The point of this page is to read it once, before you need it, so the vocabulary is already familiar if an emergency ever comes up. Keep the phone numbers below saved somewhere accessible — written down or in your phone — separately from relying on memory alone.
A general note on travel safety
Israel is a real, functioning country with the normal range of everyday risks — traffic, petty theft in tourist areas, extreme summer heat and sun exposure — and this page is aimed squarely at those everyday situations rather than anything unusual. Standard travel precautions apply: keep copies of important documents, use registered taxis or rideshare apps, stay hydrated in summer, and register your trip with Smartraveller before you leave Australia so the Australian Government can reach you if needed.
Siren and shelter procedure
It's worth knowing this exists, even if you never need it: some parts of Israel occasionally use a warning siren system, sometimes called צֶבַע אָדֹם (tzeva adom, "red colour"), directing people to a nearby protected space or shelter (מִקְלָט, miklat) for a short period. Hotels, public buildings and apartment blocks throughout Israel are required to have a designated shelter or reinforced room, and staff will direct guests if this is ever relevant. If you ever hear a prolonged siren, the standard guidance is to move to the nearest indoor shelter or reinforced room promptly and calmly, and follow local instructions or official phone alerts rather than relying on this page for real-time guidance — check Smartraveller's current advice for Israel before your trip for anything specific to your travel dates and region.
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| מִקְלָט | miklat | shelter |
| מָמָ"ד | mamad | reinforced safe room (common in newer buildings) |
| אַזְעָקָה | az'akah | siren / alarm |
Getting help immediately
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| הַצִּילוּ! | hatzilu! | help! (calling for rescue) |
| עֶזְרָה! | ezrah! | help! |
| זֶה חֵרוּם | zeh cherum | this is an emergency |
| תִּקְרְאוּ לְמִשְׁטָרָה! | tikre'u lemishtarah! | call the police! |
| תִּקְרְאוּ לְאַמְבּוּלַנְס! | tikre'u le'ambulans! | call an ambulance! |
| אֲנִי צָרִיךְ עֶזְרָה | ani tzarich ezrah | I need help (masc.) |
Medical emergencies
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| אֲנִי חוֹלֶה / חוֹלָה | ani choleh / cholah | I'm sick (masc./fem.) |
| כּוֹאֵב לִי כָּאן | ko'ev li kan | it hurts here |
| אֲנִי אֲלֶרְגִּי לְ... | ani alergi le... | I'm allergic to... |
| אֲנִי צָרִיךְ רוֹפֵא | ani tzarich rofe | I need a doctor (masc.) |
| בֵּית חוֹלִים | beit cholim | hospital |
| בֵּית מִרְקַחַת | beit merkachat | pharmacy |
| תְּרוּפָה | trufah | medication |
| בִּטּוּחַ נְסִיעוֹת | bituach nesiyot | travel insurance |
For specific body parts to describe where something hurts, the Body table on Hebrew Vocabulary pairs directly with כּוֹאֵב לִי (ko'ev li, "it hurts me") — for example כּוֹאֵב לִי הָרֹאשׁ (ko'ev li harosh, "I have a headache," literally "it hurts me the head").
Police and lost documents
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| אִבַּדְתִּי אֶת הַדַּרְכּוֹן שֶׁלִּי | ibadti et hadarkon sheli | I lost my passport |
| גָּנְבוּ לִי אֶת הַתִּיק | ganvu li et hatik | my bag was stolen |
| אֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְדַוֵּחַ עַל... | ani tzarich ledave'ach al... | I need to report... |
| שַׁגְרִירוּת | shagrirut | embassy |
| קוֹנְסוּלְיָה | konsulyah | consulate |
Describing what happened
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| זֶה קָרָה לִפְנֵי... | zeh karah lifnei... | it happened... [time] ago |
| הָיִיתִי בְּ... | hayiti be... | I was at... |
| אֲנִי לֹא יוֹדֵעַ / יוֹדַעַת | ani lo yode'a / yoda'at | I don't know (masc./fem.) |
| אֶפְשָׁר עֵזֶר בְּאַנְגְּלִית? | efshar ezer be'anglit? | can I get help in English? |
Practice you can do right now
- Save the three emergency numbers (100, 101, 102) directly into your phone before you travel.
- Rehearse saying "I need a doctor" and "it hurts here" while pointing to different body parts.
- Practise the lost-passport and stolen-bag phrases, even though you hope never to need them.
- Take a photo of your passport's photo page and save it somewhere accessible offline.
Frequently asked questions
Do emergency operators in Israel speak English?
Generally yes, particularly police and ambulance dispatch in major cities and tourist areas — operators are used to handling calls from tourists. Leading with אֶפְשָׁר עֵזֶר בְּאַנְגְּלִית? (can I get help in English?) is a reasonable first line if you're unsure.
What should Australians know about medical costs in Israel?
Israel doesn't have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, so travel insurance covering medical treatment is strongly recommended before you travel — public hospital emergency care is available to everyone, but non-residents are generally billed for treatment.
Where is the Australian Embassy in Israel?
The Australian Embassy is located in Tel Aviv. It's worth noting the exact current address and phone number before you travel, since embassy locations and contact details can change — check the Australian Government's Smartraveller website for the latest details before departure.