What animals live in Israel?

Israel is a small country, but it sits at a crossroads where Europe, Asia, and Africa all meet — so a surprising variety of animals pass through or make their home there. You can find golden jackals, wild boars, rock hyraxes (small furry creatures that look like guinea pigs but are actually related to elephants!), and even leopards in some remote areas. Israel is also on one of the world's great bird migration routes, so hundreds of species of birds fly through twice a year — eagles, storks, and pelicans among them. The Dead Sea area has its own rugged wildlife, and the Negev Desert is home to ibex, which are sure-footed wild goats that scramble up rocky cliffs like they were born to it. The Bible actually mentions many of these animals, like the rock hyrax in Proverbs 30 and the ibex in the Psalms — so reading about Israel's animals is one way the land and the Book come alive together.

What do kids eat in Israel?

Kids in Israel grow up eating some really satisfying foods! A favorite is hummus — a creamy dip made from chickpeas — scooped up with fresh pita bread. Falafel is another big one: crispy fried balls made from ground chickpeas, often tucked into pita with vegetables and sauces. Israeli kids also snack on fresh vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes more than most kids around the world — they even eat them at breakfast! A popular breakfast plate might have eggs, olives, cheese, and those fresh veggies all together. Shakshuka, which is eggs poached in a spiced tomato sauce, is a warm dish many families love. Food in Israel brings together flavors from Jewish, Arab, and Mediterranean traditions, making it a very interesting table to sit at.

How do people say hello in Israel?

In Israel, the most common greeting is 'Shalom' (say it like shaw-LOME). It is a Hebrew word that means peace — and it is used for hello, goodbye, and everything in between. Hebrew is one of the oldest languages in the world, and it is the very language that much of the Old Testament was written in. Many people in Israel also speak Arabic, and Arabic speakers say 'Marhaba' (mar-HAH-bah) to greet each other. Israel is a place where ancient history feels very close — when you walk its streets, you are walking in the same land where Abraham, David, and Jesus himself once walked. That makes even a simple 'Shalom' feel like something worth thinking about.

What sports or games do kids play in Israel?

Hey there, explorer! Kids in Israel love football — what you might call soccer — and it is the most popular sport in the country. You will find kids kicking a ball around in schoolyards, parks, and neighborhoods from the sunny coast of Tel Aviv all the way to the hills of Jerusalem. Basketball is huge in Israel too — the country has professional teams that compete in European leagues, and kids grow up shooting hoops everywhere. Many Israeli kids also play a beach game called Matkot, which is like paddleball on the sand along the Mediterranean coast. Two players hit a small rubber ball back and forth with wooden paddles, trying to keep a long rally going rather than beat each other — it is friendly and fast, and you can hear the 'tok tok' sound all along the beach on a warm afternoon.

What's the weather like in Israel?

Israel has two main seasons: a dry, sunny summer that lasts from about May to October, and a cooler, rainy winter from November to April. In the summer, it can get very hot — especially in desert areas like the Negev, where temperatures can climb past 100°F (38°C)! What makes Israel interesting is how different the land can be within a short drive. The coast along the Mediterranean Sea stays mild and breezy, while the city of Jerusalem up in the hills sometimes even gets snow in winter. And the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea is one of the lowest and hottest spots on earth. It is a small country with a lot of variety packed into it.

Tell me a fun fact about Israel.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Israel is a small country — about the size of the state of New Jersey — but it holds some of the most important places in all of human history. The city of Jerusalem is where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead, which changed everything forever. Rusty loves this part: the Dead Sea, which sits on Israel's eastern border, is so salty that you can float on top of the water without even trying to swim. It's one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth and sits at the lowest point on land in the whole world. People have been visiting that strange, shimmering sea since ancient times — and the Bible itself mentions it!

What is school like for kids in Israel?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! In Israel, kids usually start school around age six, and they study subjects like math, science, reading, and history — just like you probably do. Most Jewish Israeli kids learn in Hebrew, while Arab Israeli kids often learn in Arabic. School days can be long, sometimes starting early in the morning and going until the afternoon. Rusty wants to add something interesting: Israeli kids learn a lot about Jewish history and the Hebrew Bible — what Christians call the Old Testament. That means they read many of the same stories about Abraham, Moses, and David that you might know! But here is something to think about: most kids in Israel have not yet heard and believed the good news that Jesus — who was himself Jewish and grew up right there in that land — is the Savior the whole Bible points to. That is a real reason to pray for the children and families there.

