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Israel is a very young country, just over 70 years old, but its rich history and vibrant heritage attract millions of visitors every year.

A great way to get acquainted with Israel is to visit one or two of its museums.

Whether you are interested in history, archeology, and arts, or looking for a fun, interactive experience, Israel offers over 200 museums and institutions that showcase a different aspect of the country’s life and legacy.

Every year, on May 18th, Israel celebrates the National Museum Day, which falls on the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer.
On that day, over 70 Israeli museums open their doors and offer visitors a variety of free tours and activities.

The following is a list of Israel’s greatest museums.

Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem

The main Holocaust memorial center in Israel commemorates the lives of the Jewish people, who perished during WWII, and of those few who survived.
The large complex spreads over a vast territory.
It includes various memorials and museums, each exposing a different aspect of Jewish lives before, during, and after the Holocaust.
Thousands of trees planted throughout the complex tell the story of the Righteous Among the Nations, each tree has a plaque with a name of a non-Jewish person who could not stand still and was willing to put his or her life in danger to save Jewish life.
The museum does not charge an entrance fee. If you want to enhance your experience, we highly recommend taking a guided tour.

Israel Museum in Jerusalem

The country’s leading museum that features exhibitions of Israel’s finest archeology and art collections.
A walk through the Archeology Department will take you on a journey through time, while gazing at some of Israel’s most important findings.
The art section showcases a wide range of works created by famous Israeli and international artists. 
Additional highlights are an enormous world Judaica treasury and an impressive sculpture garden.
Make sure to not miss the giant Model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period, and the world-renowned Dead Sea Scrolls, which are the oldest Biblical manuscripts in the world.

Palmach Museum, Tel Aviv

The Palmach Museum tells the story of the young men and women who dedicated their lives to defending the Jewish community in the Land of Israel prior to 1948.
The Palmach organization was eventually incorporated into the Israel Defense Forces and played a major role in the army’s development.
The museum is composed of several rooms, each room displays another part of Palmach history through a series of multimedia presentations.
Walking through the rooms, you will be exposed to the fascinating life of the warriors, from recruitment and daily life to the battles and the difficult choices they had to make.

Diaspora Museum

The Diaspora Museum, also known as the Museum of the Jewish People in Beit Hatfutsot, focuses on the culture and legacy of Jewish communities from around the world.
The museum acts as a bridge, connecting visitors to the Jewish world, reinforcing Jewish identity and providing a sense of unity among Jewish people regardless of their origins. 
Among the many interesting displays, you should not miss the Synagogues and Jewish Humor exhibitions.

Ayalon Institute

The Ayalon Institute is composed of what was once an underground ammunition factory disguised as laundry service in a kibbutz.
The factory was run by 45 members of the “Haganah” in the years prior to the establishment of the State of Israel.
In 1948, when Israel was established, the factory ceased its operations and the entire area was reopened in 1987 as a museum and heritage site.
Today, it is a fascinating museum that tells the stories of 45 resistance warriors in their effort to defend the Jewish community before 1948.

Friends of Zion Museum, Jerusalem

Situated in downtown Jerusalem, the Friends of Zion Museum was created by one of Israel’s greatest allies – Pastor Mike Evans. His goal was to immortalize the help and love of non-Jews to the Jewish nation.
The museum is composed of 7 galleries and incorporates 3D technology which presents stories of non-Jews throughout history, and highlights their significant role in fulfilling the Zionist dream.

Rockefeller Archaeological Museum

Located in East Jerusalem opposite the Old City walls, it is a leading museum in its field.
Built in 1938, it was the first home of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Jerusalem’s main museum until the Israel Museum was established in 1965.
The museum displays impressive artifacts from the prehistoric era to the 19th century. Entrance is free of charge.

Ammunition Hill, Jerusalem

The Ammunition Hill was an important Jordanian outpost in Jerusalem, where one of the fiercest battles of the Six-Day War took place. 
The position was located next to the Israeli-Jordanian border, on a higher level dominating the Old City and the adjacent Jewish and Arab neighborhoods.
Israel succeeded in conquering the outpost at the cost of 36 fallen soldiers.
Today, the Ammunition Hill is a memorial that tells the story of the acts of courage and determination in that difficult battle. The bunkers and trenches are still visible today.

Independence Hall

May 14, 1948, Friday, 04:00 pm, a few hours before the end of the British Mandate of Palestine, David Ben Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel in this house.
Originally the house of the first mayor of Tel Aviv Meir Dizengoff, nowadays, the Independence Hall is a museum and national heritage site that connects visitors to the events that brought to the declaration of Israel’s independence.

The Children Museum, Holon

The Children Museum is a cultural and educational institution that offers a hands-on experience for children of all ages, as well as for adults.
It opened in 2001 and has since welcomed over one million visitors.
The museum provides 5 interactive trails, where children actively participate in various fantasy adventures, and 2 immersive exhibits that invite visitors to explore the world of people with hearing and speech impairments.

Armored Corps Museum in Latrun

The Armored Corps museum, in Hebrew – “Yad LaShiryon”, is a memorial site and a museum dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Armored Corps.
Before 1948, the main building used to be a British police station that dominated the main road from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.
After the British left, a series of difficult battles developed between Israel and Jordan, both wanting to have a permanent hold over this position, however it was ultimately conquered by Israel.
Nowadays, the old police station building is an Armored Corps history museum and education center. 
Over 160 tanks and armored vehicles are displayed around the building, most of them participated in Israel’s war with the Arab neighboring countries, while some of them were brought from different countries around the world.
This is the most diverse tank and armored vehicle collection in the world.

Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv

Located in Tel Aviv University, the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History is Israel’s largest center for research and documentation of biodiversity, agriculture and nature conservation.
The museum is home to over 5 million specimens collected by scientists from Tel Aviv University and other institutions.
It welcomes everybody to enjoy its fascinating exhibitions of Israel’s flora and fauna, as well as human interaction with the environment throughout history.

 

Additional museums to consider: Ben-Gurion House in Tel Aviv, Bible Land Museum in Jerusalem, Atlit Detainee Camp, Ilana Goor Museum in Old Jaffa, Israeli Air Force Museum, and many more.

Israel – a crossroad between 3 continents – is situated on one of the busiest bird migration routes in the world.
Twice a year, over 500 million birds fly across the Israeli skies on their journey from distant winter habitat to their summer home and back.
Blessed with a comfortable Mediterranean climate and a wide range of geographical zones, Israel has a bit of everything – high mountains with snowy peaks, green and lush nature reserves, humid valleys, and arid deserts.
This diversity welcomes over 400 species every year that have a wide choice of feeding ground, and can fulfill your deepest desires of seeing some of the most colorful birds in the world. 

Among the many birds found in Israel, one can observe the white-spectacled bulbul, which loves the Mediterranean climate and migrates from the region of Turkey to the Arabian Peninsula; the Eurasian Hoopoe – Israel’s national bird, called after the sound it makes – “oop oop oop”; and the Palestine sunbird – the national bird of Palestine: it feeds on flower nectar, and its male is easily recognized by its metallic blue and turquoise colors.

Autumn and spring are the main seasons for bird migration.
Autumn migration is busier. It starts at the end of June and continues until January, with a peak in October-November.
Spring migration starts at the end of February and continues until June. It means that bird-watching is possible the entire year. The last birds flying north at the end of spring can be seen at the same time as the first birds of autumn fly south.

The migrating birds can be divided into three main groups.

1. Birds that pass through Israel, like storks and cranes.
   They leave Asia and Europe towards the end of summer, stop for a break in Israel around autumn and continue south to Africa.
   They can be seen again during the spring, flying back to their original habitats.
2. Winter birds that arrive from Europe and Asia and spend their winters in Israel, for example, the famous wagtail, whose arrival symbolizes the beginning of autumn.
3. Summer birds that arrive from Africa and spend their summers in Israel. For example, the bee-eater.

