Dateline Jerusalem – I am fascinated by trivia of every kind. Of course the trivia about Israel is especially interesting to me. I often write about the inventions and discoveries of Israelis, but this week I will describe facts unique to the country.
Israel is supposedly the 100th smallest country in the world. It has a population that is less than 1/1000th of the world's population. It is smaller in size than New Jersey, half the size of Lake Michigan, and it fits into California 19 times. The hostile Arab/Islamic nations surrounding Israel have 640 times its area and 60 times the population. Yet Israel absorbs more immigrants relative to its population than any other nation.
Israel's Dead Sea, also known as Yam HaMelach, the Sea of Salt, is the lowest point on earth. It is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean, so much salt that it floating is relatively easy. Lake Kinneret, also known as the Sea of Galilee, is almost 700 feet below sea level, the lowest freshwater lake in the world.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians, Muslims and Jews are all free to vote, hold office, and serve on the Supreme Court. It is the only country in the Middle East where women have full political rights. There are more women members of the Knesset (legislature) than in the U.S. Congress or the U.K. Parliament. Guess where the most independent and free Arabic press in the Middle East is? Israel. These facts are ignored, though, by those who try to portray Israel as an apartheid state.
Finally, quirky facts about Israel: The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra wore gas masks when playing a concert while scud missiles fell on Tel Aviv during the Gulf War in 1991. Israeli scientists invented the featherless chicken, the seedless watermelon and the three-nut peanut. Israel's dairy cows are the most productive cows in the world. Israeli bank notes have Braille on them so that blind people can identify them. Israel produces more antibiotics than any other country, and one of every 15 prescriptions in the States is for Israeli-made drugs. Even the glue on Israeli stamps is kosher.
L'hitraot. Shachar
