What considerations should I make for traveling in Israel on the Sabbath?
I am planning to travel around Israel (from Oct 19 to Nov 5th), and I am wondering what effect the Sabbath will have on transport, restaurants and the sights. Should I be planning to not do anything from Friday night to Saturday night?
Best Answer
Background
The Shabbath (pronounced Shabbat in Israeli Hebrew) imposes some travel limitations but offers some exciting experiences. If you plan your trip correctly, you can greatly benefit from it.
The first important thing to know about Shabbat is that its character varies greatly among different areas in Israel. Ultra religous quarters in Jerusalem (like Mea Shearim) are literally closed for any transportation, and either smoking, talking on cellular phones will cause anger and irritation. In the mostly secular Tel Aviv, shops, night clubs and restaurants are open, there is reasonable public transportation and Shabbat is the unofficial hangout day.
Practical facts
- Buses and the Israeli Railway don't operate in Shabbat. However, share taxis operate normally in Tel Aviv, and Taxis operate everywhere.
- Private transportation is unrestricted except some religious neighbourhoods.
- Most shops are closed, especially in religious areas and Jerusalem. Most non-Kosher restaurants are open, and you can find a large variety of restaurants anywhere, Jerusalem included.
- The main weekly prayer in Synagogues and in the Western Wall is on Saturday morning.
- Arab villages, neighbourhoods and cities in Israel (not to mention Palestinian Authority regions) are fully opened.
So, what can you do?
- Visit a synagogue. Try to ask a Jewish friend to find a synagogue that will welcome you, and ask for the behavior rules beforehand. Don't bring any electrical device, including a cellular phone - it's considered extreme rudeness in most synagogues. If you can't find one, visit the Western Wall early in the morning.
- Spend a day outdoors with a rented car. You can visit all the main highlights like Massada, Dead sea or Makhtesh Ramon.
- Urban tourism: Tour the Old City of Jerusalem, Jaffa, Tel Aviv (or any other city) by foot. Taxis are not too expensive, too.
- Visit an Arabic or Druze village like Abu Ghosh or Pekiin. You'll probably need a rented car or an expensive long-distance taxi.
Pictures about "What considerations should I make for traveling in Israel on the Sabbath?"
What can you do on the Sabbath in Israel?
What to do on Shabbat in Israel- Wander around the Old City. As Shabbat is a Jewish celebration, the Christian and Arab quarters of the old city will still be open and teeming with life. ...
- Go to a museum. ...
- Take a tour. ...
- Go on a Masada sunrise tour. ...
- Experience a Shabbat meal.
How do you get around Shabbat in Israel?
So how can you get around Israel on Shabbat and holidays?How do you travel on Shabbat?
Isaiah 58:13\u201314 calls on Jews to limit their travel during Shabbat, and the law of techum shabbat limits on the distance one may travel beyond the city/town where one is spending Shabbat, regardless of the method of transportation.Can you fly to Israel on Shabbat?
To avoid congestion and delays, it's generally a good idea to plan travel a few hours before or after Shabbat. While Israel's airports still operate as normal during Shabbat, many inter-city and metropolitan bus and train schedules will be affected.24 hours in JERUSALEM during SHABBAT - What can YOU do?
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Images: Toa Heftiba Şinca, Haley Black, Henry Marsh, Haley Black