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Food & Drink
Restaurants in Israel offer a combination of Oriental and Western cuisine, in addition to the local dishes. Some restaurants are expensive, though a high price does not necessarily mean a high standard. Table service is usual. There are many snack bars. Restaurants, bars and cafes catering to tourists usually have menus in two languages (Hebrew plus French or English). Israeli cuisine is essentially a combination of Oriental and Western cuisine, plus an additional distinct flavour brought by the many and varied nationalities which make up the Israelis. Dishes such as Hungarian goulash, Russian bortsch, Viennese schnitzel or German braten are found next to Middle Eastern items such as falafel, humus, tahini, shishlik, kebabs and Turkish coffee, as well as traditional Jewish dishes such as gefilte fish, chopped liver and chicken soup. Kosher food: The Hebrew word kosher means food conforming to Jewish religious dietary laws. Milk, cream or cheese may not be served together with meat in the same meal. Pork and shellfish are officially prohibited, but it is possible to find them on many menus in non-kosher restaurants.
The wines of Israel range from light white to dry red and sweet ros. Israeli beers are Gold Star and Maccabee. There is also a good choice of local brandies and liqueurs. Liqueurs include Arak (an anise drink), Hard Nut (a walnut concoction of Eliaz winery) and Sabra (chocolate and orange). A centre for liqueurs is the monastery at Latrun on the road between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Nightlife
There are nightclubs and discos in most cities. Tel Aviv has a wealth of entertainment to divert the visitor and there are rock, jazz, folk and pop music clubs in all the main cities and resorts. Israeli folklore and dance shows can be seen everywhere, especially in the kibbutzim. The Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra can be heard at the ICC Binaynei Ha’uma Hall in Jerusalem during the winter. A summer attraction is the Israel Festival of International Music. Cinema is popular in Israel and many cinemas screen three daily shows of international and local films (all Hebrew films are subtitled in English and French). Tickets for all events and even films can be bought in advance from ticket agencies and sometimes from hotels and tourist offices.

Shopping
There is a wide choice for shoppers in Israel; and in certain shops, especially in Arab markets, visitors can - and should - bargain. Tourists who buy leather goods at shops listed by the Ministry of Tourism and pay for them in foreign currency are exempt from VAT and receive a 25 per cent discount on leather goods if these are delivered to them at the port of departure. Special purchases include jewellery, diamonds and other precious stones, ceramics, embroidery, glassware, wines, religious articles and holy books. ‘Cashback’ on purchased items can be claimed from the Customs Office at the airport. Shopping hours: Sun-Fri 0800-1900; some shops close 1300-1600 and some early on Friday. Remember that the shopping facilities are both Israeli and Arabic, and are therefore governed by two different sets of opening hours and methods of business. Jewish stores observe closing time near sunset Friday evenings before Shabbat (Saturday) and Arabic stores close Friday. It takes a while to realise that Sunday is a normal working day unlike in Western countries. For shoppers, the Jewish stores are therefore open Friday, Arab markets Saturday and both are open Sunday when Christian stores close. Shops in the hotels are often open until midnight.

Special Events
For a complete list of special events, contact the Israel Government Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Israel in 2005:
Mar 20-26 Holy Week in Jerusalem. Mar 25 Purim (Jewish festival), nationwide. Apr The Haifa International Theatre Festival for Children and Youth. May 5 Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem. May 26-Jun 16 Israel Festival, Jerusalem. Aug 18-28 Jerusalem World Pride (gay and lesbian festival). Oct Israel Fringe Theatre Festival, Acre; Sukkot - The Festival of Shelter, nationwide. Oct 13 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), nationwide. Dec Hanukkah, celebration of the Jewish equivalent to Christmas.

Social Conventions
Israelis are usually very informal but in keeping with the European style of hospitality. Visitors should observe normal courtesies when visiting someone’s home and should not be afraid to ask questions about the country as most Israelis are happy to talk about their homeland, religion and politics. Often the expression shalom (‘peace’) is used for hello and goodbye. Dress is casual, but in Christian, Jewish and Muslim holy places, modest attire is worn. For places such as the Wailing Wall, male visitors are given a smart cardboard yarmulke (scull cap) to respect the religious importance of the site. Businesspeople are expected to dress smartly, while plush restaurants, nightclubs and hotel dining rooms may require guests to dress for dinner. Formal evening wear is usually specified on invitations. It is considered a violation of the Shabbat (Saturday) to smoke in certain restaurants and many hotels. There is usually a sign to remind the visitor, and to disregard this warning would be regarded as discourteous to Orthodox Jews. Tipping: Less evident than in many other countries. A 15 per cent service charge is added to restaurant, cafe and hotel bills by law.