Need Some Sheqels?
by freddie18
Israel Discount Bank is one of Israel's leading financial groups.
The New Israeli Shekel / Sheqel is Israel’s currency. There are coins of 5, 10, 50 agorot (like cents), and 1, 5, 10, 20,50,100 & 200 shekels notes. The 200 Shekels notes are not easily traded, and one should try to avoid receiving them when exchanging money. Money can be exchanged at any of the street exchange bureaux, ATMs or any of Israel’s major banks.
When exchanging money at a bank, you will be charged a fixed exchange fee, and if you choose to use an exchange place on the street, you will not be charged for the transaction, but will receive a lower rate than the banks supply.
If you do choose to use the bank, try not to exchange money on Sundays. The reason is that while the Israeli banks are open on Sundays, there is no world currency trade on Sunday, and the banks charge a commission that is 10 times higher than on any other day of the week.
There are many ATMs around Israel that are all connected to European and American banking systems. When using an ATM, you will be charged by your credit card provider, as well as an ATM fee. Your credit card provider will also determine what the exchange rate is, and it will usually be the highest rate possible for that date.
Generally speaking, exchange places are always cheaper than the banks and ATMs, but if you choose to exchange money at a change spot, make sure to look at the rates of a few places before making your choice.
Some Israeli businesses will accept Travelers’ cheques, although most of them won’t. If you insist on using travelers’ cheques, This leaves you with the alternative of cashing them at any of the Israeli post offices, which are the only commission – free way to cash travelers cheques in Israel. Cash can also be sent to post office branches using Western Union services.
Jerusalem, the old city - David's Tower
by Martin_S.
In the background you can see David's Tower in the old city of Jerusalem. The sign points the way to Jaffa Gate, one of the traditional 7 gates leading the way into the city. It is one of the two main gates, the Damascus gate being the other.
visit the western wall in the...
by soniko
visit the western wall in the old city,the tower f David in the entance of the old city, yad vashem (holocaust museum), malha mall, city center (ben yehuda st), emek refaim st ( full ofcafes and restaurants near the city center),montefiore's wind mill, mt. herzl (cemetaries of the prime ministers, and the presidents of Israel and a soliders' cemetary + Theodor Herzl's cemetary, the holyland Temple model in bayit ve gan, hebrew university of Jerusalem, Ammunition hill ( in the memory of th six Day war) the day I moved to my first flat with my wife in Ramat Eshkol
Sun streaming down in the...
by lois_lane
Sun streaming down in the streets, dappled by the roofs of the shops on either sides. Donkeys and men pulling carts, loaded to near tipping, hurrying up and down the allies and back lanes. Smells hitting our nostrils with ferocity in the heat. I really wish that you could bring back the smells of a place with you.
The plant on the western wall
by ophiro
There is a plant between the rocks of the western wall.
The name of the plant is Capparis spinosa (in hebrew it is "Tsa'laf").
There is a legend about the plant :
When the romans attacked Jerusalem there was a boy called Tsalaf (the hebrew meaning of sniper) that stood on the western wall and fired arrows on the romans so they couldnt pass.
The roman's millitary leader saw that and ordered to enter from the north entry and they broke into the temple mount and destroyed the temple.
The roman's millitary leader came behind the boy to kill him but he was amazed that it was just a small boy.
Before he killed him the boy started to get down on the wall and just before the romans killed him with their arrows he became a plant - a caper.
The roman's millitary leader ordered his soldiers to get down the wall and bring him the plant but each one of them fell after the thorns of the plant injured them.
And now only the western wall was left and the plant is still watching the people praying.
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