Welcome to Virtual Israel!
Israel is the Jewish homeland and a place where all Jews are welcome.
Did you know that there are more than 5.5 million people living in Israel and more than 80% of them are Jewish?
Keep reading this page, and you'll find more cool facts about Israel today!
You'll also learn about how JUF supports our Israeli family, and how you can help.
Then we'll show you some other sites with maps, Hebrew, and other great Israeli stuff.
But first, you should know that...
Israel is having a major birthday this year!
It was founded in 1948... so in 2008, it turns 60!
Join in the celebration by coming to these great events!
Calendar of Israel@60 Events
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JUF and Israel
Sure you've heard about Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, but did you know that Chicago has a sister region in Israel? It is a region in the Negev desert, centered in the city of Kiryat Gat, and including the areas called Lachish and Shafir.
Every year, Chicago's very own JUF sends $1.3 million to this part of Israel. The money supports mitzvah projects that help people in Kiryat Gat, Lachish and Shafir lead a better life.
Also, JUF has a Sister City in Israel, called Petach Tikva. It's right outside Tel Aviv. Because of this partnership, Petach Tikva is also the official Israeli Sister City of Chicago!
In addition, JUF collects tzedakah for the Israel Emergency Campaign to help the people of Israel recover from recent terror attacks.
Cool Facts About Israel Today
- Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.
- Israel was the first nation to adopt the Kimberly process for diamonds that don’t fund dictators, oppression, or wars.
- Israel is made up of people from at least 100 different countries.
- Israeli law guarantees freedom of religion.
- The cell phone was developed by Israelis working in the Israeli branch of Motorola.
- Israel has the highest rate of women who start their own businesses in the world.
- Israel has more museums per person than any other country.
- Israel is home to more than 3,000 plants, and 380 kinds of birds, plus some 150 different mammals and reptiles.
- Israelis have won Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, Economics, Literature, and Peace.
- All Israeli citizens have health insurance, and Israel’s healthcare system was ranked in the top 15% by the UN’s World Health Organization.
- Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per person.
- Israel was the fourth country ever to elect a woman as head of state, and today 17 Members of Knesset (Israeli Parliament) are women.
- The USB computer-memory chip, voice mail technology and AOL Instant Messenger ICQ all were invented in Israel.
- More than 90% of Israeli adults read a newspaper at least once a week.
- Israel has won the Eurovision all-Europe singing contest three times, the only non-European multiple winner.
- Israel was the first Middle Eastern country to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.
- An Israeli firm developed the first swallow-able video camera, so small it fits inside a pill.
- Since 1992, Israeli law has outlawed discrimination for sexual orientation.
- Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East.
- Israel’s first Grammy winner was Miri Ben-Ari, the “Hip Hop Violinist.”
- Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce.
- Israel is home to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.
- Israeli scientists developed the first radiation-free instruments for measuring breast cancer.
- Israel agricultural experts designed the “drip irrigation” system that has boosted the food supply in developing countries.
- Israel has 150 nature reserves covering nearly 400 square miles.
- Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.
- Israel publishes daily newspapers in nine languages.
- Israelis have won both the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.
- Israel is ranked #2 in the world for “venture capital” funds that help start innovative new businesses. (The U.S. is #1.)
- Jerusalem’s neighborhoods are named for historic eras, and the streets are named for leaders from those eras.
- Israel is often the first nation to send rescue teams and field hospitals to disaster zones worldwide.
- Seven Israeli films have been nominated for Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film.
- One-third of Israeli judges are women.
- Almost every Israeli municipality has a chamber orchestra or ensemble.
- Car companies like Ford and GM, airplane compaines like Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and appliance companies like GE all manage their manufacturing with Israeli software.
- The Pentium microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel.
- An Israeli company was the first to develop a solar-powered electric plant.
Explore Israel
- Visit the Embassy of Israel and travel to Israel without leaving your chair.
- Check out maps of Israel and view pictures of historic sites.
- Prepare for an upcoming trip to Israel learning the Hebrew alphabet, called the Aleph-Bet.
(PDF Document)
