Rehovot, Rehovot

Israel Belkind, one of the original founders of the settlement, proposed the name Rehovot (lit. 'wide expanses') based on Genesis 26:22 : "And he called the name of it Rehoboth ; and he said: 'For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.'" The name was accepted. In 1908 they were joined by immigrants from Yemen, who settled in the city's Sha'arayim district.

Walid Khalidi (Editor), 'All that Remains: Palestinian vilages occupied and depopulated by Israel in 1948'. IPS, Washington. 1992. ISBN 0 88728 224 5. page 425 In 1995, there were 337,800 people living in the greater Rehovot area. As of 2007, the ethnic makeup of the city was 99.8% Jewish. There were 49,600 males and 52,300 females, of whom 31.6% were 19 years of age or younger, 16.1% between the ages of 20 and 29, 18.2% between 30 and 44, 18.2% from 45 to 59, 3.5% from 60 to 64, and 12.3% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate was 1.8%.

According to Israel Central Bureau of Statistics data [1] 61.3% of 12th grade students were entitled to a matriculation certificate. The city is home to the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. There are also a number of smaller junior colleges in Rehovot that provide specialized and technical training. In addition, Kaplan Hospital acts as an ancillary teaching hospital for the Medical School of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Maccabi Sha'arayim play in Liga Bet, the fifth level, whilst Maccabi Rehovot play in Liga Gimel, the sixth and lowest division.

Source: Wikipedia > Rehovot