Israeli cuisine is reason enough to visit the country. After eating your way through Israel, you will return preaching to anyone who will listen that grocery store hummus is really the Kraft cheese of hummus. Snag a warm, freshly made pita as a vehicle for your hummus and call it a day. If for some reason your body is craving some alternate food groups, indulge in any of the other fresh, healthy staples Israel offers. Falafel, kanafeh, shakshuka…these are the only words you need to know. 

Speaking of words you need to know…the answer is not many (#praisehandsemoji)! At first glance, Hebrew and Arabic look like straight up gibberish. Lucky for you, all Israeli school children learn Hebrew, Arabic, and English, and good English is spoken by virtually everyone in the country. Almost every highway and street sign is in English as well as Hebrew (and Arabic) and English newspapers are available everywhere.

Chutzpah is a Yiddish word that Israelis have adapted as somewhat of an unofficial motto. The word simply means courageous audacity. Israelis are out to push boundaries, state their minds, and make the most of every moment. Challenge yourself to do the same!

Are you often left wondering why you can’t have nice things? That’s because you forgot to make a budget! Making (and sticking to) a budget is no easy feat, but it will make all the difference when you decide to volunteer abroad in Israel. So buckle down, conquer your fear of spreadsheets, and do some adulting before you go out and play.

Israel stirs up exuberant diversity like nobody’s business. Many people, with many religious beliefs (and even lack of), walk through the day holding tolerance as second nature. This makes Israel an illustration depicting something deeper that unites us. Curious to find out exactly what it is? Then decide to volunteer in Israel today!