Rishon LeZion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rishon LeZion רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן‎
City (from 1950)
Hebrew transcription(s)
• ISO 259	Riˀšon l Ṣiyon
• Translit.	Rishon LeTziyon
• Also spelled	Rishon LeZiyyon (official)
From up to the left: Palm Tree Boulevards, The Superland and Yes Planet, Leader's Park, 'Off the lip' Sculpture, Gold Mall
Flag Coat of arms
Rishon LeZion Location in Central Israel Show map of Central Israel Rishon LeZion Location in Israel Show map of Israel
Country	Israel
District	Central
Founded	1882; 143 years ago (1882)
Area
• Total	61,914.25 dunams (61.91425 km2 or 23.90523 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• Total	249,860
Name meaning	First to Zion

Rishon LeZion (Hebrew: רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן, meaning "First to Zion") is a large city in Israel. It is located on the central Israeli Coastal Plain, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of Tel Aviv. The city is part of the Gush Dan metropolitan area, which is a big group of cities.

Rishon LeZion was started in 1882 by Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire. They were part of the First Aliyah, which was a wave of Jewish people moving to Israel. It was the first Zionist settlement founded in Israel by the New Yishuv and the second Jewish farm settlement in the area during the 1800s. As of 2017, it was the fourth-largest city in Israel.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Rishon LeZion

The name Rishon LeZion comes from a verse in the Tanakh. It means "First to Zion". The verse is from the Book of Isaiah (41:27) and says: "First to Zion are they, and I shall give herald to Jerusalem."

A Journey Through Time: Rishon LeZion's History

Rishon LeZion in the 1890s

Rishon LeZion has a rich history, starting as a small farming village and growing into a major city.

Starting Small: The Ottoman Period (1882–1900)

Rishon LeZion was founded on July 31, 1882. Ten pioneers from Ukraine, led by Zalman David Levontin, started the settlement. They bought 835 acres of land southeast of what is now Tel Aviv. The land had watering holes called ‘Uyūn Qārā.

The first settlers faced many challenges. The soil was sandy, and there wasn't enough water. Also, they didn't have much farming experience. Baron Rothschild helped by bringing in experts. They drilled for water and found it at depths of 20–25 meters.

• Water Discovery and Growth:

On February 23, 1883, the settlers found water in their wells. To celebrate, they put the words "We have found water" (from Genesis 26:32) on the village emblem. More settlers, called Biluim, arrived, and the town slowly grew. In 1883, a blacksmith named Itzhak Leib Toporovski created the first iron plow in the land of Israel.

• The First Flag and Winery:

In 1885, the flag that later became the flag of Israel was raised for the first time. This happened during the village's third anniversary celebration. Baron Edmond James de Rothschild took over supporting the village. He sent experts who helped with farming, especially with citrus fruits and grapes. The Carmel-Mizrahi Winery was started in 1886 with his help.

• Pioneering Hebrew Education:

In 1886, the Haviv elementary school was opened in Rishon LeZion. It was the first modern school to teach only in Hebrew. Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, who was very important in bringing the Hebrew language back to life, taught there. In 1898, the world's first Hebrew kindergarten was also started in Rishon LeZion.

• The Birth of Hatikvah:

Naphtali Herz Imber, a famous Hebrew poet, lived in Rishon LeZion in the late 1880s. He shared his poem, "Tikvahtenu" (Our Hope). In 1887, Shmuel Cohen, a young resident with musical talent, put the poem to music. His music helped the poem spread quickly among Zionist communities. It became the unofficial Zionist National Anthem. In 1933, it was officially named the Hatikvah (The Hope). In 2004, it became the official Israeli National Anthem.

• Village Development:

By 1898, when Theodor Herzl visited, the village had a city park and a water tower. The Rishon LeZion orchestra was also established in 1895.

Growing Up: Village Council and JCA (1900-1922)

In 1900, the village was managed by a local council and the Jewish Colonization Association. David Ben-Gurion, who later became Israel's first Prime Minister, worked in the winery for two months in 1907.

In 1910, a village bell was built. In 1912, the first car appeared in the village! By 1911, many acres of land were planted with grapes and fruit trees.

• A Battle and Women's Rights:

In 1917, a battle between Turkish and New Zealand troops happened nearby. Local citizens helped the wounded. In 1919, women in Rishon LeZion were given voting rights. Nehama Pohatchevsky was elected as the head of the village council, which was the first time a woman held that position.

Residential neighborhood in Rishon LeZion

Under British Rule: The British Mandate

By 1922, Rishon LeZion had 1,396 people, mostly Jewish. By 1931, the population grew to 2,525.

Becoming a City: The State of Israel

Rishon LeZion officially became a city in 1950. At that time, about 18,000 people lived there. By 1983, the population reached 103,000. In 2006, it was 222,300. The city continues to grow, with plans for new housing and industrial areas.

Who Lives in Rishon LeZion? Demographics

Neot Ashalim Park

Rishon LeZion is one of the fastest-growing cities in Israel. It's also one of the youngest cities, with many children and teenagers. About 31.1% of the population are kids and teens, and 61.4% are 40 years old or younger. Many new immigrants have also moved to the city. Most of the city's residents are Jews.

What Does Rishon LeZion Do? Economy

HaZahav shopping mall

Superland amusement park

Today, Rishon LeZion's main industries are wine, construction, services, and commerce (buying and selling goods). The old industrial zone is now a popular place for pubs, dance clubs, and restaurants.

