Dress & Manner

How to act in Israel

You can't generalize anymore about Israelis than any other people. You'll find good and bad. As a visitor, you should always be courteous, even if you encounter a native who is not.

Unless you specifically go to Arab neighborhoods, most Arabs you meet will probably be working in Israeli hotels or merchants. If you do go to Arab towns in Israel or the territories, you will find they are typically very hospitable and likely to invite you into their homes for tea and a bite to eat. Some may be comfortable talking about politics, others may not. Be a good guest.

Appropriate dress in Israel

Dress in Israel is casual. Even Israeli prime ministers frequently wear short-sleeve shirts without ties. You'll notice the checklist has a variety of apparel. You'll need warm clothes during winter months.

If you plan to go to religious shrines or services, you should bring nice clothes. Jewish holy places usually allow you to enter with shorts, but the shrines of other faiths often require more modest dress. This is true also in religious Jewish neighborhoods where women, especially, are expected to wear sleeves below the elbow and skirts below the knees. One alternative is to carry a shawl that you can wrap around your shoulders or bare legs, or a wrap skirt to cover your shorts. Regardless of your personal views, respect those of the people who live there and you will have no trouble.