Petah Tikva is a beautiful city. Accommodation options in Petah Tikva. Distances between cities
There are cities whose character you do not immediately understand; to understand such a city, to feel its pulse and breath, to understand how it lives and what it dreams of, it is not enough to open the pages of a guidebook or reference book, it is not enough even to take a tour of its sights or old streets. And there are cities with a bright and strong, progressive character of young fire, striving for the heights, overcoming obstacles and illuminating the path with hope for those who follow it.
Petah Tikva (translated from Hebrew as Gate of Hope), a city located in the center of the country, a little east of Tel Aviv, in the Sharon Valley, is one of such bright cities, which throughout the history of its existence has accumulated vast experience in overcoming insurmountable obstacles. and seasoned in the fight against all kinds of difficulties. Petah Tikva appeared on the map in 1939, receiving city status, nine years before the founding of the State of Israel. Until this moment, on the map the settlement was called not Petah Tikva, but Em a Moshavot, which translates as Mother of Settlements. Founded by several religious leaders as a settlement for agricultural activities, Petah Tikva faced the problem of draining swamps, crop failure, attacks by Arab gangs and a malaria epidemic. However, cities and villages are made by the people who live in them, and the hope living in the hearts of the founders made them move forward without stopping, as a result of which the Zionist society Hovivei Zion joined them.
Having turned to Baron E. de Rodschild for help, the settlers received his full assistance and assistance, as a result of which the swamps were drained and the productivity of the land increased significantly. It was in Petah Tikva that the first self-defense detachment in the history of the Israeli people was organized, led by A. Shapira, which successfully repelled the attack of an Arab gang, losing four of its fighters. It was here that the central headquarters of the Israeli Haganah (Defense) was located for a long time.
By the way, Petah Tikva has primacy not only in organizing defense, but also in social movements. The labor movements that formed here laid the foundations for the current parties Hapoel HaTzair and Ihud HaAvoda.
The fiery and persistent character of the city has not changed in our time, as proof of this, in October 2013, in preparation for the municipal elections, the “Beyahad” list (translated as “Together”) was presented, which became an absolute surprise for all the current political forces of the city ( and not only). This is the first time that in one of the largest cities of the country, in a few months, a new political force emerged, starting from “complete zero,” and at the same time emerged as a confident leader, based on the results of the election campaign. Representatives of the list of candidates held an election conference in the Tel Aviv Amphitheater, which was attended by more than one and a half thousand residents of Petah Tikva, presenting their voters with a rather categorical and tough program, which, in principle, corresponds to the character of the city and its residents.
In fairness, it should be noted that the city of Petah Tikva, unlike most cities in Israel, cannot boast of a variety of historical, archaeological or religious attractions of world significance. The streets of Petah Tikva are quite modern in nature, and the city, thanks to its constant renewal and constant striving forward, is constantly changing, acquiring more and more new multi-storey buildings, changing its appearance beyond recognition. Nevertheless, the townspeople have something to brag about.
Jabotinsky Street is included in the Guinness Book of Records as uniting four cities (Petah Tikva with Bnei Brak, Ramat Gann and Tel Aviv). Constantly running in accordance with, provide residents and guests of Petah Tikva with continuous communication both within the city and beyond, with neighboring cities and settlements. Another of the city’s famous attractions is the creation of a master of modern architecture, the Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, a master of string bridges, who donated his amazing, airy creation to the city in 2006. The bridge, made in the shape of the English letter Y, rests its base on the Beilinson hospital complex, throwing its central span across Jabotinsky Street, with one of its “horns” leaning against the New City Park, and the other, stretching towards the Grand Canyon shopping center. Supported by 31 strings, the cable-stayed bridge creates a feeling of weightlessness and airiness, significantly reducing the time it takes to move from one object to another. The photo of the bridge in Petah Tikva is recognizable and is its identifiable sign.
Another source of pride for the townspeople is the well-equipped stadium, which hosts matches of the local football club Hapoel, as well as other competitions and events. We must pay tribute to the merits of the municipality and the townspeople; in Petah Tikva, much attention is paid to developing interest among the younger generation in sports and other types of cultural pastime. The city has a lot of playgrounds and sports playgrounds, entertaining and educational clubs and studios for children and teenagers, a community center and a theater.