Who are the unreached people in Israel?

Great question! Israel is a land full of history — it's where Jesus walked, taught, and rose from the dead. But today, most Jewish people living there have not yet trusted Jesus as their Messiah and Savior. There are also Arab Muslims and Druze communities in Israel who have heard very little of the true gospel. Jewish people are actually considered one of the largest unreached groups in the world, which might surprise you since the Bible is their book too. Many know the Old Testament stories but don't yet believe Jesus is the promised Messiah. Missionaries and local believers called Messianic Jews — Jewish followers of Jesus — work hard to share that good news with their own people. You can pray that more Jewish and Arab people in Israel would hear about Jesus and put their trust in Him as the only Savior.

How can I pray for the people of Israel?

Herman and Rusty are glad you asked this one! Israel is a special place in the Bible story — it's where Jesus walked, taught, died, and rose from the dead. But today, many Jewish people in Israel have not yet trusted Jesus as their Messiah, the Savior God promised them long ago. You can pray that their eyes and hearts would open to see that Jesus is exactly who the Bible said He would be. There are also believers in Israel — Jewish and Arab Christians — who love Jesus and meet together in churches. They sometimes face real pressure and hardship for their faith. You can pray that these brothers and sisters grow strong and bold, that more Israeli families come to know Jesus personally, and that local leaders rise up to share the gospel with their own people. Israel needs Jesus just like every nation does, and God has not forgotten His promises.

What is a holiday or celebration in Israel?

One of the most important celebrations in Israel is Passover, called 'Pesach' in Hebrew. Jewish families gather for a special meal called a Seder, where they read the story of how God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt thousands of years ago. They eat foods like flat bread called matzah and bitter herbs that help them remember that time. Here is something worth knowing: the very first Passover pointed forward to Jesus. When Jesus shared His last meal with His disciples before He died, it was a Passover Seder. Jesus became the true 'Lamb of God' whose blood saves people from something far worse than slavery — the power of sin. Many Jewish people today are discovering that Passover finds its fullest meaning in Jesus, and that is a wonderful thing to think about.

What language do people speak in Israel?

Hebrew is the main language spoken in Israel today. It is one of the oldest languages in the whole world — the same language that ancient kings, prophets, and shepherds used thousands of years ago when much of the Old Testament was written. Arabic is also an official language there, spoken by many Israeli Arab citizens. What makes Hebrew extra interesting is that for a long time, almost nobody spoke it as an everyday language. People read it in Scripture, but it was not used for grocery shopping or telling jokes. Then, in the 1800s and 1900s, Jewish people worked hard to bring it back to life as a living language. Today millions of people in Israel wake up, eat breakfast, and go to school entirely in Hebrew — the very same tongue that wrote the Psalms.

What's a famous place to visit in Israel?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most famous places in Israel is Jerusalem — a city thousands of years old where so much of the Bible actually happened. You can walk streets near where Jesus taught, was crucified, and rose from the dead. Inside Jerusalem is a spot called the Garden Tomb, where many visitors go to think about Jesus's resurrection. Whether that exact site is the one or not, standing there makes the story feel very real — this was not a fairy tale, it happened in a real city you can visit on a map today.

Israel — Kids Missions Explorer

Hoopoe

The hoopoe, with its dramatic crown of feathers and striped wings, was voted Israel's national bird in 2008 and appears in ancient Jewish texts as a bird of wisdom.

Arabian Oryx

This elegant white antelope with long straight horns went extinct in the wild but was successfully reintroduced into Israel's Negev Desert through careful breeding programs.

Hyrax

The rock hyrax looks like a plump guinea pig but is actually one of the elephant's closest living relatives, and it is mentioned several times in the Old Testament as an animal that shelters in rocky cliffs.

Hummus

Creamy ground chickpeas blended with tahini and lemon juice, hummus is eaten at almost every meal in Israel, scooped up with fresh pita bread.

Falafel

Crispy fried balls made from ground chickpeas and herbs, falafel is stuffed into pita with vegetables and is one of the most popular street foods in Israeli cities.

Shakshuka

Eggs poached directly in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce, shakshuka is a beloved breakfast dish with roots in North African Jewish cooking.

Israel

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