Dateline Jerusalem — I am often asked why I chose to live in Rehovot, the 14th largest city in Israel with a population of 120,000, centrally located with trains for traveling throughout Israel. Tel Aviv is half an hour away, Jerusalem one hour. By Israeli standards, it is a big city with a charming small-town atmosphere, tree-lined streets and narrow passages (pronounced liked massages), modern buildings adjacent to 120-year-old structures, and picturesque outdoor cafes.
Known as the “city of citrus, science and culture,” Rehovot's emblem has an orange, microscope and an open book. Founded in 1890, Rehovot once was the largest shipping and packing center for fruit in Israel. Today the tantalizing aroma of orange trees and kumquat bushes permeate the air.
Its Science and Technology Park is known as the Silicon Valley of Israel because of its high density of high tech and biotech companies. Rehovot is the home of the world-renowned Weizmann Institute of Science which boasts Nobel Prize winners as its faculty, researchers, and students. It is home to the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, recently rated as one of the top 100 universities in the world, Kaplan Hospital Nursing School and medical school teaching hospital, and other academically superior colleges and universities.
Culturally, Rehovot is famous for being the home of some of Israel's greatest authors and poets. This week the city celebrated “foods from around the world” in the park in the center of town. Rehovot boasts of 70-plus nationalities. There is an annual International Women's Film Festival and the Rehovot
International Living Statues Festival in which people are painted and dressed to look like statues. We have art galleries, music conservatories, concert halls, community centers, theaters and museums.
On a typical day, streets are crowded with autos, taxi cabs and buses. Yet, the mode of travel often is walking since most everything is conveniently located. No need for the expense of a car and its maintenance. Most places deliver, even grocery stores. It is not unusual for people to take their agala (usually plaid material covered cart on wheels) wherever they go.
Rehovot is a haven for shoppers with its outdoor mall, indoor mall, shuk (open air bazaar), and hundreds of small shops and boutiques. Daily, people sit outside at small tables with colorful umbrellas or under awnings, noshing on burekas, pastries, pitas filled with falafel balls or shwarma, while listening to street musicians playing violins, guitars, flutes, harmonicas, accordions, trumpets, Jamaican drums, or a melodion which is a combination keyboard and wind instrument.
Pretty interesting and fun to live in Rehovot. And the people here are friendly, hospitable, and helpful.
L'hitraot. Shachar