If you like reading...
bring books. It's easy to find books in English in Israel, but they cost twice as much, and used books cost as much as new books in the US. Bring some good books with you (if you don't keep shabbat, youre going to have a lot of free time on friday nights), and when you're done, bring them to a used books store or pass them on. Israeli's don't wear big bulky winter coats like most of America. They tend to wear layers and there's a good reason for it. Israel is a small country, but the weather can change drastically in the course of the day. Add and remove layers until you're comfortable. It can be hot in Tel Aviv when it's cold in Tzfat. In either place, is cold at night. Cosmetics, shampoo, etc is expensive, but not so much tht it's worth packing a lot and lugging it half across the world, unless you're a total diva that doesn't leave the house without make-up on. If you are, what are...