Where is the ideal place to see all of those beautiful birds?
There are 9 bird-watching centers in Israel and many more are under construction.
As mentioned before, the country is blessed with a wide range of climates and geographical areas. Each area offers a different experience and specific birds that can be seen only there.

For example, the flamingos can be seen mostly along the Mediterranean and Red Sea shores, because they prefer the humidity and saltiness of the coast.
We brought you the 5 Top places for bird lovers in Israel:

1 . Hula Valley Bird Watching Center

A world-renowned bird-watching center, wedged between the Golan Heights, Galilee, and Mount Hermon, the Hula Valley story began in the 1950s when it was decided to drain its large body of water for agricultural purposes. 
This move raised an uproar against the farmers, and soon the government allowed to restore a small portion of the lake, and proclaimed the area around it a nature reserve.
Today, the park is an important habitat for waterfowl, birds of prey, and songbirds, and it hosts an annual festival around the autumn migration season.
As for the farmers, they eventually understood the importance of cooperating with the ecologists. They provide the park with over 2 tons of maize daily during winter to feed the cranes that otherwise will graze on their crops.
Additional fascinating visitors of the park are the black storks, spoonbills with their interesting looking beak, black francolins, and many more.

2 . International Bird Watching and Research Center, Eilat (IBRCE)

The Southernmost city in Israel is located in what was once a saltmarsh on the shores of the Red Sea. 
For thousands of years, it was the birds’ key “refueling spot” before their journey towards the vast Sahara Desert. However, in recent decades, the habitat was severely diminished due to the industrial growth of the port city.
Today, the Eilat observatory puts efforts in keeping necessary conditions to maintain this natural habitat and promotes its importance in the global ecosystem. 
Among the 480 bird species that were recorded passing through Israel are the Nubian nightjar that comes from Africa, Spanish sparrow, and flamingo.
The flamingo arrives from Turkey and Iran and enjoys the salt pools north of Eilat.
The best time to visit the park is during the Eilat Birds Festival held in March.

3 . Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO)

The Jerusalem Bird Observatory is situated adjacent to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and the Supreme Court. It is an urban wildlife site that spreads over an area of one hectare, with a tiny pond that attracts magnificent birds throughout the year.
The observatory has a bird ringing station that is open throughout the day and helps to identify and study the birds and their migration routes.

4 . Ramat HaNegev Birding Center

With many majestic birds of prey soaring over the magnificent Zin Valley, Ramat HaNegev Birding Center offers a unique bird-watching spectacle in the heart of the Negev Desert.The ideal time to visit is during March and April, when the migratory birds fly back from Africa to Europe.

5 . Jordan Valley Bird Watching Center

Located in one of the hottest and most humid areas in the country, the Center is situated perfectly on the main bird flyways between Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The climate and abundance of springs set the perfect background for thriving agriculture, which attracts local and migratory birds to feed here throughout the year.

In recent years, culinary tours have become an essential experience of every trip abroad.
Strolling through the markets and occasionally getting a bite in one of the local restaurants is one of the best introductions to foreign countries – you can learn a lot about people through their food.
When it comes to Israel, It is situated on a culinary crossroads, and its cuisine is a confluence of cultures, languages, and traditions.

The story begins in 70 AD, after the fall of Jerusalem, when most of the Jewish population that lived in the Land of Israel was exiled and dispersed across Europe, Asia, and Africa. 
The connection between the Jewish brothers and sisters was severed, and for 2000 years, each community evolved independently.

During the 20th century, the gates of the Holy Land started to open again, welcoming thousands of Jews back to their homeland.
By this time, each community spoke a different language and developed its own set of customs and traditions.
All of those differences were poured into a melting pot and created the “new Israeli” – a phenomenon that kept on developing with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.

From the culinary perspective, each community contributed recipes from their grandmothers’ cookbooks – North Africans brought couscous and shakshuka, Europeans brought gefilte fish, cholent, kugel, and chicken schnitzel, Iraqi Jews brought kubbeh, Yemenite Jews brought malawach and jachnun,  Russians brought their famous borscht, Turks brought the bourekas and local Jews that stayed here, have enjoyed hummus and falafel.

