History and culture: getting to know Ashkelon

History and culture in Ashkelon - when old and new meet

For those who live in Ashkelon this will not be a big surprise, but many of those who do not live there do not know that Ashkelon is one of the oldest cities in Israel. That is, certainly not in its current form, which began with the establishment of the state in 1948. But in the Ashkelon region the Philistine city of Ashkelon existed three thousand years ago and more. Some of you may remember that the story of Samson, the hero of Judges, may have started in the Beit Shemesh area, but his tragic end happened right here, in this area.

So in Ashkelon itself you can meet the ancient history of our country, and near it you can meet the more modern history. The Battles of the War of Liberation in Nitzanim, the Mashoah for Revival Museum in Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, the Katif Heritage Center in Moshav Nitzan, and more. So when you arrive in Ashkelon, don't focus only on the sea, but take the car and drive to meet the history of all of us. You can of course use your own car, or rent one from a car rental company in Israel.

Credit: Dr. Avishi Teicher, from the pikiwiki website

Tel Ashkelon National Park

When talking about the history of Ashkelon, the best place to start is Tel Ashkelon National Park, operated by the Nature and Parks Authority and located in the south of the city and near the beach. The national park includes archaeological sites, nature walking trails, an ancient theater that is still active for events, and even a well-maintained bathing beach that is open for swimming in the summer months. Among the archaeological sites in the national park you can find a Canaanite gate that is nearly four thousand years old (!), an embankment of walls from more or less the same period as well as walls from the Middle Ages, ancient water wells and even a Roman basilica that is nearly two thousand years old. You can visit the place independently, or through the use of the "escape room" platform prepared for visitors to the National Park. Please note that entrance to the National Park is for a fee, and the entry hours must be observed (up to two hours before closing time).

Beit Govrin National Park

About half an hour's drive from Ashkelon is located Kibbutz Beit Govrin, and near it is the national park of the same name. This is one of the most wonderful national parks in Israel, and it is located in the heart of the so-called "Land of a Thousand Caves". The area is famous for the many caves carved in it, caves that were used in ancient times for a variety of purposes such as storage, living, war, and more. Perhaps you know about the many uses that the warriors of Bar Kochba made of the place during the famous revolt in the second century AD, a revolt whose sad end reverberates in Jewish history to this day. In addition to the caves, you will find an ancient and complete amphitheater, impressive views, a wide variety of vegetation at the point of connection between the Judean Mountains and the coastal plain, as well as animals of various species. Here too it is important to note that entrance to the site is paid.

Credit: Stav Kunstik, from the pikiwiki website

Kibbutz Yad Mordechai

Kibbutz Yad Mordechai is only about a quarter of an hour's drive from the center of Ashkelon, and is a center of attraction for visitors as it offers a variety of attractions for the whole family, primarily two main points of interest. Whether you're coming to the area for a few days or just popping in, this is a destination you shouldn't miss. The first point in the kibbutz is the Mashoah Letakum museum, a very unique point where the founders tried to capture the history of the Jewish people in the first part of the twentieth century, about the break and its revival. The kibbutz itself is named after Mordechai Anilevich, the commander of the Jewish Fighting Organization (IL) in the Warsaw Ghetto, so the connection between suffering, resistance and revival is not at all coincidental. The second main point of interest in the kibbutz is the Honey and Bee House. Kibbutz Yad Mordechai is the main player in the honey market in Israel, and the center presents visitors with the process of making honey and caring for bees.

Picking center in Nitzan

The settlement of Nitzan is about a quarter of an hour's drive from Ashkelon. The settlement opened its doors to many families who were evacuated from Gush Katif in the disengagement plan in 2005, who have since rebuilt their homes there. As a result, it was decided to open the Katif Center in the settlement, which presents the history of the settlement in Gush Katif (in today's Gaza Strip), the course of the disengagement plan and the intense controversy surrounding it, and the challenges of regrowth after the evacuation of the settlements. With the continuation of the conflict with the Gaza Strip even after the disengagement plan, and especially after the outbreak of the war, the preoccupation with the Israeli settlements that were present in the territories of the Gaza Strip is again on the table. This is an opportunity for anyone who does not know enough about the history of the region to witness the issue.

In conclusion, there is a lot to do in Ashkelon and the surrounding area, and among all the options are also the options of historical and heritage sites. Starting with archaeological sites that are thousands of years old, go through the legacy of the Holocaust and the revival that followed, and end with the history of today. The area has so much to offer, so the list presented here is only a partial sample. The recommendation is to arrive in the area for a sufficient amount of time, so that you can experience it from all directions. It is also recommended to come with your own car, or rent a car from a car rental company in Ashkelon or elsewhere, so that you can take advantage of the best pearls that this area has to offer. And at the end of the trip, when you return home, you will know that you have met another face of the beautiful Land of Israel.