The name Tel Aviv translates from Hebrew as “A Spring Hill”. This name is written in the Tanah (the Old Testament) as the name of an unknown city. Nahum Sokolow, one of the leaders of the Zionist Movement had suggested this name to the new municipality.

Tel Aviv was founded in 1909, when on one of the sunny beaches of Jaffa sixty Jews gathered together, headed by Meir Dizengoff, the future mayor of Tel Aviv. They have created a joint-stock company called “Ahuzat Bait” for the purpose of buying lands and building the new city. Tel Aviv is the first Jewish city in the modern history. Most of its first inhabitants were immigrants from Russia and Poland. With the beginning of the Nazi’s rule in Germany, many Jews fled to Israel and settled in Tel Aviv.

There’s a pedestrian seaside boulevard that stretches through the entire city. It leads to the ancient city of Jaffa.

Jaffa is one of the oldest cities in the entire world. The first written mention of it is found in the chronicles of Pharaoh Thutmose III, who reported the capture of Jaffa in the 15^th century BCE.

This place is associated with many legends: it is believed that Noah built his Ark here. The biblical story of Jonah, swallowed by a whale, started here, at the ancient Jaffa port. According to Greek mythology, all the events that associated with Perseus, Medusa and Andromeda, happened here.

One of the legends says that the name of the city is derived from the name of the Noah’s son Japheth, who built here the city port. According to another version name Jaffa comes from the Hebrew word “Yafa” – “Beautiful”.

Jaffa belonged to the Egyptians, Philistines, Jews, Persians, Phoenicians, Romans, Greek; and every nation has left his mark in the history and character of the city. This place is associated with many legends: it is believed that Noah built his Ark here. The biblical story of Jonah, swallowed by a whale, started here, at the ancient Jaffa port. According to Greek mythology, all the events that associated with Perseus, Medusa and Andromeda, happened here. Now, the Old Jaffa is one big tourist and art center with many restaurants, galleries, shops, flea market, salons, museums and archaeological sites.

You can wander the old streets of Jaffa endlessly and at every turn, on every corner discover something new and exciting.

We are back to Tel Aviv, the city of restaurants, bars and night-clubs. The nightlife here is simmering. The residents of Tel Aviv call it “the city that never sleeps”. It is easy to get to any place in Israel from Tel Aviv and Israelis are using any opportunity to spend some time there.

There’s a wonderful 14 kilometers of a sea shore that Tel Aviv is endowed by the nature. During summer months this beautiful beach attracts thousands of bathers who enjoy the cool sea waves, sunbathing and sports on the beach. The rest of the year, when it isn’t so hot, many tourists inhabit the coast hotels. Tel Aviv embodies all the changes of modern life in Israel and at the same time it is the cultural, entertainment and trade center of Israel.