Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Media and Public Affairs Division

Information and Visual Media Department

Director: Mordehay Rodgold

Project Managers: Ariella Charny and Michal Gur-Aryeh

Executive Manager: MGS Language Services

Creative and Project Manager: Visual-Trigger

Design: Hashchuna

Content Research: Maof Creative

Writing: Judy Elkus

FACTS ABOUT

ISRAEL

CREATIVE, OPEN, DIVERSE 2

FESTIVALS 4

FOOD & WINE 6

FASHION FORWARD 8

INNOVATIVE DESIGN 10

ARCHITECTURE 12

SPORTS & OUTDOORS 14

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CREATIVEOPENDIVERSE

Lifestyle | Creativity, Openness and Diversity

Creative and diverse come to mind when describing the Israeli way of life, while informality, frankness and warmth define interactions in most spheres. Family and friends are all-importantin Israeli culture, as is hospitality and openness towards others.

A sense of mutual responsibility is felt across the broader community Reflecting core values in Jewish tradition and Middle Eastern culture, people like to help each other out.

Israelis are determined and push the boundaries of what is considered possible. Israeli tenacity helped turn Israel into a global hub for entrepreneurs and has earned it the title of Start-Up Nation. Innovative and resourceful, Israelis insist ondealing with challenges head-on.

Israelis work hard, but they also play hard. It's a regular sight to see bars and restaurants packed with people even at midnight on a Monday. Throughout the country, Israelis strive to live life to the fullest.

Technological Living Innovation in Israel emerges from a culture that fosters creativity and the belief that anything is possible; in the words of the father of modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl: "If you will it, it is no dream." Every day, new ideas are born that make a difference; for example, by making driving safer with smart eye-movement detecting sensors, or reducing food waste with technology that keeps produce fresher, longer. In 2014, Tel Aviv won the World Smart Cities Award for high-tech developments that promote civic engagement and improvethe lives of its citizens.

Travelers at heart Israelis often travel for leisure, be it within Israel in the country's many national parks, or around the globe - from Asia to South America. Curious to explore new places and open to new cultures, Israelisprioritize traveling; in 2014, 5.2 million, or some 65% of Israelis traveled abroad.

Israelis at a rock concert | Flash 90

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Living Longer

Did You Know? While Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of the State of Israel, a number of other languages can be heard routinely. Listen as you walk on the beaches of Mediterranean resorts or in bustling downtown Jerusalem, and you will be likely to hear lively conversations in Russian, English, French, Spanish, Amharic and other languages. Many Israelis grow up in bilingual homes and are comfortable in multi-lingual environments.

Israel has the 8th highest life expectancy in the world. Perhaps it's thanks to the good weather; perhaps it’s thehealthcare system, or the warm relations between people.

80.5Chile

83.7Japan

83.4 Switzerland

82.8Australia

82.5Israel

82.3Korea

81 Germany

79.3United States

Israelis at a rock concert | Flash 90

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FESTIVALS

Lifestyle | Festivals

Music and dance festivals to suit every taste abound From the annual free Opera in the Park festival in Tel Aviv, to the Indie music festivals in the Negev desert; from Klezmer in the Old City ofSafed to the Oud Festival in Jerusalem.

Israelis' love of food and wine ensures a number of wine and culinary events throughout the year, which give visitors plenty of enticing opportunities to enjoy old classics or new creations from around theworld.

Street theater open to the public, such as the Akko Festival of Alternative Israeli Theater, is extremely popular. When it comes to partying, it’s not unusual for a municipality to stop traffic to accommodate a massive street party - for example, the annual costume carnivals during the Jewish holiday of Purim.

For those who find there aren’t enough hours in the day, every summer Tel Aviv hosts a "White Night" festival, a spectacular night bursting with street music and performances, where restaurants, clubs and other venues stay open until the morning. The annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv is one of the biggest in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of participants from Israel and abroad each year.

Getting Outside With 300 days of sunshine each year, Israel is an ideal host country for outdoor festivals. The Midburn festival, a regional event of the famous Burning Man Festival, offers festival-goers a desert haven for communal living and art-making, while the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in the Galilee's Jezre'el Valley wows visitors with magnificent sights.