Oddly enough, the main glory of Petah Tikva among Israelis is deserved by its large selection and relatively good working conditions for specialists. Not exorbitant prices for, in comparison with neighboring Tel Aviv, both for sale and for houses, make the city attractive for young active people who want to work and develop.
Tourists who want to stay in the center of the country, receiving all the benefits of the always awake Tel Aviv, or the green Raman Gan, and at the same time reduce their costs as much as possible, will be pleasantly surprised by the offers that hospitably welcome their tourists. Since these cities are located as close as possible to each other, those who choose Petah Tikva as their location do not feel any difference in travel time or travel time, enjoying additional cost savings amid the extensive entertainment programs offered by nearby cities.
Petah Tikva. Israel
In April 2014, I visited Israel for the first time. Our family was invited to the wedding. At the same time, of course, I wanted to get acquainted and see the sights of the country. And in Israel there is something to see! I had no idea how many interesting places there are!
The first acquaintance was from the airport. Ben-Gurion (named (or rather renamed) in honor of the first Prime Minister of Israel.
Ben Gurion is an international airport, it is also called the main gate of Israel and the safest in the world. The building is cozy; upon exiting through the window you could see a colorful pano-bed of stones.
We arrived at night and were met by relatives. The road to Petah Tikva from the airport was perfectly lit. The well-groomed flower beds with palm trees, flowers (snapdragons) and white pebbles laid out around the palm trees immediately caught my eye. There are numerous bougainvillea bushes along the road.
As I was told, Petah Tikva is the sixth largest city in Israel, it is located about 10 km from Tel Aviv.
At the entrance to the city we passed under an interesting bridge. Then I found out - this cable-stayed bridge, which was built according to Calatrava’s design. It somehow reminded me of the single-pillar cable-stayed Moscow Bridge in my native city of Kyiv, but there it is a motor bridge. This one is pedestrian. It looks interesting, as if floating in the air. A similar bridge, called the “Harp of David,” was later seen in Jerusalem.
photo from the Internet
When traveling to Tel Aviv by public transport, I constantly heard the name of the stop - Jabotinsky. As it turned out, this street connects the 4 cities of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak and Petah Tikva. She is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
Zeev Jabotinsky, aka Wolf Evnovich Jabotinsky, was born in Odessa in 1880. Then he moved to Germany, received his higher education in Rome, after the war he settled in Palestine, and died in New York (but his grave is in Israel).
He was a writer, poet, journalist. Known as the leader of right-wing Zionism. He was the founder of the Jewish Legion.
Jabotinsky Street begins near the Arch of Baron Rothschild. Initially, the arch was the entrance to the city. Today the city has grown and the Arch is located near the city center.
As for the history of the city.
As tour guide Slava Spektor from the Anlantis travel agency said (we must pay tribute to his professionalism), this was the first Jewish agricultural settlement in modern times. Founded in 1878 by a group of religious Jews from Jerusalem - I. Salomon, I. Stampfer, I. Raab and D. Gutman and others. It was a swampy area, and it was this site that was bought from the Greek.
The village was organized in 1878 on the banks of the Yarkon River near Jerusalem. This proximity played a positive role when it was necessary to prove to the Turkish authorities, who dominated the region, the legality of the new buildings. (quote from an article on some website?....) .
Jericho was then at least 1000 years old. The city was an impregnable fortress. It was surrounded by a wall. Rahab's house (some say (translate) that there was a harlot, others that she ran an inn (lodging for the night)) was not far from the gates of the city and in the wall of the city (the window overlooked the city). Joshua sent two of his men to explore the Promised Land. They came to Jericho and stopped for the night at Rahab's house. She risked her own life. She told them that the God of Israel is the only “God in heaven above and on earth below.” At this time, the king of Jericho learned about their arrival and purpose. Why were soldiers sent to look for them? Rahab hid them. When they came to her from the king, she said: yes, they were in the house, but they left at dusk. She also added that if the soldiers hurry, they will be able to catch up with them. The soldiers gave chase. She let them out through the window and they went down the red rope. Because she did not give them up, she asked for the lives of her and her relatives to be spared. There was a certain condition between them. (It is mentioned in detail in the book of the prophet - for those interested, see:
The identifying mark was a red rope that she had to hang on the window so that the soldiers would know which house not to touch. After the fall of the city, she and her family were left untouched.
Here's the story....
