Israel

The Holy Land

For many thousands of years, people from different ancient civilizations, cultures
and nations have come to Israel, a small country in the Middle East. Known as "the
Promised Land" for the Jewish people, Israel is also home to people of other
religions and a great number of buildings and sights important to them.

A Brief History of Israel

 Standing as a gateway from Asia to Africa and Europe, Israel had been
conquered by multiple old empires before the 20th century. In brief, it
started as the Judean Kingdom of King Saul, the first king, around 1000 BC.
It is believed that before that, a prophet called Moses, who taught the words
of God, led the people expelled from Egypt to the Israeli land, which was
promised by God.

 Afterwards, the land was conquered by, among others, Alexander the Great,
the greatest ancient Greek leader. The independent Jewish state was
reestablished and lasted until the land was occupied by the Romans in 63
BC.
 In 70 AD, Jews revolted against the Romans, which is why they were
expelled from the land. They had to move to different countries in Europe,
North Africa, and Asia.
 Muslim forces, and later the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey) ruled
Jerusalem for six centuries. The Dome of the Rock, a landmark mosque, was
established during that period, and the walls of the Old City were rebuilt.
 The current state of Israel was established in 1948. It is a small country,
covering roughly 8,000 square miles and home to some 8.65 million people.
It has an abundance of ethnic diversities, as well as different landscapes and
sceneries. Jerusalem remains a holy site for Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Old Jaffa
Jaffa is the oldest part of the modern city of Tel Aviv. An ancient myth suggests
that this old port city got its name after Yafet, one of the sons of Noah, who saved
animals and humans from a large flood.

The place has been used as a strategically important harbor for thousands of years.
Walking around the Old Jaffa today, you will see all these different layers of history.

The Clock Square stands in the middle of Jaffa, with its distinctive clock tower built
in 1906. Another interesting sight is the Andromeda rock, the rock where,
according to mythology, Greek goddess Andromeda was chained as a sacrifice
before she was saved. Nearby, there is the Al-Bahr Mosque, or the Sea Mosque, a
small tower overlooking the harbor, historically used by fishermen and sailors.

Mount of Olives, Jerusalem

Just outside Jerusalem's Old City lies the Mount of Olives, named after the olive
groves that used to cover its slopes. The mountain is filled with sites that are
important for several religious groups.

It has hosted a Jewish cemetery for at least 3,000 years. A couple of ancient
monumental tombs can be found in the Kidron Valley which lies beneath the mount.
Christians believe that this is also where Jesus Christ, the son of God, ascended to
heaven, which is why it is a major site of pilgrimage.

The largest church that rises on the mountain is the Church of Mary Magdalene,
built by a Russian Tsar (ruler) in 1886, noticeable for its gilded roofs.

Sea of Galilee
Also known as Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee is the largest freshwater lake in Israel.
The lake is actually located some 200 meters below sea level, which makes it the
lowest freshwater lake in the world.

The Sea of Galilee was historically very important because it was on the Via Maris,
an ancient route which connected Egypt with the empires in the North.

Nowadays, tourists are drawn to this lake for two major reasons. Firstly, Jesus is
believed to have taught and performed many of his miracles in the areas around
the lake, so Christians frequently visit there.

Secondly, Israelis and tourists come to the lake to take part in different water
activities, such as the building of rafts event, or the Kinneret Crossing, a popular
open water swim race.

Rosh HaNikra Sea Caves

In Hebrew, rosh means "head" and hanikra means "of the caves", which explains
what this amazing rock formation is all about. White cliffs open into amazing caves
in this area located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Being close to the Israeli border with Lebanon, for centuries Rosh HaNikra was a
passage point for traders and armies. While they were building a railroad, the
British dug a tunnel thanks to which, all sea caves are now connected to each
other.

Years ago, only adventurous swimmers could see this place, but today, visitors can
get on the Rosh HaNikra cable car, the steepest one in the world, to take them to
the caves.

Mini Israel Park

For all those who cannot find enough time to visit all tourist attractions in Israel, a
possible solution could be to go to Mini Israel, a miniature park where hundreds of
replicas of famous sights in Israel are located.

Nearly all buildings are built to be 25 times smaller than they are in real life. This
means that an average church would be as tall as a child, while a skyscraper might
be a little bit taller than an adult.
There is a true variety of miniatures – from important religious and historical
buildings, to archaeological sites and some modern structures such as the Supreme
Court of Israel.

Figures of people, animals, plants and vehicles are also added to make the
miniatures resemble to the originals even more.

Comprehension Exercises

Vocabulary Questions

1. What does "landmark" mean?

A. borders of a city
B. land used for agriculture
C. easily recognized building, even from afar 
2. What does "replica" mean?

