About Israel

Fast Facts

Full Name: State of Israel
Capital City: Jerusalem
Area: 20,770 sq km, 8,019 sq miles
Population: 7,428,000
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic (official), English (other)
Religion: Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze
People: Jews (76%), Muslims (16.1%), Christians (3.4%) and Druze
Currency: New Israeli Shekel (₪ NIS). For current exchange rate, see here
Electricity: 220 V
Electric Plug: European plug with two circular metal pins
Click here to view a comprehensive interactive map.

Time Difference

The time anywhere in Israel is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Vaccinations and Health

There is no need for vaccinations or immunizations against diseases prior to visiting Israel beyond the vaccinations North Americans routinely get against childhood diseases. Israel has nationalized health care and the health care system itself is recognized internationally as comparable to the United States and Western Europe. In the case of a medical emergency in Israel, dial 101 for Magen David Adom (ambulance).

Electricity

Israel works on 220v, America works on 110v. In order to use devices you need both converters and adapters. Adapters adapt the plug to fit into the Israeli socket. (Israel plugs have 2 round pins while American plugs have 2 flat plugs.) Converters convert the electricity. Most modern electronic devices (cameras, laptops…) have a built in converter so you will only need the adapter. Most hotels have special plugs for hairdryers and shavers.

Weather

The weather in Israel varies greatly based on season and location throughout the country. For summer trips we recommend bringing lots of shorts and t-shirts while for winter trips we urge participants to bring lots of layers in order to be prepared for many different climates.