- Religious symbolism
- Cosmetics
- Jewelry and bijouterie
- Clothes and accessories
- Gastronomic souvenirs
Israel is considered the promised land for a reason - there is plenty of everything here, from wonderful coastal idylls with palm trees and pearl sand to abundance of food and entertainment. The country is multifaceted, rich and generous in the joys of life, so advice to tourists on what to bring from Israel is useless - everything will become clear on the spot.
The choice of souvenirs in the country of the God-chosen people is so wide that at first the guests' eyes run up treacherously. Products for every taste, interest and wishes are winking seductively from the windows, striving to move into a travel bag and thoroughly drain the wallet.
In order to clarify and streamline the trade picture of the world, the entire export and souvenir assortment of Israel can be divided into several types:
- religious symbolism, which includes not only religious objects, but also related products;
- souvenirs - souvenir products in the literal sense;
- clothes and accessories;
- edible souvenirs;
- everything that does not fit into the standard sections, but worthy of taking a place in a tourist's suitcase.
Before everyone embarks on aggressive shopping, one should prepare for the fact that Israel is not a cheap country and it will not work to buy everything that comes to hand here. Of course, if you don't want to leave a few of your salaries in stores. In order not to experience the torment of choice, it is better to decide in advance what and in what quantity to buy, and for this it is necessary to study what tourists buy in Israel.
Religious symbolism
Abstracting from banal souvenirs - plates, magnets, key rings, mugs and other similar trifles, sacred items occupy the leading positions in tourist purchases.
Icons
It just so happened that Israel is the homeland or, at least, a sacred place for adherents of several religions, and therefore simply must be the center of spirituality and supply believers with inspiration. And the religious capital of the country - Jerusalem - does it regularly. It is foolish to visit the holy city and not buy even a modest icon.
Icons are sold everywhere, from small souvenir shops to markets and large shops. Sacred images are applied to wood, stone, cardboard, canvases and even parchment. All colors, styles and sizes, all possible frames and decor.
The icons of the Virgin of Jerusalem, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Christ the Savior are in the greatest demand. The icon can be decorated with silver or copper frames, frames made of precious metals, inlaid with precious stones, carving and other delights.
Prices for religious splendor are appropriate, starting at $ 3. How much the icons cost in Israel depends on the materials, the complexity of the work, the method of production, decoration, etc. Individual copies can go up to $ 1000 and more, but this is a piece goods, the mass market is more modest - in the range of $ 10-50.
Icons bought in Israel are considered miraculous, but if you want to buy a really effective thing, do it at least in the store at the temple - the owner of a small shop hardly bothered to run to the temple and consecrate his goods. This is the best option that you can bring from Israel to a believer as a gift.
Menorah
This symbol is sacred to the Jews. The candlestick with seven candle hollows is almost the main symbol of Judaism and embodies 7 temples, 7 planets and 7 days of the week. The menorah is made of ordinary metal, silver, gold and other materials, with intricate carvings, inserts, patterns. The souvenir is quite specific, but for a practicing Judaism it will be an excellent gift. Yes, and this present will cost only $ 10 if you do not chic and buy products from their elite handmade materials.
Hanukkiah
For an uninitiated person, this is the same menorah, only for 9 candles. The Jews light Chanukiah on their sacred holiday, Chanukah. The product can be presented from gold, silver, with expensive jewelry, etc. Of course, cheap versions of the product are sold in souvenir shops and a nice copy can be purchased for only $ 10-15.
Candles
The cheapest and most popular item that guests buy in large quantities. You can buy individually or in packs of 33 pieces - according to the number of years of Christ. Candles are made from paraffin, wax and other materials. You can buy colored candles - white, orange, red, blue. A standard bundle costs about $ 1-10.
There are beautiful handmade curly candles made of high-quality wax, for this beauty you will have to pay a substantial sum.
To endow the candles with divine power, it will not be superfluous to consecrate them in Jerusalem temples and the Holy Fire in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, otherwise they will remain just souvenir trinkets. Although it is officially believed that candles can be bought anywhere in Israel, it is alleged that their production in the Holy Land has already endowed them with the necessary ritual qualities.
Red thread
You will not find this item in any church, but representatives of different confessions and beliefs wear it with pleasure all over the world. The red bandage on the hand is considered to be the strongest amulet, and the universal one. She protects from troubles and the evil eye, helps in business, brings good luck and much more. It was the Israelites, or rather the Kabbalists, who were the first to come up with this symbol, and other peoples unanimously picked it up. Therefore, a thread bought in Israel is considered magical and brings good luck in everything.
The red thread should be made of natural material - wool or silk, although synthetics are also allowed. You can buy it for $ 0.55, which is incomparable with its benefits - it is believed that a red thread tied on a hand with certain prayers is capable of fulfilling desires, giving health, beauty, longevity, love. It is possible to list the potential of the magic thread for a long time, the main thing is to observe the ritual when putting it on.
Other religious items
It is simply impossible to list everything that is sold in Israel for believers. There are crosses, icons, all kinds of amulets and amulets from Kabbalah, Christianity and Islam, Jewish symbols and much more.