Excellent comfortable buses were provided. We were first taken from all surrounding cities to Tel Aviv, and then the groups were reorganized depending on the chosen excursion. At the same time, everything is very clear and organized. The cost of one excursion is 150-170 shekels per person (excursions are usually from 7-00 to 18-19-00)
Shabbat (starts after 15-00 on Friday and lasts until Saturday evening (until the sun sets). Everyone stops working at this time. At this time you can get around by taxi.
A new beautiful and modern stadium "Ha-Moshava" has been built in the city (saw while driving past). It was built in 2011. The Maccabi and Hapoel teams train there. The taxi driver who was driving us from Tel Aviv said that he was a fan of the local Maccabi team.
photo from the Internet
We were in the city for a short time. We went on excursions to other historical places, so we weren’t able to see the city itself in full.
Basically, I was in the old part of the city, on the central square, where there is a monument to the founders of the city - I. Salomon, I. Stampfer, I. Raab and D. Gutman.
Elderly people were relaxing in the square, near the fountain. (It should be noted that the elderly in Israel are treated very well. Many times a day, for about 2 hours (I don’t know exactly), a social worker comes to help the elderly: he takes them outside for a walk, he can cook eat, etc.). The city has many different devices for the movement of people with disabilities.
I walked along the central street of Haym Lakes.
near city hall
For convenience, there are benches on which you can relax. The author of the shops is probably a fan of Gaudi's work (I also really like him, he is an unsurpassed genius). These benches are part of the famous Park Guell in Spain (long, curved in the shape of a sea serpent, benches decorated with a collage of shards of ceramics and broken glass).
In the city they look very interesting and enliven the street.
And this photo is from the Internet
The waste bins are also lined with ceramic tiles.
I also saw red telephone booths (like in London).
photo from the Internet
Unusual monument on the street. Haym Ozer;
on the other side there is an inscription.
(photo from the Internet)
I walked along other streets: Etsel, Karmeli, Achad Haam, Fytfn, Tsn Ganim, Mahane Eyhoda and others (I don’t remember all the names). At the crossroads-circles, as a rule, there are some kind of monuments, both to the heroes of the liberators, and just some modern, sometimes bizarre ones.
And these are modern sculptures in flower beds
mini park with fountains
Metal figurines
some unusual stone.
This is the local theater building
There are many cafes in the center where you can eat. My attention was attracted by a sign from a cartoon I adored, directed by Eduard Nazarov, based on the Ukrainian folk tale “Sirko” - “Once upon a time there was a dog.”
I didn’t have time to explore the new areas of the city (I only saw it from the car window), but I liked what I saw.
The city has a famous market where people from all surrounding areas come to shop. At the beginning of April I ate strawberries. (I don’t want to offend the locals, but these are not the same strawberries that grow in Ukraine. The taste and aroma are different, but not surprising, since, as I was told, they are organic). Corn and watermelons were sold at the same time!! This was very unusual for me. I liked the taste. We were treated to passion fruit (also known as passionflower) - a very interesting taste. The center of the fruit resembles agrus and has a pleasant aroma of wild strawberries.
In general, it’s a pretty cozy city; pleasant, smiling and helpful people, many Russian speakers. (Many of those who came in 80-90 from the former Union). For Russian speakers, there are no problems for independent movement around the city, as well as around the country. If, for example, the minibus driver does not speak Russian, then one of the passengers will definitely come to the rescue. Many people also understand English. It’s the same on the streets, if the person you’re talking to doesn’t speak Russian, then he’ll almost lead you by the hand to someone who will help you...
I received great pleasure from walking around the city and a positive charge of energy, which I brought home to Ukraine. It's a pity that I couldn't see everything. But unfortunately you won’t see everything in one day.
To be continued.
As for the history of the city.
As tour guide Slava Spektor from the Anlantis travel agency said (we must pay tribute to his professionalism), this was the first Jewish agricultural settlement in modern times. Founded in 1878 by a group of religious Jews from Jerusalem - I. Salomon, I. Stampfer, I. Raab and D. Gutman and others. It was a swampy area, and it was this site that was bought from the Greek.
The village (the future Petah Tikva) was organized in 1878 on the banks of the Yarkon River near Jerusalem. This proximity played a positive role when it was necessary to prove to the Turkish authorities, who dominated the region, the legality of the new buildings. (quote from an article on some website?....) .
