Ports of Call - Haifa, Israel

Haifa, Israel

General Information

Israel’s third largest city, Haifa is located in north western Israel and lies along the Bay of Haifa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The city, with a population of around 240,000 inhabitants is built on three levels on the northern slopes of Mount Carmel, ascending from the port section and waterfront area through the foothills of Mount Carmel, the residential and business district and rising to the summit where the fine residencies and resort hotels are to be found. The city is sometimes called the “San Francisco of the Middle East”.

Haifa is a pleasant, sophisticated modern city and has two universities, numerous museums, parks, gardens and theatres. It is also a centre for international trade, commerce and heave industry. It has the country’s biggest deepwater port and the principle industries are steel foundries, food processing and the production of chemicals, textiles and cement. A prosperous city with good beaches, it is an ideal base for visiting numerous biblical and archaeological sites in the region.

History

Haifa is first mentioned in the Talmud around the 1^st to 4^th Century A.D., when it was referred to as Sykaminos. Elijah, the Hebrew prophet felt to this city to escape the wrath of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, hiding in a cave near the waterfront. In 1100 the town was conquered by the Crusaders who then called it Caiphas. The Crusaders built the first of several monasteries above Elijah’s cave.

Napoleonic forces took the city in 1799 and in 1839 Ibrahim Pasha, the great Egyptian general and viceroy, captured Haifa. In 1840 the city was surrendered to Turkey and the Ottoman Empire. Close to the end of World War I, in 1918, British forces occupied the city. This was also the time of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia. In the 1930’s the massive immigration of Jews seeking refuge from Nazism in Europe brought many to Haifa where they became the majority in a formerly Arab dominated city. In 1933 the deepwater port was developed under British mandate while in 1939 Haifa’s petroleum refineries were constructed. During the Palestine War of 1948-49 Haifa, with its key port and industries became important to both Arab and Jewish defence forces who fought to control the city. The Arabs surrendered in April, 1949 in Haifa was the first territory secured after the Israeli declaration of independence and it became the early industrial centre of the young country, Israel.

Places of Interest

1.       Dagon Silo and Archaeological Museum is located on Plummer Square. This is one of the most unusual granaries in the world, looking something like a modern Crusader’s Castle, storing about 90% of the country’s grain. A small museum is the tourist centre lobby.

2.       Clandestine Immigration and Navel Museum can be found at 204 Allenby Street. The exhibits explain the times of struggles of immigrants into Israel during the British mandate.

3.       The National Maritime Museum at 198 Allenby Street contains models of vessels from ancient days to the present.

4.       The Mecht Museum is located in the main building of Haifa University with a permanent exhibit entitled “People of Israel”.

5.       Elijah’s Cave, across Allenby Street from the Maritime Museum, is believed to be where the prophet hid from King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. It is considered holy to Christians and Muslims as well as Jews.

6.       The Mane-Katz Museum at 89 Yefeh Nof Street contains exhibits of the Paris Jewish Expressionist.

Beyond Haifa

Baha’I Shrine and Gardens are located halfway up Mount Carmel on Haziyonut Avenue, southwest of the city. This is one of Haifa’s most impressive attractions. This is considered to be the world centre of the Baha’I faith. It contains the tomb of the first prophet.

Acre (Akko in Arabic) is located across the mouth of Haifa Bay and is an interesting combination of cultures as Romans, Crusaders, Arabs and Napoleon all passed through this region. Highlights are the Crusaders buildings, which include the Knight Hospitallers Quarters.

Galilee and Nazareth are several hours journey include through an area rich in religious history. Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee, the Mouth of the Beatitudes as well as Jesus’s boyhood home are found in this area.

Jerusalem is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, as well as one of the most beautiful. It is certainly one of the most holy. The capital of Israel is full of historical sites, religious shrines, markets and warm coloured stone architecture. Nearby, you will find the town of Bethlehem with the Church of the Nativity, built over the cave where it Is believed that Jesus was born.

Caesarea is one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. It was founded by King Herod in 20 B.C. to honour Caesar Augustus, and served as the capital of the Roman providence for nearly 600 years. Caesarea is also where Peter baptized the first gentile convert and where Paul was imprisoned for two years while awaiting trial in Rome. Today, Caesarea is filled with ruins and excavations continue.

Local Customs

Bargaining: Bargain only in markets (both Arabic and Jewish) and not in stores.

Tipping: Generally a 10% to 15% gratuity is the norm in restaurants. In the more modest locations, small change is all that is required.

Local Cuisine: A variety of international kitchens can be found. Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Hungarian and, of course Jewish kosher food is served in local restaurants. As for fast foods, hamburgers and pizza can be found, but falafel, hummus and kebabs are the most common.

Drink Specialities: Tea and coffee are the most popular beverages. Arab tea is said to be the best and can be flavoured with mint or sage. “Coffee” usually means Turkish coffee. “Nescafe” is used for instant coffee. Soft drinks tend to be expensive. As for alcohol, the Israelis do not drink very much but is can be found. Wine is usually drink only on holy days. The local beers, Nesher, Goldstar and Maccabee are very popular.

Local Currency: The national currency is the new Israel Shekel (NIS). The Hebraically correct is shekelim but even Israelis when speaking English tend to Anglicise and use “Shekels”. The “old Shekel” was dropped in 1985 as part of a rescue plan to reduce inflation. The new shekel is divided into 100 agorot. There are coins of 10 and 50 agorot and 1 and 5 NIS, and notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 NIS.

Useful Words

·         Good morning – Boker Tov

·         Good afternoon – Achar-ha-Tzahoraim Touim

·         Good day – Yom Tov

·         How much? – Kama

·         Thank you – Toda Raba

·         Please - Bebakasha