Israel🕣
State in the southwestern part of Asia. Official name – the State of Israel. Population – 8.8 million people (as of 2020). Capital – Jerusalem. Official language - Hebrew. Government type – parliamentary republic. Main religion – Judaism.
Israel
Greeting
Israel is a multicultural state where, alongside Jews, various ethnic groups reside, resulting in different forms of greeting. The traditional form of greeting in a business setting is a handshake, but among representatives of different ethno-cultural groups, it may vary.
The differences are particularly noticeable in greetings between people who are well-acquainted. For example, Arabs living in Israel often wrap their left hand around the other person's shoulder during a handshake and exchange kisses on each cheek.
A common greeting is "Shalom," which means "Peace," or "Peace be upon your house." "Shalom" is used not only when greeting but also when saying goodbye.
Physical contact between genders is not customary among Orthodox Jews, as well as among Arabs due to their Muslim traditions. Therefore, foreign women should wait for the man to initiate a handshake before extending their hand in greeting. The same applies to foreign men, who should pay attention to the woman's behavior in such situations.
At business events, participants may not introduce their wives who are present at the meeting, as this is not customary in traditional Arab families or among Orthodox Jews.
Introduction
In Israel, as in many other countries (especially Western ones), a person’s first name is placed before their last name. However, on official documents, for example, you may see the reverse order – the last name first, followed by the first name, often without a comma between them (as is customary in other countries). For instance, on a driver's license, a person named Aaron Cohen will...
Exchange of Business Cards
Business card text should be in English on one side and in Hebrew on the other. Those with engraving are considered more prestigious.
Business cards are usually exchanged during the initial contact.
Foreign women who come to Israel should keep in mind that their partner might be an Orthodox Jew who may not be able to accept (for example, a business card) directly from a woman's...
Small Talk: Overview
Israel is a country where representatives of various national and ethnic cultures reside. Jews make up the majority of the population, but among the residents of this state, there is also a significant number (up to one-quarter of the total population) of non-Jewish citizens, predominantly Arabs.
Additionally, the Jewish population itself consists of people from different countries: for...
Preferred Topics
During initial meetings, the focus is on topics related to the personal backgrounds of the speakers, such as origin, education, residence, etc. Additionally, topics related to family and (lastly) work may be touched upon. All of this helps to better understand the potential partner.
In subsequent meetings, polite questions about family are also welcomed, as they demonstrate the speakers...
Taboo Topics
Strictly personal topics can be considered taboo. While showing interest in the family during a conversation is generally encouraged, detailed questions about family relationships or the health of specific family members should be avoided. Discussions about family matters should remain very general.
Politics, particularly the Arab-Israeli conflict and Israel's activities on the politica...
Personal Space
The comfortable distance for communication in Israel is shorter than, for example, in Central and Northern European countries. People may stand quite close to each other during conversations. It's important not to try to increase this distance by, for example, stepping back, as this may be perceived as unfriendly behavior.
Israelis actively use body language during communication, which ...
Communication Specifics
Israel is known for its extraordinary cultural diversity. In business situations, you may encounter people with various cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, and educational levels. It's important to be careful with your speech and avoid any evaluative comments to prevent accidentally offending someone.
Israel is a relatively young country, with a significant portion of its populatio...
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