The name of the city comes from theHebrew wordחוֹלוֹןholon, meaning "(little)sand". The name Holon also appears in theBible: "And Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs" (Book of Joshua 21:15).[3]
Holon was founded in 1935 on sand dunes six kilometers (3.7 miles) from Tel Aviv.[4] The Łódzia textile factory was established there by Jewish immigrants fromŁódź, Poland, along with many other industrial enterprises.[4] In February 1936, the cornerstone was laid for Kiryat Avoda, a Modernist building complex designed by architect Joseph Neufeld to solve the shortage of housing for municipal workers.[5]
In the early months of the1948 Arab–Israeli War, Holon was on the front line, with constant shooting taking place on the border with the village of Tel al-Rish to its northwest—a suburb of ArabJaffa—and clashes also in the direction of the town ofYazur to the east. An attack by the Holon-basedHaganah militia units onTel A-Rish was repulsed with considerable losses.
After the establishment of the state, Holon expanded to include Tel A-Rish (renamedTel Giborim, "The Mound of the Heroes") and the orange groves ofYazur.
Through municipal efforts, the city has been rebranded as a child-friendly city. It offers family attractions such as the Yamit Water Park, the Israeli Children's Museum, and the Israel Museum of Caricature and Comics.[7]
Peres Park
Historic landmarks in Holon slated for preservation include Derech Habitachon ("Safe Road"), paved during the1948 Arab-Israeli War; water towers in theMoledet and Azor neighborhoods; Hosmasa, a building used by theHaganah; the pillbox guard post; Stroma Square, Mansbach health clinic, Hameshakem building, the Agrobank neighborhood and two schools – Bialik and Shenkar.[8] A new neighborhood, Migdalim Bashdera, is under construction,[when?] with plans for 23 upscale residential towers, a new city hall, several cultural and commercial centers, some of them already built. A French urban planner was commissioned to design a north-south boulevard with pedestrian walks, bicycle paths, sports fields, parks and waterfalls.[7]The last undeveloped land reserve remaining in Holon is theH-500 Holon plan, that consists of approximately 4,080 dunams in the south of the city, and is intended to consist of 13,700 dwelling units in total.[9]
On June 19, 2025,Iranian missile strike on a residential block in the city, leaving it in ruins and injuring dozens of people.[10]
Holon hosts a variety of springtime events, including the Yemay Zemer (Days of Song) Festival duringPassover and a Women's Festival in March, both at the Holon Theater. Holon is also one of the host cities for theRhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix Series in March.[14] Israeli violinistPinchas Zukerman runs a summer music camp in the city for young violinists.[15]Since the election of MayorMoti Sasson in 1993, many cultural projects have been inaugurated. Billing itself as a "children's city," Holon is home to theHolon Children's Museum and the Mediatheque youth theater.[16] Holon also plays host each year to a street carnival in celebration of the Jewish holiday ofPurim, theAdloyada. Thousands of children dress up in costumes and the streets close down for a parade featuring colorful floats.[17]
Holon Children's Museum - inaugurated in 2001, located in Peres Park in the southeast of the city.
Israeli Center for Digital Art - inaugurated in 2001, promotes digital art in Israel.
Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics - inaugurated in 2007, a museum that presents works by Israeli artists on the subjects of comics and cartoons.
Médiathèque (Holon) - inaugurated in 2004, one part of it is the largest and most sophisticated public library in Israel. The second part is a theater for young people.
Historical Vehicle Museum - contains a rare collection of "Egged" historical buses, some of them from before the establishment of the state. All buses are restored to their authentic condition and are roadworthy. The museum is located on the grounds of the "Egged" Holon parking lot in the south of the city, in Kiryat Ben-Gurion.
The Puppet Theater Center - The center contains the Museum of the Art of Puppetry, a performance hall and the School of the Art of Puppetry.[20][21] The International Festival of Puppet Theater and Film, featuring puppet makers and artists from Israel and around the world, has been held annually in July since 1995 at the Puppet Theater Center in Holon.[22]
In the municipal budget for 2025, approved on December 23, 2024, Mayor Keinan implemented drastic cuts to the funding of the city's museums: the budget for the Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics was reduced by 100%; the budget for the Design Museum was reduced by 96%; the budget for the Children's Museum reduced by 60% ; and the Puppet Theater Center was permanently closed.[23]
In 1954, the president of Israel,Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, helped to establish aSamaritan quarter on the outskirts of Holon. The quarter was namedNeve Pinchas after Pinhas Ben-Abraham, the high priest of the Samaritan community.[24]
Holon is one of only two cities in the world to have a Samaritan community, the other being the village ofKiryat Luza onMount Gerizim aboveNablus on theWest Bank.
Israel
Tel Aviv
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Andong, South Korea
Anshan, China
Cleveland, United States
Hann. Münden, Germany
Suresnes, France
