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Jaffa

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city story of Jaffa

The Jewish Story of Jaffa

Jaffa is hailed as being one of the oldest operating ports in Israel and a center of connection between the Jewish and Arab Israeli communities. The entire area is packed with mosques, knafeh, art, history, hummus, clothes, and the most gorgeous stretches of beaches along the blue Mediterranean waters. It is also one of the only areas that stays open on Shabbat. On Saturdays the port is where Tel Avivians head for some light shopping, drinking with friends, and some of the best food outside of the local Tel Aviv area.  

The History of Jaffa

Archaeological evidence emerged in both Israel and Egypt that date the establishment of the area before the 15th century BCE. The area was first inhabited solely by Canaanite communities and later conquered by the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III. After a few thousand years of comings and goings, many nations have...

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אתרים מומלצים Sites to see

Sites

Suspended Orange Tree

Ran Morin (born 1958) is an Israeli artist, known for his statues involving full-sized living trees. Much of his work is found in Israel, notably the Floating Orange Tree located in the city streets of old Jaffa. Finished in 1993, this is a small orange tree that is elevated off of the ground by a large earthenware jug hung by metal chains from the walls of houses nearby. The tree is growing out of the pitcher, trying to break it. Morin sought to emphasize the increasing world of separation between man and nature, as "creatures that grow in containers." This statue is hung only a foot or so off of the ground - enough to see its shadow, but not so high that it seems about to fall down. The Jaffa orange, a label introduced by German Templers in the late 19th century and also known by their Arabic name, Shamouti orange, is an orange variety with few seeds and a tough skin that makes it particularly suitable for export. Developed by farmers in the mid-19th century, the variety takes its name from the city of Jaffa where it was first produced for export. The orange was the primary citrus export for the city. It is, along with the navel and bitter orange, one of three main varieties of the fruit grown in the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, and the Middle East. The Jaffa orange is also cultivated in Cyprus, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Turkey. Image attribution: Mary Madigan from Highland Park, NJ and Santa Fe, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; צילום:ד"ר אבישי טייכר, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

Sites

Jaffa Clock Tower

The Jaffa Clock Tower is built of limestone and incorporates two clocks and a plaque commemorating the Israelis killed in the battle for the town in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. It is one of seven clock towers built in Ottoman Palestine. The others are located in Safed, Acre, Nazareth (though that one is significantly smaller), Haifa, and Nablus. Jerusalem also had a clock tower built during the Ottoman period, but the British Field Marshal Sir Edmund Allenby, demanded its destruction as he would not see such a clear Ottoman symbol resting on the city wall of Jerusalem, for which he had much emotions. The construction of the tower was initiated by Joseph Bey Moyal, a prominent Jewish businessman from Jaffa. He was also the mind behind the Jerusalem - Jaffa train line. The construction was made possible with contributions from all the communities of Jaffa, Arabs, Armenians, Maronites and Jews. The watch mechanism itself was done by Moritz Schoenberg, a Jewish clock-maker from Rishon LeZion who also built a few stores in the adjacent Negib Bustros St. (now Raziel St.). The official goal was to commemorate the silver jubilee of the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II, however, the local community had a lot to gain, as Jaffa was going through a rapid process of modernisation and urbanisation, and the building of the clock tower helped develop the vibrant and well-functioning centre of town alongside the market, the bank and many new offices and shops. The construction was carried out by Baruch Papirmeister from Rishon LeZion, who studied architecture in Germany, hence the German style of the tower. The cornerstone was laid in September 1900 and a year, two floors were built and the construction of a third floor had begun. In 1903, the clock tower had been erected and Schoenberg designed and installed four clocks at its top. In 1965 or 1966, the Jaffa Clock Tower was renovated; two new clocks were installed and colorful stained glass windows describing the history of Jaffa designed by Arie Koren were added. Image attribution: Jorge Láscar from Australia, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Noam.armonn, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Shaharkalaora, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Sites

Jaffa Port

The Jaffa Port is an ancient port that serves as a fishing harbor, a yacht harbor, and as a tourism destination. It offers a variety of culture and food options, including restaurants where fresh fish and seafood is served. Jaffa port is mentioned in various ancient works, including the Hebrew Bible, such as the Book of Jonah, and the works of Josephus describing Jewish history and the First Jewish Revolt against Rome. For over 7,000 years it has been actively used, predating Muslims, Christians, Jews, and even Egyptians Still functional as a small fishing port, the port is currently a recreational zone featuring restaurants and cafés. A lighthouse, Jaffa Light, is located above the port. In 1917, during World War I, British troops under General Allenby defeated the Ottomans and took Jaffa, which became part of the British-administered Palestine Mandate (1922–1948). In 1947 and 1948 there was sharp fighting between Jaffa, which was largely inhabited by Arabs, and the adjoining Jewish city of Tel Aviv. On 13 May 1948 (a day before the proclamation of the State of Israel), the Arab forces in Jaffa were defeated after long fighting with the Zionist underground Haganah and Irgun Zva'i Leumi forces. On 24 April 1950, the Jewish city of Tel Aviv and the Arab city of Jaffa were unified, and the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality was established. Image attribution: Heritage conservation picture Project - Jaffa Port Pikiwiki Israel, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons; Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia; zeller- zalmanson Pikiwiki Israel, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons; Heritage conservation picture Project - Jaffa Port Pikiwiki Israel, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons; Bukvoed, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Heritage conservation picture Project - Jaffa Port Pikiwiki Israel, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