Rothschild helped the first settlers drain the swamp. Gradually the settlement grew and developed. Rothschild also helped other cities and towns, which is why streets in many Israeli cities are named after him.
In 1937, the settlement received the status of a city and began to be called Petah Tikva, which translated means “gate of hope.”
As indicated on Wikipedia The name Petah Tikva - “gate of hope” translated from Hebrew - is taken from the book of the prophet Hoshea (Hosea) (2:17).
The guide Slava told... we are talking about how the city of Jericho was taken.
Jericho was then at least 1000 years old. The city was an impregnable fortress. It was surrounded by a wall. Rahab's house (some say (translate) that there was a harlot, others that she ran an inn (lodging for the night)) was not far from the gates of the city and in the wall of the city (the window overlooked the city). Joshua sent two of his men to explore the Promised Land. They came to Jericho and stopped for the night at Rahab's house. She risked her own life. She told them that the God of Israel is the only “God in heaven above and on earth below.” At this time, the king of Jericho learned about their arrival and purpose. Why were soldiers sent to look for them? Rahab hid them. When they came to her from the king, she said: yes, they were in the house, but they left at dusk. She also added that if the soldiers hurry, they will be able to catch up with them. The soldiers gave chase. She let them out through the window and they went down the red rope. Because she did not give them up, she asked for the lives of her and her relatives to be spared. There was a certain condition between them. (It is mentioned in detail in the book of the prophet - for those interested, see: razlib.ru/religiovedenie/novy...) The identifying mark was a red rope that she had to hang on the window so that the soldiers would know which house not to touch. After the fall of the city, she and her family were left untouched.
The city of Jericho was not taken in one day. In order for the walls to collapse, everyone who could walked around the city for six days once a day and seven priests carried the seven jubilee tubes in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, while no one was allowed to speak. And on the seventh day they walked around him seven times, while the priests blew trumpets. Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has delivered the city to you!...” And as soon as the people heard the voice of the trumpet, the people shouted with a loud voice; and the wall of the city fell down... and they took the city.”
A phraseological unit (expression) appeared - a voice like the trumpet of Jericho. The “Trumpet of Jericho” is now called a voice that is terribly loud in strength and unpleasant in tone.
"... the word in verse 18 (Josh. 2:18 - note by V.N.), translated as rope - in the expression "scarlet rope" - this word is the same as hope - tikvah in Hebrew."
Here's the story....
From Petah Tikva we booked several excursions. I would like to note that this area is very clearly established.
Excellent comfortable buses were provided. We were first taken from all surrounding cities to Tel Aviv, and then the groups were reorganized depending on the chosen excursion. At the same time, everything is very clear and organized.
I wanted to book an excursion - Jerusalem - three religions and also really dreamed of going to the Bahai Gardens. And there is the same visiting schedule (Wednesday and Sunday) (On other days - an excursion including a visit to the Bahai Gardens - top and bottom views!?! and therefore check not only which excursion, but also what this or that excursion includes.) The problem was that that we were already leaving on Wednesday. But before I had time to get upset, I was given the same excursions in another company and on another day. And I was able to get where I wanted.
People are treated very carefully.
Therefore, I would like to thank the employees of Rondo) Ours, Petah-Tikva st. Pinsker, 12.
From Petah Tikva you can take public transport or a minibus to Tel Aviv from st. Haym Ozer. Travel from 8 to 11.50 shekels. (You can rent a holiday apartment. It’s cheaper than in Tel Aviv). Yes, it’s also interesting that at different times of the day the cost of transport is different. In the evening (after 18-00), and on holidays there is a double rate.
Shabbat (starts after 15-00 on Friday and lasts until Saturday evening (until the sun sets). During this time, you can travel by taxi. All shops also stop working.
The city has a wonderful medical center, famous for its good specialists. Rabin ("Belinson").
In the modern city of Petah Tikva, active construction of new beautiful houses is underway. Moreover, before the construction has been completed, plastic pipes are already laid near the house (for drip irrigation) and plants are planted (bushes, trees, flowers).
A new beautiful and modern stadium "Ha-Moshava" has been built in the city (saw while driving past). It was built in 2011. The Maccabi and Hapoel teams train there. The taxi driver who drove us from Tel Aviv knows about Dynamo from Kyiv, but said that he is a fan of the local Maccabi team.
