Professional Documents
Culture Documents
State of Israel
Population of Israel:
7,590,758
• I felt truly shaken and stood there murmuring a prayer for peace. Motta Gur’s paratroopers were
struggling to reach the Wall and toudh it. We stood among a tangle of rugged, battle-weary men
who were unable to believe their eyes or restrain their emotions. Their eyes were moist with tears,
their speech incoherent. The overwhelming desire was to cling to the Wall, to hold on to that great
moment as long as possible.”
–Chief of Staff Yitzchak Rabin
• Constructed in 19 BC by Herod the Great
• Wailing wall translated means “Weeping Wall” like crying. Named this
because they cry due to the destruction of The Temple Mount
• The wall basically served as a retaining wall for the hill the temple was
built on.
• The Temple of Solomon was built on the Temple Mount and destroyed in
586 BC by the Babylonians.
• A second temple was built in 516 BC but it was destroyed in 70 AD by the
Romans along with the rest of Jerusalem.
• This wall is all that remains of the Holy Temple
• Jews come to the wall to pray because it is the closest they can come to the
“gate of heaven” that was located in the “Holy of Holies” in the Temple
where they believe God resided on Earth.
Imports
Israel Imports:
• Raw materials
• Military equipment
• Rough diamonds
• Fuel
• Consumer goods
(Central Intelligence Agency, 2012)
Israel Exports:
• Machinery and equipment
• Software
• Cut diamonds,
• Agricultural products
• Textiles
(Central Intelligence Agency, 2012)
Jewish-Israel born
Ethnic Groups:
Jewish-
Europe/America
Jewish-African
Jewish- Asian
Non-Jewish
• Every Israeli citizen learns Arabic and Hebrew in school (Lindquist, 2010).
• God Experts have complete control over marriage and divorce, Israel does
not recognize civil marriage (Granados, 2011).
• Between 5-10% of all Israeli women were exposed to violence in the home
(Muhlbauer, 2006)
• Men felt the need to show their domination by abusing their wives
(Muhlbauer, 2006).
• In 1996 -over 4700 cases of women being abused, in 1997 this number
grew to 7800 (Muhlbauer, 2006).
• both claim land—Holy to
both
• Palestinians living in the
area before WW2, when
Israel is created—many
forced out or to refugee
camps
• Terrorist organizations start
attacking Israel— Israelis
use army to fight back
• Many civilians suffering—
violence still today
Education
• Schooling life expectancy is 15yrs old for males and 16yrs old for females
(Central Intelligence Agency, 2012).
• Over 97% of the total population over 15yrs old can read and write (Central
Intelligence Agency, 2012).
• The government has slashed higher education by 20% in the last 6 years
(Kalman, 2007).
Education
• The Six Day War is what helped the U.S. and Israel build a relationship.
• This relationship is believed to be derived from the core values that the two
states share.
The Native born Israeli is referred to as a Sabra. The word Sabra comes
from the Sabra Cactus Plant- very thorny and threatening on the outside
and very sweet and soft on the inside (Israel, S.O, 2012).
Doing Business in Israel
How to Dress
• An Israeli will take a phone call during a meeting or allow people to interrupt
• It is not common courtesy when passing someone on the street to say “Hi” or
to make eye contact.
• You will be asked “Who are you?”
• In religious communities
• No left-hand handshakes
• No gift giving
• No touching, greeting or handshake with women
• Have a translator
Gift Giving
• No pork products