15 Traditions and Customs Only Israelis Can Understand
If “hot water, small glass” means anything to you, then you are probably from Israel and have your own rules on how to make proper black coffee. From oversharing with waiters to standing in silence on a bus on Memorial Day or just hoarding food ahead of the Yom Kippur fast, here are some of the funniest and truest traditions and customs only Israelis understand.
Riding your bike on Yom Kippur
Once a year, Israel grinds to a halt for Yom Kippur—the day of atonement. For secular urban Israelis, it’s a great day to ride your bike with your family on the empty streets, as driving a car is still socially taboo on this day.
Standing during memorial sirens
Writing a big fat check for your BFF’s wedding
One of the priciest Israeli traditions involves writing a big fat check to the person you love at their wedding. Generally an expensive affair, Israel has shifted from gifts to straight cash and checks. The closer the friend, the bigger the sum.
Stocking up on bread before Passover
During Passover, the sale of leavened goods is forbidden, thus, causing nothing short of an annual bread-scare among non-observant Israelis. Storing up on bread ahead of the week has become a secular tradition in its own right.
Doing miluim (reserve duty)
Most Jewish Israelis serve in the army, and being called for reserve duty is a part of life for a majority of male Israelis.
The ritual of making cafe shahor or “Turkish coffee”
Small glass, hot water. That’s what Israelis call black coffee—cafe shahor—or Turkish coffee (cafe turki). Each Israeli makes their own, and each has a ritual. However, almost all add the sugar last, and some boil the coffee seven times in a row, while others bang the glass on the table a few times to help the coffee grounds sink.
That a line means nothing if the person before and after you don’t know you
In Israel, lines are more of a dynamic group exercise than an orderly affair.
Clapping when El Al flights land in Israel
For some reason, Israelis clap when their plane safely lands, especially on El Al flights and especially when they land in Israel.
Raising the volume on your radio to hear news every hour
Once an hour, on the hour, most Israelis, especially the older generations, will tune into Army Radio for the hourly newscast. Heralded by three short beeps, the sound of the broadcaster’s voice rising as you turn up the volume on your radio to hear the headlines is a recurring experience for many in the news-heavy country.
Having an in-depth conversation with a waiter about food
In Israel, your waiter is your friend, your enemy, your lover, but most of all, your culinary shrink. Having a long discussion about what to eat, when to eat, what you’ve already eaten in other competing establishments are all fair fodder when placing your order.
That everything is closed on Saturday and the magic of Shabbat
At some point, you just internalize that there is no public transportation on Saturday and that you must remember to shop on Friday so that you can rest and enjoy the silence of Saturday, or Shabbat.
Getting drunk while drinking Arak
Israel’s unofficial official drink is Arak—the local take on ouzo or pastis—the anise-based booze. Getting drunk while drinking Arak in the summer heat is something truly Israeli.
Holocaust trip to Poland
During high school, some Israelis go on a trip to Poland to see what remains of the Nazi camps. In between Holocaust museums, many Israeli teens find themselves abroad without their parents for the first time in their lives.
Flying to India during Israel’s “rumspringa”
After completing their mandatory army service, most Jewish Israelis fly abroad “to find themselves,” usually in India or South America; it’s the closest thing Israelis have to the infamous Amish rumspringa.
Matkot at the beach
Click, clack, click, clack. Are you going insane? No, it’s just the sound of 25 simultaneous games of matkot—a form of tableless ping-pong with no points and no purpose other than returning the ball to your co-wacker. To some, the sound they make is music, and to others, it’s hell; however, to everyone, it’s the sound of Israel’s beaches.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.