City Focus Israel: Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is the big display of the modern, often secular, side of Israel. Though the city proper (second largest city in Israel) has 384,000 inhabitants, the Tel Aviv metro area is the biggest population center, with over 3 million.

Tel Aviv was founded as a Jewish city, on land purchased from Bedouins, just north of the old port city Jaffa (or Yafo).

Tel Aviv is the business and cultral center of Israel. It is home to several tall skyscrapers (included the tallest in the region, located in the Ramat Gan suburb). It is a cross between the feeling of New York City and Miami, with a big Jewish twist.

Tel Aviv has it all. Local outdoor shuks (markets), some of the greatest night clubs in the world, a fun beach, theaters, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, one of the largest diamond exchanges in the world, parks, large synagogues, and a 100 year history. The city was founded in 1909. The city is also home to several major sports teams, including the well known Macabbe Tel Aviv. (In case you were wondering, they are far inferior the the greatest soccer (football) team in Israel, Beitar Yerushalayim).

Tel Aviv has one of the biggest Jewish populations of any city in the world. It has a unique, distinctive culture and feel. To really experience Tel Aviv, you have to get off the bus and explore. Just be careful, like all big cities, Tel Aviv has bad parts of town too. Also make sure your restaurant has a hekshire, many Tel Aviv restaurants are not Kosher.

Tel Aviv is one of my favorite cities in the world.