Rishon LeZion: Encyclopedia II - Rishon LeZion - Rishon Le-Zion today

Rishon LeZion - Rishon Le-Zion today

Today, Rishon-LeZion is the fourth most populated city in Israel and is known for its high quality of life.

Rishon LeZion - Industry and commerce

Rishon's main industries are wine, construction, services and commerce. It has special quarters (called Ezorey ha-Taasiya) for small factories and workshops, in order to not disturb the residential areas with noise and pollution. Since there are no residents in the industrial zones, they have become hang-out centers packed with pubs, dancing clubs and restaurants that are open until the small hours of the morning.

Many shopping centers and malls were built in New West, the modern part of Rishon LeZion, but some eventually closed due to competition. Currently, the two major malls ( קניון ) in Rishon are Rothschild Center in the old downtown and Gold Mall (Kanyon ha-Zahav) in New West.

Rishon LeZion - Culture

The city, usually referred to as "Rashlatz" (in Hebrew, short for Rishon Le-Zion) or just "Rishon", hosts the annual Rishon Le-Zion Wine Festival, a one-of-a-kind cultural event in Israel. Rishon is also known for its high number of shopping centers, the Amfi-Park (which once held shows of international artists like Sting, Metallica, Alanis Morissette and more), a zoo, an entertainment center (The Superland), and the promenade on the beach.

Heichal Ha-Tarbut (Hall of Culture) in Rishon is a large and highly reputed modern center for concerts, theatre and cultural events. It has one main hall for shows and two small halls for artistic workshops.

Rishon has a symphonic orchestra and its musical director is the conductor Mandi Rodan.

Rishon LeZion - Education

Elementary schools (1st - 6th grades):

• Haviv - the first Hebrew school חביב
• Beeri בארי
• Yesod ha-Maala יסוד המעלה
• Oranim (closed) אורנים
• Hadarim הדרים
• Hudini עדיני
• Ein ha-Kore עין הקורא
• Ashalim אשלים
• Belkind (special education) בלקינד
• Alonim אלונים

Junior high schools (7th - 9th grades):

• Zalman Aran זלמן ארן
• Dorot דורות
• Aharon Karon (closed) אהרון קרון
• Micha Raicer מיכה רייסר
• Mordey ha-Getaot מורדי הגטאות
• Tabib טביב
• Ha-Maayan המעיין
• Aharon HaBilooyim

High schools (10th - 12th grades + 2 years for professional studies):

• Ankori Rishon LeZion
• Makif Aleph - Gymnasia Realit (established in 1939) גימנסיה ריאלית
• Makif Beth - religious high school
• Makif Gimel - Amit Amal עמית עמל
• Makif Dalet - Gan Nahum גן נחום
• Makif Ey - Shaar Rishon שער ראשון
• Makif Vav - Yigal Alon יגאל אלון
• Makif Zain - Revivim רביבים
• Makif Het - Avnei ha-Hoshen (7th - 12th grades) אבני החושן
• Makif Tet
• Makif Yud

Higher education:

• College for Administration המכללה למנהל.

Rishon LeZion - Sports

Rishon gained notoriety in handball כדוריד and chess שח. It also has soccer and basketball teams, but they play in the second leagues.

In handball, Hapoel Rishon dominates the handball league winning more than seven domestic championships and cups in a row. Its biggest stars are goalkeeper Vladimir Zaikman and field-players Idan Maimon and Dudi Balsar. Its biggest rival is Maccabi Rishon.

In chess, the Rishon LeZion Chess Club, founded in 1939, is one of the leading clubs in Israel, in senior, women and youth leagues. Israeli grandmasters such as Boris Alterman play for Rishon. Garry Kasparov was a former member.

Rishon LeZion - Neigbourhoods and places

Rishon-LeZion's main quarters are:

• The Old City ("Downtown") - the whole area around Herzl street and Jabotinsky street. The center of the Old City is Rotschild street, near the Midrehov (padestrian mall) and the old Gan-HaMoshava (The City Park).
  • Neigbourhoods: Rishonim (Gan Nahum), Abrahmovich, Katzanelson (Shikun Poalim), Shikun Mapam and Shivat-Zion.
• Shikun(ey) Ha-Mizrah (The Eastern Resident) - located in the eastern part of Rishon.
  • Neigbourhoods: Shikun Ha-Mizrah, Ha-Rambam, Mishor Ha-Nof, Revivim (Shikun Sela), Kidmat Rishon.
• Old Mabat - "The Old Industrial Zone" which officially named "Mis'har, Biluy, Taasia" (commerce, entertainment and industry) was full of light industry and glass factories. Today it is the center of motor garages, large food stores and has a vivid night life in a pedestrian mall filled with bars and cafes. The Old Mabat is located in the northern part of Rishon, near HaMaccabim road (the road called "Kvish Beit-Dagan" by the locals).
• Maarav Rishon (The New West) - built in the 1980s and mostly populated in the 1990s, the New West is a block of new neighborhoods, connected with modern, wide roads between each other. The New West is the modern part of Rishon and has many parks and community-centers. It considered to be very aesthetic and prestigious and in less than a decade it was filled with more than 100,000 residents, doubling Rishon's population.
  • Neigbourhoods: Neve Shikma, Kiriyat Ganim, Neve Ashalim, Kiriyat Hatani Pras Nobel, Neot Dkalim (El Pueblo), Ramat Eliyaho.
• New Mabat - two new industrial zones in the New West.

Places to see in the Old City of Rishon:

• The Midrahov (pedestrian mall).
• Gan-HaMoshava (also called "Gan Ha-Nadiv") - Park.
• The Great Synagogue.
• The Great Well ("Mazanu Mayim").
• The Old Water Tower.
• The Rishon LeZion History Museum.
• The first Hebrew school - Beit Sefer Haviv.
• Yekev Carmel Mizrahi - the old wine factory.
• Beit Yad LeBanim - originally was the baron's offices but now it serves as a Memorial center to Rishon's sons who fell in Israel's wars.
• Heichal Ha-Tarbut (Hall of Culture) - a modern center for concerts, theatre and cultural events. It has one main hall for shows and two small halls for artistic workshops.
• Superland - Rishon's amusement park (allocated in the New West).

Rishon LeZion - Famous Residents

International footballer, Tal Ben Haim TalBenHaim.net

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Rishon Le-Zion today", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki