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Do not fill this in! ==Culture== {{Main|Culture of Israel}} Israel's diverse culture stems from the diversity of its population: Jews from diaspora communities around the world brought their cultural and religious traditions back with them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hse.ru/en/news/28331917.html |publisher=National Research University Higher School of Economics |title=Asian Studies: Israel as a 'Melting Pot' |access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref> Arab influences are present in many cultural spheres,<ref name="MendelRanta2016p137">{{cite book|last1=Mendel|first1=Yonatan|last2=Ranta|first2=Ronald|title=From the Arab Other to the Israeli Self: Palestinian Culture in the Making of Israeli National Identity|url={{Google books|dD_7CwAAQBAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|year=2016|publisher=Routled|isbn=978-1-317-13171-7|pages=137, 140โ141}}</ref> such as [[Architecture of Israel|architecture]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFA+Publications/Photo+exhibits/Encounters-+The+Vernacular+Paradox+of+Israeli+Arch-+Intro.htm |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |title=Encounters: The Vernacular Paradox of Israeli Architecture |last=Ran |first=Ami |access-date=6 September 2007 |date=25 August 1998 }}</ref> [[Music of Israel|music]],<ref>{{cite news |work=ISRAEL21c |url=http://www.israel21c.org/culture/israeli-palestinian-and-jordanian-djs-create-bridge-for-peace |title=Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian DJs create bridge for peace |last=Brinn |first=David |date=23 October 2005 |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> and [[Israeli cuisine|cuisine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern%20History/Israel%20at%2050/The%20International%20Israeli%20Table |publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |title=The International Israeli Table |access-date=26 June 2009 }}</ref> Israel is the only country where life revolves around the [[Hebrew calendar]]. [[Public holidays in Israel|Holidays]] are determined by the [[Jewish holiday]]s. The official day of rest is Saturday, the [[Shabbat|Jewish Sabbath]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts%20About%20Israel/People/Jewish%20Festivals%20in%20Israel |publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |title=Jewish Festivals and Days of Remembrance in Israel |access-date=16 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814055003/http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/facts%20about%20israel/people/jewish%20festivals%20in%20israel |archive-date=14 August 2007 }}</ref> ===Literature=== {{Main|Israeli literature}} [[File:Agnon.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Shmuel Yosef Agnon]], laureate of the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]]]] [[Israeli literature]] is primarily [[Modern Hebrew poetry|poetry]] and prose written in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], as part of the [[Revival of the Hebrew language|renaissance]] of Hebrew as a spoken language since the mid-19th century, although a small body of literature is published in other languages. By law, two copies of all printed matter published in Israel must be deposited in the [[National Library of Israel]]. In 2001, the law was amended to include audio and video recordings, and other non-print media.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jnul.huji.ac.il/eng/lgd.html |publisher=Jewish National and University Library |title=Depositing Books to The Jewish National & University Library |access-date=21 August 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529153016/http://jnul.huji.ac.il/eng/lgd.html |archive-date=29 May 2012 }}</ref> In 2016, 89 percent of the 7,300 books transferred to the library were in Hebrew.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.nli.org.il/sites/NLI/English/library/depositing/statistics/Pages/lgd-statistics-2016.aspx |title=The Annual Israeli Book Week Report 2016 |publisher=National Library of Israel |access-date=26 April 2018}}</ref> In 1966, [[Shmuel Yosef Agnon]] shared the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] with German Jewish author [[Nelly Sachs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1966/index.html |publisher=Nobel Foundation |title=The Nobel Prize in Literature 1966 |access-date=12 August 2007 }}</ref> Leading Israeli poets include [[Yehuda Amichai]], [[Nathan Alterman]], [[Leah Goldberg]], and [[Rachel Bluwstein]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yehuda Amichai |url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/yehuda-amichai |access-date=1 July 2023 |website=Poetry Foundation |language=en}}</ref> Internationally famous contemporary Israeli novelists include [[Amos Oz]], [[Etgar Keret]] and [[David Grossman]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 Israeli authors you should know โ DW โ 09/03/2021 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/5-israeli-authors-you-should-know/a-59072065 |access-date=1 July 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Books |first=Five |title=The Best Contemporary Israeli Fiction |url=https://fivebooks.com/best-books/israeli-novels-ayelet-gundar-goshen/ |access-date=1 July 2023 |website=Five Books |language=en}}</ref> ===Music and dance=== {{Main|Music of Israel|Dance in Israel}} [[File:Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|[[Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]] conducted by [[Zubin Mehta]]|alt=Several dozen musicians in formal dress, holding their instruments, behind a conductor]] [[Music of Israel|Israeli music]] includes [[Mizrahi music|Mizrahi]] and [[Sephardic music]], [[Hasidic Judaism|Hasidic]] melodies, [[Greek music in Israel|Greek music]], [[jazz]], and [[pop rock]].{{sfn |Broughton |Ellingham |Trillo |1999 |pp=365โ369}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Israel |url=http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/country/content.country/israel_36 |publisher=National Geographic Society |website=World Music |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210070052/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/country/content.country/israel_36 |archive-date=10 February 2012 }}</ref> The [[Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]]{{sfn|Ben-Sasson|1985|p=1095}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Whose Master's Voice?: The Development of Popular Music in Thirteen Cultures |last1=Ewbank |first1=Alison J. |last2=Papageorgiou |first2=Fouli T. |year=1997 |publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=978-0-313-27772-6 |page=117}}</ref> has been in operation for over seventy years and performs more than two hundred concerts each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/us-music-lovers-join-the-birthday-fun-for-israels-greatest-classical-ensemble-the-ipo/ |website=ISRAEL21c |title=US music lovers join the birthday fun for Israel's greatest classical ensemble โ the IPO |date=4 February 2007 |last=Davis |first=Barry}}</ref> [[Itzhak Perlman]], [[Pinchas Zukerman]] and [[Ofra Haza]] are among the internationally acclaimed musicians born in Israel. [[Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest|Israel has participated]] in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] nearly every year since 1973, winning the competition four times and hosting it twice.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=18 |title=Israel |website=Eurovision Song Contest |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/year |title=History |website=Eurovision Song Contest |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref> [[Eilat]] has hosted its own international music festival, the [[Red Sea Jazz Festival]], every summer since 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redseajazzeilat.com/en/about/ |publisher=Red Sea Jazz Festival |title=About the Red Sea Jazz Festival |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312202659/http://www.redseajazzeilat.com/en/about/ |archive-date=12 March 2012 }}</ref> The nation's canonical [[folk music|folk songs]] are known as "Songs of the Land of Israel".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/israeli_folk_735/en_US |publisher=National Geographic Society |title=Israeli Folk Music |access-date=20 March 2012 |website=World Music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103145812/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/israeli_folk_735/en_US |archive-date=3 January 2012 }}</ref> ===Cinema and theatre=== {{Main|Cinema of Israel}} Ten Israeli films [[List of Israeli submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|have been final nominees]] for [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[Academy Awards]]. Palestinian Israeli filmmakers have made films dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict and status of Palestinians within Israel, such as [[Mohammed Bakri]]'s 2002 film ''[[Jenin, Jenin]]'' and ''[[The Syrian Bride]]''. Continuing the strong theatrical traditions of the [[Yiddish theatre]] in Eastern Europe, Israel maintains a vibrant theatre scene. Founded in 1918, [[Habima Theatre]] in Tel Aviv is Israel's oldest [[repertory theater]] company and national theater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.habima.co.il/ |script-title=he:ืืชืืืืจืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื |publisher=Habima National Theatre |access-date=13 August 2007 |language=he }}</ref> Other theatres include [[Ohel Theater|Ohel]], [[Cameri Theatre|the Cameri]] and [[Gesher Theater|Gesher]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Theatre in Israel |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/theatre-in-israel |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Israeli Theatre |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Theatre_and_Dance/Theatre/Israel.shtml |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=My Jewish Learning |language=en-US |archive-date=18 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318093329/http://myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Theatre_and_Dance/Theatre/Israel.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> === Arts === {{main|Visual arts in Israel}} Israeli Jewish art has been particularly influenced by the [[Kabbalah]], the [[Talmud]] and the [[Zohar]]. Another art movement that held a prominent role in the 20th century was the [[School of Paris]]. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the [[Yishuv]]'s art was dominated by art trends emanating [[Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design|Bezalel]]. Beginning in the 1920s, the local art scene was heavily influenced by modern French art, first introduced by [[Yitzhak Frenkel|Isaac Frenkel Frenel]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1883 {{!}} Encyclopedia of the Founders and Builders of Israel |url=https://www.tidhar.tourolib.org/tidhar/view/4/1883 |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=tidhar.tourolib.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-02 |title=Alexandre FRENEL |url=https://ecoledeparis.org/fr/alexandre-frenel/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Bureau dโart Ecole de Paris |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Jewish masters of the [[school of Paris]], such as [[Chaรฏm Soutine|Soutine]], [[Michel Kikoine|Kikoine]], [[Yitzhak Frenkel|Frenkel]], [[Marc Chagall|Chagall]] heavily influenced the subsequent development of Israeli art.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-25 |title=Chaim Soutine โ From Russia to Paris by Ben Uri Research Unit |url=https://issuu.com/benurigallery/docs/chaim_soutine___from_russia_to_paris |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":43">{{Cite web |title=Israel Studies An Anthology: Art in Israel |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/israel-studies-an-anthology-art-in-israel |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref> Israeli sculpture took inspiration from modern [[Art of Europe|European sculpture]] as well [[Art of Mesopotamia|Mesopotamian]], [[Assyrian sculpture|Assyrian]] and local art.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Israeli Sculpture |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/israeli-sculpture |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel - Art, Music, Dance |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Israel/Cultural-life |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Avraham Melnikov]]'s roaring lion, David Polus' Alexander Zaid and [[Zeev Ben-Zvi|Ze'ev Ben Zvi]]'s cubist sculpture exemplify some of the different streams in Israeli sculpture.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite journal |date=2008-01-18 |title=Encyclopaedia Judaica (2nd edition) |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09504120810843177 |journal=Reference Reviews |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=51โ53 |doi=10.1108/09504120810843177 |issn=0950-4125}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title=1938-1941 - Alexander Zaid, David Polus |url=https://israeled.org/1938-1941-alexander-zaid-david-polus/ |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=CIE |language=en}}</ref> Common themes in Israeli art are the mystical cities of [[Safed]] and [[Jerusalem]], the bohemian cafรฉ culture of [[Tel Aviv]], agricultural landscapes, biblical stories and war. Today Israeli art has delved into [[Optical art]], [[Artificial intelligence art|AI art]], [[digital art]] and the use of salt in sculpture.<ref name=":43" /> === Architecture === {{main|Architecture of Israel}} [[File:ืืืืืืื ืืืืืืืืก1.jpg|thumb|[[Bauhaus Foundation Tel Aviv|Bauhaus Museum]], [[Tel Aviv]]]] Due to the immigration of Jewish architects, architecture in Israel has come to reflect different styles. In the early 20th century Jewish architects sought to combine Occidental and Oriental architecture producing buildings that showcase a myriad of infused styles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EclecticโModern \ Tel Aviv Museum of Art |url=https://www.tamuseum.org.il/en/exhibition/eclecticmodern/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=tamuseum.org.il |language=en}}</ref> The [[Eclecticism in architecture|eclectic]] style gave way to the modernist [[Bauhaus]] style with the influx of German Jewish architects (among them [[Erich Mendelsohn]]) fleeing [[Nazi persecution of Jews|Nazi persecution]].<ref>{{Cite web |title="Erich Mendelsohn: Berlin โ Jerusalem" Photography by Carsten Krohn {{!}} Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv |url=https://bauhaus-center.com/gallery-art-exhibition/erich-mendelsohn-berlin-jerusalem-photography-by-carsten-krohn/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Erich Mendelsohn |url=https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/about/erich-mendelsohn |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Weizmann Wonder Wander |language=en}}</ref> The [[White City (Tel Aviv)|White City of Tel Aviv]] is a [[UNESCO Heritage site|UNESCO heritage site]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=White City of Tel-Aviv – the Modern Movement |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1096/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref> Following independence, multiple government projects were commissioned, a grand part built in a brutalist style with heavy emphasis on the use of concrete and acclimatization to the Israel's desert climate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Constantinoiu |first=Marina |date=2021-04-21 |title=In Tel Aviv, amazing Brutalist architecture hides in plain sight |url=https://www.israel21c.org/in-tel-aviv-amazing-brutalist-architecture-hides-in-plain-sight/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=ISRAEL21c |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-12 |title=Beyond Bauhaus - The allure of Israeli Brutalism |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/brutally-beautiful-576859 |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Several novel ideas such as the [[Garden city movement|Garden City]] were implemented Israeli cities; the [[Geddes Plan for Tel Aviv|Geddes plan]] of Tel Aviv became renowned internationally for its revolutionary design and adaptation to the local climate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Patrick Geddes Plan for Tel-Aviv |url=https://magazine.esra.org.il/posts/entry/sir-patrick-geddes.html |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=ESRAmagazine |language=en-gb}}</ref> The design of kibbutzim also came to reflect ideology, such as the planning of the circular kibbutz [[Nahalal]] by [[Richard Kauffmann]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Amir |first1=Eyal |last2=Churchman |first2=Arza |last3=Wachman |first3=Avraham |date=October 2005 |journal=Housing Theory and Society |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=147โ165 |doi=10.1080/14036090510040313 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248979674 |title=The Kibbutz Dwelling: Ideology and Design|s2cid=145220156 }}</ref> ===Media=== {{Main|Media of Israel}} The 2017 ''[[Freedom of the Press (report)|Freedom of the Press]]'' annual report by [[Freedom House]] ranked Israel as the [[MENA|Middle East and North Africa]]'s most free country, and 64th globally.<ref>{{cite report |date=April 2017 |title=Freedom of the Press 2017 |url=https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/FOTP_2017_booklet_FINAL_April28.pdf |publisher=Freedom House |page=26 |access-date=30 September 2017}}</ref> In the 2017 [[Press Freedom Index]] by [[Reporters Without Borders]], Israel (including "Israel extraterritorial" since 2013 ranking)<ref>{{cite news |last=Diab |first=Khaled |date=11 February 2013 |title=Preaching โ and Practicing โ Media Freedom in the Middle East |url=http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/preaching-8211-and-practicing-8211-media-freedom-in-the-middle-east.premium-1.502769 |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=9 January 2017}}</ref> was placed 91st of 180 countries, first in the Middle East and North Africa region.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rsf.org/en/ranking |title=2017 World Press Freedom Index |date=2017 |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |access-date=30 September 2017}}</ref> Reporters Without Borders noted that "Palestinian journalists are systematically subjected to violence as a result of their coverage of events in the West Bank".<ref>{{cite web | title=Israel | website=RSF | date=1 January 2022 | url=https://rsf.org/en/country/israel | access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref> More than fifty Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israel since 2001.<ref name="Guyer 2022">{{cite web | last=Guyer | first=Jonathan | title=The killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, explained | website=Vox | date=11 May 2022 | url=https://www.vox.com/2022/5/11/23067365/shireen-abu-akleh-palestinian-journalist-killed-israel | access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref> ===Museums=== {{Main list|List of Israeli museums}} [[File:Billy Rose Art Garden (14755133799).jpg|thumb|[[Shrine of the Book]], repository of the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] in Jerusalem]] The [[Israel Museum]] in Jerusalem is one of Israel's most important cultural institutions<ref name="imj">{{cite web |url=http://www.english.imjnet.org.il/page_1465?c0=14896&bsp=14393 |publisher=The Israel Museum, Jerusalem |title=About the Museum |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302154234/http://www.english.imjnet.org.il/page_1465?c0=14896&bsp=14393 |archive-date=2 March 2013 }}</ref> and houses the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imj.org.il/eng/shrine/index.html |publisher=The Israel Museum, Jerusalem |title=Shrine of the Book |access-date=13 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709044752/https://www.imj.org.il/eng/shrine/index.html |archive-date=9 July 2007 }}</ref> along with an extensive collection of [[Judaica]] and [[European art]].<ref name="imj"/> Israel's national [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]] museum, [[Yad Vashem]], is the world central archive of Holocaust-related information.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/about/index.asp |publisher=Yad Vashem |title=About Yad Vashem |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314132026/http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/about/index.asp |archive-date=14 March 2012 }}</ref> [[ANU - Museum of the Jewish People]] on the campus of [[Tel Aviv University]], is an interactive museum devoted to the history of Jewish communities around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bh.org.il/about-us.aspx |publisher=Beth Hatefutsoth |title=Museum Information |access-date=13 August 2007 }}</ref> Israel has the highest number of museums per capita.