With 800,000 that arrived during 1948, Israel’s population grew rapidly in the following years.
This growth was met by food, water, and agriculture challenges that thanks to the people’s ingenuity were soon turned into solutions, and Israel became a leading, self-sufficient country.
Nowadays, with most of its crops grown locally, Israel has a thriving vegan culture, and in addition to the 7 biblical species – wheat, barley, figs, olives, dates, pomegranates, and grapes – you can also find exotic ones, such as bananas, avocados, and mangos.

So, what about actual Israeli food?

Over the years, hummus, falafel, and shawarma became synonymous with Israeli cuisine, however, these dishes are considered Middle Eastern and each of the Arab countries has its own versions.

The following are actual Israeli dishes. Enjoy!

Sabich – This dish with Iraqi roots is a sandwich stuffed with deep-fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, potatoes, vegetables, and a variety of sauces, such as tahini, amba, and hot sauce.
Very simple and super yummy!

Ptitim – In the first years of Israel’s existence, there was a shortage of rice.
For the Sephardic Jews, it was a major problem since rice is their staple food.
The story goes that Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion asked Osem – one of Israel’s leading food companies – to create a substitute for rice, and the result was “Ptitim”- tiny bits of cooked dough that looked like rice.
The nickname it received was “Ben-Gurion rice.”

Shkedei Marak – Another devise of the Osem food company.
Also known as soup mandels, these are small yellow squares made of flour and palm oil.
Similar to croutons, they are usually added to soups.

Cherry Tomato – First created at the Agriculture Faculty in the city of Rehovot, this small tomato answered the wish for a healthy snack that became particularly popular for TV binge-watching.
Cherry tomato became a global hit and thanks to its long shelf life, it is one of the most successful Israeli exports.

Bamba – These peanut butter puffs are among the most popular local snacks.
Kids just love it! “Bamba” is said to be one of the first words of an Israeli child.
Fascinated with the Israeli snack, foreign scientists decided to put it under a magnifying glass, and were quite surprised to find out that it is particularly beneficial for preventing peanut allergies.

Tortit – A delicious chocolate bar stuffed with almond cream.
It is so good that it was re-created in the form of ice cream, cookies, and cakes.

Sufganiyah – A round, deep-fried doughnut filled with jam, available at stores almost exclusively from the end of Sukkot to the end of Hanukkah.
This pastry joins a variety of deep-fried Hanukkah dishes that represent the Miracle of Multiplying Oil in the story of the Maccabees.
Every year, Israeli bakeries and confectioneries go above and beyond to create their own unique versions with some interesting combinations of jam, dough, and custard.

Rugelach – A crescent-shaped pastry, made of rolled triangle dough with chocolate and cinnamon filling.
Make sure to get one on your next visit to the Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem.

In the last few decades, Israeli restaurants started popping all around the world, and Israeli food received broad recognition through cooking shows and celebrity chefs. We welcome you to travel with Hoshen and incorporate one or more exciting culinary tours on your next trip to Israel.

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”- Plato

The state of Israel was established in 1948. It was a country with very limited natural resources, however, there was one thing this country was blessed with – people with natural creativity.
Today, over 70 years after, despite all struggles, Israel stands as the number one country in innovations per capita.

Declared as a “startup nation” with numerous breakthroughs in science, technology, agriculture, medicine, military and other fields, Israel was transformed into a hub of innovations that addresses key issues affecting human life on our planet.
It is a home for many entrepreneurs and indeed, a key player in high-tech innovation that attracts giant countries to its shores in search of investments. 

There are several factors which have led Israel to successful innovations:

• Israel’s government is dedicated to supporting all innovators by allocating 4.1% of its budget. It is ranked as the second country in the world to allocate such a large percentage. 

• Israeli education system produces a high number of scientists and engineers per capita. 

