Israel (IL)
Start-Up Nation with world-class tech ecosystem, rich ancient history, stunning Mediterranean beaches, and a vibrant expat and immigrant community.
Daily Life
Practical day-to-day information for living in Israel.
🛒 Supermarkets
Largest chain in Israel; multiple formats (Shufersal Express, Shufersal Deal, Shufersal Online). Nationwide coverage. Kosher certified.
Best value supermarket in Israel; legendary for low prices; some fresh market atmosphere. Very popular with locals. Limited locations but strong in Jerusalem, Modiin, periphery.
Global Retail C.I. (formerly Yenot Bitan Group) operates these stores under various Carrefour formats — Carrefour, Mega, and Mega in the City. Approximately 77 stores converted to Carrefour brand by end 2023. Mid-range positioning; Kosher certified.
Quality mid-range chain. Good deli section and fresh produce. Popular in coastal cities.
Now the parent brand of Global Retail C.I. which operates Carrefour Israel, Mega and Yeinot Bitan stores. The Yeinot Bitan format maintains mid-to-premium positioning with good wine sections and imported products.
NON-KOSHER supermarket chain — essential for expats wanting pork, shellfish, and a huge range of international imported products. Well-stocked European and American imports.
24-hour convenience stores across urban areas. Open on Shabbat. More expensive but indispensable late-night and on Saturdays.
Opening Hours
Sunday–Thursday: 9am–9pm for most shops and supermarkets. Friday: most businesses close 2–3 hours before Shabbat (approximately 1–3pm depending on season — closing time changes with sunset). Saturday (Shabbat): most shops and supermarkets closed. Exceptions: AM:PM, some Tiv Ta'am stores, Arab-owned businesses, and Tel Aviv beach-area shops often stay open Saturday.
Sunday Rules
Sunday is a WORK DAY in Israel — the Israeli week runs Sunday through Thursday for office workers (government, banking, tech). Friday is a short day, Saturday (Shabbat) is the day of rest. This is one of the biggest adjustments for Western expats.
Recycling
Tel Aviv and larger cities have organized recycling. Glass bottle-return bins (brown/green); blue recycling bins for plastic, metal, and paper in some municipalities; plastic bottle deposit scheme (30 agorot per bottle — return at supermarket machines); general waste grey/brown bins. Organic bins not universal. E-waste via manufacturer take-back or municipal collection events.
Dining Out
Eating out in Israel is excellent and diverse — from Yemeni restaurants to Japanese omakase. Tel Aviv has one of the world's most exciting food scenes. Most restaurants are Kosher (certified by local rabbinate) and serve either meat or dairy but not both. Non-kosher restaurants exist (Tel Aviv's Florentin and Jaffa areas have good options). Restaurants are generally CLOSED on Yom Kippur. Reserve at popular venues on Thursday/Friday evenings. Breakfast out is a beloved Israeli tradition.
Utilities & Internet
Electricity: Israel Electric Corporation (IEC / Chevrat HaHashmal — חברת החשמל). 230V/50Hz; European-style plugs (Type C/H — Type H is unique to Israel). Average monthly bill: NIS 300–700 depending on AC usage. Water: municipal utility (Mekorot centrally, local municipalities distribute). Gas: Gaz-Paz or Supergas for cooking/heating; most urban apartments use natural gas (piped) or gas cylinder. Internet: Yes! (יס), Hot (הוט), Bezeq (בזק), Cellcom Fiber.
Cultural Tips for Expats
- → The Hebrew calendar drives Israeli life: Shabbat every Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall; Jewish holidays interrupt work and commerce unpredictably for Westerners — plan around them.
- → Kashrut (kosher food laws): most restaurants are kosher and serve either meat (basar) or dairy (chalav) but never both at the same meal. Pork and shellfish are available but only at non-kosher establishments.
- → The "chutzpah" culture: Israelis push back, question authority, and speak their minds without European formality. Do not take it personally — it is a feature, not a bug.
- → Military service is universal: your colleagues may disappear for reserve duty (Miluim) with 48 hours notice. This is a legal obligation — be understanding and flexible.
- → Friday night Shabbat dinner is the sacred weekly family gathering — if invited to someone's home, it is a genuine honour. Bring wine or flowers.
- → Hebrew operates on a 22-letter alphabet read right to left. Even basic Hebrew (Aleph-Bet) knowledge is hugely appreciated and practical.
- → WhatsApp is the dominant communication platform in Israel — used for everything from family groups to official government notifications and business communications.
- → Israeli weather extremes: April–October can be brutally hot. Air conditioning is universal in homes, offices, and public spaces.
Quiet Hours
Israel does not have a Germany-style statutory quiet-hours framework applying uniformly to all residents. Noise is governed by the Noise Abatement and Prevention Act 1961 (חוק למניעת מפגעים, 1961), municipal by-laws, and individual building rules (takanon habait — תקנון הבית). Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday night) is the dominant cultural quiet framework — even in secular areas, loud construction, parties and noise are strongly discouraged during Shabbat. In practice, Israeli social culture is louder and more informal than most of Europe, and apartment walls in older buildings are thin.
Strongest cultural expectation for quiet: no loud parties, no construction work, reduced traffic noise. Even secular Israelis often observe Shabbat quiet in mixed neighbourhoods. Particularly strict in religious/national-religious areas (Bnei Brak, Mea Shearim, parts of Jerusalem). In Tel Aviv's secular areas, some noise is tolerated but neighbours expect a basic level of respect.
Most apartment buildings have a takanon habait (house rules document). Noise — music, construction, loud gatherings — after 23:00 is generally expected to stop. Complaints go to the va'ad habayit (building committee).
Environmental Protection Law regulates construction noise hours. Landlords and contractors must observe these limits.
- •Hosting loud parties in an apartment building on Friday night — even in secular areas, neighbours expect Shabbat to be quieter.
- •Running washing machines or dishwashers in thin-walled buildings after 23:00.
- •Construction or DIY drilling on Saturday — prohibited under Israeli law.
- •Not reading the takanon habait — Israeli apartment buildings post their building rules and these can include specific noise restrictions.
Va'ad habayit (building committee) warning or meeting; municipal by-law complaint to the city's Environmental Protection department (misrad hagana al hasaviva ha'ironit). Fines under the Noise Abatement Act 1961 for persistent violations. In severe cases, civil proceedings by the landlord.
Postal Services
Israel Post (Doa'r Yisrael — דואר ישראל) operates post offices and parcel services nationwide. Relatively reliable but can be slow for international packages (10–21 days from Europe/USA). EMS (Express Mail Service) for faster international shipping.
MyPost smart lockers (מיי פוסט) available at post offices and select supermarkets — collect packages 24/7 with a code.
Teudat Zehut (Israeli ID) or passport required for collecting registered mail and parcels.
Dawar rasoom (דואר רשום) — registered mail with signature confirmation. Required for official documents and certified letters.
Israel Post offers mail forwarding for a fee; best arranged before relocating within Israel.
- →Post offices can be busy — use the online queue system where available.
- →For important deliveries, use a courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) rather than standard post.
- →Amazon Israel is available; Amazon US/UK ships to Israel but duties may apply on items over $75.
- →WhatsApp and email have largely replaced postal communication for official matters in Israel.