Israel has the highest concentration of high-tech and startup companies in the world (3000) outside of the United States….and the highest per capita home computer ownership,
• Israel boasts more female entrepreneurs over 55 in the OECD (Organization of Economically Developed Countries) and third in the world for male and female entrepreneurs overall,
• Israeli companies raised a record breaking $10 billion in investments during 2020 despite the uncertainly and instability caused by the worldwide pandemic.
• In 2020, Israel was the eighth most expensive country in the world to live in.  Switzerland came in as number one.

Israel on the Map

• As a leader in world technologies, Israel has produced the cell phone, voice mail technology, the first antivirus software, the Pentium MMX chip technology and most of the Window NT operating system.

• With an emphasis on education, of Israel’s workforce, 24 percent hold college degrees and 12 percent advance degrees.

• The world’s largest wholesale diamond center is in Israel and most of the cut and polished diamonds in the world come from Israel, the first nation to adopt the Kimberly process which a standard that certifies diamonds as “conflict free”.

Israel’s Cultural Facts

• Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing country in the world, in proportion to its population size.  Israel’s culture is extremely varied, with people from more than 100 countries from 5 continents. The breakup of the Soviet Union added over 340,000 Jewish immigrants to Israel’s current population, which is close to 10 million.

• Israel is the only country in the world that has the same name, is in the same land and speaks the same language as it did 3000 years ago.

• Over 90 percent of the land is owned by the State of Israel and is managed by the Israel Land Authority (ILA) which issues long term leasing rights for it.

• Culturally, Israel has more museums per capita than any country in the world, more books printed and more orchestras.  And folk dancing is highly popular in Israel, especially the traditional folk dance known as the hora.

Nature/Environment in Israel

Israel entered the 21st century as the only country that had a net gain in the number of its trees grown during the last 100 years.

• The airspace above Israel is a bird superhighway.  At least 500 million birds in 200 different species fly through each Spring and Fall, headed to and from Asia, Africa and Europe.

• Hiking and camping are an integral part of the country’s culture.  Israeli school and youth groups are taken on annual hiking trips throughout Israel, raising their children with the love of hiking and outdoor exercise.

• Israel recycles 90% of the wastewater it creates, making it the leading nation in the world for water recycling.  In the United States, only 1% of wastewater is recycled.

• Israel has set a target to generate 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 20130, investing heavily in solar power, wind power, and other renewable energy technologies.

Some Amazing and Fun Facts About Israel

• Israelis, per capita, are the world’s largest consumers of fruit and vegetables.  No meal in Israel is complete without a salad, including breakfast.

• Israel has more than 300 wineries, 70 of which harvest at least 50 tons of grapes per year. Approximately 60,000 tons of wine grapes are harvested in Israel annually.

• Israel has the highest number of altruistic kidney donations per capita in the world: 1005 in the past 11 years and counting.

• Israelis love kids.  With an average of three children per woman, Israel has the highest fertility rate among the 37 countries in the OECD, where the average is 1.7.

• Israel has 137 beaches…and is piloting a new AI system to help lifeguards protect swimmers on the beaches and give real-time data on wind, waves and other possible hazards.

• In 2007, Israeli businesswoman Shari Arison initiated Good Deeds Day to encourage people to help one another.  That year, 7000 people took part in Israel.  In 2019, 3.9 million people took part in 108 countries around the world.

• The Israel Postal service has a special Letters to God department, for all letters arriving in Jerusalem from around the world addressed to God.  They are opened and placed into the cracks of the Western Wall.  About 1 million notes are left in the Western Wall every year.

• And Israel is the only country in the world that uses kosher glue for its postage stamps.

• A native-born Jew in Israel is known as a Sabra, or prickly pear, which is a cactus fruit that is tough on the outside but sweet on the inside.

• Israel has become the first country to ban the use of underweight models on catwalks, in order to combat anorexia.

• While everyone in Israel does not keep kosher, the observance of kashrut influences the menus in public institutions and restaurants, including 40 kosher McDonald’s in Israel.

• The ancient land of Israel has thousands upon thousands of archaeological sites, 2000 of them in Jerusalem alone.  One can spend a day of sifting the earth in the City of David and who knows? You might accidentally uncover a priceless treasure.

• Israel is the home to the world’s only theatre company comprised entirely of deal and blind actors, based in Jaffa.  Prior to the performance, visitors can experience eating entirely in the dark while being served by blind waiters.  And Israeli banknotes have Braille markings, in support of this community.

• And lastly, Albert Einstein was offered the position of President of Israel, which he politely turned down.  Other notable citizens of Israel include Golda Meir, Itzhak Perlman, Natalie Portman, Elie Tahari and a host of world leaders, scientists, technology experts, and social entrepreneurs.

Overall, my trip to Israel was a “life changing” experience that left me with a new understanding of the country’s rich history, its sense of community, rich history and spiritual significance. From the ancient ruins of Jerusalem to the vibrant streets of contemporary Tel Aviv, Israeli is indeed, a destination like no other, the details of which I will be sharing in part two of this travelogue.  Stay tuned!