First of all, sweetheart, Nazi Germany never had Zionist policies. There has been a continuous Jewish population in Israel for a little over 3,000 years now, although there have been times when their numbers dropped very low. The modern migration of Jews back to Israel began sometime late in the 19th Century (that was the 18 hundreds). That was the time when the individual Jews and the small communities of Jews, who always knew that they werent actually welcome anywhere, began to share that realization with each other. If there were any who hadnt actually realized it yet, it was hard for them to miss the way that as soon as things began to go bad for this country or that one or the other one, there were always loud voices high up in that country who blamed all of the countrys problems on the Jews who lived there. So the idea began to take hold among the Jews that it might actually be possible to start rebuilding Jewish culture and society in the place where they always belonged, in Israel. As Czarist Russia was falling apart and things were going from bad to worse for Russian Jews, many of those who were able to leave Russia did so. My grandparents went to Argentina and to the US. Many other Russian Jews went to Israel. As Germany was going downhill in the 1920s and 30s and blaming it on the Jews, great numbers of Jews continued to ignore what was happening and believe that it would get better. Great numbers of other Jews who were able to leave Germany did that, and migrated to many other countries around the world, including Israel. By the time the Nazis had solidified power and created their policies specifically aimed at Jews, in the late 1930s, Jews were no longer allowed to come and go as they felt like it. Zionist policy is a policy that says Jews should be able to establish a Jewish nation in Israel. That was not the policy of Nazi Germany. The policy of Nazi Germany said that Jews are inferior human beings, that it is Germanys job to clean them off of the Earth, and that special railroad lines and death camps should be built to do the job. And thats exactly what Germany did, from 1938 until 1945, capturing and killing millions of Jews (and others) in Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, France, and Holland. After Germany lost the Second World War in 1945, most of the Jews who were still alive in those countries left, and went to other places. A lot of them went to Israel. Israel became a country in 1948, and since that time, there have been migrations to Israel of Jews from many countries, including large numbers from Russia, from Ethiopia, from Yemen, and from the US and Canada. In 1937, Zeev Jabotinsky proposed a mass exodus of Polish Jews to Mandatory Palestine, but before he could pitch the idea to the Polish Jewish communities (3.3 million people ... of whom 3 million would be mass-murdered), the British opposed the entry of any Polish Jews into Mandatory Palestine fearing Arab reprisals. If you wish to specifically discuss Immigration to Mandatory Palestine during the height of the Holocaust (1939-1945) you should note that the British White Paper of 1939 further minimized the legal Jewish immigration to a trickle. This widely prevented Jews from settling in Mandatory Palestine until after 1948 when the State of Israel was declared and opened its borders.
What is Israel known for?
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Israel
- Israel, Arabic Isrāʾīl, officially State of Israel or Hebrew Medinat Yisraʾel, country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.
- It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea.
- Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.
Israel has so much to offer, here are some of the things Israel is known for.
The Dead Sea
You pass a sign reading ‘Sea Level’ and then keep driving downhill, eventually catching glimpses of the cobalt-blue waters of the Dead Sea:, outlined by snow-white salt deposits, reddish-tan cliffs and tufts of dark-green vegetation. At the oasis of Ein Gedi you can hike through steep canyons to crystal-clear pools and tumbling waterfalls before climbing to the Judean Desert plateau above – or heading down to the seashore for a briny, invigorating dip. To the south around Mt Sodom, outdoor options include adventure cycling along dry riverbeds.
Tel Aviv Beaches
Head to Gordon Beach: in Tel Aviv and grab your spot either on the sand or on a sun lounger and watch sunbathers bronze their bods while the more athletic swim, surf, sail and play intense games of matkot (beach racquetball). Pick one of the bars or restaurants that brings food and beers to the sand and enjoy some lunch, then as evening falls do as the locals do and sink a few ice-cold Goldstars as the sun sets over the warm, deep-blue waters of the Mediterranean.
Baha’i Gardens
Fusing religious symbolism, breathtaking views and meticulous gardening, the 19 terraces of Haifa's Baha'i Gardens: present visitors with a sublime expression of humankind's striving for beauty. The gold-domed Shrine of the Bab sits in the middle of the gardens, and tier after tier of geometric flower beds, immaculate lawns, sculptures and fountains cascade down the slopes of Mt Carmel, offering pilgrims and tourists alike a sense of incredible serenity. If you're fit enough, the view from the top over Haifa may take your mind off your burning calves.
