Yavne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yavne
יַבְנֶה
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| Hebrew transcription(s) | ||
| • ISO 259 | Yabne | |
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 Yavne
Location in Central Israel
Yavne
Location in Israel
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| Country |  Israel |
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| District | Central | |
| Founded | 2000 BCE (Canaanite city) 37 BCE (Herodian rule) 7th century Islamic period (Arab village) 1949 (Israeli city) |
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| Area | ||
| • Total | 10,700 dunams (10.7 km2 or 4.1 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2022)
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| • Total | 56,232 | |
Yavne (Hebrew: יַבְנֶה) is a city in the Central District of Israel. In 2022, about 56,232 people lived there.
Modern Yavne was started in 1949. It is built near the old city of Yavne, which was also called Jamnia or Jabneh. This ancient site is now an archaeological area called Tel Yavne. Old Yavne is very important in Jewish history. After the Second Temple was destroyed, wise leaders like Yohanan ben Zakkai helped Jewish life and learning continue there. This time is sometimes called the "Yavne period." The city has also been known for making wine for a very long time.
Contents
What's in a Name?
In many English versions of the Bible, Yavne was called Jabneh. In ancient Greek and Latin, it was known as Jamnia. Later, during the Crusades, the city was called Ibelin. This was the home of a famous family called the House of Ibelin. During the Ottoman and British times, it was known as Yibna. The old part of the city is now the Tel Yavne archaeological site, which is southeast of the modern city.
Yavne's Long History
Ancient Times
Yavne was one of the main ancient cities on the southern coast of Israel. It was located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Jaffa and 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of Ashdod. It was also about 7 kilometers (4 miles) east of the Mediterranean Sea.
Archaeologists have dug up an ancient mound called Tel Yavne. This mound shows that people have lived in the area for a very long time, possibly since the Bronze or Iron Age. Yavne is mentioned in the Bible and other old writings.
Roman Rule
During Roman times, the city was called Iamnia or Jamnia. When King Herod died, he gave the city to his sister, Salome I. After she died, it became property of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus.
Iamnia was important during the First Jewish–Roman War. After the Second Temple was destroyed, Jewish religious life changed a lot in Yavne. Jewish leaders, like Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai, were allowed to settle in Iamnia. They continued to teach and lead the Jewish community there. This helped Judaism recover and grow after the destruction of the Temple.
Crusader Period
The Crusaders renamed the city Ibelin. They built a castle there in 1141. Archaeologists found the main gate of this castle in 2005. They also found 53 Crusader coins from the 12th and 13th centuries.
Muslim Yibna
The Islamic historian al-Baladhuri wrote that Yibna was one of ten towns taken by the Rashidun army in the early 7th century. The Crusaders' church in Ibelin was later turned into a mosque. A tall tower called a minaret was added in 1337. This minaret is still standing today.
Tomb of Abu Huraira/Gamaliel
The Mausoleum of Abu Huraira is a beautiful building with a dome. It was built in the 12th century. Some people believe it is the tomb of Abu Hurairah, a friend of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. However, Abu Hurairah is actually buried in Medina, Saudi Arabia. After 1948, some Mizrahi Jews began to believe it was the burial place of Rabbi Gamaliel of Yavne.
British Mandate Era
In the 1930s, there was a plan to rebuild the old Jewish school (Talmudic academy) in Yavne. In 1941, an agreement was made to set aside land for a yeshiva (a Jewish religious school). In 1948, during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the building was used by the Israeli army because it had a good view of the area.
Modern Yavne is Born
Yavne was officially started in October 1948. It began as a transit camp for Jewish people coming from Arab countries, Iran, and Europe. The first neighborhood was built in early 1949. At first, many people worked as shopkeepers, farmers, or construction workers. By 1970, the population had grown to over 10,000 people.
In 1974, Meir Sheetrit became mayor. He helped Yavne grow into a modern city with new homes for middle-class families. Yavne became an official city in 1986. By the mid-1990s, the population reached 25,600.
Who Lives in Yavne?
Most of the people living in Yavne are Jewish. In March 2021, the city had about 53,595 people. A large number of them are young people. About 37% of the population is between 0 and 19 years old.
Yavne's Economy
Many important companies have offices or factories in Yavne. Some of these include Ormat Industries, Aeronautics Defense Systems, and Orbotech.
In 2019, a company called Merck started a special program in Yavne. They invest in new companies that focus on technology for computer chips and screens. In 2022, Recipharm opened a new facility there. MediWound, another company, makes a special product called NexoBrid in Yavne. This product helps treat severe burns and can save affected body parts.
In 2012, a new "green" neighborhood called "Neot Rabin" was opened in the south of the city.
Sports in Yavne
Maccabi Yavne is the city's main football (soccer) club. In the 1980s, they played in the top league and won the Toto Cup in 1985. The basketball team, Elitzur Yavne, has also played in a high league since 2007.
Omri Casspi, the first Israeli player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), grew up in Yavne and played for some of its local teams.
What Archaeologists Found
Archaeologists have found many interesting things at Tel Yavne.
- In 2005, they found the gate room of the Crusader castle of Ibelin.
- In December 2019, they found many old pottery kilns (ovens for making pottery). They also found 1,200-year-old gold coins hidden in a small pot. One of these coins was made during the time of Caliph Harun al-Rashid.
- In August 2020, archaeologists discovered 425 complete gold coins, mostly from about 1,100 years ago.
- In April 2021, they announced the discovery of a 1,600-year-old colorful mosaic floor. This was the first time a colored mosaic was found in Yavne.
The ancient harbor of Yavne, called Yavne-Yam, has also been found on the coast. It was used from the Middle Bronze Age until the 12th century CE.
Famous People from Yavne
- Omri Casspi (born 1988), a professional basketball player.
- Meir Sheetrit (born 1948), a former Israeli Minister.
- Shlomi Koriat (born 1976), an actor and comedian.
- Ido Nehoshtan, a retired Major-General and former chief of the Israeli Air Force.
Sister Cities
Yavne is connected with other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities":
Le Raincy, France
Speyer, Germany
Sunrise, Florida, United States- East Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Images for kids
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A panoramic view of Yavne.
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The emblem of Yavne.
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The Mamluk minaret in Yavne.
See also
In Spanish: Yavne para niños