• The key factors influencing business performance are flexibility and creativity, and those are the driving force of innovation. Israel’s ability to rapidly transform consumer demands into organizational action is attributed to its consistent success in the versatility index and its widespread recognition as a capital for innovation.

• Investment legislation permits a reduced company tax rate and investment grants to support international companies in Israel.
  Another government incentive program offers job grants for R&D centers and large corporations.
  The program provides a four-year grant scheme that covers an average of 25% of the employer’s payroll costs for each new employee.

In this article, we have picked some of the exciting startups and ventures you can learn and see in Israel. 

Iron Dome

Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and funded mostly by the US, Iron Dome was born as a response to the modern warfare going on in the Middle East and as a result of the 2nd Lebanon war in 2006, during  which Hezbollah shot over 4000 rockets at Israel.
The system, used by the Israeli Defense Forces, has the ability to intercept missiles launched from ranges of 4-70 km, and can operate day and night in any weather.
Israel has 10 Iron Dome batteries equipped with a radar, 4 launchers and 20 missiles. It is one of the most successful projects of the Israeli military industry, with a success rate of about 90%. 

“Netafim” Irrigation System

Water was a key problem for farmers as there was not enough water to irrigate the fields. The main reason for this struggle is the fact that Israel’s climate is mostly arid.
However, Engineer Simcha Blass came up with an idea that has changed farmer’s life forever.
Blass’s concept, which was named “Netafim”, came about as he was observing two trees: one was bigger than the other, despite growing in the same environment.
Simcha noticed that there was a dripping water pipe next to the bigger tree.
He realized that the few drops of water dripping at the tree were enough to make it grow taller than the other one.

Later, Blass came up with a pipe pierced with small holes – from water drops to crops.
The farmers could now grow crops, while utilizing the limited water available.
Netafim’s innovative project allowed the crop yield to increase by 70%, and at the same time, water usage by farmers reduced by 5%.
Today, the same technology is used by farmers in 110 countries.

Watergen – drinking water produced from thin air

In 2009, Arye Kochavi founded Watergen – a company that creates drinking water from air.
Watergen devices have the capability of extracting humidity from air through patented genius technology.
The device vaporizes water molecules from air, liquidizes it and produces quality drinking water safe for consumption. 
This unique, life-saving invention aims to solve the lack of clean water in various locations across the world.
Watergen was selected as one of the ten most prominent Israeli technology inventions.
Additionally, in 2019, it was selected by the Time Magazine as one of the 100 most innovative and unique inventions in the world.   

Mobileye 

In 1999, Amnon Shashua and his business partner Ziv Aviram came up with a special car technology innovation.
They developed a tiny camera with unique algorithms capable of preventing car accidents.
The device warns in real time about hazards, vehicle deviation from its lane, and detects pedestrians, cyclists and speed signs.
This technology is used as an aid to the driver, an additional car-safety system and an infrastructure for autonomous vehicles.

In 2017, Mobileye was acquired by Intel for $15.3 million, and dozens of car manufacturing companies have come forward to adopt this technology. 

Water Desalination 

Water shortage is a major issue in the Middle East.
To cope with its water problem, Israel turned to desalination of water coming from the Mediterranean Sea and briny wells.

The innovation has made Israel a global leader in water desalination, and as of 2015, half of the water consumed in the country comes from desalinated water.

Today, Israel has 10 water desalination plants and 2 more will be established by 2023.

Waze GPS 

A combination of the words “ways” and “maze”, it is a GPS app that was developed by Ehud Shabtai.
The idea was born following a certain incident, when Shabtai had to use a normal GPS and was disappointed due to its ineffectiveness.
He noticed that the GPS was somewhat successful at giving directions, but failed to provide traffic information in real-time.
Together with his colleagues, they created a community-based navigation system that provides traffic updates on the go.

Using crowdsourcing platforms to gather information about traffic conditions, such as warnings on accidents and roadwork, Waze serves as the main GPS app for almost 100 million users worldwide.
The company was sold for $1.1 billion to Google in 2013.