The city has three main shopping malls: the Rothschild Center, Gold Mall (Kenyon HaZahav), and Azrieli Rishonim. Big companies like Coca-Cola and Volvo are also opening offices here. The city is planning to build a desalination plant to produce its own water. It also has a large water recycling plant.

Learning and Fun: Education and Culture

Haviv School, the first all-Hebrew elementary school

Boardwalk (Tayelet Hatnei Pras Nobel) with cenotaphs of Jewish Nobel Prize laureates in Rishon LeZion

Rishon LeZion has many schools: twenty-three elementary schools, nine middle schools, and twelve high schools. The College of Management in Rishon LeZion has 10,000 students.

The city hosts an annual wine festival. The Rishon LeZion Amphitheatre Live Park has hosted famous artists like Sting and Metallica. The city also has a municipal zoo, an amusement park (Superland), and a beach promenade. The Heychal HaTarbut (Hall of Culture) hosts classical concerts and theatre performances. The Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion has performed all over the world.

Rishon LeZion also has beautiful buildings and museums, such as the Rishon LeZion Museum and the Yaakov Agam Museum.

Special Places: Landmarks

Some important landmarks in Rishon LeZion include:

• The history museum.
• The Carmel Winery.
• The Great Synagogue.
• The old water tower.
• Beit Sefer Haviv, the first Hebrew School.

There is also a special memorial called "Open Doors." It's a 7-meter-high sculpture honoring Manuel L. Quezon, a former president of the Philippines, and the Filipinos who saved over 1,200 Jews from Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

A unique place is the Nobel Laureates Boulevard. It has special pedestals for each Jewish Nobel Prize laureate. Each pedestal shows the laureate's name, country, and the prize they won.

Where is Rishon LeZion? Geography

Rishon LeZion is located on the Israeli Coastal Plain, near the Mediterranean Sea. It gets most of its rain between October and March.

Exploring Rishon LeZion: Neighborhoods

Gan Rishon

Old water tower

Rishon LeZion has four main areas: the old city, the eastern housing projects, the northern industrial zone, and Western Rishon LeZion. There's also an industrial zone in the south.

• Old City: This part includes the original neighborhoods, with some buildings from when Rishon was founded in 1881. It's in the city center.
• Eastern Housing Projects (Shikunei HaMizrah): This area expanded quickly to the east.
• Old Industrial Zone: Once filled with factories, this northern zone is now famous for its lively nightlife.
• West Rishon: These are the newer neighborhoods built in the 1980s and 90s. This area is more valuable because it's closer to the Mediterranean Sea.

Game On! Sports in Rishon LeZion

Rishon LeZion beach

Rishon LeZion is well-known for its success in handball and chess.

• Handball: The Hapoel Rishon LeZion and Maccabi Rishon LeZion teams are very strong in the handball league. They have won many championships. The Amit Amal high school handball team has even won the world championship several times!

• Chess: The Rishon LeZion Chess Club, started in 1939, is one of Israel's top clubs. Famous chess players like Boris Alterman play for Rishon. Even former world champion Garry Kasparov was once a member.

• Football (Soccer): Hapoel Rishon LeZion is the main football club. They play in the second-highest league in Israel. The main football stadium is the 6,000-seat Haberfeld Stadium.

Haberfeld Stadium

• Basketball: The Maccabi Rishon LeZion basketball team plays in the top league. They even won the league championship in the 2015–16 season!

The city also has a new 3,000-seat Athletics Municipal Stadium, built for international athletics competitions.

Getting Around: Transportation

Rishon LeZion Moshe Dayan railway station

Gan Habaron

You can reach Rishon LeZion by major highways. Public transportation includes buses, trains, and shared taxis.

• Train Travel:

The Rishon LeZion HaRishonim Railway Station is in the south of the city. You can take direct trains from here to Tel Aviv and other cities. The Rishon LeZion Moshe Dayan Railway Station is in the western part of the city. It's on a new train line that connects to Tel Aviv and other areas. There are plans to connect these two stations in the future. New light rail and metro lines for Tel Aviv are also planned to run through Rishon LeZion.

• Bus Travel:

Several bus companies serve Rishon LeZion, connecting it to nearby cities like Bat Yam, Holon, and Tel Aviv. The city also has its own bus network. Shared taxis also help people get around.

Famous Faces: Notable People

Yaacov Agam

Eran Zehavi

Many talented people have come from Rishon LeZion, including:

• Yaacov Agam (born 1928), a famous sculptor and artist.
• Linoy Ashram (born 1999), an Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics.
• Shmuel Cohen (1870–1940), who composed the music for the Israeli National Anthem, the Hatikvah.
• Artem Dolgopyat (born 1997), an Olympic and world champion gymnast.
• Boris Gelfand (born 1968), a chess grandmaster.
• Peter Paltchik (born 1992), an Olympic and European champion judoka.
• Eran Zahavi (born 1987), an international football (soccer) player.

Friends Around the World: International Relations

Rishon LeZion is "twinned" with many cities around the world. This means they have special friendly relationships and often share culture and ideas.

During the Gulf War in 1991, the mayor of Münster, Germany, visited Rishon LeZion. He wanted to show support for his sister city while it was being attacked.

In 2009, a memorial was built in Rishon LeZion. It honors the 10,000 German and Austrian Jews who found safety in the Philippines during the Holocaust.

Images for kids

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  Rishon LeZion in 1937

• 

  Rishon LeZion 1929 1:20,000

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  Rishon LeZion 1945 1:250,000

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  Rishon LeZion 1937

See also

In Spanish: Rishon LeZion para niños