Holon

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For other uses, see Holon (disambiguation).
Holon
Hebrew transcription(s)
 • Hebrew חוֹלוֹן
 • ISO 259 Ḥolon
Arabic transcription(s)
 • Arabic حولون

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Coat of Arms
Holon
Coordinates: 32°01′N 34°46′E / 32.017°N 34.767°E / 32.017; 34.767Coordinates: 32°01′N 34°46′E / 32.017°N 34.767°E / 32.017; 34.767
District Tel Aviv
Founded 1936
Government
 • Type City (from 1950)
Area
 • Total 18,927 dunams (18.927 km2 or 7.308 sq mi)
Population (2013)[1]
 • Total 190,000
Name meaning (Little) sand
Website holon.muni.il
Location of Holon in the Tel Aviv District

Holon (Hebrew: חוֹלוֹן  (audio) (help·info)) is a city on the central coastal strip south of Tel Aviv, Israel. Holon is part of the metropolitan Gush Dan area. In 2009, it had a population of 184,700.[1] Holon has the second-largest industrial zone in Israel, after Haifa.[citation needed]

Etymology

The name of the city comes from the Hebrew word holon, meaning "(little) sand". The name Holon also appears in the Bible: "And Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs" (Book of Joshua, 21:15).[2]

History

Holon, 1945

Holon was founded on sand dunes six kilometers (3.7 miles) from Tel Aviv in 1935.[3] The Łódzia textile factory was established there by Jewish immigrants from Łódź, Poland, along with many other industrial enterprises.[3] In the early months of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Holon was on the front line, with constant shooting taking place on the border with the village of Tel A-Rish to its northwest—a suburb of Arab Jaffa—and clashes also in the direction of the town of Yazur to the east. An attack by the Holon-based Haganah militia units on Tel A-Rish was repulsed with considerable losses. After the establishment of the state, Holon expanded to include Tel A-Rish (renamed "Tel Giborim", "The Mound of the Heroes") and the orange groves of Yazur.

In February 2001, eight Israelis were killed and twenty-five were injured in a Palestinian attack on a crowded bus stop in Holon.[4]

The image of Holon as a working-class bedroom community has changed over the years. Through municipal efforts, the city has been rebranded as a child-friendly city, offering family attractions such as the Yamit Water Park, the Israeli Children's Museum and the Israel Museum of Caricature and Comics.[5]

Urban development

Design Museum Holon

Historic landmarks in Holon slated for preservation include Derech Habitachon ("Safe Road"), paved during the Israeli war of independence; water towers in the Moledet and Azor neighborhoods; Hosmasa, a building used by the Haganah; the pillbox guard post; Stroma Square, Mansbach health clinic, Hameshakem building, the Agrobank neighborhood and two schools – Bialik and Shenkar.[6]A new neighborhood, Migdalim Bashdera, is under construction, with plans for 23 upscale residential towers, a new city hall, several cultural and commercial centers, some of them already built. A French urban planner was commissioned to design a north-south boulevard with pedestrian walks, bicycle paths, sports fields, parks and waterfalls.[7]

Local government

Mayors

  • Haim Kugel – 1940 to 1953
  • Pinhas Eylon – 1953 to 1987
  • Haim Sharon – 1987 to 1988
  • Moshe Rom – 1988 to 1993
  • Moti Sasson – 1993 to present

Culture

Holon hosts a variety of springtime events, including the Yemay Zemer (Days of Song) Festival during Passover and a Women’s Festival in March, both at the Holon Theater. Holon is also one of the host cities for the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix Series in March.[8] Israeli violinist Pinchas Zukerman runs a summer music camp in the city for young violinists.[9]

Yanshul, symbol of the Holon Children's Museum

Since the election of Mayor Moti Sasson in 1993, many cultural projects have been inaugurated. Billing itself as a "children's city," Holon is home to the Holon Children's Museum and the Mediatheque youth theater.[10] Holon also plays host each year to a street carnival in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, the Adloyada. Thousands of children dress up in costumes and the streets close down for a parade featuring colorful floats.[11]

The Design Museum Holon, which opened in 2010 near the "Médiathèque" and the Faculty of Design of Holon Institute of Technology, is the first Israeli museum of design.

In October 2013, Holon hosted major international designers who arrived for Holon Fashion Week (known as HoF13), among them milliner Steven Jones and BioCouture founder Suzanne Lee.[12]

Samaritan community

Holon's Samaritan synagogue

In 1954, the president of Israel, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, helped to establish a Samaritan quarter on the outskirts of Holon. The quarter was named Neve Pinchas after Pinhas Ben-Abraham, the high priest of the Samaritan community.[13]

Holon is one of only two cities in the world to have a Samaritan community, the other being the village of Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim above Nablus on the West Bank. That community fled Nablus for Kiryat Luza following the outbreak of the First Intifada (1987–93).[citation needed]

Sports

  • Hapoel Holon (basketball) – premier league, national champion in 2008 and state cup holder in 2009
  • Hapoel Tzafririm Holon F.C. (football) – Liga Alef [3rd tier]
  • Maccabi Kiryat-Sharett Holon (handball) – Liga Leumit [1st tier]
  • Hapoel Holon chess (chess) – Liga Leumit [1st tier]

Notable residents

Omri Casspi, October 2013

Twin towns – Sister cities

Sister city shields at the city entrance

Holon is twinned with:

Partnership of kindness with:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Table 3 – Population of Localities Numbering Above 2,000 Residents and Other Rural Population". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2010-06-30. Retrieved October 30, 2010. 
  2. ↑ "The Story of Holon:Making Sand Dunes Sophisticated". Isrealli.org. Retrieved January 20, 2011. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Guide to Israel, Zeev Vilnay, Hamakor Press, Jerusalem, 1972, p.239
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Working class Holon aims to attract affluent home buyers
  6. ↑ Holon seeking to preserve 18 historic sites, Haaretz
  7. ↑ Working class Holon aims to attract affluent home buyers
  8. ↑ "Festivals". Holon Municipality. Retrieved 8 May 2013. 
  9. ↑ Israeli cultural scene explodes with dynamic music, fiction, art
  10. ↑ "Post-championship Holon dreams of prosperity, tourism – Haaretz – Israel News". Haaretz. Retrieved May 5, 2009. 
  11. ↑ Purim parade in Holon, Jerusalem Post
  12. ↑ Holon Fashion Week attracts big industry names, Haaretz
  13. ↑ "Samaritans". Jewishmag.com. Retrieved May 5, 2009. 
  14. ↑ "Sister Cities International (SCI)". Sister-cities.org. Retrieved 2013-04-21. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holon.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holon Cemetery.
Cities
Local councils
Israeli cities with a 50,000+ population
500,000+
200,000 and more
100,000–199,999
50,000–99,999
Footnotes
‡Partly located in the West Bank, population figure includes West Bank section.
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