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Ashdod

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Ashdod is a large and busy city in Israel.

City of Ashdod, Israel — 60th anniversary logo with COA — colorful
City of Ashdod, Israel — 60th anniversary logo with COA — colorful

It sits along the Mediterranean coast in the Southern District. You can find it south of Tel Aviv and north of Ashkelon. The city is very important for trade because of its huge port.

Ashdod Port Aerial View
Ashdod Port Aerial View

This port is the largest in all of Israel. It handles 60% of the goods that come into the country. This makes the city a vital center for moving items by sea.

The modern city was built on sand hills starting in 1956.

Ma'abara of Ashdod-Yam, 1957
Ma'abara of Ashdod-Yam, 1957

Before the modern town, there were ancient cities nearby. One was called Tel Ashdod, and another was Ashdod-Yam. These places were active centers for sea trade a long time ago. The history of this area spans about 3,700 years. In the past, it was one of the five main cities of the Philistines. The city has changed many times under different rulers, like the Romans and the Byzantines.

Building the modern city took many steps and hard work.

Menachem Begin boulevard tunnel in Ashdod
Menachem Begin boulevard tunnel in Ashdod

In 1956, leaders approved the plan to start the city. The first families arrived from Morocco and Egypt in late 1956. Later, a man named Israel Rogosin helped the city grow with his factory. He also helped build three high schools there. The large port began building in 1961 and started working in 1965. This helped the city expand through many new neighborhoods.

Ashdod is a place where people from all over the world live.

Beit Canada Absorption Center, Ashdod, November 2023
Beit Canada Absorption Center, Ashdod, November 2023

Many people moved there as immigrants. Some came from Romania and Georgia in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1990s, over 60,000 people from the former Soviet Union settled there. The city also welcomed many people from Ethiopia. Today, about 32% of the people in Ashdod are new immigrants. This makes the city very diverse and full of different cultures.

Because so many people live there, the city has many special places.

בית הכנסת אברהם אבינו, רובע י"א באשדוד, דצמבר 2024
בית הכנסת אברהם אבינו, רובע י"א באשדוד, דצמבר 2024

Most of the people are Jewish, and there are many different synagogues. The city is also home to the largest Karaite Jewish community in Israel. For health, the Assuta Ashdod Medical Center serves the whole area.

Assuta Ashdod Medical Center2845
Assuta Ashdod Medical Center2845

This hospital has thick concrete walls to keep people safe. Ashdod is the sixth largest city in Israel and continues to grow.

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🖼️ Images & Media (22)
File:City of Ashdod, Israel — 60th anniversary logo with COA — colorful.svg
City of Ashdod, Israel — 60th anniversary...
File:Madaba map Mediterranean hinterland 1355 (cropped).jpg
Madaba map Mediterranean hinterland 1355...
File:Ma'abara of Ashdod-Yam, 1957.jpg
Ma'abara of Ashdod-Yam, 1957.jpg
File:Building near HaTayelet - panoramio (1).jpg
Building near HaTayelet - panoramio (1).jpg
File:Beit Canada Absorption Center, Ashdod, November 2023.jpg
Beit Canada Absorption Center, Ashdod,...
File:בית הכנסת אברהם אבינו, רובע י"א באשדוד, דצמבר 2024.jpeg
בית הכנסת אברהם אבינו, רובע י"א באשדוד,...
File:Assuta Ashdod Medical Center2845.jpg
Assuta Ashdod Medical Center2845.jpg
File:Menachem Begin boulevard tunnel in Ashdod.jpg
Menachem Begin boulevard tunnel in Ashdod.jpg
File:Ashdod Port Aerial View.jpg
Ashdod Port Aerial View.jpg
File:Friendly Sea Mall in Ashdod, October 2023.jpg
Friendly Sea Mall in Ashdod, October 2023.jpg
File:Rogosin Street, Ashdod, October 2023.jpg
Rogosin Street, Ashdod, October 2023.jpg
File:BIG Fashion Ashdod, 2020.jpg
BIG Fashion Ashdod, 2020.jpg

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