In 2017 alone, an estimated 3.6 million tourists visited Israel – the Middle Eastern country that’s regarded as the Holy Land. With its pristine beaches, amazing weather, sacred sites, and diverse culture, there’s no shortage of amazing things to do in this quaint country. If a trip to Israel is on your bucket list, you probably have your itinerary mapped out, from visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to floating in the Dead Sea. But if you really want to make your stay enjoyable, you can’t ignore this list of things you should NOT do when visiting this sacred country.
1. Don’t Smoke on Saturday
Israel has been constructing its anti-smoking ban, which intends to impose a ban on cigarette advertisements and restrict smoking in public places. While the details of the new law are still being ironed out, visitors should definitely adhere to no-smoking signs and refrain from lighting up on Shabbat – a religious day that starts at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday evening.
If you must smoke, make sure you do so in private and far away from an Orthodox Jew who may find your smoking habit offensive.
