Rishon LeZion
Rishon LeZion's emblem
Hebrew	רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן
Name meaning	First to Zion
Founded in	1882
Government	City (from 1950)
Also spelled	Rishon LeZiyyon (officially)
District	Center
Population	222,300 (2006)
Jurisdiction	59,000 dunams (59 km²)
Mayor	Meir Nitzan

The original Great Synagogue and square

The Old Water Tower

Gan HaMoshava

Gan HaMoshava, the city park

Haviv school - the first all-Hebrew elementary school

Yigal Allon High School

Rishon LeZion (Hebrew: רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן‎, first to Zion), is the fourth-largest city in Israel, located along the central Israeli coastal plain. The following list of Israeli cities is based on the current index of the There are six main administrative districts of Israel, known in Hebrew as mehozot (מחוזות singular mahoz) and fifteen The Center District (מחוז המרכז Meḥoz haMerkaz) of Israel is one of six administrative districts, including most of the Sharon region A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum is a unit of Area used in the Ottoman Empire and still used in various standardized versions Meir Nitzan (born 1932 is the mayor of Rishon LeZion, Israel, currently serving his 5th term The following list of Israeli cities is based on the current index of the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. The Israeli Coastal Plain (מישור החוף Mishor HaHof) is the narrow Coastal plain along Israel's Mediterranean Sea coast which houses 70% of It is part of the Gush Dan metropolitan area with a population of 224,500 as of 2008. Gush Dan (גּוּשׁ דָּן is a Metropolitan area including areas from both the Tel Aviv and the Central Districts of Israel. A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Rishon LeZion was founded in 1882 by Russian immigrants and was the second Jewish settlement to be formed in Israel after Petah Tikva. Petah Tikva (פֶּתַח תִּקְוָה "Opening of Hope" known as Em HaMoshavot ("Mother of the Moshavot " is a city in the Today the city acts partly as a commuter town for Tel Aviv, but does have its own industries as well. The mayor of Rishon LeZion is Meir Nitzan. Meir Nitzan (born 1932 is the mayor of Rishon LeZion, Israel, currently serving his 5th term

Etymology

The name Rishon LeZion is derived from a biblical verse: "First to Zion are they, and I shall give herald to Jerusalem" (Hebrew: ראשון לציון הנה הינם, ולירושלים מבשר אתן‎ (Book of Isaiah 41:27) and literally translates as the First to Zion. The term Hebrew Bible is a generic reference to those books of the Bible originally written in Biblical Hebrew (and the related Biblical Aramaic The Book of Isaiah ( Hebrew: Sefer Y'sha'yah ספר ישעיה is a book of the Bible traditionally attributed to the Prophet Isaiah, who lived

History

Rishon LeZion was founded on July 31, 1882 by a group of ten Hovevei Zion pioneers from Kharkov, Ukraine (then the Russian Empire) headed by Zalman David Levontin. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Hovevei Zion is also a popular Israeli musical group Hovevei Zion (חובבי ציון also known as Hibbat Zion (חיבת ציון Kharkiv or Kharkov (Харків Харьков is the second largest city in Ukraine. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Reuven Yudalevich is thought to be another of these ten pioneers. Reuven Yudalevich (Yudelevitz Yudelevitch (1862-1933 was a funder and founder of the city of Rishon Le Zion, Israel. The group purchased 835 acres (3. 4 km²) of land southeast of present-day Tel Aviv, near the Arab village of Ayun Kara. Tel Aviv-Yafo (תֵּל ־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ تل أبيب Tal ʾAbīb) (usually Tel Aviv) is the second-largest city in Israel The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding Other notable founders of Rishon include Israel Fineberg (who defended Rishon from Arab and Bedouin bandits he had forced off the land) as well as Yossef Fineberg, a chemist, Zeev Abrahamovich, Yehuda Hankin, and Zvi Ha-Cohen Levontin. Rishon LeZion was the second settlement in the land of Palestine, the first being Petah Tikva, which was deserted and then reestablished. Petah Tikva (פֶּתַח תִּקְוָה "Opening of Hope" known as Em HaMoshavot ("Mother of the Moshavot " is a city in the

