Modern GeographyHaifa

Haifa, surrounded by the gentle waters of the Mediterranean on one side, and the striking Carmel mountains on the other, is the third largest city in Israel (following Tel Aviv, number two, and Jerusalem, number one), and the largest city in the north. It is the capital of the Haifa District, one of the six administrative districts in Israel.

One of the earliest mentions of the Haifa region is in the Old Testament, in I Kings 19, which recounts the story of the Prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel, when he proved definitively that God reigns supreme. Today, a mountain cave on top of Mount Carmel, called the "Cave of Elijah" is frequented by tourists. The city is later mentioned in the Talmud as the hometown of several Jewish scholars, and the source of the rare animal used to make the special blue dye for garments worn by the High Priest in Temple times.

Haifa's prosperity ebbed and flowed throughout early history, under the Byzantine and Arab rulers. It had become somewhat established as a trade center and a port city, but the city declined during the years of fighting between the Crusaders and the Muslims. A Christian Carmelite group built a church on Mount Carmel, but the Muslims turned it into a mosque. It was not restored as a church until the 19th century.

Haifa languished as a backwater for centuries. The arrival of the German Templars in 1868 and the establishment of the German Colony was the turning point for Haifa's regentrification. The Templars modernized the city, introducing innovations such as factories and a carriage service between Haifa and other important cities in the region. Jews began to settle in Haifa during the early Aliyot (plural of Aliyah), mainly from Russia, and established business and industry in the city. Theodor Herzl visited Haifa at the end of the 19th century, and recognized its future importance as a port city; indeed, he called it the "city of the future."

In 1912, the cornerstone of the Technion, the "MIT of Israel," was laid, setting an important foundation for further development and growth in Haifa. In this pre-World War I period, Haifa received a major boost when it was linked to the Hejaz railway connecting Damascus to Medina, becoming an important way station. Later, when the British controlled Palestine, they expanded Haifa into a significant port city.

During the British Mandate years, Haifa became a central immigration center, the destination for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, and later, for Holocaust survivors seeking to build a new life for themselves. However, much of this immigration was illegal, as it exceeded Britain's strict immigration limits. Thus, the city became the site of many confrontations between the illegal immigrants, desperate to gain a foothold in the Holy Land, and the British, equally as determined to keep them out.

After the announcement of the UN Partition Plan, which envisioned a Jewish state, an Arab state, and Jerusalem as neutral, UN-controlled territory, Arabs rioted throughout Israel, including in Haifa, where dozens of Jews were injured. The Jewish forces fought back, inflicting casualties as well. During the 1948 war, control of Haifa was crucial, as it was the main oil refinery port in Israel. The Haganah invaded and captured Haifa, propelling the majority of the city's Arab population to flee. Very few Arab residents remained at the end of the war. Today, Haifa is 82% Jewish, 4% Muslim Arab, and 14% Christian (Arab and Non-Arab.).

Following the 1948 War of Israeli Independence, Haifa became a major immigration port, as Jews arrived en masse to settle in the land. Its popularity declined somewhat in the decades following the war due to a combination of circumstances: A port in Ashdod was opened, the government shifted its resources to developing Tiberias as a tourist attraction, and Tel Aviv began to rise as the economic capital. However, immigration to Haifa continued, and its Jewish population rose to 200,000 by the early 1970's.

In 2006, Haifa was hit by nearly 100 Hezbollah rockets during the Lebanon War, killing eleven civilians and causing many of the city's residents to find refuge elsewhere. However, despite some tension between Jewish and Arab residents, Haifa is hailed as a model of peace and tolerance, and institutions, such as Beit HaGefen, encourage dialogue between the two sides.

Haifa is an important center in the Baha'i Faith. A shrine to the prophet, Bab, was built on Mount Carmel, and the Baha'i World Center is located on the slope of the Carmel Mountains. The Baha'i shrine and gardens are one of Haifa's most popular tourist attractions. Museums, arts centers, modern malls, and luxury hotels are part of Haifa's modern makeup as well. In addition to the renowned Technion, Haifa is also home to the University of Haifa, picturesquely located at the top of the Carmel Mountains.

Haifa today is a beautiful and busy port city, with sandy beaches attracting tourists and locals year round. It is booming as a business center, home to one of Israel's two oil refineries, and Israel's largest and oldest business park. Situated in the park, called Matam, are many research and development centers for international technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, Intel, and Amdocs.

Haifa, for many, means pristine beaches, perhaps a chance to relax. For many Jews throughout history, though, Haifa was more than a resort town. The first city they saw upon arriving in the Holy Land, Haifa represented freedom and a new beginning—it signified "home."