It is impossible not to mention the Star of David in the form of pendants, pendants, key rings, sold for $ 1.5 and more. Hand of the Lord, she is the Hand of Fatima, she is hamsa - an amulet in the form of a palm with three fingers pointing down - from $ 1. Prayer cover thales ($ 15 and more), parchments with sacred texts. Choosing which souvenir can be brought from Israel with such an abundance of offers is truly difficult.
Cosmetics
Those who have visited the Dead Sea will hardly forget its miraculous power and ability to heal. Israelis willingly share this power with others, including tourists, through cosmetics. Products made from the salts, mud and water of the Dead Sea are deafening popularity all over the world.
Scrubs, lotions, creams, peels, clay, masks, mud, hair series will be a great gift for any lady. The market offers both elite products and a medium price segment designed for a wide audience. You can buy an excellent product for $ 2, many stores offer ready-made kits in the range of $ 15-50.
There are rejuvenating, toning, strengthening, healing lines. Medical cosmetics that fight against acne, dermatological diseases and age-related changes stand apart. So if you are still wondering what to bring from the Dead Sea, the answer is obvious.
Jewelry and bijouterie
The jewelry industry is proudly following the cosmetics industry. An incredible amount of jewelry is sold in Israel for every taste and bank account size. There are cheap trinkets from the "vilified and forgotten" series, and expensive exclusives.
Of the inexpensive ones, you should pay attention to items made of silver, gold, jewelry with artificial and natural pearls.
A more expensive and original sector is jewelry with Eilat stone. This is a purely local fetish, since the stone is mined only in the vicinity of Eilat and nowhere else. The mineral is a unique alloy of turquoise, malachite and lapis lazuli, due to which it has an original color and texture. Every day the amount of the stone decreases, so it has every chance of increasing its value many times over.
With the Eilat stone in Israel, you can buy pendants, pendants, bracelets, beads, earrings and whole necklaces. A modest product can be bought for $ 3, a more massive one for $ 30, $ 50 and more. The cheapest way is to buy a stone in an unrefined form, that is, separately from jewelry. It is more profitable to buy a pebble in factories.
Jewelry with diamonds is an elite souvenir. The country has long been ranked among the largest diamond processing centers. The local decorations are very expensive and beautiful as well. Here, advice to tourists on what to bring from Israel is inappropriate, since such a purchase requires serious thought and considerable funds, the account can go into tens of thousands of dollars.
Clothes and accessories
As one of the largest centers in the Middle East, Israel simply cannot help but be a trading giant. Here you can find products from all over the world, so shopping on vacation can become not only entertainment, but also an opportunity to qualitatively update your wardrobe.
Local brands are renowned for their quality, although prices are appropriate. In addition to ordinary dresses and suits, ladies can buy shawls, scarves, stoles, shoes, bags.
Representatives of the stronger half are offered jeans, shoes, business and festive suits, as well as kippahs - a Jewish headdress that is more related to souvenirs, although locals wear them with pleasure.
Clothes stand out from what to bring a child from Israel - they are distinguished by impeccable quality, attention to comfort, materials, details and, of course, design. It is easy to put together a trendy and stylish kids' wardrobe in local shops.
Gastronomic souvenirs
Wine
The Israelis not only learned how to make excellent wine, but were also able to give it a special, incomparable rich taste, noble aftertaste and heady aroma. In addition to grapes, pomegranates, peaches, currants, citrus fruits and other fruits are actively used for bouquets.
The most famous brands are Gamla, Yarden, Flam Winery, Yatir Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon. But to enjoy the taste of good wine, you have to pay $ 15-20, everything that is cheaper is unworthy of attention.
Hummus
The famous chickpea puree with spices was so fond of tourists that compassionate Israelis had to quickly organize its take-away, or rather, export. Hummus is now sold in small jars for $ 3-5 apiece. But it is not recommended to delay tasting - a product with a limited shelf life.
Coffee
Israeli coffee is brewed with cardamom, which makes it unique and turns it into a specific souvenir. Coffee is sold in cans, boxes and other containers of different sizes, so that everyone will find a suitable one. The price varies around $ 20, the gift is not cheap, but you don't have to puzzle over which souvenir to bring from Israel to friends or family - almost everyone drinks coffee and your present will be appreciated.
Olives
Olives are one of the most common foods in the Mediterranean countries and Israel is no exception. Here you can buy fresh olives of all sorts and types, pickled olives and olive oil. The latter is the most promising and versatile souvenir. It is better to buy it in markets where prices are lower and you can bargain, you should pay special attention to the bottle - it should be made of dark glass so that sunlight does not penetrate inside and spoil the capricious product.
Honey and sweets
It would seem, why not go to Israel, but not for honey, which they themselves have in abundance, but do not. Local honey is a special conversation, but for gourmets and connoisseurs it is just a song. Citrus, eucalyptus, apple, mint, mountain flowers and especially date - any epithets are superfluous, you just need to try.
By the way, from dates you can buy not only honey, but also many delicious products, including dates stuffed with nuts - an amazing delicacy that has no analogues in its benefits.
Other souvenirs
Other goods that can become someone's profitable purchase include silver cutlery, painted dishes, silk tablecloths hand-embroidered with intricate patterns, figurines of camels and dancing Hasidim, cypress crosses, chocolate, and antiques. This is just the smallest thing that tourists buy in Israel in memory of their trip to the Holy Land.
