While Hebrew is the official language of Israel, there are a few different languages that are spoken in Jerusalem because of the separate quarters in the Old City. The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters: the Jewish, Armenian, Muslim and Christian Quarters. Arabic is also spoken in the Muslim Quarter, while Armenian is spoken in the Armenian Quarter. Yiddish, the historical language of the Ashkenazi Jewish, is also spoken in some neighborhoods throughout the Old City. In addition to all these languages, English is also spoken here because Jerusalem receives a great number of tourists throughout the year.
Just like Tel Aviv and the rest of Israel, Jerusalem uses the New Israeli Shekel. However, some vendors and stores accept the U.S. dollar.
At a market, the cost of a large bottle of water costs six shekels. This is equal to about $1.70, which is not bad at all! However, a smaller bottle of water can cost more at a restaurant. That is why it is usually a good idea to buy what you can at grocery stores.
