Mevaseret Zion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mevaseret Zion
מְבַשֶּׂרֶת צִיּוֹן
مڤاسريت صهيون
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Local council
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| Hebrew transcription(s) | ||
| • ISO 259 | Mbaśśert Çiyon | |
| • Also spelled | Mevasseret Ziyyon (official) | |
View of Mevaseret from Rekhes Halilim
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 Mevaseret Zion
Location in Jerusalem
Mevaseret Zion
Location in Israel
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| Country |  Israel |
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| District | Jerusalem District | |
| Founded | 1951 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6,390 dunams (6.39 km2 or 2.47 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2017)
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| • Total | 24,445 | |
| Name meaning | Herald of Zion (from Isaiah 40:9) | |
Mevaseret Zion (Hebrew: מבשרת ציון, lit. 'Herald of Zion') is a town in Israel. It is a local council located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Jerusalem. The town sits on both sides of the main highway connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Mevaseret Zion is made up of two older towns, Maoz Zion and Mevaseret Yerushalayim. These towns are now governed by one local council. The newer parts of Mevaseret Zion were built later and were not part of these original settlements.
The town is on a mountain ridge, about 750 meters (2,460 feet) above sea level. It is located on the edge of Jerusalem. In 2023, Mevaseret Zion had a population of 24,409 people. These residents live in 15 different neighborhoods. It is known as the wealthiest municipality in the Jerusalem District. The current head of the town's government is Yoram Shimon.
Contents
History of Mevaseret Zion
The Castel Area
The area where Mevaseret Zion is located has been settled for a very long time. This is because of its important location. The Romans built a fort here, which they called Castellum. Later, the Crusaders built a castle on the ruins of this Roman fort. This castle was called Castellum Belveer.
In 1187, the Crusaders lost control of the town to Saladin and his army. The town was then renamed al-Qastal. During the time when the British ruled Palestine, they called this area "The Castle." Local Arabs called it "al-Qastal," and Jewish people called it "HaCástel."
Battles for al-Qastal
During the 1948 Palestine War, fierce battles took place in al-Qastal. Both Arab and Jewish forces fought for control of this area. This was because al-Qastal overlooked the main road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Control of the town changed hands several times during the fighting.
A turning point came when the Arab commander, Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni, was killed. Many Arab fighters left their positions to attend his funeral. On April 9, 1948, al-Qastal was taken by Jewish forces with little resistance.
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Maoz Zion is Established
Maoz Zion means "Stronghold of Zion." It was founded in 1951. This new community was built to house immigrants who had recently arrived from Iraq, Kurdistan, North Africa, and Iran. These new residents had been living in a temporary camp called a ma'abara near the Castel hill. Many of them found jobs working at the nearby Solel Boneh stone quarry.
Mevasseret Yerushalayim is Established
Mevasseret Yerushalayim was founded in 1956. It was built east of Maoz Zion by Jewish immigrants from North Africa. This community was located on a ridge close to the armistice line, north of Motza. The people living there often worked in the fruit orchards in the Arazim Valley.
Becoming One Town
In 1963, Maoz Zion and Mevasseret Yerushalayim joined together. They formed a single local council and named it Mevasseret Zion. The name comes from the Book of Isaiah in the Bible. It means "Ascend a lofty mountain, O herald of joy to Zion."
Life in Mevaseret Zion
Shopping and Businesses
Mevaseret Zion has a large shopping area called the Har'el shopping mall. It is located near the Har'el interchange. This mall serves the people of Mevaseret Zion and nearby communities. It also serves travelers on Route 1. The Har'el mall has about 80 businesses.
Another large shopping center, the Jerusalem Mall, is located across the highway. Between both malls, you can find many popular stores. In 1995, the world's first kosher McDonald's restaurant opened in Mevaseret Zion.
Community and Religion
Mevaseret Zion has many Orthodox Jewish congregations. It also has a Reform congregation called Kehillat Mevasseret Zion. This Reform congregation was started in 1993.
Population of Mevaseret Zion
As of November 2023, Mevaseret Zion has an estimated population of 25,789 residents. This makes it the 86th largest local authority in Israel. The town's population is growing at a rate of 2.2% each year.
Education in Mevaseret Zion
Mevaseret Zion has several schools for its young people. There are three secular primary schools and two religious primary schools. The town also has one middle school and one high school.
- Secular Primary Schools:
* "HaShalom" School * "Hador Tal'i" School * "Moledet" School
- Religious Primary Schools:
* "Hemdat Ha-shaked" * "Tzlili Noam"
- Middle School:
* "Hayovel Middle School"
- High School:
* "Tichon Har'el"
- Yeshiva:
* "Yeshivat Sha'arei Mevasseret" is a religious school. It includes a kollel, which is for adult Israeli men studying religious texts. It also has a gap year program for students from English-speaking high schools.
Archaeological Discoveries
In 2003, archaeologists found an ancient burial cave in Mevaseret Zion. This cave dates back to the mid-Second Temple period. This period was a long time ago, when the Second Temple stood in Jerusalem.
The ruins of an old medieval building, Khirbet Beit Mizza, are also in Mevaseret Zion. Some experts once thought this was the site of the biblical town of Mozah. Mozah is mentioned in the Book of Joshua. However, newer discoveries show that the biblical Mozah is actually located at a nearby site called Tel Moza.
Sports in Mevaseret Zion
Mevaseret Zion has both a soccer team and a basketball team. Both teams play in lower leagues.
The soccer team is called Hapoel Mevaseret Zion. It plays in Israel's Liga Gimel, which is the 5th league. This team was once combined with a team from an Arab village called Abu Ghosh. This made it the first Israeli team with both Arab and Jewish players. The team has played in international friendly tournaments to promote peace. The team plays at a local soccer field called "Hamigrash Hayarok," which means "the green field" in Hebrew. It can hold about 200 people.
The basketball team, also called Hapoel Mevaseret Zion, plays in Liga Bet. This team plays in the local basketball court, which has seats for 300 people.
Famous People from Mevaseret Zion
Many interesting people have lived in Mevaseret Zion, including:
- Rachel Adato (born 1947), a doctor and politician.
- Dan Bahat (born 1938), an archaeologist who studies ancient history.
- Aharon Appelfeld (1932–2018), a famous writer and Holocaust survivor.
- Itamar Ben Gvir, (born 1976), a politician who was born in Mevaseret Zion.
- Shlomo Bentin (1946–2012), a scientist who studied the brain.
- Charlie Biton (1947–2024), a social activist and former politician.
- Ran Cohen (born 1937), a politician.
- Martin van Creveld (born 1946), a historian who studies military history.
- David Grossman (born 1954), a well-known author.
- Tzachi Hanegbi (born 1957), a politician and expert in national security.
- Mickey Levy (born 1951), a former police officer and politician.
- Josh Reinstein
- Amnon Shashua (born 1960), a computer scientist and businessman.
- Yuval Steinitz (born 1958), a politician.
- Matan Vilnai (born 1944), a military leader and politician.
Sister Cities
Mevaseret Zion has special partnerships with cities in other countries. These are called "sister cities."
White Plains, New York (since 2004)
Sankt Augustin, Germany (since 2001)- Calabasas, California (since 2012)
See also
In Spanish: Mevaseret Sion para niños