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Tours of Jaffa

Tours

Jaffa-Tel Aviv Half Day Tour

Explore the Old city and market of Jaffa while learning about the aftermath of 1948. Walk the ‘seam’ areas of Jaffa and Tel Aviv, a city that had its beginnings as a neighborhood of Jaffa. From the famous clock tower of Jaffa you will ascend the hill to the old city with its restored Ottoman buildings, a renaissance neighborhood full of boutiques and upscale Jewish homes, once occupied by Palestinian Arabs who were expelled in 1948. Then on to the market, the heart of Jaffa during the British Mandate era, and today a bustling area of merchants of all kinds hawking their goods. You’ll learn about the Jewish immigration of the period, and the relationships between the communities prior to 1948. From the market the group will walk through the old American Colony area, also known as the German Colony, seeing the New England-style homes and learning about the attempt by an American group to create a community in the late nineteenth century. Then into today’s Tel Aviv, and the Neve Zedek neighborhood, Jaffa's first Jewish neighborhood, and the former Palestinian Arab neighborhood of Manshie which was completely destroyed after 1948 in order to ensure that Tel Aviv would develop as an essentially all-Jewish city. You’ll also learn about modern Jaffa, a complex mosaic of communities that is undergoing upheaval due to gentrification process supported by the government, with the brunt of the displacement falling on the shoulders of the remaining Palestinian Arab residents.

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מדריכים בעיר CITY GUIDES

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Slava Bazarsky

My name is Slava, I'm a Private Tour Guide in Israel.I was born in Ukraine and moved to Israel with my family on the 1988 "Aliya." We were on our way to the United States, but God had other plans for us, so we ended up in Israel. I served in the Israeli military in one of the top intelligence units, which was unquestionably one of the best experiences of my life in terms of maturing and acquiring various "tools" for the future. I'm married with two beautiful daughters. I graduated from the University of Tel Aviv with a BA in International Relations, and my next step was the Israel Ministry of Tourism academy, where I gained 2.5 years of valuable experience and a depth of knowledge about my beloved home, Israel. I adore my incredible country, and after completing my military service, I work as a licensed private tour guide in Israel, specializing in cultures, religions, gastronomy, architecture, and archeology. I crossed Israel back and forth and flipped every stone to tell you everything there is to know about my country. I have been working as a private tour guide in Israel since 2006, and I am currently ranked in the top 10 best Israeli tour companies and among the best Israeli tour guides. I was also nominated by TripAdvisor as one of the best private tour guides in Israel in 2019 and won second place! I am fluent in five languages (English, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, and Ukrainian), and my services have been used by some of the world's largest corporations and their guests. Traveling is my passion, and meeting new people is the best part of my job; I can honestly say that I have never worked a day in my life because I enjoy meeting different people from various countries and opening up a new dimension for them; I have many interests, and I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others; "working" as a private Israeli tour guide Is the best thing that ever happened to me because it appears to be a very complicated job for many people, but for me, it is the easiest and most enjoyable job in the world.

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קראו עוד בלוגים וספרים אלקטרוניים READ MORE BLOGS AND EBOOKS

World Jewish Travel Official July 31, 2022

Jaffa, Israel: The Charming Port City of Color, Art, and Knafeh

The Jewish Story of Jaffa Jaffa is hailed as being one of the oldest operating ports in Israel and a center of connection between the Jewish and Arab Israeli communities. The entire area is packed with mosques, knafeh, art, history, hummus, clothes, and the most gorgeous stretches of beaches along the blue Mediterranean waters. It is also one of the only areas that stays open on Shabbat. On Saturdays the port is where Tel Avivians head for some light shopping, drinking with friends, and some of the best food outside of the local Tel Aviv area.  

Read More
World Jewish Travel Official December 7, 2024

Christmas in Israel: Decking the Halls of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jaffa, and Nazareth

Experience the Story of Christmas in the Holy Land Christmas in Israel is a far less commercialized event than in most other countries. Don’t get it twisted there is still plenty of Christmas festivity to be had during the entire month of December. From Bethlehem to Jaffa and everything in between. However, Christmas in Israel is unlike anywhere else in the world. The history and miracles of Jesus that are celebrated by millions all went down right here. A history that you can see, touch, and celebrate all in one.   

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Hotels in Jaffa

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