There are many sports grounds in the city with exercise equipment where you can exercise if you wish.
photo from the Internet
We were in the city for a short time. We went on excursions to other historical places. (excursions are usually from 7-00 to 18-19-00), so the city itself was not completely possible to see.
On one of my free days, I walked along the streets.
The old part of the city was built mainly in the 50s. The houses are all on stilts (typical so-called “Khrushchev” buildings. After the second wave of repatriates, it was necessary to quickly build housing.) . The distance between houses is very small. New houses are not built as densely. But in old areas, despite the crowded conditions, there are also advantages. There are a lot of green spaces everywhere, there is no fuss. And due to this, a cozy atmosphere is created. There are many small, I would say, mini-parks with playgrounds for children.
Basically, I was in the old part of the city, on the central square, where there is a monument to the founders of the city - I. Salomon, I. Stampfer, I. Raab and D. Gutman. Elderly people were relaxing in the square near the fountain. (It should be noted that the elderly in Israel are treated very well. Many times a day, for about 2 hours (I don’t know exactly), a social worker comes to help the elderly: he takes them outside for a walk, he can cook eat, etc.). The city has many different devices for the movement of people with disabilities.
I walked along the central street of Haym Lakes. For convenience, there are benches on which you can relax. The author of the shops is probably a fan of Gaudi's work (I also really like him, he is an unsurpassed genius). These benches are part of the famous Park Guell in Spain (long, curved in the shape of a sea serpent, benches decorated with a collage of shards of ceramics and broken glass). In the city they look very interesting and enliven the street. The waste bins are also lined with ceramic tiles. I also saw red telephone booths (like in London).
st. Haym Ozer.
fountain on the street Haym Ozer.
Benches on the street Haym Ozer.
photo from the Internet
photo from the Internet
st. Haym Ozer, not far from the city hall.
monument on the street Haym Ozer; on the other side there is an inscription.
Then I learned that an excerpt from a poem by Yoram Tarlev was written on the pedestal:
Between light and darkness Solomon grew bird wings (translation)
(photo from the Internet)
(photo from the Internet)
I walked along other streets: Etsel, Karmeli, Achad Haam, Fytfn, Tsn Ganim, Mahane Eyhoda and others (I don’t remember all the names). At the crossroads-circles, as a rule, there are some kind of monuments, both to the heroes of the liberators, and just some modern, sometimes bizarre ones.
Lehi was a Jewish underground organization that operated against the British Mandate of Palestine from 1940 until the founding of the State of Israel in 1948.
(photo from the Internet)
There are many such boxes around the city for collecting plastic bottles.
Theater
There are well-groomed flower beds and trees everywhere. In abandoned areas where there are old dilapidated houses (I didn’t see many of them) and which are put up for sale, field poppies and yellow “chamomile” and trees with oranges grow.
Lots of palm trees, agaves, cacti, amazing bougainvillea of all kinds of colors. Snapdragons, lobelia, lobularia, viola, petunia, and marigolds (also known as blackbrows) look great in flower beds. Hedges are planted around the houses - bushes of hibiscus, lantana, carissa largefruited, campsis, callistemon and many others that I do not know (yet). Stunningly flowering trees - albizia and others. But I will write about this separately.
There are many cafes in the center where you can eat. My attention was attracted by a sign from a cartoon I adored, directed by Eduard Nazarov, based on the Ukrainian folk tale “Sirko” - “Once upon a time there was a dog.”
And as it turned out, this is the Ukrainian cuisine restaurant “Korchma” on the street. Shtampfera, 28.
Being Ukrainian, I couldn’t pass by. And I didn’t regret it! The restaurant is small, decorated in Ukrainian style, very cozy. I enjoyed having lunch there. I liked the branded “Prague knees”. Delicious. The atmosphere is warm, excellent service. I recommend to everyone.
I didn’t have time to explore the new areas of the city (I only saw it from the car window), but I liked what I saw. Quite a cozy city, pleasant, smiling and helpful people, many Russian speakers. (Many of those who came in 80-90 from the former Union). For Russian speakers, there are no problems for independent movement around the city, as well as around the country. If, for example, the minibus driver does not speak Russian, then one of the passengers will definitely come to the rescue. Many people also understand English. It’s the same on the streets, if the person you’re talking to doesn’t speak Russian, then he’ll almost lead you by the hand to someone who will help you...
