I don't know what the $1 bills would be for--why not just change to Scheckels in the first place and be done with it. And if I remember correctly, the Visa card worked in most places. I usually get twenty to thirty dollars worth of local currency at the exchange at the airport/border to tide me over until I can get what I need in town.
I crossed over from Jordan, and then back, and it was simple pie at the border. Took a bus both ways. Be sure to have them mark your passport with a separate paper so that when you leave you can visit other mid-east countries. They know the routine.
There are lots of things to see in Israel--
Obviously check out the regular things. Massadda, the Dead Sea, Qumram, (all in a day's journey on an organized bus ride that you can get on pretty much without booking)--$30 to $40 if I remember correctly and it has not changed. And leave lots of time to walk around Jerusalem without a tourguide. It is not very big. You can walk the whole stations of the cross in less than what?--fifteen minutes at most. (That is--just walk them-not actually meditate or truly appreciate them----I am just trying to give you a scale of the city.)
I cannot say I am an expert on all the guides--but Lonely Planet is always my favorite. I should say that different people travel in different styles, and Lonely Planet fits mine best--hostels, busses, and such.
Be very careful of the religious calendar. THings can close up for a day or two without warning (well, the locals and anybody who is Jewish knows about it, but poor little Gentile me kept getting in trouble with it!) And since you are dealing with several religions, be aware that the calendars are different. For instance, you cannot go on the temple mount on Fridays unless you are Moslem, and on Passover because, well, you cannot do anything on Passover.....so, if your only two days in the Holy City are Friday and that Saturday--you are out of luck. And if you were going in the spring, you would have to be aware that it is possible to be there on Palm Sunday and Easter on the same Sunday---depending on whether you are using the orthodox or western calendar.
In like manner, be aware that some things take place at sunrise or sunset, and plan your day accordingly.
Be sure to take a bag to carry all your stuff that you have to put in and out of your pockets every time you have to get searched and go through a scanner! I tend to travel with cargo pants and use those pockets for most things.....THis means a lot of loading and unloading of pants pockets in walking around certain parts of town (Jerusalem). It is easier to just toss almost everything in a bag/backpack and hand them the bag every time you cross a checkpoint. Obviously do not take any weapons with you.
As usual, whenever you are away from home, keep your passport and most of your money secure in a money belt around your waist. Carry a smaller purse or wallet to hold a day's worth of money, and a photocopy of your passport id page. Most places will accept that as id, and you do not have to dig into your moneybelt to show a passport. (Advice not appropriate for crossing borders, airports, etc.....)
And while there are lots of ugly things to see there: bigotry, oppression, some poverty, and all of that, and it can look scary with all the barbed wire and such, it really is a nice place to visit. (Don't take that comment wrong. I know these ugly things I have mentioned are found everywhere, and barbed wire can be found in other countries. I am not picking on Israel in particular--but don't be put off by the fact that these people do not officially get along with each other and occasionally choose to kill each other, or do what they feel is necessary to stop the other side from killing them or robbing from them.) I never felt unsafe there, and nobody was ever unfriendly. That security stuff just looks horribly scary! (But how scary can it be if somebody can take all those hours writing their graffitti on the wall?)
Alex
