
Israel is a very interesting and pleasant country to live in (especially Tel Aviv), but there are a few points to clarify:
International situation:Unfortunately,
Israel has not often known peace in its recent history. I experienced
this firsthand: In early March, I was urgently evacuated via Jordan
with other expatriate colleagues due to the outbreak of war with Iran.
It is therefore strongly recommended that you check with your national
authorities (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) regarding the security
situation and notify your consulate or embassy in Israel before your
departure.
Another highly recommended detail: The Israeli army
has developed an app (available on Google or similar platforms) that
emits an alert not only when an alarm is triggered (sirens), but also
about 10-15 minutes in advance, allowing you to reach shelters without
having to rush. Search "
Home Front Command" on Google.
Shabbat...Shabbat
is the day of rest prescribed by the Jewish religion. The problem is
that its commandments are taken literally throughout the country,
particularly in Jerusalem and rural areas, which means that from Friday
(sunset) to Saturday evening:
- All shops and restaurants are closed.
- There
is no public transportation (also no trains!). It should be noted that
the last trains and public transport don't simply stop at sunset, but
must arrive at their destination before
the start of Shabbat! A concrete example: The last train from Jerusalem
to Tel Aviv on Friday leaves around 3 p.m.! After that, the only way to
get home is by taxi (already expensive at other times, but the fares
are "adjusted" during Shabbat...).
Shabbat in Tel AvivA
major exception to the previous chapter: The city of Tel Aviv. Not only
is it easy to find an open shop or restaurant there during Shabbat, but
the municipality has also implemented a free bus service (free because
of the prohibition on commerce during Shabbat). While significantly
less frequent than weekday buses, it at least allows you to get around
the city and surrounding areas.
Rav-KavSpeaking
of public transportation: The Rav-Kav is a card that allows you to use
public transportation in Israel: buses, trains, etc. It is available in
many places, especially at the airport.
This card is very practical, but there's something even better: There's an app called "
Hop-On Rav-Pass"
(available on Google) that not only allows you to buy tickets (paying
directly by credit card), but also provides detailed schedules from
point A to point B and lets you track your location in real time during
your journey (very useful when traveling to an unfamiliar place).
To use public transport with this app:
- Bus:
Launch the app and scan the QR code displayed in various locations on
the bus or on the ticket validators, then validate. The fare is 8
Shekels (approximately €2) per ride.
- Train: Before entering the
station, launch the app and have it generate a QR code to show at the
automatic gates to access the platform. Once you arrive at your
destination, the app will generate another QR code to exit, and the
fare will be calculated accordingly. That's all!