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://travel.cnn.com/best-israel-museums-361281/ |title=10 of Israel's best museums |last=Ahituv |first=Netta |date=29 January 2013 |publisher=CNN |access-date=9 January 2017}}</ref> Several Israeli museums are devoted to Islamic culture, including the [[Rockefeller Museum]] and the [[L. A. Mayer Institute for Islamic Art]], both in Jerusalem. The Rockefeller specializes in archaeological remains from Middle East history. It is also the home of the first [[hominid]] fossil skull found in Western Asia, called [[Galilee Man]].<ref>{{cite book|url={{Google books|4Z0YrPfeHa8C|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|title=Through the Ages in Palestinian Archaeology: An Introductory Handbook |page=50|first=Walter E.|last=Rast|year=1992|isbn=978-1-56338-055-6|publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group}} "Galilee man" (lowercase "m") in this source is a typo โ ref. [[Solo Man]], [[Peking Man]] and so forth.</ref> ===Cuisine=== {{Main|Israeli cuisine}} [[File:Food in Israel.jpg|thumb|A meal including [[falafel]], [[hummus]], [[French fries]] and [[Israeli salad]]]] [[Israeli cuisine]] includes local dishes as well as [[Jewish cuisine]] brought to the country by immigrants. Particularly since the late 1970s, an Israeli [[fusion cuisine]] has developed.<ref name=raviv/> Israeli cuisine has adopted, and continues to adapt, elements of the [[Cuisine of the Mizrahi Jews|Mizrahi]], [[Cuisine of the Sephardic Jews|Sephardi]], and [[Ashkenazi cuisine|Ashkenazi]] styles of cooking. It incorporates many foods traditionally eaten in the [[Levantine cuisine|Levantine]], [[Arab cuisine|Arab]], [[Middle Eastern cuisine|Middle Eastern]] and [[Mediterranean cuisine|Mediterranean]] cuisines, such as [[falafel]], [[hummus]], [[shakshouka]], [[couscous]], and [[za'atar]]. [[Schnitzel]], [[pizza]], [[hamburger]]s, [[French fries]], [[rice]] and [[salad]] are common in Israel. Roughly half of the Israeli-Jewish population attests to keeping [[kosher]] at home.<ref>Uzi Rebhun, Lilakh Lev Ari, [https://books.google.com/books?id=CG-WQZDJdo8C&pg=PA113 ''American Israelis: Migration, Transnationalism, and Diasporic Identity,''] Brill, 2010 pp. 112โ113.</ref><ref name="bernstein 227, 233โ234">{{harvnb|Bernstein|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FYXlAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA227 227], [https://books.google.com/books?id=FYXlAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA233 233โ234]}}</ref> [[Kosher restaurant]]s make up around a quarter of the total {{As of|2015|lc=y}}.<ref name=raviv>Yael Raviv, [https://books.google.com/books?id=KjuYCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT119 ''Falafel Nation,''] University of Nebraska Press, 2015</ref> Together with non-kosher fish, rabbits and ostriches, [[pork]]โoften called "white meat" in Israel<ref name=bernstein-231>{{harvnb|Bernstein|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FYXlAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA232 231โ233]}}</ref>โis produced and consumed, though [[Religious restrictions on the consumption of pork|it is forbidden]] by both Judaism and Islam.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jeffrey Yoskowitz |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/life/faithbased/2012/08/israel_s_pork_problem_and_what_it_means_for_the_country_s_christian_arabs_.single.html|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|title=Israel's Pork Problem|date=8 August 2012 |access-date=28 December 2015}}</ref> ===Sports=== {{Main|Sport in Israel}} [[File:ืืจืืง ืขืืื.jpg|thumb|[[Maccabi Haifa F.C.]] fans at [[Sammy Ofer Stadium]] in the city of Haifa]] The most popular spectator sports in Israel are [[association football]] and [[basketball]].{{sfn|Torstrick|2004|p=141}} The [[Israeli Premier League]] is the country's premier football league, and the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]] is the premier basketball league.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.basket.co.il/Data.asp?id=1&lang=en |publisher=Winner Basketball Super League |title=Basketball Super League Profile |access-date=13 August 2007 }}</ref> [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]], [[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]], [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]] and [[Beitar Jerusalem F.C.|Beitar Jerusalem]] are the largest [[List of football clubs in Israel|football clubs]]. Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv have competed in the [[UEFA Champions League]] and Hapoel Tel Aviv reached the [[UEFA Cup]] quarter-finals. Israel hosted and won the [[1964 AFC Asian Cup]]; in 1970 the [[Israel national football team]] qualified for the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup]], the only time it participated in the World Cup. The [[1974 Asian Games]], held in Tehran, were the last Asian Games in which Israel [[Israel at the Asian Games|participated]], plagued by the Arab countries that [[Boycotts of Israel in sports|refused]] to compete with Israel. Israel was excluded from the [[1978 Asian Games]] and since then has not competed in Asian sport events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jta.org/1976/07/26/archive/israel-barred-from-asian-games |title=Israel Barred from Asian Games |publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=26 