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HOW ISRAELIS LIVE
Some people think that
because Israel is the Jewish State, that all Israelis live in the same
way. It is true that Hebrew is the language of Israel. Children go
to school (just like you do) at the type of school their parents choose (and
they do it for six days a week). Of course, many Israelis like falafel, schwarma and soccer (which is called
"football" in Israel). www.pics4learning.com
Many Israelis like hiking, computer games, swimming, scuba diving and good music. But there are many different cultures in Israel. Some are not even Jewish.
You have already learned that Jews have made aliyah to Israel from all over the world. When they came to Israel, they brought many different traditions with them.
For example, when you visit
Israel, you might visit a Sephardic community.
Rabbi Mordecai Eliahu, former Chief Sephardic Rabbi http://www.hebron.org.il/homepage2.htm
Sephardim are Jews from Arab and other Middle Eastern countries. Before they lived there, Sephardic Jews lived in Spain (Sephard is Hebrew for "Spain.").
Sephardic families tend to be very close. They show lots of respect for their elders. In a Sephardic synagogue, the entire prayer service is sung or said out loud. The Torah scrolls have a hard cover, and the Torah is always upright when it's read. Take a look below!
http://scheinerman.net/judaism/synagogue/torah-seph.html
Even Sephardic Jews that are not Orthodox tend to be religious and love tradition. They are also very proud of their Sephardic heritage.
There are many Jews from Persia (Iran) and Yemen in Israel. There traditions are similar to Sephardic traditions. Jews from Yemen speak a very careful Hebrew. You can tell the difference between how they say aleph and ayin, chet and chof, etc.
In Israel there are many
Hassidim. Hassidism is a kind of Orthodox Judaism. Most Hassidim are
Ashkenazim (Jews whose grandparents came from Eastern Europe.). Chassidim wear very traditional clothing, the same kind of clothing that Jews wore in
Poland in the 1500's. But there are many kinds of Hassidim. 
Some live only with other Hassidim. Many live in a neighborhood in
Jerusalem called Meah She'arim. Other Hassidim, such as
Chabad Hassidim, like to be around Jews who are not Orthodox to show them what
Orthodox Judaism is like.
In Israel there are many
Jews who study Torah all day in Yeshivot. There are many Jews who go out
to live in new settlements in areas with few Jews. They do this so that
Jewish People will be living in all parts of the Land of Israel.
http://www.hebron.org.il/telrumei.htm
In Israel there are Jews who are not Orthodox who live like many Americans you know. But there is a difference. Even if they are not religious, they are fulfilling the mitzvah (commandment) of living in the Land of Israel.
There are also non-Jewish people in Israel. In Israel, there is freedom of religion. This means that everyone is allowed to believe in their own religion. When you go to Israel, you will see Arab citizens. Many are Moslem. Some are Christian. You will see Bedouin tribesman in the Negev Desert and Druze in the Golan Heights.
Israel may be the Jewish State...But there are many different kinds of Israelis that make up the country.
WEB-SEARCH
Try to find out....
What is the name of the Yeshiva in Hevron?
CHALLENGE:
When did Sephardic Jews leave Spain? Why did Sephardic Jews leave Spain?
If you are a FMS student and try the challenge questions, email the author your answers at sjablon@fuchsmizrachi.org.
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