10 Interesting Facts about Tel Aviv, Israel - By: Tomer Harel

The second largest city in Israel, Tel Aviv is situated along the Mediterranean coast. The history behind this rich metropolis is astounding. Originally known as Jaffa, the city dates back to 1470 BC, where an Egyptian pharaoh mentioned it in letters he wrote. It is also mentioned in the Bible, in the book of Jonah, and when referring to Solomon's Temple and the Tribe of Dan. It is believed to have been a port for over 4,000 years. Here are some facts about this interesting Jewish city that is full of intrigue and culture.

1) The name Tel Aviv was given to the city in 1910 after much deliberation. The Book of Ezekiel says, "Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days." Abib or Aviv means "spring" in Hebrew, which symbolizes renewal. Tel describes an archeological site where layer upon layer of civilizations were built over each other.

2) Tel Aviv is located on land north of the original old city of Jaffa, where it was purchased from the Bedouins. Before this time, however, Jaffa had been owned by many countries, with archeological excavations from 1955 - 1974 revealing gates and towers from the Middle Bronze Age.

3) In 1997 and later on, excavations revealed portions of a large brick wall dating back to the Late Bronze Age and a housing complex that dated back to the Iron Age. Remnants from other time periods have also been discovered, including the Pharaonic, Persian and Hellenistic periods.

4) Jaffa finally began to grow as an urban center by the early 18th century. This was shortly after the Ottoman government in Constantinople came in to stop the attack from the pirates and Bedouins and also guard the port. Jaffa began to show tremendous growth in the 19th century, particularly from 1806 to 1886, when the population grew from 2,500 to 17,000 residents.

5) In April of 1909, sixty-six families of Jews set about to barter a portion of the land by lottery, using seashells. Each family's name was written on white shells and the various plot numbers were written on gray shells. Therefore, in this norther section of Jaffa, and what would eventually be Tel Aviv, each family bartered for a plot of land in which to live. The families began to live and work in this area and within one year, many important streets, all sixty-six homes and a water system were constructed.

6) Unfortunately, political friction between the Jews and Arabs in Palestine continued to increase under British administration. Riots began to spring up in Jaffa in May of 1921 and many Jews were killed. Many of the Jews in Jaffa fled to Tel Aviv after this fiasco. Between the years of 1920 and 1925, the population of Tel Aviv increased from 2,000 to 34,000.

7) Tel Aviv became the more popular city for business while Jaffa began to slowly deteriorate as the center of commercialism. In 1925, the city council accepted a mater plan to renovate the city. Between the years of 1927 and 1930, Tel Aviv experienced some growing pains and financial hardship. The city continued to grow however, and the setback soon passed.

8) Many Jews fled to Tel Aviv when the Nazis took over Germany and by 1937, the population of the city was up to 150,000. The population continued to increase, and within two more years time, the population was up to 160,000, comprising a third of Israel's Jewish population.

9) When Israel declared her independence in 1948, Tel Aviv's population had already risen to over 200,000 residents. The city served as a temporary center of political government until it was moved to Jerusalem in 1949. Many foreign embassies have remained in the Tel Aviv area, however, due to the international dispute over Jerusalem's status. The two cities of Tel Aviv and Jaff were officially united in 1950, given the name Tel Aviv-Yafo, thus preserving the historical name of Jaffa.

10) Since that time, Tel Aviv has continued to grow into a more moderate-minded city with the development of nightclubs and cafes. Although Tel Aviv has seen her share of troubles, she continues to grow and provide the world with tourist attractions second to none. In fact, the international tourism of Tel Aviv is often compared to the popular tourist cities of Barcelona and Miami. With more than forty-four hotels in Tel Aviv, the city lives up to its name - the city that never sleeps. It is not difficult to find a hotel in Tel Aviv, considering how many available choices there are.

Tel Aviv is a city with an active nightlife, beauty and culture. in the midst of museums, cultural and architectural sites, bus tours and other activities, tourists never have to worry about what to do next. The city boasts of a huge variety of restaurants, with both international and Israeli cuisine. There are also more than one hundred sushi restaurants in the city. You will experience many things by taking a trip to Tel Aviv, Israel - from relaxation to an exciting nightlife - you will find it all here.

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