There are plenty of festivals in Israel that reflect the country's ethnically-diverse society. People from allbackgrounds join Jewish-

Moroccans in observing the tradition of Mimouna at the end of the Passover, enjoy Ramadan festivities in the heart of Jerusalem with Israeli Muslims, ortake part in the Jewish-

Ethiopian holiday of Sigd. The Holiday of Holidays Festival in Haifa proudly reflects the harmonious relationships between Muslims, Jews and Christians.

Celebrating Diversity

Israelis enjoying the Midburn festival, a regional event of the Burning Man festival

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Did You Know? Every year, the Old City of Jerusalem is host to the dramatic Festival of Light. The city's ancient architecture is illuminated with dazzling light shows, and light installations bring imaginative color and pattern to age-old stones. Live music performances complement the light shows and bring the Old City to life on a new dimension.

Festivals to Enjoy

Carnivals andparties

Food& Wine

Religious andcoexistence

Specialty

Music &Dance

Theater Fashion

Art & Light Installations

Israelis enjoying the Midburn festival, a regional event of the Burning Man festival

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FOOD & WINE

Lifestyle | Food & Wine

Sophistication and a fusion of tastes are the hallmarks of Israel's food and wine scene International cuisine, inspired by immigrants from around the world, together with Jewish recipes from Middle Eastern and Mediterranean traditions, combine to offer a unique experimentalism and mélange of cooking styles.

There is something to suit every taste, be it a bite of fresh street food or an elegant multi-course dinner in a gourmet restaurant. Some classics you find in either setting; Falafel, crispy balls of seasoned ground chickpeas, may be served at a roadside kiosk in a pita with hummus, or dressed as a starter in a more extravagant eatery.

Outdoor dining is a key feature of Israeli culture, be it a picnic or barbecue in a park, or in garden seating areas at a restaurant. Sarona, an open-air culinary hotspot in Tel Aviv, combines fine dining, history and leisure. Microbreweries abound, producing craft beers, and many Israelis in recent years have taken up homebrewing.

In the last 30 years, many Israeli wineries have won international competitions, drawing the attention of wine experts and connoisseurs from around the world. The Jewish love of wine is no new phenomenon - for 3,000 years, ceremonial wine has been an integral part of Jewish holidays and the Sabbath. Today there are hundreds of wineries in Israel, producing excellent red andwhite vintages and sparkling wines.

THE ISRAEL WINE MAP

50 commercial wineries

300+ boutique wineries

Negev

Galilee

Golan

Shomron

Samson

JudeanHills

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Healthy Eating, Israeli style As in other Mediterranean countries, the Israeli diet is rich in locally-grown fruit and vegetables, olive oil, nuts and fish, and local delicacies such as hummus (chickpea spread) and tahini (sesame seed spread). Hearty meat and egg dishes inspired by both European and Middle East traditions are part of the Israeli repertoire; the Israeli dish called Shakshuka of Jewish Tunisian and Moroccan origin is the perfect eggs-for-dinner meal, complete with a spicy tomato sauce. A study by the Lancet medical journalranked Israel 9th out of 187 countries in dietary quality.

Did You Know? Food plays an important role in Jewish life. A big family meal is a central part of every holiday, and each comes with traditionaldishes, such as a slow-

cooked stew (Hamin or Cholent) for the Sabbath, or potato pancakes (Latkes) during the Chanukah festival. Jewish cuisine is influenced by religious dietary laws called Kashrut, which forbid the mixing of dairy and meat ingredients and the consumption of porkand shellfish.

Food for the Soul The "Seven Species" described in the Bible – wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranate, olives and dates - are native to the Land of Israel and very present in the contemporary Israeli diet. These healthystaples accentuate a sense of continuity between the biblical Land of Israel and the modern state.

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FASHIONFORWARD

Lifestyle | Fashion Forward

Original, updated and tasteful; a twist on the casual look with surprising embellishments. As with so many aspects of life in Israel,

Israeli fashion is a symbiosis ofinfluences and cultures

The legendary Maskit label was Israel’s first major fashion brand and it combined European fabrics with rich Middle Eastern embroidery. It was sold in high-end stores likes Neiman Marcus and was worn by the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Queen Elizabeth. Today, the label is making a come-back as Israeli designers continue to bring fresh looks to the global fashionindustry.

In the past few decades, Israel has become a powerhouse in both swimwear and bridal design. Bold colors and signature prints have earned Israeli swimsuit designers international recognition. Daring cuts and pallets, exquisite handwork and regal fabrics give Israeli bridal fashion designers an edge over the competition. Local talent is growing and influencing far and wide, with Israeli gowns featured at major events, including the New York International Bridal Week.

