Israel [antikvár]

INTRODUCTIONThe scene of some of history's most stirring events, the legendary land of Israel, Yedinat Yesra'ei in the ancient Hebrew tongue of its Jewish people, is today a long-awaited dream come true.As if by a miracle worthy of its Biblical ancestors, out of the empty barren waste and crumbling terraces of not so many years ago, there has again risen a vibrant, pulsating country confident in its role as the world's youngest democracy With its face turned to the future, Israel is a reflection of the deeply rooted belief and sheer determination of the people who made their return from exile to the land promised to them by God.Located between two seas, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and at the crossroads of Europe and the East, Israel, loiown previously by many other names, including the Land of Canaan and Palestine, has been subject to continuous upheaval throughout history Years of being ruled successively by ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Turks and Britons, led finally to the words of Golda Meir: "There should be some place on earth where we have a Jewish majority " being fulfilled. On May 14, 1948, a signature was put to the Declaration of Independence which stated, "It is a natural right of the Jewish people, as of all peoples, to command its fate under its own sovereignty"A visitor to Israel will return home refreshed by a land bursting with spirit, which, although small and with a population of only three million, has welcomed immigrants from all over the world and consequently has a multi-national flavour Curious in its blend of East and West, remarkably diverse in its people and strikingly beautiful, not necessarily more so than other countries, as one of the early refugees put it, just uniquely so, travellers will undoubtedly leave its shores with some greatly treasured memories.Not only is the countryside peaceful and inspiring with lush, fertile farmland, dramatic, rugged mountains and burnished desert land, but remnants of its special history in the shape of extensive excavations and unchanged land and seascapes make it a land that feeds the imagination of writers and painters, young people and old alike.The focal point of three of the world's greatest religions, a constant stream of pilgrims travel to its holy cities; Bethlehem, Nazareth and, of course, Jerusalem, the "jewel" of Israel.Built on two hills, Jerusalem stands 1,150 metres above the level of the nearby Dead Sea, now a popular location for health resorts. It is the home of the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Muslims' third holiest city For Judaism, a small ruined wall on Temple Hill, a relic of the Temple of Herod now known as the Western Wall, has remained the centre for prayer. Consequently, the city is strictly divisioned according to faith, with each religious group, which include the Armenian, as well as the Jewish, Muslim and Christian, living in their own section.Elsewhere in the country, there are second and third century synagogues, Crusader towns and fine Byzantine churches with beautifully patterned mosaic floors. But to suggest that Israel, as colourful as its past may be, has only its past to offer, would be wrong. A young state, it has quickly found its feet in the modern competitive world. With a strong emphasis on education there are many fine universities, scientific institutions and cultural centres. As well as the famous Kibbutz, with its unique form of communal living, accommodation includes luxurious hotels, hostels and campsites.This mixture of "then and now" coupled with a contrasting climate and a multitude of languages make Israel a richly rewarding country.