The pioneers who founded Rishon faced numerous difficulties. The soil was sandy, water was scarce and the settlers had no agricultural experience. After a well was dug and more pioneers arrived - the Biluim - the colony slowly took shape. Bilu (ביל"ו Acronym based on a verse from the Book of Isaiah (25 "בית יעקב לכו ונלכה" " B eit Notable members of this group include Fani Belkind, Israel Belkind, Shimshon Belkind, Yoel Drubin, Dr. Yoel Drubin was a member of the Bilu group which a group of Jews that fled persecution in Russia by joining the Political Zionist movement and migrating Haim Hissin, and David Yudilovich. When Baron Edmond James de Rothschild took over, sending in his administrators, major progress was made in the spheres of agriculture, citrus and viticulture. Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild ( August 19, 1845 – November 2, 1934) was a French member of the Rothschild banking Under Rothschild's patronage, the Carmel-Mizrahi Winery was established in 1886. Carmel Winery is a Vineyard and Winery in Israel. Founded in 1882 by Edmond James de Rothschild, its products are exported to over 40 countries David Ben-Gurion was head of workers' union at the winery before later becoming Israel's first prime minister. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation.

The first Hebrew school in the country opened in the city in 1886, and the first Hebrew kindergarten in 1899. Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Hebrews (or Hebertes, Eberites, Hebreians, " Habiru " or " Habiri " Hebrew: עברים ( German, literally means "children's garden" is a form of education for young children which serves as a transition from home to the commencement of more formal schooling Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The population numbered 359 in 1890. Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Five years later it increased to 380, and by 1900 rose to 526. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the father of modern Hebrew, worked as a teacher in Rishon LeZion, whilst Dov Lubman Haviv was a teacher in the first Hebrew school here, and Mordechai Lubman Haviv was an educational inspector. For the street named for Eliezer Ben Yehuda in Jerusalem, Israel, see Ben Yehuda Street.

In 1911, Rishon had 4,000 dunams of vineyard in comparison to 254 dumans of orchards. ^[1]

Development of the town was hindered continually, however, by the fact that no water was found there until Baron Rothschild brought in experts who located water at 42 meters below ground. Nathan Mayer Rothschild 1st Baron Rothschild ( 8 November 1840 – 31 March 1915) was a British Banker and Politician The groundwater table in the area was found to be uneven and wells were mostly constructed at between 20 and 25 meters in depth. Orchards were then developed around the settlement, and by the late 1920s the city developed a burgeoning citrus industry. ^[1]

Rishon was designated a city in 1950 and, by 1983 Rishon LeZion had grown to have a population of 103,000. By 2006, this had risen to 222,300. By 2020, the city is expected to have a population of 315,000. ^[2] In 2007, the Rishon LeZion Municipality was awarded the Ministry of Interior Prize for Proper Management. ^[2]

Economy

Rishon Lezion's main industries today are wine, construction, services and commerce. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice In the fields of Architecture and Civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the Building or assembling of Infrastructure Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer Factories and workshops are located in the industrial zone, which has become a popular venue for pubs, dance clubs and restaurants. Industry in the city is largely divided into two industrial centers: the old industrial zone in the north of the city and the new industrial zone in the west of the city. ^[2] The two major malls in Rishon LeZion are Rothschild Center in the old downtown center and Gold Mall (Kanyon ha-Zahav) in the New West district. IKEA are expected to open a branch in the city, its second in Israel, in the Maayan Sorek area, whilst companies such as Coca Cola, Globe Gazit, Volvo and Fiat are also expected to open in this area. IKEA is a privately-held international home products retailer that sells flat pack Furniture, accessories bathrooms and kitchens at retail stores around the world Coca-Cola is a carbonated Soft drink sold in stores restaurants and Vending machines in more than 200 countries This article is about Volvo Group - AB Volvo Volvo Cars is the passenger vehicle maker owned by Ford Motor Company, using the Volvo Trademark Fiat SpA (an Acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (Italian Automobile Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer ^[2]

Construction of a desalination plant is planned for Rishon which will produce 3. 7 million cubic meters of water per year, whilst the city already hosts the large Shafdan recycling plant. ^[2]

Tourism

As one of the earliest settlements to be established in Israel, Rishon is home to a number of tourist attractions including a history museum, the Carmel Winery and Beit Yad LeBanim - the administrative center of Baron Rothschild, now a soldiers' memorial. Carmel Winery is a Vineyard and Winery in Israel. Founded in 1882 by Edmond James de Rothschild, its products are exported to over 40 countries Furthermore, the city has a mall called Midrachov, a concert hall, Heichal HaTarbut, and an amusement park; Superland. The Great Synagogue, Great Well, Old Water Tower, and First Hebrew School (Beit Sefer Haviv) are also regularly visited by tourists.