There are not many historical places in the city, but, as I later found out, the city has the iconic Tel Mulabis mound (excavations are currently underway there), Antipatris Castle (13th century). Trade routes passed through this territory. The city also has interesting museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Israeli Art, parks, and a small zoo.
But unfortunately you won’t see everything in one day.
The city has a famous market where people from all surrounding areas come to shop. At the beginning of April I ate strawberries. (I don’t want to offend the locals, but these are not the same strawberries that grow in Ukraine. The taste and aroma are different, but not surprising, since, as I was told, they are organic). Corn and watermelons were sold at the same time!! This was very unusual for me. I liked the taste. We were treated to passion fruit (also known as passionflower) - a very interesting taste. The center of the fruit resembles agrus and has a pleasant aroma of wild strawberries.
In Israel, everyone eats hummus. Hummus is a paste that is prepared from boiled yellow peas with the addition of olive oil, lemon juice and sesame paste and all kinds of seasonings to taste. Then they can add various foods - roasted red peppers, garlic, fried onions, roasted tomatoes, pine nuts, pumpkin puree, feta cheese, etc.
Shawarma, which is familiar to us, is called “shwarma”. The portions are larger and are usually made from turkey meat. Costs from 40 to 45 shekels.
In general, we must pay tribute to these hardworking people. Practically in the desert (and there used to be sand and swamp everywhere) they will receive several harvests a year. And this with limited water resources! Wheat is even exported. They grow almost everything themselves. (The only thing that doesn’t grow, if I’m not mistaken, is cherries and something else).
I received great pleasure from walking around the city and a positive charge of energy, which I brought home to Ukraine.
I'm glad I visited this wonderful city. I am attaching my photographs.
Galina. (Ukraine, suburb of Kyiv, Bucha).
To be continued.
👁 Do we book the hotel through booking as always? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 for a huge percentage of hotels - we pay!) I have been practicing Rumguru for a long time, it’s really more profitable 💰💰 than Booking.
👁 Do you know? 🐒 this is the evolution of city excursions. The VIP guide is a city dweller, he will show you the most unusual places and tell you urban legends, I tried it, it’s fire 🚀! Prices from 600 rub. - they will definitely please you 🤑
👁 The best search engine on the Runet - Yandex ❤ has started selling air tickets! 🤷
And of course, much older Modiina .
The agricultural settlement of Petah Tikva was founded in 1878 by a group of religious Jews from Jerusalem, on a plot of 300 hectares. on the banks of the Yarkon River 13 km. from the sea coast. In 1883, due to the danger of malaria, the settlement was moved slightly further from the shore of the Yarkon. At that time, the settlement had 66 residents and 10 houses.
But things in the settlement were not going well and the administration of Baron E. de Rothschild took over the management and assistance to the settlers. The swamps were drained. One of the ways to drain the swamps was to plant eucalyptus trees, and to this day in the old part of the city there are huge eucalyptus trees that proudly rise above 9-12 storey buildings. Agriculture was established and began to generate income. And the townspeople subsequently built an arch in honor of Baron E. de Rothschild, which is located in the very center of Petah Tikva on Rothschild Street.
Of course, then, surrounded by one- and two-story buildings, the arch looked quite impressive, but now, against the backdrop of a twenty-story building, it doesn’t look very impressive.
The population of Petah Tikva grew steadily: in 1901 - 800 people, in 1913 - 3,000, in 1928 - 6,500, in 1938 - 20,000. In 1938, Petah Tikva received city status. At the same time, the first industrial enterprises were created, naturally for the processing and canning of fruits.
Now Petah Tikva is a large modern city with a population of 200,000 and the second (after Haifa) industry.
Petah Tikva is 10 km away. from Tel Aviv and is bounded by three of the main highways: Highway 4 in the west, Trans-Samaria Highway No. 5 in the north and Highway No. 40 in the east, by which the city is directly connected to the international airport Ben Gurion and further from Be'er Sheva. A few kilometers to the east passes the Trans-Israeli Highway No. 6. The area of the city is 38 square meters. km.
There are still several blocks left in the city almost untouched from the beginning of the last century. Unprepossessing one- and two-story houses. Obviously not rich. It is not for nothing that the first workers’ club in Israel was opened here in 1911, and then a health insurance fund was created, and the workers’ party “Tnua Le-Ahdut Ha-Avoda”, now known simply as Avodah .
