IsraelHistory

Let’s face it, Israel is an anomaly—and not just in the Middle East. For starters, it’s the only sovereign state in the world in which Jewish citizens are the vast majority, making up about 75% of the country’s population. The next largest concentration of Jews in any country by percentage is in Gibraltar where the 600 Jewish citizens make up nearly 2% of the overall population. Many diaspora Jews report a strange feeling upon arriving in Israel for the first time: being in the majority.

Hebrew is one of the world’s oldest languages, the language of the Bible, and—according to tradition—the language God used to create the universe! Yet until recent modernity, Hebrew was only in use in liturgy and by scholars. Miraculously, as the idea of returning to Israel gained traction, Hebrew once again became a living language. Today, there are over 9 million Hebrew speakers around the world.

Israel Street View is a virtual collection of photographs curated from Google Street View and organized by geographic region and linked back to the street view such that site visitors can view the location. This initiative helps bridge the gap between Israel and individuals around the world who would like to visit the country.