Culture

The city, often called Rishon (or Rashlatz, the Hebrew acronym for Rishon LeZion, in written material), hosts the annual Rishon LeZion Wine Festival. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Rishon is also known for its numerous shopping centers, its Amphitheatre which hosted musical acts such as Sting, Metallica, Alanis Morissette and Sean Paul, a zoo, an amusement park (Superland), and its beach promenade. An amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is an open-air venue for spectator sports concerts rallies or theatrical performances Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951) better known by his Stage name Sting, is a three time Academy Award Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in. Alanis Nadine Morissette (born June 1 1974 is a Canadian-born Singer-songwriter, Record producer, and Actress. Sean Paul Henriques (born January 8 1973) in Upper Saint Andrew Parish, a few miles north of his birthplace A zoological garden, shortened to zoo, is an institution in which living animals are exhibited in captivity

Heichal HaTarbut (Hall of Culture) is a large and highly reputed modern center for classical concerts, theatre performances and cultural events. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one It has a larger theatre for shows and two smaller ones for artistic workshops.

The Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon Lezion, directed by Dan Ettinger, has participated in music festivals all over the world. It was awarded the ACUM prize in 1991. [1]

Rishon's Parliament

The "Rishon's Parliament" was a famous 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. Yedioth Ahronoth (ידיעות אחרונות, lit Latest News) is a major Hebrew language Daily newspaper published in Israel.

Education

Rishon LeZion has twenty-three elementary schools, nine middle schools and twelve high schools. Rishon Lezion's College of Management has a student population of 10,000. ^[2]

Rishon hold the first all Hebrew school (Haviv school) and kindergarten. It has the 5th highschool in Israel, HaGymnasia HaRealit, which was founded in 1939 and considered among the best highschools in Israel. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Sports

Rishon Lezion is known for its achievements in handball and chess. Handball (also known as team handball, European handball, or Olympic handball) is a Team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six Chess is a recreational and competitive Game played between two players. In handball, Hapoel Rishon LeZion and Maccabi Rishon LeZion dominate the handball league. Maccabi Rishon LeZion team (Israel's basketball champion and cup winner of 2006) is a team with a glorious past of championships and cups Hapoel has won more than seven domestic championships and cups in a row, with stars like goalkeeper Vladimir Zaikman and field-players Idan Maimon and Dudi Balsar. Its biggest rival, Maccabi, has a rich history as well, and was able to take the championship title from Hapoel in the latest 2005/06 season. Handball is also a dominant sport in Rishon LeZion high schools. The Amit Amal high school handball team has won the world championship several times.

In chess, the Rishon LeZion Chess Club, founded in 1939, is one of the leading clubs in Israel, in senior, women and youth leagues. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Israeli grandmasters such as Boris Alterman play for Rishon. Boris Alterman (born May 4, 1970, in Kharkov Ukraine) is an Israeli Chess Grandmaster, advisor of the Junior World champion Garry Kasparov was a former member. Garry Kasparov (Га́рри Ки́мович Каспа́ров) (born as Garry Kimovich Weinstein on April 13 1963 in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet

As to the two most popular sports in Israel, football and basketball, Rishon has achieved certain accomplishments as well. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Ironi Rishon LeZion has spent several seasons in the top division, but has experienced a decline in recent years and have been relegated to Liga Artzit, the third tier. Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion FC (הפועל עירוני ראשון לציון is an Israeli football club and is based at Haberfeld Stadium, Rishon Structure There are 12 teams in Liga Artzit Each team plays thirty three matches the first 22 matches are played on a home and away basis with the last 11 fixtures based on league

The Maccabi Rishon LeZion basketball team is a long-time member of Ligat Winner, the top division. Maccabi Rishon LeZion (מכבי ראשון לציון is a Basketball club based in Rishon LeZion in central Israel. The team was a stubborn rival to Israel's top club and European champion, Maccabi Tel Aviv, during the 1990s. Maccabi "Electra" Tel Aviv (מכבי "אלקטרה" תל-אביב is a professional Basketball team based in Tel Aviv, playing in the The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 After a certain decline in the beginning of the 2000s, the club is trying to get back its place in the top positions of the first division league. With the support of Rishon high schools, the club has been known to produce some very talented basketball players over the years.

