RISHON LEZION MUSEUM. Traces the history of the town from its pioneer days
to the present. A tour of the museum includes a look at the first iron plow in Israel
and a replica of the first Hebrew school room. Following the museum tour is a 10-
minute sound and light show in the old Village Well, detailing the town's initial
straggle to find a water source of its own. (2-4 Ahad Ha-am St. On the right just above the
midrahov and across from the Great Synagogue. Open Su, Tu-Th
9am-2pm; M 9am-lpm and 4-7pm. Admission to museum and well NIS13, students NIS10. Free
tours and admission 10am-2pm on the 1st Saturday of every month. For all tours, call ahead to
request an English-speaking guide.)
WJ1ERY- The Rishon Le Zion Winery, was built by Baron Edmond de Rothschild in
™7 and used as a secret firing range by Zionist resistance fighters in the early
size mural by German painter Gershom Schwarze, a tasting, and a souvenir bottle.
st n armel St- on the left side- w965 36 62- Tours Su-Th 9 and 11am, 1, and 3pm. NIS13,
Wents NIS11. To book a tour with an English-speaking guide and guarantee a taste of the wine
апн IS8° per bottle) and liquor (vodka NIS15) at slightly discounted prices,
occasionafly offers free tastings in the afternoon. (98 Herzl St. «969 93 51 Open
w,iu-Th 9am-lpm and 4:30pm-J:30pm; M 9am-lpm; F 9am-3:30pm.)
hotfS *e Street from &е museum is Rishon's Great Synagogue. Built in 1885, it
nted as a warehouse under Ottoman rule. It is possible to arrange a tour of the
ynagogue by calling the Rishon Le Zion Museum ahead of time. Other sights
include the oldest Hebrew school still in use and a military base from the begin-
ning of the century.
ram la лЬюЧ ®08
Founded in 716 by the formidable Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abd al-Malik, Ramla
is the only town in Israel established and developed by Arabs. Until the arrival of the
Crusaders in the 11th century, Ramla was the capital of Palestine and was known for
its magnificent palaces and mosques. After the 1948 War, the Arab majority was
forced to flee. Today the community is predominantly composed of Jewish immi-
grants and a Christian Arab minority. The diversity of Ramla's history and present
population, as well as its vibrant shuk (town market), make the town worth a visit.
fj practical information_
From Tel Aviv, take bus #245,455,450, or 451 (30min. every 20min. NIS9.50). From
Jerusalem, take bus #401, 403, 411 (45min. every 30min. NIS14.90). Services
include: Police, 80 Herzl St; post office, 4 Danny Mass St. ; and Bank
Leumi, 8 Herzl St. (Open Su, Tu, W 8:30am-lpm; M, Th 8:30am-lpm,
4:30-6pm. F 8:30am-noon. Changes money with commission.) The shuk, on Ze'ev
Zabutinsky, is open every day until dark and is especially lively on Thursdays. The
street is closed to traffic until the shops close at around 7pm.
food _ _
There are several affordable and tasty restaurant options in Ramla, involving
mostly chickpeas and pita. One of the more popular falafel joints is Baget Hazav
Gershel в, 87 Herzl St. one block to the right from the bus station; look for the
blue awning and NIS10 falafel. (Open Su-Th 7am-midnight, F 7am-5pm, Sa 8:30pm-
midnight.) Khalil Restaurant в, 6 Kehlat Detroit St. off of Herzl St. (look for a yel-
low sign with a dolphin), is a popular and more spacious place to enjoy a wide
range of Middle Eastern specialties. The menu is in Hebrew, but ask for a hummus
(NIS11) or meat plate (NIS20-40) and you'll receive a full meal. (Open daily 7am-
7pm.) Kshatot в, 10 Kehlat Detroit, is a Chinese restaurant located on the grounds
of an old church. Drink coffee in the outdoor courtyard or eat kosher Chinese food
in a vaulted dining room for around NIS30 per dish. (Open Su-Th 10am-8pm.) A
great alternative is to stop at the shuk, through a short alley and on a street to the
left just before the park. The shuk О offers a range of fresh fruits, veggies, sweets,
and an assortment of random plastic gadgets, as well as plenty of falafel (NIS10).