Israel and the Israelis
Israel is many things to many people: a land of hope,
wonder, faith, salvation, contradiction, and sometimes despair.
Although Israel is only now 50 years old, the roots of its three prime
religious faiths (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) stretch back over
many millennia, and some of its ancient settlements are amongst the
oldest on earth.
Abraham, the first Jewish Patriarch, led his people here in
search of “the land of milk and honey”; Jesus Christ was born, lived,
ministered, and died here; and Mohammed, the founder of Islam, visited
Jerusalem during his heavenly “Night Journey. ” Each religion and
sect — Jews, Muslims (including Druse), Christians (including Armenian
and Eastern Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Samaritans, and Copts),
Baha’i, and several more — claims some piece of this sacred earth. Each
faith worships a single god and recognizes elements of the others’
beliefs. Sometimes more than one denomination shares one church. The
church may then be marked out to designate where worshippers of the
various denominations take their place.
This giddying confluence of distinct religions is matched
only by the diversity of the population. As a largely immigrant
society, the State of Israel provides home to people from over 80
countries around the world. Nearly half the Jewish inhabitants hail
from overseas, and they have brought with them many of the accumulated
customs and cultural traditions of their former homes.
In the face of such plurality it’s hard to characterize
Israel. This is a land where different and sometimes conflicting
traditions continue to matter despite heavy odds. Not so much a
melting-pot as a “land of unlimited impossibilities,” Israel compresses
a host of sights and lifestyles into a small area, offering a
cornucopia of experiences for visitors.
Preeminent among the attractions is Jerusalem. The Temple
Mount area is the geographical heart of Judaism. The city has drawn
Christian visitors, sometimes heavily armed, ever since the
proclamation of the “Holy Land” and development of the first Christian
sites for pilgrims in the fifth century. You’ll find that the Old
City’s myriad colours, sounds, smells, and tastes stir the senses; the
Temple Mount’s architecture can take your breath away; pilgrims tracing
Christ’s journey to Calvary along the Via Dolorosa remain a deeply
moving sight; and the views from the Mount of Olives are stunning. For
Christians seeking spiritual refreshment, there are countless churches
to visit, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Basilica of
the Annunciation (in Nazareth), and the Church of the Nativity (in
Bethlehem), just to mention the most famous. Muslims revere the sites
on the Temple Mount: the Dome of the Rock and El-Aksa Mosque. Even when
these sights are bustling with visitors you’re likely to find them
compelling.
However, Jerusalem is only a starting point — beyond the
capital lie more visitor attractions per square mile than in any other
country in the world, beckoning not only pilgrims, historians, and
archaeologists, but also hikers, ornithologists, scuba-divers,
windsurfers, and many others. Israel is so compact you can cram enough
variety of activities into a week to satisfy almost every taste.
Indeed, should you decide to go slow on culture, you’ll find
Israel a splendid place for leisurely sun-worshipping. In recent years
the country has begun to realise its considerable potential for
beach-style tourism. The fast-paced metropolis of Tel Aviv boasts
beautiful white sands, while other parts of the country have their own
unique features. It is perfectly feasible to spend a fortnight in
Eilat, exploring the Red Sea, lying on the beaches, journeying into the
Negev Desert — and never see a religious building or an archaeological
site.
After an exhausting day on the go or at the beach, you can
rest assured that you’ll be able to relax in comfortable hotels,
hospices, and restaurants. Israelis are delighted that people from
everywhere visit their country, and welcome you with genuine warmth.
Nor are you likely to encounter a language problem, as English is
taught in all schools and is widely spoken.
It has been suggested that it’s impossible for any
foreigner to understand the Israeli psyche. Possibly no other country
has had such a turbulent history. Visits to Masada and Yad Vashem (the
Holocaust Museum) may give you an inkling of the capacity for tragedy
and heroism embodied in both that history and the modern State of
Israel. Yet, despite all the displacement and suffering, the settlers
of this land continue to be friendly and welcoming.
