Ra'anana

Ra'anana (Hebrew רַעֲנָנָה; Standard Hebrew Raʻanana) is a small city (about 80,000 citizens) in the southern Sharon in the Center District of Israel, Israel, northeast of Tel Aviv. The city is predominantly Jewish, with many immigrants from English-speaking countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.

Ra'anana's story began in 1912 with the founding of Achuza A - New York, a company that was involved in the Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel, the purpose of which was to purchase land in Palestine, to immigrate to the country, and to establish an agricultural settlement. World War I put an end to the plan temporarily. Only in 1922, did they manage to finally build the settlement.

On April 2, 1922, two wagons left Tel Aviv with four members of the Achuza group, three workers, and two armed guards. At the end of the five-hour journey, they reached their destination, unloaded the wagon, and decided that they would erect the first tent on that spot.

In its early days, it was called Raanania, a name suggested by its founders in the U.S. The settlement's Arab neighbors called it Americaya because most of the existing residents spoke English and came from New York City. Finally, the first settlers selected a Hebrew version of the name, and it was called Ra'anana, meaning fresh.

The sister cities of Ra'annana are Opsterland (Netherlands), Bramsche (Germany), Boulogne-Billancourt (France), Verona (Italy), Tainan (Taiwan), and Atlanta (Georgia, USA).

Ra'anana is home to many South Africans who immigrate there because of the ease of communication. It enjoys notoriety with its neighbour cities of Herzliya and Kfar Saba because of this, and also because it is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in Israel. This is due in part to the Ra'anana City Council's banning of heavy industry, which ensures that the air stays clean. The council also implemented the annual flower competition, which keeps the city covered in flowers and lends it a peaceful atmosphere.

A former mayor, Ze'ev Bielski, is now the head of the Jewish Agency for Israel. The current mayor, Nahum Hofree, was elected on August 2005.

Ra'anana is home to many high-tech software companies, such as the telecommunications billing giant, Amdocs.

External links

[Official municipal website]
[Yahoo! Community Group]
[Local English-language newspaper]
[Self-help group and discussion forum], a Yahoo! community group for residents of Ra'anana and people interested in the city

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