July 1976 |access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> In 1994, [[UEFA]] agreed to admit Israel, and its football teams now compete in Europe. [[Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.]] has won the [[FIBA European Champions Cup and EuroLeague records and statistics|European championship]] in basketball six times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/milan-2014/maccabi-electra-tel-aviv |title=Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv โ Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL |access-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625083458/http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/milan-2014/maccabi-electra-tel-aviv |archive-date=25 June 2014 }}</ref> Israel has won [[Israel at the Olympics|nine Olympic medals]] since its first win [[1992 Summer Olympics|in 1992]], including a gold medal in [[Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics โ Men's Mistral One Design|windsurfing]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/israel |publisher=International Olympic Committee |title=Israel |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> Israel has won [[Israel at the Paralympics|over 100]] gold medals in the [[Paralympic Games]] and is ranked 20th in the [[All-time Paralympic Games medal table|all-time medal count]]. The [[1968 Summer Paralympics]] were hosted by Israel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org/paralympic-games/tel-aviv-1968 |title=Tel Aviv 1968 |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320024849/http://www.paralympic.org/paralympic-games/tel-aviv-1968 |archive-date=20 March 2012 }}</ref> The [[Maccabiah Games]], an Olympic-style event for [[List of Jews in sports|Jewish]] and Israeli athletes, was inaugurated in the 1930s, and has been held every four years since then. [[Krav Maga]], a martial art developed by Jewish ghetto defenders during the struggle against [[fascism]] in Europe, is used by the Israeli security forces and police. Its effectiveness and practical approach to self-defense, have won it widespread admiration and adherence around the world.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988284,00.html|url-access=subscription|title=Choke! Gouge! Smash!|last=Ellis|first=Judy|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=4 May 1998|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> [[File:BorisGelfandSicilianDefence.jpg|thumb|[[Boris Gelfand]], chess [[Grandmaster (chess)|Grandmaster]]]] [[Chess]] is a leading sport in Israel. There are many Israeli grandmasters and [[List of Israeli chess players|Israeli chess players]] have won a number of youth world championships.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/pawn-stars-shine-in-new-national-sport-1.317002 | title=Pawn stars shine in new 'national sport' | newspaper=Haaretz | access-date=21 May 2012| date=4 October 2010 }}</ref> Israel stages an annual international [[Israeli Chess Championship|championship]] and hosted the [[World Team Chess Championship]] in 2005. The Ministry of Education and the [[FIDE|World Chess Federation]] agreed upon a project of teaching chess within Israeli schools, and it has been introduced into the curriculum of some schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cis.fide.com/en/reports/186-chess-in-schools-in-israel-progress-report |title=Chess in Schools in Israel: Progress report |date=28 May 2012 |publisher=FIDE |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-date=8 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108193104/http://cis.fide.com/en/reports/186-chess-in-schools-in-israel-progress-report }}</ref> The city of [[Beersheba]] has become a national chess center, with the game being taught in the city's kindergartens. Owing partly to Soviet immigration, it is home to the largest number of [[Grandmaster (chess)|chess grandmasters]] of any city in the world.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chess masters set to blitz Rishon Letzion |first=Eitan |last=Bekerman |newspaper=Haaretz |date=4 September 2006 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/chess-masters-set-to-blitz-rishon-letzion-1.196475}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/9-other/2182-673-world-team-championship-in-beer-sheva-israel|title=World Team Championship in Beer Sheva, Israel |publisher=World Chess Federation |access-date=13 March 2009 |date=1 November 2005 }}</ref> The Israeli chess team won the silver medal at the [[38th Chess Olympiad|2008 Chess Olympiad]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel takes silver medal in Chess Olympiad |first=Uri |last=Tzahor |newspaper=Ynetnews |date=26 November 2008 |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3628765,00.html}}</ref> and the bronze, coming in third among 148 teams, at the [[39th Chess Olympiad|2010 Olympiad]]. Israeli grandmaster [[Boris Gelfand]] won the [[Chess World Cup 2009]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli grand master Boris Gelfand wins Chess World Cup |first=Eli |last=Shvidler |newspaper=Haaretz |date=15 December 2009 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/israeli-grand-master-boris-gelfand-wins-chess-world-cup-1.2120}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page