The future of Israeli fashion is in the hands of its students, as Israel is home to top-tier design schools. Business of Fashion ranks Shenkar College's Fashion Design School as the most influential institution outside of New York or London, placing it 11th overall in the globe.

Beauty ofAll Kinds

A broad definition of physical beauty, with an emphasis on a healthy lifestyle and body image, is key for adolescents. That was the thinking that went into Israeli lawmakers' decision to outlaw underweight modeling in 2012, making Israel the firstcountry in the world to do so.

The first ready-to-wear fashion line printed entirely from home 3D printers | Danit Peleg; FABlife

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High-Tech Fashion Camouflage dresses that change color depending on your surroundings;smart-wear that can monitor your heart-rate. This is Israeli fashion-meets-

high-tech. And when it comes to choosing your perfect style and fit, Israeli tech will help you scour the web for the ideal look with powerful algorithms, or even let you virtually 'try on' clothes without leaving your bedroom with accurate and instantaneous measuring tech.

3D Printed Fashion Israeli entrepreneur Danit Peleg was the first designer in the world to create a ready-to-wear women’s fashion collection entirely from home 3D printers, which she created as a student. Danit’s 3D-printed fabrics are elegant and comfortable, and sometook up to 3,000 hours to print!

The first ready-to-wear fashion line printed entirely from home 3D printers | Danit Peleg; FABlife

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INNOVATIVEDESIGN

Lifestyle | Innovative Design

Creative design is ingrained in the Israeli spirit of innovation Established in 1906 by Russian-Jewish artist and sculptor Boris Schatz, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design is Israel's national school of art and the country's oldest institute of higher education. The school has won several international awards, including first place among foreign schools at Tokyo Designers Week 2014 and the Best Film School Award at theEuropean Animated Film Festival 2015.

Israeli industrial designers craft sleek and ergonomic wearables, medical devices and other electronics, and are extensively involved in the Internet of Things (IoT) marketplace. Many talented industrial designers are graduates of the renowned Holon Institute of Technology.

Public areas and gardens in Israel often feature iconic and intriguing sculptures, landscapes and interior designs. The revamped Habima Square in central Tel Aviv, home to the Habima National Theater, the Culture Palace and the Pavilion for Contemporary Art, features a garden, reflection pools, and sleek, minimalist landscape architecture. In the heart of downtown Jerusalem, an installation of giant kinetic poppies greets passersby by gently opening to create shade during the day, or light during the night.

EmpoweringDesign Israeli start-ups are designing tech that empowers those with a range of disabilities: From a wheelchair made for hiking, to glasses that help the blind to feel their way through the world on a whole new level. The non-profit MILBAT – The Israeli Center for Technology and Accessibility – isharnessing the hi-

tech expertise of 300 volunteers to design and create hundreds of devices for the disabled and elderly.

Leading the Way in 3D Printing Numerous companies and non-profits are leading the way in 3D printing, positioning Israel as a global leader in self-manufacturing. With inexpensive 3D home printers emerging in the market, and open source-code sharing within the 3D printing community online, it won't be long before Israelis are printing furniture, toys or even exoskeletons in their own living rooms.

Unique spaces within the Design Museum in Holon

The iconic kinetic poppies in the heart of Jerusaelm | HQ Architects; photographer: Dor Kedmi

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Did You Know? The Design Museum in Holon is so much more than ‘just’ a museum. It offers an interactive design experience to the public and serves as an active international hub for design innovation. Adjacent to the museum is the Mediatheque, which features exhibition halls, a theatre, cinematheque and other designmuseums.

Unique spaces within the Design Museum in Holon

The iconic kinetic poppies in the heart of Jerusaelm | HQ Architects; photographer: Dor Kedmi

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The Bahai Gardens in Haifa

ARCHITECTURE

Lifestyle | Architecture

The Land of Israel is a crossroads where East and West have met throughout history.

Architecture in Israel spans over millennia; from the ancient Israelites' holy temple, to Herodian constructions, Crusader castles, Islamic madrassas and Byzantine churches; from Templar towns, Bauhaus buildings, and soaring glass-sided skyscrapers.

The diversity is particularly visible in Jerusalem, where the square- kilometer area of the Old City, dating back thousands of years, is set alongside "new" neighborhoods built starting in the 1860s through today. Tying together the ancient and the modern is the white Jerusalem limestone, the unique and magnificent building material with which, by law, all local structures must be built or covered in.

