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Graceful vistas of Haifa

Inder Raj Ahluwalia

From my perch high up on the slopes of Mount Carmel, the breeze was strong and the view, stunning. The Mediterranean sparkled in the sunshine. Far out to sea it was a flat patch of blue, but closer inshore there was much marine activity, with lar ge ships steaming in and out of the busy harbour.

Straddling a sheltered Mediterranean cove, Haifa is Israel's northern hub, major passenger terminal and container port, important sea-trading centre with huge silos and granaries, a focus of international trade and commerce and northern Israel's administrative and industrial centre.

Haifa's origins go back to 14th century B.C., with the founding of a small port-township. Today, it is commercially vibrant, yet peaceful and beautiful, extending over the slopes of Mount Carmel and built on three levels in keeping with the natural to pography. There are parks, tree-lined streets, pine forests and abundant greenery overlooking a wide bay, a busy harbour, oil refineries and white sandy beaches.

Dominating the city is its signature monument, the World Centre of the Baha'i Faith. Ever since Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i faith, was exiled in 1868 to Acre, the international centre of the religion has been in the Holy Land. The S hrine of the Bab, a beautiful golden-domed edifice built by Abdu'l-Baha, son and successor of Baha'u'llah, is a building made of Chiampo stone cut and carved in Italy and decorated with 12,000 fish-scale tiles from Holland. The building combin es the style and proportions of European architecture.

A few minutes along the road that runs up Mount Carmel brings one to the Universal House of Justice, the supreme institution of the worldwide Baha'i community. The white Pentelikon marble building overlooks beautiful gardens with pruned bushes and he dges and four white Carrara marble monuments.

A short walk takes one to the International Baha'i Archives Building, which is built in the Ionic style of classical Greek architecture. The private museum contains historical material and relics related to the Baha'i religion. The Baha'i Ga rdens in Haifa and Acre are very beautiful and unique in style and are decorated with lamps, eagles, peacocks, vases and other artefacts.

The city's museums show the best of Israeli culture. And the Haifa Municipal Theatre, the first in the country to be publicly sponsored, is part of a popular, adventurous company best known for its performances of original Israeli works b ased on controversial themes. The Haifa Museum -- actually three museums in one building -- comes as a revelation. The Museum of Music and Ethnography features musical instruments and costumes from various Diaspora Jewish communities.

The Museum of Ancient Art specialises in archaeological finds made in Israel and the Mediterranean Basin, while the Museum of Modern Art has exhibits from the world over. There is also the Museum of Prehistory, the National Maritime Museum and t he Museum of Japanese Art.

In recent years, the city has also been recognised as an academic centre. Its university serves as a centre of higher education for the country's northern region and offers opportunities in interdisciplinary studies. The university also has a centre dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cooperation between Jews and Arabs in Israel, and a unit for the study of the Kibbutz as an economic and social activity and entity.

While in Haifa, don't miss out on an excursion to Acre, an ancient city that first rose to prominence during the Hellenistic Period and flourished during the time of the Crusaders. Once a key port in the Mediterranean and main crossroads in the link between the Holy Land and Europe, the old city is now being developed into a historical site and recreational area. Noteworthy sites include the Shrine of Baha'u'llah, the Turkish Hamam Baths, the Al-Jazzar Mosque, Kahn El Um dan (Pillar's Inn) and the Underground Crusader City.

Religion and faith, together with maritime commercial activity, were the original cornerstone of Haifa's existence. Today its main attraction is the scenic setting and the religious centres and cultural sites dotting the region.

More than anything else, it is a city of grace...

Fact file

Getting there: Haifa is about three hours' drive from Tel Aviv, the main aerial gateway into Israel. EI AI operates flights to New Delhi and Mumbai.

Accommodation: The city has hotels in all categories, from deluxe down to budget-class.

Getting around: One can walk around within the city, but a car is useful for discovering nearby places of interest. Several local sightseeing tours are available and they cover all places of interest.

Best time: Though a year-round destination, September through April would be ideal.

Tips: Indian nationals require a visa to enter Israel.

Hello... Shalom

Greeting

In Israel it is customary to shake hands in greeting and, if you are conducting business, you may wish to present a card with your details printed in English and either Hebrew or Arabic on the reverse. When greeting a Jewish Israeli, it is courteou s to use the expression `shalom' which means `peace'. This term is also used while taking leave.

Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages, with Hebrew being the most widely spoken. English is also widely spoken, especially within the business and tourism industries, and it is rare to find an Israeli who isn't bi-lingual.

It is worth noting that religious and orthodox Jews may not shake hands or mingle socially with women.

Dress

Due to the intense heat, light and natural fabrics are recommended. When conducting business, a light cotton business-suit is recommended for both sexes, with the addition of a tie for men. Some restaurants, nightclubs and hotels may require guests to dress for dinner. However, formal evening-wear is usually specified on invitations.

In deference to religious custom, women should not wear trousers in a synagogue and married women should keep their heads covered with a scarf.

Generally, sleeveless or revealing attire should be avoided for activities other than sports or beach wear.

An extract from http://deadsea.hyatt.com/deads/location/etiq.html