Mbah Cholik http://mbahcholik.info Indonesian Wordpress Blog Fri, 04 May 2012 14:00:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 A Tale of Two Cities http://mbahcholik.info/2012/05/04/a-tale-of-two-cities/ http://mbahcholik.info/2012/05/04/a-tale-of-two-cities/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 14:00:34 +0000 admin http://mbahcholik.info/2012/05/04/a-tale-of-two-cities/ Nowhere on Earth does the clash of the new and the old become more apparent than in the municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo and its two historial cities: Tel Aviv and Jaffa.  One is a bustling urban center cluttered with high-rise skyscrapers, lit by neon at all hours of the night, and swarming with businessmen, technology professionals, twenty-something clubbers, and tourists from all over the planet who flock to its beaches, restaurants, and museums.  Real Estate in Tel Aviv commands some of the highest prices on the planet, and the city is home to several Israeli billionaires.  The other is one of the most ancient port cities in the world, with structures uncovered around the harbor that date back to the Bronze Age and a name repeated again and again in history’s most notable documents, not least among them the Bible.  

Tel Aviv (in Hebrew, “tel” refers to a man-made mound that accumulates layer after layer of civilization and “aviv” means “spring”) was founded in 1909 by a group of 66 Jewish families calling themselves the Ahuzat Bayit, or Homesteader’s, Society.  The goal was to create a modern city in harmony with the majority Muslim population.  Growth proceeded apace with the establishment of a school and additional homes until the Ottomans expelled the Jewish population of the area in 1917.  From these humble beginnings, Tel Aviv has grown into Israel’s second-largest city, one of a number around the world known as “the City That Never Sleeps,” and a hub for business, technology, and entertainment.

Jaffa (now incorporated as the neighborhood of Old Jaffa within the rapidly-expanding Tel Aviv) was founded some 7,500 years ago and was conquered by Ancient Egypt in 1440 BCE, remaining in its possession until 800 BCE and then proceeding to appear in the Bible numerous times under a variety of different rulers: some Jewish, some not so.  It was invaded by the Crusaders and the Mameluks during the Medieval era and was reduced to a heap of ruins by the 16th century.  After its rebuilding, it was taken over by the Ottomans and then the British before becoming part of the new nation of Israel.  Rather more decrepit and dangerous than its more modern counterpart, restoration efforts are currently underway to restore the ancient city to its former glory.

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