Other ancient cities, such as Acre, Jaffa (Yafo), Tiberius, Beersheba and Safed also remind us that, although a modern country, Israel is an ancient land. Preserving the past for future generations, Israel invests significant resources into restoration projects.

Did You Know? The magnificent Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa and Acre combine a unique design of geometrical structures with painstakingly conserved natural and historical landscape features. The site in Haifa is home to the world center of the Baha’i faith and the golden-domed Shrine of the Bahá’í leader, the Bab. The stunning gardens frame panoramic views of Haifa,the Carmel forest and the Mediterranean Sea.

Concert Hall Ashdod

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The Bahai Gardens in Haifa

Concert Hall Ashdod

White City,Tel Aviv

In the 1930s, Jewish-German architects immigrated to Tel Aviv after the rise of the Nazis, and built a one-of-a-kind collection of over 4,000 buildings in the Bauhaus or International Style. Today, Tel Aviv’s White City has the largest number of Bauhaus buildings of any city in the world. In 2003, UNESCO proclaimed Tel Aviv's White City a World Cultural Heritage site, in recognition of the unique adaptation of modern international architectural trends to the cultural, climatic, and local traditions of the city.

Along with ancient wonders of the past, new buildings are being developed with the future in mind. Israeli Professor Niri Oxmon of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and architect and town planner Professor Isaac Meir are leading the way in sustainable building that reduces energy consumption and conserves water. Tel Aviv University’s Porter School of Environmental Studies, which incorporates photovoltaic panels for energy production and wastewater recycling, has beenhailed Israel’s greenest building.

SustainableConstruction

The Yamin Moshe neighborhood in Jerusalem

The ancient city of Akko

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Lifestyle | Sports & Outdoors

Getting out in the great outdoors and breaking a sweat while you’re at it is a big part of the Israeli lifestyle. Even the summer heat doesn’t stop people from hiking in national parks, exploring streams and caves,cycling along the promenade or just strolling along the beach.

Sports and fitness opportunities abound throughout the country; Cities invest significantly in public spaces and parks, ensuring that they are green and well-equipped with playgrounds, sports facilities, water fountains and more.

Team sports are very much a part of Israeli culture, with soccer and basketball dominating in popularity. Locals and visitors alike enjoy a range of watersports including surfing, kayaking, sailing, parasailing, kite surfing and stand-up paddle boarding. Activities like Yoga, Pilates and TRX are also hugely popular, practiced not just in the studio but in public parks as well. Those looking for adrenaline take to rappelling, rock climbing, spelunking or skydiving in some of Israel’s most stunning nature reserves.

On the professional level, Israel has the highest number of qualified divers per person in the world. In windsurfing, Israel has won Olympic gold and bronze as well as European and World Championships. Israeli athletes have also shined in Judo throughout the decades; in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de JaneiroIsrael won two bronze medals in Judo.

Year-round sporting events Israel’s mild weather and highly varied landscapes provide an unforgettable arena for international competitions, including marathons, triathlons, relay and cycling races year-round. Some unique competitions include the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Night Runs, the Eilat Desert marathon, and theInternational Haifa UCI XCO Mountain Bike Race.

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Krav Maga - Israelimartial art Krav Maga, literally meaning ‘contact combat,’ is the Israeli self-defense martial art that has become an international sensation, with classes taught in studios around the world. One of the principles of Krav Maga is to throw your attacker off balance and to use your attacker's own weight against themselves. Women in particular have empowered themselves by learning Krav Maga. The self-defense system has been adopted by law enforcement agencies worldwide, including the F.B.I. andUS Secret Service.

Parasport success Since first competing in the Paralympic Games in 1960, Israel’s paralympics athletes have brought home 124 gold, 124 silver and 132 bronze medals for events as varied as javelin, swimming and athletics. Israel also sends teams to the annual Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships andhosted the 2009 competition in Tel Aviv.

Fitness Facts

29% walking

19%fitness classes

13%going to the gym

12%running/jogging

58% of the population engage in physical exercise of 30 minutes or more at least oncea week

62% of Israelis over the age of 65 report being physically active on a regular basis

Of those who exercise, the most popularways are:

7%swimming

2%ball games

18% other

The Jerusalem Marathon

Inbal Pezaro winning the Bronze medal at the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro

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