Four Favorite Sayings in Israel

While touring in a group, you pick up some sayings that stick. Our four favorites (not Corny free):

1. "Shabbat Shalom" "Shabbat" is the Hebrew word for "sabbath." "Shalom" is a greeting that works as both "hello" and "goodbye", similar to the Hawaiian "aloha." Hence, "Shabbat shalom" is a greeting for the sabbath. Israelis colloquially use it on Thursdays and Fridays as a rough equivalent to the American "have a good weekend."

2. "Oh, that is totally Herodian!" A term that some college students came up with after visiting too many archeological sites that were attributed to Herod the Great. We would just glance at a wall and say "Yep, totally Herodian."

3. "Time for a Magnum." No, not the gun. But every afternoon our bus load of people would want to know when and where we could get an ice cream. Magnum was the best brand, best price was 9 shekels.

4. "I am sorry but the pool is closed." Our tour guide would usually end our day by saying, "This hotel has a pool for you to enjoy." But but by the time we were dropped off at the hotel, checked-in, suited up and walking to the pool, a worker would say "I am sorry but the pool is closed." For some reason the pools in Israel closed at 5 p.m.