best way to jerusalem
 

I will be in Tel Aviv for a few days. What is the safest way to get to Jerualem?

A tank?

Seriously, if you worry about suicide bombers, don't take public buses anywhere in Israel. If you look at past records, you'll find that if you avoid the buses, you probably eliminate about 50% chance of being blown up. And if you don't go to crowded restaurants and markets, you really have very little to worry about.

You can take the train, or a "Direct" bus to Jerusalem that does not stop anywhere in between, which is also the safest.

Enjoy yourself, and don't worry too much. Your chances of being mugged or shot at in ANY American city is bigger than being blown up in Israel.

The city-to-city direct buses have the same type of security as you have at airports today. At entry, bags and parcels are checked, passengers scanned etc. They're safe.

There is no train to jerusalem from Tel Aviv anymore--when it existed, it took twice as long as a bus! They're working on a new route, but...

You should be able to take a "sherut" shared taxi from Tel Aviv - Jeruslem. (you can get them in many cities to other cities). Cars hold about 6 0r 7 people and the fare is about the same as a bus, maybe a little more, It operates on about the same route as the intercity bus.
In Tel Aviv itself, you will also see the small vans that operate as alternatives to the actual city buses. They will often have the number of the bus route (4 or 5, e for example) in the windshield and you just flag them down