Geography

Topography and climate

Rishon LeZion is located on the Israeli Mediterranean Coastal Plain, the historic land bridge between Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Israeli Coastal Plain (מישור החוף Mishor HaHof) is the narrow Coastal plain along Israel's Mediterranean Sea coast which houses 70% of Via Maris is the modern name for an ancient Trade route, dating from the early Bronze Age, linking Egypt with the northern empires of Syria, The city experiences hot, dry summers, and colder, wetter winters. Summer is one of the four Temperate Seasons Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days Winter is one of the four Seasons of Temperate zones Calculated astronomically, it begins on the Solstice and ends on the Equinox

Neighborhoods

Rishon LeZion can be divided into four main quarters: the old city, the eastern housing projects, the northern (old) industrial zone, and Western Rishon LeZion. The Weather Channel (also TWC) is a commercially-sponsored US There is also an industrial zone on the southern tip of the city, next to Gan Sorek. Gan Sorek (גן שורק lit Sorek Garden) is a Moshav in central Israel.

Old city

The old city of Rishon includes the original neighborhoods, some buildings dating back to Rishon's founding in 1881. This quarter is located in the city center, between and around Herzl and Jabotinsky Streets. It includes the following neighborhoods:

• Nahalat Yehuda (on the northernmost tip of Rishon)
• Neve Hillel
• Bnot Hayil
• Abramovich
• Katzenelson
• Remez (a. k. a. Giv'at Levinson), on the southwestern tip of old Rishon
• Rishonim (a. k. a. Gan Nahum), to the east of Remez

Eastern Housing Projects

The Eastern Housing Projects (Hebrew: שיכוני המזרח‎ Shikunei HaMizrah) was Rishon's quick expansion to the east. It is dominated by the housing projects (shikunim) there, in the Shikunei HaMizrah neighborhood itself. Other smaller neighborhoods include:

• Revivim
• Kidmat Rishon
• Ne'urim
• Rambam
• Neve Hadarim
• HaShomer
• Kfar Arye
• Mishor HaNof
• Kiryat Simha

The eastern projects stopped developing when they reached the fences of the Tzrifin military base. Tzrifin (צְרִיפִין is an area in Gush Dan (Dan Region in central Israel, located on the eastern side of Rishon LeZion and including parts of When Tzrifin will be sold to private contractors as planned, this quarters is expected to expand significantly with new lucrative housing projects.

Old Industrial Zone

The industrial zones in Rishon LeZion are called Mabat, an abbreviation for Miskhar, Bilui VeTa'asiya (Commerce, Pastime and Industry). The northern zone is the oldest and original industrial zone, once full of light industry and glass factories. Today, it is known for its prolific nightlife.

West Rishon

West Rishon LeZion is the conglomeration of the new neighborhoods of the city, built in the 1980s and 90s. The west also has higher land value because of its relative proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. It includes the entire city west of Tzahal Road. Highway 42 is a north-south highway in central Israel. It leads from Ashdod interchange in the south to Gan Rave interchange in the north The quarter includes the new industrial zone (Western Mabat), and a number of residential neighborhoods:

• Neve Elyahu
• Ne'ot Shikma
• Neve Dekalim
• Neve Hof
• Neve Yam
• Kiryat Rishon
• Kiryat Cramim
• Kiryat Ganim
• Ne'ot Ashalim
• Kiryat Hatanei Pras Nobel (lit. Nobel Price Recipient Town)

Mayors of Rishon LeZion

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

Notable residents

• Tal Ben Haim, Chelsea F.C. footballer
• Zohar Argov, singer
• Boris Gelfand, chess champion

Sister Cities

References

External links

• Rishon LeZion City Hall (Hebrew)