Indigenous signs for cities in Israel (ישראל)

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Explanation of glossing system used
(to understand how I describe the signs in this dictionary)

Acre (עכו)
[relaxed U dot] is held at ear and twisted 2x at wrist.2

Afula (עפולה)
[1], PO > NDS, travels up mouth and away.2

Ashdod (אשדוד)
(2h)[5:], POs > signer, FOs ><, tap knuckles together 2x.2 (< the sign also means "port", because it represents an "anchor", and Ashdod is a port city.)1

Ashkelon (אשקלון)
(2h)[S], POs away, held high, push to the sides with force.2 (< the city where Samson pushed apart the pillars of the amphitheater to kill the Philistines as a dying act of defiance.)1

Bat-Yam (בת ים)
DH [1], PO > NDS, FO away, descends and ascends far above (and does not strike) NDH [S], PO > DS, FO away.2

Beersheva (באר שבע)
(1) (2h)[B] with thumbs flush with other fingers but not folded into palm], POs ><, FOs away, descend and meet with a V-shaped path. 2 (< the valley in which the city is located.)1 (2) (2h)[4], POs ><, FOs away, descend and meet with a V-shaped path.1

Bnei Brak (בני ברק)
[A] pounds on chest at NDS.2 (< signs also means "religious" and many very religious Jews live there.)

Eilat (אילת)
(1) (2h)[B with thumbs flush with other fingers but not folded into palm], POs ><, FOs away, descend and meet with a V-shaped path.2 (2) (1) + (2h)[B with thumbs flush with other fingers but not folded into palm], POs down, FOs away, make a swimming motion.1 (< the valley in which the city is located.)

Galilee (גליל)
[5:] is held at mouth with PO > signer, then pronates (twists until PO is away from signer).1 (< the Israeli sign for "hot".)

Givatayim (גבעתיים)
[B with thumb flush with other fingers but not folded into palm], PO down, FO away, moves forward in a wavy motion.2

Haifa (חיפה)
[Bb], PO down, FO > NDS, press the hand against the forehead as if in salute.1&9 (< looking from the heights of the city.)1

Herzeliya/Herzliya (הרצליה)
[C dot], PO up, descends from chin.2 (< indicates the beard of Herzl, for whom the city was named.)1

Hevron (חברון)
(2h)[loose 5] touch respective jaws with thumbs and then descend in an arc to touch pinkies to one another. 1 (< beards of the Patriachs who are buried there.)

Holon (חולון)
(2h)[A], POs ><, alt. circle CCW as seen from the right in a vertical plane and brush against the chest as they pass it.2

Jerusalem (ירושלים)
(1) touch [B] to lips, then bow forward with (2h)[B], POs down.1 [< kissing a mezuzah (a scroll of Biblical verses affixed to doorposts), the city is famous for its huge mezuzot and the Muslims bowing at the mosque of Omar.] (2) [B with thumbs flush with other fingers but not folded into palm], touches mouth and then pronates.2 [< kissing the Western Wall (the retaining wall of the Jewish temple).]1 To see a video of this sign, see Sematos - LSE - Jerusalén.

Kfar-Saba (כפר סבא)
(2h)[5:], POs ><, twist CW and CCW, in opposition to the other hand + [S] touches the chin with its radial (thumb) side.2 (< literal signing of the city's name, which means "Grandpa's village".)

Kiryat Shmona (קרית שמונה)
[B with thumbs flush with other fingers but not folded into palm], runs FT down DS of chest.2

Lod (לוד)
(2h)[B with thumbs flush with other fingers but not folded into palm], POs down, hands are held high but elbows close to torso, then hands are brought further out from body like airplane wings.2 (< this sign also means "airport" and the main airport is close to this city.)

Nazareth (נצרת)
(2h)[5], POs ><, FOs away, NDH touches the midpalm of DH with its middle finger slightly extended, and then DH touches NDH in the same manner.2 (< the sign for "Jesus" who grew up in Nazareth.)1

Netanya (נתניה)
(1) (2h)[U], POs down, FOs away but crossing, DH rubs the bottom of its extended FT against the top of the NDH's extended FT 2x, while NDH is held in place.2 (2) POs down, FOs away but crossing, DH [U] rubs the bottom of its extended FT against the fingers of NDH [B with thumbs flush with other fingers but not folded into palm], while NDH is held in place (< polishing diamonds.)1

Petach Tikvah (פתח תקווה)
(2h)[5:], POs ><, revolve CW then CCW, but in opposition to the other hand + [5], PO away, FO up, is held high + [1], PO away, FO up, is held high.2

Raanana (רעננה)
(1) [V], PO > NDS, FO away, nods at wrist 2x. (2)[5], PO down, FO > NDS, FT wiggle at chin.2

Ramat-Gan (רמת–גן)
[X] holds FT at cheek and twists at wrist 2x.2

Ramat-Hasharon (רמת השרון)
[X] holds FT at cheek and twists at wrist 2x + [bX] makes a cutting motion like a scythe.2

Ramle (רמלה)
[5], PO down, FO > NDS, FT wiggle at chin.2

Rehovot (רחובות)
[L], PO > signer, strokes chin and closes to [bO^] 2x.2

Rishon Lezion (ראשון לציון)
[F] flicks index finger against thumb and onto neck 2x.2 (< the sign for "wine", for which this area is famous.)

Tel-Aviv (תל אביב)
(1) [L], PO away, touches temple and under eye, then closes 2x to [bO^].1 (< the masks worn for the Purim carnival.) (2) [L], PO away touches temple and under eye, then closes 1x to [bO^].2 (< the masks worn for the Purim carnival).1

Tiberias (טבריה)
(1) [5:], PO > signer, is held at mouth and pronates while closing to an [S].2 (2) [5:], PO > signer, is held at mouth and pronates without closing. (< from the sign for "hot".)1

List of sources cited

1. Namir, L., Sela, I., Rimor, M. and Schlesinger, I. M. (1979). Dictionary of sign language of the Deaf in Israel. Jerusalem: Ministry of Social Welfare.
2. Savir, C. (ed.) (1992). Gateway to Israeli Sign Language. Tel Aviv: The Association of the Deaf in Israel.
 3. Signs around the world: Cities [Videotape]. Burtonsville, MD: Sign Media.

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