Rishon LeZion

From Free net encyclopedia

Rishon LeZion, or Rishon LeZiyyon (Hebrew: ראשון לציון, lit. first for Zion), sometimes shortened to Rishon, is a city in Israel, on the central coastal strip, in the Central District, just south of Tel Aviv, and part of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area (Gush Dan). It is the fourth largest city in Israel with about 217,400 residents (end of 2004). Its present mayor is Meir Nitzan.

Image:Rishonlezion.jpg

1 History
2 Rishon Le-Zion today
3 External link

[edit]

History

Rishon was founded on 31 July 1882 by a group of 10 members of the Zionist group Hovevei Zion from Kharkov, in modern Ukraine. Led by Zalman David Levontin, they purchased 835 acres (3.4 km²) of land south-east of present-day Tel Aviv for this purpose near an Arab village named Eyun Kara. Along with Petah Tikva, it is considered the first Zionist settlement in Israel and its founders were members of the First Aliya. The land was owned by Tzvi Leventine and was purchased by the "Pioneers of Jewish Settlement Committee" that was formed in Jaffa, the port of arrival for many of the immigrants to the area.

The new settlers faced a lot of difficulties: sandy soil, lack of water, poverty, and lack of agricultural experience. After the digging of the Great Well and a wave of new settlers arriving (members of another Zionist group, the Biluim), the new settlement started to develop. Soon, Baron Edmond James de Rothschild gained control of the settlement and helped develop its agriculture, citrus fruit ("Pri Adar"), and wine industry.

Ri’shōn le-Tsiyyōn, which literally means ‘first to Zion’, was a pioneer not only in erecting houses but also in cultural life. The first Hebrew school was founded in Ri’shōn in 1886, as was the first Hebrew kindergarten in 1899. In 1886, construction began on the Ri’shōn winery.

The population numbered 266 in 1890. Five years later it increased to 450, and by 1898 rose to 531.

[edit]

Name

The name Rishon LeZion literally means "First to Zion", it was chosen because of the biblical verse:

"First to Zion are they, and I shall give herald to Jerusalem" - "ראשון לציון הנה הינם, ולירושלים מבשר אתן"

from Book of Isaiah , chapter 41, verse 27.

[edit]

List of Rishon's mayors

Dr. Eliakum Ostishinski (1950-1951)
Arie Sheftal (1951)
Moshe Gavin (1952-1955)
Gershon Man Mankov (1955)
Hana Levin (1955-1960)
Arie Sheftal (1960-1962)
Noam Leoner (1962-1965)
Arie Sheftal (1965-1969)
Hananya Gibstein (1969-1983)
Meir Nitzan (1983-present)

[edit]

List of notables in Rishon's history

Zeev Abrahamovich - one of Rishon's funders.
Fani Belkind - member of Bilu group who settled in Rishon.
Israel Belkind- member of Bilu group who settled in Rishon.
Samason Belkind - member of Bilu group who settled in Rishon.
David Ben Gurion - a workers' leader in the Yekev (winery of Carmel Mizrahi) and Israel's first prime minister.
Eliezer Ben Yehuda - the father of the modern Hebrew language and a teacher in Rishon LeZion.
Yoel Drubin - member of Bilu group who settled in Rishon.
Israel Fineberg - defended Rishon from Arab and Beduin bandits.
Yossef Fineberg - chemist and one of Rishon's funders.
Hananya Gibstein - Rishon's mayor before Nitzan.
Yehuda Hankin - one of Rishon's funders.
Dov Lubman Haviv - A teacher in the first Hebrew school Haviv.
Mordechai Lubman Haviv - educational inspector.
Zrubabel Haviv - son of Dov Lubman.
Dr Haim Hissin - member of Bilu group who settled in Rishon.
Zalman David Levontin - buyer of Rishon's territory from the Ottoman empire.
Zvi Ha-Cohen Levontin - one of Rishon's funders.
Meir Nitzan - Rishon's mayor since 1983, considered one of the best mayors in Israel.
Baron Edmond James de Rothschild - the French Jewish philanthropist who supported Rishon.
Reuven Yudalevich - one of Rishon's funders.
David Yudilovich - member of Bilu group who settled in Rishon.

[edit]

"Rishon's Parliament"

The "Rishon's Parliament" is a mythological group of Rishon's elders and veterans who were known for their wit and unique style. The group used to assemble about three times a week to discuss current events and exchange anecdotes and jokes. Their stories were documented by Uri Porat and Amnon Nahmias and published in a series of stories in Yediot Aharonot and later in a book called Rishon - The Wild East.

[edit]

Rishon Le-Zion today

Today, Rishon-LeZion is the fourth most populated city in Israel and is known for its high quality of life.

[edit]

Industry and commerce

Rishon's main industries are wine, construction, services and commerce. It has special quarters (called Ezorey ha-Taasiya) for small factories and workshops, in order to not disturb the residential areas with noise and pollution. Since there are no residents in the industrial zones, they have become hang-out centers packed with pubs, dancing clubs and restaurants that are open until the small hours of the morning.

Many shopping centers and malls were built in New West, the modern part of Rishon LeZion, but some eventually closed due to competition. Currently, the two major malls ( קניון ) in Rishon are Rothschild Center in the old downtown and Gold Mall (Kanyon ha-Zahav) in New West.