In general, the city center is densely built up with houses from the 50s - 70s, with small inclusions of earlier and later buildings. It all looked rather unsightly. But recently (for about ten years now) Petah Tikva has actively taken up improving the appearance of the city. The central streets are gradually being put in order, which of course creates a lot of problems for transport and, naturally, it’s good for residents that it’s temporary (for a year and a half).
Infill development continues in the city center, and since in the last few years residential buildings have been built mainly multi-storey (20 floors and above), a “pencil” sticking out among 2-3 storey buildings does not look very appropriate.
Perhaps the calculation is that in 10 - 15 years all dilapidated buildings will be demolished. In principle, grandiose plans for a complete restructuring of the center exist. But will they come true?
The new quarters of Petah Tikva look completely different, especially those built in the new century. Now it seems that the Israelis all of a sudden discovered Petah Tikva as an attractive and convenient city.
In the five years from 2003 to 2008, the population grew by 12.5%, much higher than the average growth rate for Israel. And, for example, in 2008, 1,250 new apartments were sold, which is a lot for a city with 200,000 inhabitants. We can say that the city is experiencing the same construction boom as it was in the 90s of the last century. Ashdod and for the same reasons (work, apartment prices). And in terms of housing prices, Petah Tikva has already left Ashdod far behind.
It seems to me that such rapid construction will end with soaring housing prices and a transport collapse, and then the whole boom will slowly fade away (as in Ashdod). But prices are unlikely to drop to their previous level.
But let's return to the new quarters of Petah Tikva.
The new quarters look great. Diverse architecture, thoughtfulness even in the smallest details. And new approaches. For example, a kind of park that stretches behind the houses along the streets. And the park has a large amount of greenery and even a flowing pond. It may not be big, but with frogs, fish and everything that a decent pond should have.
But, in my opinion, a very important but. In the new areas there is a complete lack of infrastructure. And I'm afraid it is not even provided for in the project. You can walk several blocks and not see no one store or cafe or falafel shop.
It seems that the new neighborhoods were built with one purpose - to come home, eat, sleep and go to work. But it's boring. However, let's hope I'm wrong.
In general, if we don’t talk about this small drawback, the new quarters of Petah Tikva are a very good place to live.
Petah Tikva probably has the highest number of doctors and hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants in Israel.
Of course, the city has reception centers and clinics for all health insurance companies. But in addition, there are six hospitals in Petah Tikva.
Medical complex them. Rabin(Beilinson), which includes the Beilinson Medical Center and the Davidof Cancer Center. The complex includes a psychiatric hospital, Schneider Children's Teaching Hospital and a medical research center Tel Aviv University .
Also in Petah Tikva there is Sharon Hospital and Beit Rivka Hospital, a geriatric center. And the pediatric center is the largest and most modern of the children's hospitals in the Middle East. Of course, there are also several private hospitals.
The convenient location of the city allows you to quickly get to any city in the center or north of the country, with which there is regular bus service. And in Tel Aviv from Petah Tikva you can get there along Z. Jabotinsky Street. First, moving along this street, you will cross Bnei Brak (a city smaller than Petah Tikva), then Ramat Gan (a city the same as Petah Tikva), and in Tel Aviv Z. Jabotinsky Street will turn into Menachem Begin, which is correct not only geographically, but also politically.
And a few words about public transport. City transport has dozens of
Located in the very center of the country, northeast of Tel Aviv. “Petah Tikva” is translated as “Opening of Hope.” Today the city has a population of about 200 thousand. Where did this city name come from? The city was named by its founder back in 1878, according to the writings of the ancient prophecy of Hosea.
The emblem of Petah Tikva in Israel, which was designed by Yitzhak Goldenhirsh, the city's pioneer and founder, depicts a plow, a symbol of the agricultural settlement. The field depicted on the city’s emblem is a symbol of the drained swamps in the area of the Yarkon River and the cultivation of the land. The city's orange tree is a symbol of citrus production in Petah Tikva in Israel, which began with the planting of the very first orange tree by Rabbi Leib Frumkinsky.
The city was founded at the end of the 19th century. From the very beginning of the city's foundation, it was an agricultural settlement located in Ottoman Palestine. But today the city of Petah Tikva is one of the most densely populated areas of Israel.
The history of the city is very interesting. First, land for the settlement was purchased in the Achor gorge, near Jericho. But the Turkish Sultan banned the settlement and canceled the land purchase deal. However, the name Petah Tikva of the future city of Israel - the Discovery of Hope - was preserved as a symbol of man's highest aspirations.
But the settlers were not afraid and did not give up on their goal - they bought a small plot of land near the village of Mullabiz, at the very beginning of the Yarkon River. Permission from the Sultan to settle these lands was received only because they were located in the zone of malarial swamps. And the settlers evacuated from this territory, they founded the city of Yehud near the Arab village of Yehudiya. They drained the swamps, making the land suitable for settlement and agriculture, this was done with the support of Baron Rothschild.
At the beginning of the last century, in 1911, a club for workers was first opened in Petah Tikva in Israel, and a couple of years later the first block in the city was built. Today this quarter is the oldest in the city. After the end of World War II, the city became the center of the resurrection of Zionism. It was from Petah Tikva in Israel that many future politicians and leaders of cities and towns in the country emerged. It should be added that Israel printed its own currency in Pita Tikva, as well as its own postage stamps. The settlement received city status only in 1937. It was from this year that industry, healthcare, and other sectors began to develop.
Since 1948, Israel has become an independent power, and industrial growth in the city of Pitah Tikva has accelerated. New industrial enterprises began to be created - chemical, engineering, light and food industries.
Today, the standard of living in Israel in Pita Tikva is much higher than the national average. And the level of education is at the highest level. After all, the city’s education system has a traditionally high level of education.
Of the 200 thousand people in the city of Pitah Tikva in Israel, 30 thousand are repatriates who entered the country in the 90s of the last century. The city of Pitah Tikva is a young city, because 70% of its population consists of people who are no more than 45 years old.
The city is still actively being built; from 2.5 to 4 thousand apartments are commissioned annually. Moreover, prices for modern housing are quite reasonable. Therefore, the city attracts more and more people, young families, both Israelis and repatriates. In the city of Petah Tikva in Israel, there are no problems with work, as it is a city with a developed industry. Today, in three industrial zones of Petah Tikva, there are 2.5 thousand enterprises of various profiles, 2 thousand small businesses - the sphere of trade and services, and the provision of services. Not long ago, the construction of a scientific village was completed in the city. The city is home to one of the largest Israeli hospitals in the country, Beilinson, as well as other medical centers.
The high level of education in the city is traditionally confirmed by the presence of a large number of kindergartens, schools and other educational institutions. Thus, in the city there are more than 150 kindergartens, 32 primary schools, more than 10 intermediate schools, 10 secondary schools, and there are also religious kindergartens and schools. The city of Pitah Tikva pays a lot of attention to disabled children - there are quite a few specialized centers for disabled children and children with various developmental defects. Municipal authorities are investing huge amounts of money in the development of experimental pedagogical programs and new teaching methods. The cultural life in Petah Tikva is very rich. The city cultural center, recently built in the city, hosts various festivals, concerts, and tours of famous performers. The city has many cultural centers and clubs that offer exciting clubs for both children and adults, depending on their interests. The city has 16 libraries, there is a music conservatory, and for those who like to discuss current topics, there is a city discussion club; one of the most famous in the city is the Yad LeBanim memorial complex. It was built in 1951 and is dedicated to those who fell in the defense of Israel. This complex is visited annually by more than 50 thousand people. The complex includes 4 museums, an arts center, a very picturesque park and a historical aria of the city. For sports lovers, the city has a sports palace, as well as a microdistrict gym in each microdistrict. The city has a zoo and three city parks.
Today Pitah Tikva in Israel can be called a health empire. Here are located and operate well-known not only in the country, but also in the world - the medical center named after. I. Rabin, Beilinson Hospital and Golda Hospital, as well as the Schneider Children's Center, which is the largest pediatric center in the entire Middle East, the Shalid Research Institute, and other hospitals.
I would also like to dwell on the Schneider Children's Center, because this is, without a doubt, the most advanced medical institution for children in Israel, which is known throughout the world. And in such areas of medicine as oncology, hematology and gastroenterology, the Center’s specialists simply have no equal.
In a word, today Petah Tikva in Israel is a city that has proven in real life that perseverance and work, hope and faith will bring excellent results, because it is not for nothing that it has the name “Gateway of Hope”!
