In the late 19^th century, Jaffa began to attract new interest, and more and more people moved into the city. Eventually its walls began bursting at the seams. Conditions in the city were a disaster; filth and congestion caused discomfort and disease. Feeling a resistance rising against them, Jaffa’s Jewish leaders decided to find a new location for their people. Outside the walls there was only sand and a sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, they held a lottery for plots on the shores. In places the sand dunes over a dozen meters high with a dry wadi running through the middle. Using gray and white shells with plot numbers and family names etched inside, Tel Aviv was born. Some years before Tel Aviv was established, the founder of modern Jewish nationalism, Theodore Herzl, wrote a book called Altneuland (Old New Land). In his book he described what life in the first modern city of the Jewish State would be like. Although Tel Aviv of today may not be exactly what he envisioned, it is close enough. And the city’s name, which means Hill of Spring, is an interesting Hebrew translation of the book’s title.

Seen from Jaffa today, Tel Aviv is truly "the city that never sleeps". The commercial heart of Israel's economy, culture and nightlife - it boasts an opera house, a variety of theater companies, and fabulous restaurants. No visit to Israel is complete without a stroll down Dizengoff street (named after Tel Aviv's' first mayor) or simply enjoying a cappuccino at one of its many outdoor cafes.