History

Name sources

Jaffa (or Yafo) is one of the most ancient port cities in the world. Some claim that Jaffa was named after Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah, who built it after the Great Flood. A Hebrew etymology indicates that the city is called Jaffa because of its beauty (yofi in Hebrew). The Hellenist tradition links the name to "Iopeia", which is Cassiopeia, the mother of Andromeda. However, the Hellenist accounting for the name dates from hundreds of years after the original naming. ^{[citation needed]}

Ancient period

The ancient site of Jaffa is now a 40-meter (130 ft) high hill (Tel Yafo, or "Jaffa Hill"). The hill is suitable for fortifications and defense, and at its foot lie springs which supply fresh water. The accumulation of debris and landfill has over time increased the original strategic advantage of the hill by augmenting its wide field of view over the adjacent coastline.

Medieval period

The Ottoman period

Napoleon captures Jaffa

On March 7, 1799 Napoleon I of France captured Jaffa and his troops proceeded to kill more than two thousand Albanian captives.

Rabbi Kook becomes Jaffa's chief rabbi

End of Ottoman rule

Jaffa was well known for its cash crops such as citrus and bananas. Until the establishment of Tel Aviv and the era of the Mandate for Palestine, Jaffa had the most advanced commercial, banking, fishing, and agriculture industries in Palestine. It had many factories specializing in cigarette making, cement making, tile and roof tile production, iron casting, cotton processing plants, traditional handmade carpets, leather products, wood boxes for Jaffa oranges, textiles, presses and publications. The majority of all publications and newspapers in Palestine were published in Jaffa.

Under the British mandate

During 1917-1920, there were thousands of Jewish residents in Jaffa. A wave of Arab pogrom attacks during 1920 and 1921 caused many Jewish residents to flee and resettle in Tel Aviv. The 1921 riots (known as the Meoraot Tarpa by the Jews) began with a May Day parade that turned violent. The Arab rioters attacked Jewish people and buildings, including the residents of "The House of Immigrants" and the Jewish author Yosef Haim Brenner.

The Great Arab Uprising

The 1936-1939 Great Arab uprising inflicted great economic and infrastructural damage on Jaffa.

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War

Modern Jaffa

Jaffa beyond the Old City

Places to see

• The Clock Square, built in 1906 in honor of Sultan Abdul Hamid II's 25th anniversary, became the center of Jaffa, and it is centered between Jaffa's markets.
• The Abulafia bakery in Yeffeth Street (the main street of Jaffa) is a famous restaurant and a symbol of Jewish-Arab coexistence.
• Mahamoudia Mosque which was built by Abu Nabut (the city governor during the 19th century) and includes a water fountain (Savil) for pilgrims.
• St. Peter Church, a Franciscan church, built in the 19th century on the remains of Crusaders' fortress, which serves also as a hostel. It is told that Napoleon stayed in that church while it was a hostel.
• The Andromeda rock, according to legends this was the rock to which beautiful Andromeda was chained.
• The Zodiac alleys, a network of restored alleys, full with art galleries, which lead to the Jaffa seaport.
• Jaffa's Old Seaport.
• Jaffa's Hill, a center for archaeological excavations of the ancient cities. The most ancient are the Ancient Egyptian gates, about 3,500 years old, which were restored.
• The Libyan Synagogue called Beit Zunana was purchased by the Jewish landlord Zunana in the 18th century. During the 19th century it stopped being used as a synagogue, and became a hostel and later a soap factory. In 1948 it was re-established as a synagogue for Libyan Jewish immigrants, and in 1995 it became a museum.
• Nouzha Mosque, on Jerusalem Boulevard, today's Jaffa's main mosque.
• Al Ajami Mosque, a failry new and popular mosque in south Ajami, on HaBaal Shemtov street.
• Abou ElNabut and the sculpture garden. An ancient sabil (drinking place) contructed by Abu ElNabut for visitors on their way to Jaffa.
• Al Ajami or "Aliyah" beach, Jaffa's lovely beach, located in south Al Ajami.
• The Arab Jewish Community Center, on Toulouse Street.
• The Women's Court, a public space for Jaffa's women and girls (women only) on 220 Yefet Street.
• The Seraya Theatre, the Arabic Hebrew theatre in Jaffa's old city, located in the "old" Seraya Building, once part of the Dajani soap factory.

Footnotes

1. ↑  Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, Jewish Virtual Library.
2. ↑  Judges Chapter 5
3. ↑  Benevisti, 2002, p. 101.
4. ↑  Gilbert, 1998, p. 155.
5. ↑  '7 Jews Murdered', The Palestine Post, 1 December, 1947, p. 1.
6. ↑  'Fighting in Jerusalem', The Times, 12 December, 1947, p. 4; Issue 50942; col E.
7. ↑  Morris, 2003, pp. 211-221.

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