Rehovot is located in the Central District of Israel, just 20 km south of the former capital of Tel Aviv. It was founded by Polish Jews in 1890 as an agricultural commune. It got its name in honor of the deep well dug out by the biblical character Isaac, symbolizing the fertility of the area and the vast expanses that once surrounded the 135 thousandth city.
Foundation of the city
Rehovot in Israel was founded in 1890 by Polish Jews of the first wave of immigrants to the "Holy Land" who fled from pogroms in Tsarist Russia. Refugees bought a wasteland, dug a 23-meter well, the water from which they began to use to irrigate the surrounding lands. As a result, a commune was founded where agricultural products were grown. At an early stage, the settlement consisted of two parallel streets.
In 1904, a large citrus grove was laid, a stable, a packaging factory were built, an irrigation system was established. Water flowed into the irrigation pool through the aqueduct, and from there through the canal system into the fields. This allowed the expansion of vineyards and almond orchards. In 1908, a program for the resettlement of emigrants was launched. The first families from Yemen arrived in Rehovot, and later from Ethiopia.
Today
Many tourists purchasing permits to Israel visit the city on the way to Tel Aviv. Today it is a large industrial and scientific center. New quarters with modern architecture are growing, with a lot of space reserved for landscaping.
A powerful research center of Israel is concentrated here. In Rehovot, there are:
- Waltzman Institute of Sciences with a particle accelerator.
- Country Population Research Center.
- National Institute of Wine.
Economy
Rehovot is home to numerous industrial enterprises, many of which are located away from residential development. An industrial park has been created for their work in the western part of the city. The food industry has traditionally remained the leader in the region’s economy. The most famous brands are Tnuva Dairy, Yafora-Tavori Beverage Factory, and Feldman’s Ice Cream Factory. By the way, in 2013 Rehovot had the highest average net monthly income among households in Israel - 16,800 shekels.
In 2000, the high-tech Science Park Tamar was opened with an area of 1 km 2 . It is adjacent to the old industrial park Kiryat Weizman. Tamar Science Park is the focus of branches of the country's leading high-tech and biotechnology companies.
Demography
Between 1914 and 1991, the population increased from 955 to 81,000, and the area of Rehovot in Israel doubled. Parts of the suburbs were built on land that until 1948 belonged to the village of Zarnuka. Today, the number of inhabitants is approaching 136,000.
As of 2007, Jews dominated the ethnic component (99.8%). The gender composition is as follows: 48% of men and 52% of women, of which:
- 32% aged 19 and under;
- 16% aged 20 to 29 years;
- 18% between 30 and 44 years old;
- 18% - from 45 to 59 years old;
- 16% are over 60 years old.
The population growth rate in recent years has amounted to 1.8%.
In Rehovot (Israel), there are three significant Jewish ethnic minorities: immigrants from the CIS, Yemen and Ethiopia. They are concentrated in the urban areas of Kiryat Moshe and Oshio. A community of English-speaking residents is growing.
Education and culture
In 2004, there were 53 schools in the city: 30 primary and 29 secondary. The level of education is high. It is enough to note that more than 60% of 12th grade graduates graduate from school with a Bagrat certificate (an analogue of gold and silver diplomas).
In addition to the Institute of Science, the city has the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Academic College. There are also several small colleges in Rehovot that provide specialized and technical training for specialists. Kaplan Medical Center acts as an auxiliary training hospital for the Hebrew University School of Medicine.
sights
Buying a ticket to Israel, it is worth stopping by in this original city for a day. The tourist dominant of the city is the house of Abraham Dundikov, one of the founders of the settlement. It rises on a high hill, like a temple. The building is surrounded by a beautiful well-groomed park with lots of greenery, and a path outlined by palm trees and cypresses descends to the city.
Connoisseurs of ethnic culture will certainly be interested in visiting the museum to them. Minkova. It was founded with the assistance of the Swiss descendants of Zalma, whose husband planted the first citrus grove in the city.
Children will feel like adults, and adults will feel like children in the interactive Science Park named after Clor. The collected unique exhibits allow you to learn the nature of various phenomena.
As in any major city, there are clubs, entertainment centers, restaurants and cafes. You can make up for cultural hunger by visiting a theater performance, concert, or dancing.
By the way, when planning a trip, you should pay attention to the weather in Rehovot. The most enjoyable times of the year are spring and autumn. In summer it can be quite hot, and in winter cold winds are not uncommon.