Israeli Business Etiquette

The Israeli culture is comprised of several different religious groups, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. If you do business in Israel, you should be considerate of your counterparts' religious beliefs. People wanting to establish a business presence in the Israeli market will greatly benefit from learning the essentials of Israeli business etiquette.

Etiquette for Israeli business meetings is different from other countries, especially the US. Here are some tips to help you interact smoothly with your Israeli partners:

*After the first meeting, it's acceptable to dress in business casual clothing. For an initial meeting, you should dress as you would for a meeting at home.

*Know your colleagues' viewpoint on religion, because dress codes differ when you are dealing with devoutly religious Israelis. For instance, women should wear tops that cover down to the elbow and skirts that hit below the knee. Men should wear dark suits and white shirts.

*Have a plan in place; the Israelis are masters at multitasking and they almost always have busy schedules. Know your colleagues' proficiency in English and tailor your conversations to it. If you do not speak Hebrew, consider using a translator.

*Familiarize yourself with your colleagues, and get on a first-name basis with them. Familiarity helps to encourage a casual business atmosphere, and Israelis like to learn more about you. Move on to business matters after everyone has had a chance to become acquainted.

*The Israeli work week spans from Sunday to Thursday. The Sabbath start on Friday at sunset and ends on Saturday at sunset. Muslims in Israel do not work on Friday, either.

*While it may be considered rude in other countries, Israelis frequently interrupt during conversation.

*The handing out of business cards is a relatively new idea; handing out engraved cards will impress Israeli partners. If you get a card, read it before putting it away.

*Impress your colleagues by providing important documents translated into Hebrew, but print them in English as well.

Conduct meetings in line with religious rules. If your Israeli counterparts are Orthodox Jews, women should not physically contact men. Don't schedule meetings in September or October, as most Jewish holidays happen during this time. During the month of Ramadan, Muslim Israelis have shorter business hours and they fast during the daytime. Most importantly, do not mention the conflict between the Arabs and the Israelis, or the Holocaust.