Checkpoint Software Technologies

Checkpoint Software Technology was founded by 25-year-old Gil Shwed and two of his friends in a small apartment in Ramat Gan back in 1993.
They built the modern firewall for the commercial computer network, offering computers worldwide protection from the dangers of cyberspace. 

Today, with some 100,000 users and 2,300 employees worldwide, the company is one of the world’s leading IT security providers in the world. 

SniffPhone – a device that detect diseases

This Israeli innovation will make a great impact on all sectors, but especially on the world of medicine.
Based on the NaNose Breathalyzer (a large device used only in laboratories), the SniffPhone is a portable tool that with a simple connection to the phone can analyze breath and detect certain particles that attest to a variety of diseases. 
With accuracy of 86-93% it can help identify certain cancer tumors, Parkinson’s disease dementia, multiple sclerosis, and many more.

According to its creators, it is estimated to become commercial within a few years and will be “highly accurate, inexpensive and easy to use.”

Nano Dimension

Established in 2012, this company produces and develops a variety of 3D printers for the electronics industry.
For the first time in history, electronics companies and engineers can print a whole PCB (Printed Circuit Board) in a matter of hours.
This breakthrough technology is used for a wide range of industries, electronic consumer products, medical equipment, security, space, vehicles and more.

ReWalk 

After a tragic accident leaving him paralyzed from the waist down, Dr. Amit Goffer spent years designing a way for people with paraplegia to be less reliant on wheelchairs.
ReWalk is an exoskeleton robot, powered by a backpack battery, which receives movement signals from a wristwatch and enables the user to stand upright, walk and even climb stairs.
This innovation received official recognition following the 2014 London Marathon and the 2012 London Paralympics. 

PillCam 

Scientist Gavriel Iddan came up with this great innovation after suffering from chronic stomach pain.
He developed a digestible and disposable camera with the ability to transmit data from the stomach to the receiver.
Helping patients to postpone trips to the hospital, and entering areas that are otherwise very hard to reach, the PillCam has revolutionized modern medicine. 
The FDA-approved PillCam is now used worldwide to diagnose digestive system diseases, intestinal disorders and cancers.
Iddan won the European Inventor Award in 2011, 14 years after the prototype was first created.

BioBee 

Akiva Falk, a bug lover from Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu in the Jordan Valley, founded BioBee in 1983.
The company focuses on biological pest control, intending to reduce the usage of pesticides in agriculture.
The goal is to use the natural ability of insects in order to make crops safer for consumption.
BioBee is currently running three projects:
breeding bumblebees in greenhouses for pollination; using “friendly insects” such as mites, wasps, and beetles to attack harmful pests; and reducing the number of harmful insects by genetically modifying their reproductive ability.
Over the years, BioBee developed into a multinational company, while its head offices remain in Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, where it all began. 

The following are two innovation centers that we recommend visiting during your trip:

Peres Center for Peace & Innovation 

The Peres Center is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental organization that was founded in 1996 by the former Israeli president Shimon Peres.
Its goal is to create a dialogue and promote coexistence between Jews and Arabs through projects in a variety of fields such as sport, education, medicine and technology.
As the Peres Center seeks to pave the way to peace with our neighbors and shared living between Israeli and Palestinians, it is the first center of its kind for tourists, where you have a chance to explore the amazing stories of Israeli innovations in a fascinating and immersive journey inspired by the vision of late President Shimon Peres. 

Taglit Innovation Center 

In collaboration with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Taglit Center for Israeli Innovation is a cutting-edge visitor center that presents the Israeli Start-Up Nation.
A tour of this center serves as an introduction to the Israeli start-up community and usually features an intimate session with an Israeli entrepreneur sharing their personal story.

More than 80 leading Israeli firms, including the most dominant technology companies and promising Israeli start-ups, are represented at the exhibition.
Since being founded in summer of 2016, over 120,000 visitors have toured the center, including students, business delegations, and diplomats from across the world.