The ABC's of Israel

created by Room 82nd Grade, Asa C. Adams SchoolOrono, MeDecember 2008

Shalom is a Hebrew greeting.
Marhaba is an Arabic greeting.
Hello is an English greeting.

These are the 3 main languages of Israel. This ABC book will use Hebrew, Arabic, and English words.

A is for:

Arabic ~ one of 3 main languages of Israel

Arbah ~ the number 4 in HebrewArbaa ~ the number 4 in Arabic

Afikoman ~ is a piece of matza hidden during the Passover Seder as part of a game.

B is for:

Bethlehem ~ a city in Israel. Christian people believe that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

C is for:

Chutzpah ~ a Hebrew word for nerve like an attitudeChallah ~ a kind of Jewish bread that is usually braided.

D is for:

Desert ~ more than half of Israel is a desert.

Dead Sea ~ is the deepest, salt water lake in the world. It is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean.

E is for:

English ~ one of 3 main languages used in Israel

Esair ~ Hebrew word for 10

F is for:

Four Questions ~ On Passover, 4 questions are asked and answered as a way to remember why it is celebrated

G is for:

Gelt ~ a Hebrew word for money, at Hannukkah, children get candy gelt

Gaza ~ a city that was once part of Israel but was given to the Palestines in 2005

H is for:

Humans ~ Humans have lived in Israel for over 3,000 years

Hanukkah ~ a Jewish holiday about the miracle of the lights

I is for:

Israel ~ became a modern country in 1948

Id al-fitr ~ is the feast at the end of Ramadan, a Muslim holiday

Ibex ~ a wild goat that lives in Israel

J is for:

Jerusalem ~ the capital city of Israel. It is over 3,000 years old.

K is for:

Kibbutz ~ a place where everyone works together and lives together like a giant family. The work is usually a farm or a small factory.

Kaif ~ means how in Arabic

L is for:

Lion ~ is a symbol of Israel

Latkes ~ potato pancakes, a Jewish food

La ~ means no in Arabic

M is for:

Menorah ~ a candle holder for either seven or nine candles used in the Jewish religion

Mishmish ~ hebrew word for apricot

Matzah ~ is a crunchy munchy cracker eaten instead of bread during Passover

N is for:

Negev Desert ~ This desert takes up more than half of Israel. It is very dry. Between June and October it doesn't rain at all!

O is for:

Ostrich ~ a bird that lives in Israel.

P is for:

Passover ~ a Jewish holiday to celebrate when they escaped from Egyptian slavery

Q is for

Quran ~ this is the holy book of Islam

Qahwa ~ is the Arabic word for coffee

R is for:

Ramadan ~ a Muslim holiday to celebrate the Quran. During the day, Muslims fast to learn patience, sacrifice, and humility.

S is for:

Sitti ~ this means Grandma in Arabic

Seder ~ is a feast in Hebrew

Shabat Shalom ~ means Peace in the Home in Hebrew

T is for:

al Thalatha ~ means Tuesday in Arabic

Tzedakah ~ means to give money to the poor in Hebrew

U is for:

Umna ~ the mother of Mohammed. Mohammed is a prophet of God in the Muslim religion.

V is for:

Vav ~ is a letter in the Hebrew alphabet

W is for:

White oryx ~ this is an animal that lives in Israel.

X is for:

X ~ X is sometimes used as an abbreviation for the word, Christ. Christian is one of three main religions of Israel

Y is for:

Young volunteers come from all over the world to work in Israel.

Z is for:

Zayda ~ means Grandfather in Hebrew