Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut
Template:Infobox Israel municipality Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut (Template:Lang-he-n) is a city in the Center District of Israel. Formed as the result of the merger of Modi'in and Maccabim-Re'ut in 2003, the city was, as of the end of 2008, according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics home to approximately 70,400.[1]
Modi'in, Modi'in Illit, Hashmonaim and Matityahu are all part of an area known as the Modi'in Valley, with a metropolitan area population of over 150,000.[citation needed]
According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the City is rated at level 8 out of 10 on the scale of socio-economic development, with a high proportion of high school graduation, 76.5% (2006-07), and an average monthly income of 9,659 NIS, compared to a national average of 7,466 (2006).
History
Modi'in
Ancient Modi'in was the place of origin of the Jewish Hasmonean dynasty that ruled Judea in the first and second centuries BCE, and it is where the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Greeks started.
Modern Modi'in is located near the location of the ancient Modi'in described in the Talmud, though the specific location is uncertain. For centuries the preferred location was Suba, far from what the Talmud indicates, but this is no longer tenable. Possibilities suggested by modern archaeologists include: Umm el-'Umdan near Route 20 to Canada Park and Latrun, Khirbet el-Midye, and Khirbet el-Burj (Titura).[2][3][4] All these locations are close to the present built-up area of modern Modi'in, and some of them have been damaged by the building of the present-day city.
The cornerstone for present-day Modi'in was laid in 1993. It is a modern planned city, and the highest standards of urban planning, environmental concern and planning for future growth were taken into consideration during its design. Large greenspaces were incorporated into the city's layout and comprise 50% of the area within the city limits. The long term projection of the ministry of housing is for the city to be home to about a quarter million residents, thus becoming one of the largest localities in Israel. However, plans approved for the city thus far are for only 120,000 residents.
The city was planned by the well-known architect Moshe Safdie. Its design was supervised by the Ministry of Housing and Construction's main architect Carlos Drinberg and the City Engineer-Architect Daniel Senerman.
Maccabim-Re'ut
The project of founding Maccabim in 1985 was led by the International Maccabi organisation; the project of founding nearby Re'ut in 1987 was led by an association of Israel's Standing Army officers. The towns were united into Maccabim-Re'ut in 1990.
Geography
The city is located about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv and 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Jerusalem, and is connected to the two via Highway 443. Its physical geography: Climate, landforms, flora and fauna, all reflect this position midway between the two cities.
The city is decentralised. It is divided in a star-shape into smaller neighbourhoods named after the original town planners. Each of these neighbourhoods has a main boulevard and shopping centre.
Culture
Sports
In 2007, Modi'in was selected as one of the inaugural cities for the Israel Baseball League. The team was named the Modi'in Miracle but doesn't play games in Modi'in since there is no baseball stadium.
In 2009 the Anglo Football league was formed with Modiin as one of the founder member teams. The other teams include Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh and Raanana. A Further team, F.C. Jaffa, joined the league during the first season. Modi'in A.F.C. play in bottle green shirts, with black shorts and socks.
Transportation
Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut is accessible by Road 431 and Road 443.
An Israel Railways rail line began operation on April 1, 2008 to large underground station in Modi'in. Service began in September 2007 to Paatei Modi'in on the western outskirts of the city. This railway connects Modi'in to Tel Aviv by way of Ben Gurion Airport. The city is currently the southernmost stop on a major rail line whose other terminus is in Nahariya. The line is planned to continue on from Modi'in to Jerusalem, although the Jerusalem line has been delayed until at least 2016.
Twin towns
References
- ^ "Table 3 - Population of Localities Numbering Above 1,000 Residents and Other Rural Population" (PDF). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
- ^ Shimon Gibson, ASOR Newsletter 49-1 (1999) pp. 16-17
- ^ Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, ASOR conference 2003
- ^ Joshua Schwartz, Lod (Lydda), Israel: from its origins through the Byzantine period, 5600 B.C.E. - 640 C.E, Oxford University Press, 1991, pp. 61-63.
External links
- Municipality of Modi'in - official web site Template:He icon
- Modiinfo.com - your source for Modiin related information (English)
- Places To Visit in Modi'in (English)
