Traces of history: Tel Aviv as a modern reflection of Jewish heritage in Israel

While the modern State of Israel was officially established in 1948, the Jewish presence in the region has existed for centuries, as Jews have continuously lived in the area despite the many empires that ruled the land throughout history.

One of the most tangible and recent pieces of evidence for this is the establishment of the city of Tel Aviv, which was founded long before the creation of the state and which embodies the resilience and growth of the Jewish community in the region. The city's roots date back to the late 19th century, when Jewish communities began expanding outside the overcrowded walls of Jaffa.

So how does Tel Aviv symbolize the Jewish connection to this land? Let it be told through the main historical events and the most important architectural innovations.

Meeting of the founding fathers of Tel Aviv in the sand dunes near the Sea, 1908. Source: Israel Government Press Office. האבות המייסדים של העיר תל אביב נפגשים בחוף הים.

The late 19th century

The late 19th century saw significant Jewish contributions to the region's infrastructure.

In 1887, Neve Tzedek, the first Jewish neighborhood beyond Jaffa’s borders, was built, marking the beginning of the modern Jewish urbanization in the area. This movement was not just about housing, but also about creating spaces where Jewish culture, education, and life could thrive again.

In 1888, a Jewish entrepreneur from Jerusalem played a pivotal role in opening the Jaffa-Jerusalem railway, connecting two important cities and facilitating trade and travel. As Jewish influence grew, so did their presence in key cultural and urban developments. The construction of the Saraya, a neoclassical Ottoman government building in Jaffa in 1897, stood alongside the burgeoning Jewish settlements, further illustrating the coexistence and gradual expansion of Jewish communities in the region.

The turn of the century

At the turn of the century, the vision for a modern, Hebrew city began to take shape. In 1906, Akiva Aryeh Weiss introduced the idea of founding a Hebrew garden city, following European trends in urban planning. This vision materialized with the establishment of Ahuzat Bayit in 1909. This garden suburb was characterized by stone houses, modern sanitation, and Western aesthetics. With support from the Zionist leadership and partial funding from the Jewish National Fund, Ahuzat Bayit became the foundation of Tel Aviv. It wasn’t just a physical space: it was a symbolic gesture of the Jewish people’s aspirations to create a modern, thriving urban center that reflected both their heritage and their future.

Education played a key role in the growth of this new city. The Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, designed by architect Joseph Barksky, was constructed in 1909 and quickly became a symbol of the importance of education and the Hebrew language in the Jewish community. Situated at the edge of Herzl Street, the school was more than just an educational institution; it represented the community’s commitment to intellectual and cultural development.

By 1910, the Jewish neighborhoods around Jaffa had unified to form the city of Tel Aviv, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the Jewish state. The city’s establishment was not just a political or administrative move but a cultural and symbolic one, representing the Jewish community's efforts to create a space of their own in the land of their ancestors.

The British mandate

Fast forward to 1917, the British conquered the region of Palestine - which was part of the Ottoman Empire, and before that part of the Roman, Greek, Persian, Babylonian, and Egyptian Empires - bringing a series of social and economic reforms, including infrastructure development, education, and public health improvements, that led to greater hostility and separation between Jews and Arabs. Despite the political changes, Jewish villages continued to grow, particularly in Tel Aviv, which benefited from a growing Jewish population. In 1921, Tel Aviv was granted the status of a local council, officially separating from Jaffa and becoming a fully recognized city in its own right.

The 1920s and 1930s saw massive waves of Jewish immigration to Tel Aviv. During the Fourth Aliyah in 1924, approximately 70,000 Jews, mostly middle-class Eastern Europeans, arrived in the region, with about a third settling in Tel Aviv. These immigrants contributed to the city’s cultural and economic development. This trend continued with the Fifth Aliyah in 1932, when nearly 250,000 immigrants, many from Germany and Austria, arrived. Their presence significantly bolstered Tel Aviv’s growth, transforming it into a cultural and economic hub in the region.

One of the more striking moments in Tel Aviv’s history came in 1933 when the Transfer Agreement was signed between the Nazi government and the Jewish Agency. This agreement allowed Jewish immigrants from Germany to transfer their assets by purchasing German goods, which were then shipped to Palestine. This facilitated the construction of the city and saved tens of thousands of Jewish lives. These imported goods played a crucial role in the city’s development, highlighting the intertwined fates of European Jewry and the nascent city of Tel Aviv.

World War II

The outbreak of World War II in 1939 temporarily halted immigration, but by 1948, with the conclusion of the war and the establishment of the State of Israel, Tel Aviv experienced another period of significant growth. The annexation of Palestinian villages and Jaffa allowed the city to expand, transforming it from a densely populated settlement to a land-rich metropolis.

The unification of Tel Aviv and Jaffa in 1949 marked the beginning of a new chapter for the city. With the annexation of lands from displaced Palestinian villages in the north and east, Tel Aviv’s territory expanded significantly. This period of growth coincided with the broader development of the newly founded State of Israel.

Modern times

Tel Aviv’s modern evolution continued through the 20th century, most notably after the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 - a series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) aimed at achieving peace, that also marked the first time that Israel and the PLO officially recognized each other -, that brought about a new era of globalization for Tel Aviv. Foreign investments poured into Israel, and Tel Aviv, already a bustling city, became a global center of commerce, culture, and innovation. The city’s modern skyline and vibrant urban life are a testament to its long-standing history and the enduring Jewish presence in the land. From its humble beginnings in Neve Tzedek to its current status as a global city, Tel Aviv stands as a living proof of the Jewish people’s unbroken connection to the land of Israel.

Source: Liebling Haus (Tel Aviv), https://www.lieblinghaus.org