A. exact copy of something

B. replacement for something
C. distant cousin 

3. What does "revolt" mean?

A. returning to the promised land

B. repairing an old building
C. taking a violent action against the ruler 

4. What does "beneath" mean?

A. on the top
B. under, at a lower level
C. above, at a higher level 

5. What does "miracle" mean?

A. dining ritual
B. secret teachings during the Roman era
C. extraordinary event performed by a god

Collocation Questions

6. Via Maris was an ancient route which __________ Egypt with northern
empires.

A. linked
B. associated
C. connected 
7. In 70 AD, the Jewish people were __________ from Jerusalem.

A. removed
B. expelled
C. evicted 
 8. The state of Israel was established __________ 1948.

A. at
B. on
C. in 

9. Israel has been a __________ from Asia to Africa.

A. gateway
B. doorway
C. stairway 

10. Rosh HaNikra was a __________ point for traders.

A. transit
B. passage
C. traveling 

11. The British __________ a tunnel around the caves.

A. dug
B. hollowed
C. worked 

12. It is believed that Jesus __________ to heaven.

A. ascended
B. mounted
C. arose 
13. Independent Jewish state was __________ after Alexander the Great.
A. reinitiated
B. reinstalled
C. reestablished 
14. Kinneret Crossing is __________ water swim race.
A. a wide
B. an unbarred
C. an open 
15. The Dome of the Rock is a __________ mosque.
A. signal
B. landmark
C. recognizable

Wh Questions

16. Why do pilgrims visit the Sea of Galilee?

A. because Jesus ascended to heaven there

B. because some of Jesus' miracles happened there
C. because Jesus was born there 
17. Who originally used the Sea Mosque?

A. sailors
B. Ottoman sultans
C. Greek gods 

18. What does Rosh HaNikra mean?

 A. the head of a sea horse
B. the head of the caves
C. the face of gods 

19. How small are the miniatures in the Mini Israel Park?

A. only 3 times smaller than real ones

B. smaller than babies
C. usually 25 times smaller than real ones 

20. When was the modern state of Israel established?

A. in 1948
B. in 1900 BC
C. in 70 AD

Evaluating Statements

21. Based on the information in this lesson, which statement is true?

A. Noah had a son called Yafet.

B. Noah had three daughters and no sons. 
22. Based on the information in this lesson, which statement is false?

A. Rosh HaNikra is accessible by car.

B. Rosh HaNikra is accessible by cable car.

True or False?

23. Based on the information in this lesson, is the following statement true or
false?

"Mount of Olives is located in the Old City of Jerusalem."

A. True
B. False 
24. Based on the information in this lesson, is the following statement true or
false?

"The ancient Via Maris route went through Israel."

A. True
B. False

Did you know that Israel has the highest ratio of museums per person in the entire
world? This small country has so many important buildings and monuments, and
dozens of wonderful natural places. Seeing all of them would take ages!

Interesting Facts about Israel

 In regards to its population, Israel has the highest ratio of college degrees
and startup companies, and Israeli academics produce more scientific papers
per person than anywhere else in the world.
  Israel is the only country to revive a dead (unspoken) language (like Latin)
and establish it as a national language. Hebrew is one of the world's most
ancient languages, and for thousands of years had been mainly used for
prayers and religious texts only. 

It was revived in the late 19th and early 20th century. Today millions of
people speak Hebrew, and Israel has the second highest publication of new
books per person.
 The beaches in Israel offer a variety of four bodies of water: the Meditation
Sea in the west, the Dead Sea in the east, the Red Sea in the south, and the
Sea Galilee in the north. They range from extra salty in the Dead Sea to
fresh water in the Sea of Galilee. Israel has 137 official beaches (but only
273 km of coastline).
 Tel Aviv is called the "Non-Stop City". It offers 14 kilometers of white sandy
beaches (with 318 days of sunshine on average per year), and one of the
world's most vibrant nightlife scenes.

 In addition to the delicious local dishes, such as falafel, made of chickpea

beans: 

Or the delicious egg dish called shakshouka:

Israelis love Japanese food. There are more than 100 sushi restaurants in Tel Aviv,
which is the highest number of sushi restaurants per person after Tokyo and New
York City.

Dead Sea
Despite its name, the Dead Sea is a lake, one of the saltiest bodies of water in the
world. Because it is has 10 times more salt than the ocean, the Dead Sea is a really
harsh environment for any living organism – in fact, no plants or animals flourish in
this lake, which is why it is called "Dead".

The salinity and water density also make it impossible to swim in the lake. Instead,
visitors can enjoy floating, and even reading while in the water.

The lake holds another world record – being located 1,412 feet (430.5 meters)
below sea level, which is the lowest place on land.

The wonders of the Dead Sea have been known to humans for thousands of years.
For a long time, essential minerals needed for fertilization of the land, and for
health purposes have been supplied from the Dead Sea.
 Bahá'í Gardens
The Hanging Gardens of Haifa, or the Terraces of the Bahá'í Faith, is a complex of
several garden terraces surrounding the Shrine of the Báb in the city of Haifa.

The terraces represent the first eighteen followers of the Báb, the founder of
Bábism, a small religion started in 1844. Together with the terrace of the Shrine,
the total number of terraces is nineteen, a significant number for this religion.

The terraces stretch for 0.6 miles (1 km) from the base of Mount Caramel to the
summit, where the Shrine of the Báb awaits. The Shrine is important because the
Báb was buried there. No religious services take place in the shrine. Visitors can
come in for a quiet prayer or meditation.

Eilat
Israel has access to the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Eilat is the
southernmost city in the country, and the only port on the Red Sea. The coast is so
short that it is possible to walk to Jordan or Egypt in one day.

Records show that Eilat was profitable for mining even during the ancient Egyptian
empire.

On average, Eilat has 360 sunny days in a year, which makes it a popular beach
location all year round. The most beloved attraction is the colorful coral reef, rich in
marine life.

Those who are not adventurous enough to go diving can observe dolphins from a
nearby research station, or visit the Coral World Underwater Observatory, the
largest public aquarium in the region.

Banias Nature Reserve

At the foot of Mount Hermon lies the source of the Banias River, protected in a
nature reserve.

The spring located in this nature reserve was once associated with Pan, the Greek
god of the wild. There are still remnants of a shrine and an ancient city built by the
Greeks.

In addition, the biggest waterfall in Israel is also located there. The nature reserve
is made up of two separate parks – the Banias Falls Park, with a trail that leads
directly to the waterfall, and the Banias Springs Park, where top attractions include
Pan's Cave and the Hermon stream.

Visitors can visit the nature reserve by hiking on one of the four trails, the longest
one taking only 90 minutes.

Nazareth
Located in northern Israel, Nazareth is home to a mixed Muslim and Christian
population. Historically, the city has been best known as the place where Jesus
Christ and his mother Mary lived.
Consequently, many sites important for Jesus' childhood and the early years of his
teaching are located in Nazareth and are seen as highly holy places. For example,
the Synagogue Church is believed to be the synagogue where Jesus was taught as
a child.

Another very important building in Nazareth is the Church of Annunciation. This

large Catholic church was built on the site where an angel called Gabriel announced
to Mary that she was going to give birth to Jesus. Visitors are also drawn to several
Muslim places of worship, such as the White Mosque, the oldest mosque in the city.

Comprehension Exercises

Vocabulary Questions

1. What does "salinity" mean?

A. the amount of water in a lake

B. the amount of salt in water
C. the number of salty dishes 
2. What does "meditation" mean?

A. remaining silent and calm for a long time for spiritual reasons
B. trying to solve a religious conflict
C. being located between two seas 

3. What does "ratio" mean?

A. planned activities
B. number of registered objects
C. relationship between two quantities 

4. What does "trail" mean?

A. marked path
B. set of stairs
C. a special tree 

5. What does "aquarium" mean?

A. river source
B. body of salt water
C. water container where fish live

Collocation Questions

6. No religious __________ takes place in the Báb shrine.

A. action
B. service
C. performance 
7. The Banias Falls Park trail __________ directly to the waterfall.
 A. leads
B. shows
C. guides 

8. In the Church of Annunciation, Gabriel __________ Jesus' birth to Mary.

A. declared
B. proclaimed
C. announced 

9. Many sights in Nazareth are __________ places.

A. divine
B. holy
C. blessed 

10. The minerals needed for health products have been __________ from the
Dead Sea.
A. supplied
B. provided
C. collected 

11. You can't really swim in the Dead Sea, only __________.

A. levitate
B. hang
C. float 

12. A constitution is the __________ law of the state.

A. superior
B. supreme
C. premier 
13. No living organisms can __________ in the Dead Sea.
A. flourish
B. prosper
C. burgeon 
14. Banias is made __________ of two parks.
A. out
B. up
C. in 
15. Nazareth is home to a __________ population of Muslims and Christians.
A. assorted
B. varied
C. mixed

Wh Questions

16. Why is it impossible to swim in the Dead Sea?

A. because the water is too dense

B. because there isn't enough water
C. because of the lack of minerals 
17. When did people discover the benefits of the Dead Sea minerals?
 A. when the excavations started in 2002
B. thousands of years ago
C. in 1948 

18. Where did Jesus grow up?

A. in Jerusalem
B. in Haifa
C. in Nazareth 

19. Who was Pan?

A. the Greek god of the wild

B. the Roman god of the wild
C. the Greek god of war 

20. How can you tell that Tel Aviv residents love sushi?
A. there is a street called the Sushi Street
B. they normally fly to Japan once a year
C. there are so many sushi restaurants

Evaluating Statements

21. Based on the information in this lesson, which statement is true?

A. Bahá'í gardens are important for Bábism.

B. Bahá'í gardens are important for Judaism. 
22. Based on the information in this lesson, which statement is false?

A. Banias hiking trails are very demanding – the shortest route takes 90
minutes.
B. Banias hiking trails are not so demanding – the longest route takes
90 minutes.

True or False?

23. Based on the information in this lesson, is the following statement true or
false?

"Biking from Eilat to Jordan would take three days."

A. True
B. False 
24. Based on the information in this lesson, is the following statement true or
false?

"The water in the Dead Sea is much saltier than the ocean water."

A. True
B. False