[edit]

Culture

The city, usually referred to as "Rashlatz" (in Hebrew, short for Rishon Le-Zion) or just "Rishon", hosts the annual Rishon Le-Zion Wine Festival, a one-of-a-kind cultural event in Israel. Rishon is also known for its high number of shopping centers, the Amfi-Park (which once held shows of international artists like Sting, Metallica, Alanis Morissette and more), a zoo, an entertainment center (The Superland), and the promenade on the beach.

Heichal Ha-Tarbut (Hall of Culture) in Rishon is a large and highly reputed modern center for concerts, theatre and cultural events. It has one main hall for shows and two small halls for artistic workshops.

Rishon has a symphonic orchestra and its musical director is the conductor Mandi Rodan.

[edit]

Education

Image:Igal Alon High School.JPG

Elementary schools (1st - 6th grades):

Haviv - the first Hebrew school חביב
Beeri בארי
Yesod ha-Maala יסוד המעלה
Oranim (closed) אורנים
Hadarim הדרים
Adini עדיני
Ein ha-Kore עין הקורא
Ashalim אשלים
Belkind (special education) בלקינד
Alonim אלונים

Junior high schools (7th - 9th grades):

Zalman Aran זלמן ארן
Dorot דורות
Aharon Karon (closed) אהרון קרון
Micha Raicer מיכה רייסר
Mordey ha-Getaot מורדי הגטאות
Tabib טביב
Ha-Maayan המעיין
Aharon HaBilooyim

High schools (10th - 12th grades + 2 years for professional studies):

Ankori Rishon LeZion
Makif Aleph - Gymnasia Realit (established in 1939) גימנסיה ריאלית
Makif Beth - religious high school
Makif Gimel - Amit Amal עמית עמל
Makif Dalet - Gan Nahum גן נחום
Makif Ey - Shaar Rishon שער ראשון
Makif Vav - Yigal Alon יגאל אלון
Makif Zain - Revivim רביבים
Makif Het - Avnei ha-Hoshen (7th - 12th grades) אבני החושן
Makif Tet
Makif Yud

Higher education:

College for Administration המכללה למנהל.

[edit]

Sports

Rishon gained notoriety in handball כדוריד and chess שח. It also has soccer and basketball teams, but they play in the second leagues.

In handball, Hapoel Rishon dominates the handball league winning more than seven domestic championships and cups in a row. Its biggest stars are goalkeeper Vladimir Zaikman and field-players Idan Maimon and Dudi Balsar. Its biggest rival is Maccabi Rishon.

In chess, the Rishon LeZion Chess Club, founded in 1939, is one of the leading clubs in Israel, in senior, women and youth leagues. Israeli grandmasters such as Boris Alterman play for Rishon. Garry Kasparov was a former member.

[edit]

Neigbourhoods and places

Rishon-LeZion's main quarters are:

The Old City ("Downtown") - the whole area around Herzl street and Jabotinsky street. The center of the Old City is Rotschild street, near the Midrehov (padestrian mall) and the old Gan-HaMoshava (The City Park).
- Neigbourhoods: Rishonim (Gan Nahum), Abrahmovich, Katzanelson (Shikun Poalim), Shikun Mapam and Shivat-Zion.
Shikun(ey) Ha-Mizrah (The Eastern Resident) - located in the eastern part of Rishon.
- Neigbourhoods: Shikun Ha-Mizrah, Ha-Rambam, Mishor Ha-Nof, Revivim (Shikun Sela), Kidmat Rishon.
Old Mabat - "The Old Industrial Zone" which officially named "Mis'har, Biluy, Taasia" (commerce, entertainment and industry) was full of light industry and glass factories. Today it is the center of motor garages, large food stores and has a vivid night life in a pedestrian mall filled with bars and cafes. The Old Mabat is located in the northern part of Rishon, near HaMaccabim road (the road called "Kvish Beit-Dagan" by the locals).
Maarav Rishon (The New West) - built in the 1980s and mostly populated in the 1990s, the New West is a block of new neighborhoods, connected with modern, wide roads between each other. The New West is the modern part of Rishon and has many parks and community-centers. It considered to be very aesthetic and prestigious and in less than a decade it was filled with more than 100,000 residents, doubling Rishon's population.
- Neigbourhoods: Neve Shikma, Kiriyat Ganim, Neve Ashalim, Kiriyat Hatani Pras Nobel, Neve Yam, Neve Dkalim, Neve Hof (Pueblo Español), Ramat Eliyahu.
New Mabat - two new industrial zones in the New West.

Image:Great Synagogue.JPG

Places to see in the Old City of Rishon:

The Midrahov (pedestrian mall).
Gan-HaMoshava (also called "Gan Ha-Nadiv") - Park.
The Great Synagogue.
The Great Well ("Matzanu Mayim").
The Old Water Tower.
The Rishon LeZion History Museum.
The first Hebrew school - Beit Sefer Haviv.
Yekev Carmel Mizrahi - the old wine factory.
Beit Yad LeBanim - originally was the baron's offices but now it serves as a Memorial center to Rishon's sons who fell in Israel's wars.
Heichal Ha-Tarbut (Hall of Culture) - a modern center for concerts, theatre and cultural events. It has one main hall for shows and two small halls for artistic workshops.
Superland - Rishon's amusement park (allocated in the New West).

[edit]