Masada
The Romans had just destroyed Jerusalem when about a thousand Jewish Zealots took refuge on a remote hilltop overlooking the Dead Sea. As you peer down from their towering redoubt, you can still see the eight encircling Roman camps:, connected by a siege wall, making it easy to imagine the dramatic, tragic events that unfolded here in early 73 CE. Eventually the Romans built a ramp and breached the walls, but all they found were a handful of survivors – everyone else had committed suicide rather than submit to slavery.
Tsfat
The spirit of the 16th-century rabbis who turned Tsfat: – the highest city in the Galilee, and in Israel – into the world’s most important centre of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) lingers in the alleyways and ancient synagogues of the Synagogue Quarter and in the nearby Artists’ Quarter, where intimate galleries offer creative, joyous Judaica (Jewish ritual objects). A Kabbalistic vibe is also palpable in the hillside cemetery, where some of Judaism’s greatest sages – the Ari, Yitzhak Luria, Yosef Caro – lie buried.
Caesarea
Hugely impressive Roman ruins: make it easy to imagine city life here two millennia ago, when crowds in the amphitheatre cheered wildly as slaves fought wild animals and the theatre hosted top musical talent – as it still does today. The remains of Herod's vast port, built to rival Alexandria, have been turned into one of the loveliest spots in Israel for a seaside meal or a cold beer. For a look underneath the harbour's turquoise waters, book an introductory scuba dive.
Nazareth
The village where Jesus grew up has also grown up and is now a bustling Arab city. In the Old City, narrow alleyways are graced with churches commemorating the Annunciation and other New Testament events, and with Ottoman-era mansions. A new generation of restaurants has made Nazareth: a star in Israel’s gastronomic firmament. Alongside delicious old-time specialities, served with traditional Arab hospitality, you can sample East-West ‘fusion’ dishes – fresh local herbs with artichoke hearts, or wild Galilean pine nuts with chopped beef.
Akko
The narrow alleys, domed mosques and colonnaded caravanserais of Akko's old city: will transport you to the Ottoman era, but step underground and you're back in the time of the Crusaders, when this port city was the richest in the eastern Mediterranean and Marco Polo stopped here on his way to China. Wander through vast vaulted halls where Christian knights once dined, or follow in the footsteps of the Knights Templar through an amazing tunnel. The picturesque fishing port, lapped by the turquoise Mediterranean, is a great spot for a drink or a meal.
Sea of Galilee
Before Judaism and Christianity became separate religions, Jesus and his earliest followers lived among the Jews of the Sea of Galilee:, in villages such as Capernaum – famed for its impressive synagogue – and Bethsaida. For breathtaking views of the area, head up the slope to the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. A remarkably well-preserved wooden boat from the time of Jesus is on display at Kibbutz Ginosar. Swimming is possible at a variety of beaches, many linked by bike paths.
Beit She'an
For a taste of the decadence and grandeur of Roman life in the centuries after Jesus, stroll through the column-lined Cardo (main boulevard), stone-paved streets, elaborate bathhouses and public toilets of ancient Beit She'an:, destroyed – like Pompeii – by a sudden natural cataclysm, in this case the great earthquake of 749 CE. The 7000-seat theatre and its arched entrances look much as they did in the 2nd century, when dramatic performances were staged here (these days it's used for concerts).
Tel Aviv Architecture
Jewish architects fleeing 1930s Germany brought a radical new style to Tel Aviv:: Bauhaus, also known as the International Style. Their legacy – some 4000 structures with clean horizontal lines, rounded balconies and 'thermometer' windows lighting the stairwells – constitutes the largest ensemble of Bauhaus buildings in the world, which is why the 'White City' was recognised as a Unesco World Heritage site in 2003. The preservation of Tel Aviv's Bauhaus gems is a work in progress – some have been gleamingly restored, but many others await much-needed TLC.
Makhtesh Ramon
Jerusalem is often described as 'ancient', but it's a veritable newcomer to the region when compared with this extraordinary geological phenomenon located in the midst of the Negev desert. An asymmetrical canyon: that owes its existence to 200 million years of erosion, this majestic gash in the landscape features pink-hued rock formations, a multicoloured sandstone floor studded with ammonite fossils, and local wildlife including oryx, gazelles, leopards, ibex, vultures and onagers (wild horses). Sometimes windswept, always enigmatic, it's one of Israel's most underrated and compelling attractions.
Golan Heights
From towering Nimrod Fortress, the 'Galilee Panhandle': spreads out before you like a topographical map. But the looming flanks of Mt Hermon, snow capped well into spring, dwarf even this Crusader-era stronghold. Hikers can take on the alpine peaks of Mt Hermon or follow the cliff-lined wadis of the Banias and Yehudiya Nature Reserves on their way to the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. The Golan’s basalt soils are ideal for growing grapes, so the local wines are some of the region's finest.
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