📚 This Day in History: The Birth of Hebrew Education

📚 This Day in History: The Birth of Hebrew Education 

On this day in 1905, a small group of visionary teachers in Ottoman-era Jaffa opened the first Hebrew high school in the world, a bold experiment in reviving an ancient language as the living voice of a modern nation.

That school was the Gymnasia Herzliya, named in honour of Theodor Herzl, & it became one of the cornerstones of the Zionist cultural revival. It was designed by architect Yehuda Magidovich & it stood on Herzl Street. Completed in 1910, the building stood right in the heart of the new city of Tel Aviv - founded in 1909.

The striking towered structure was among the city’s first public buildings; it became iconic with its tall central tower, arched windows & oriental-European style, symbolising both the rebirth of Hebrew culture & the optimism of early Zionist pioneers. It even appeared on Israel’s 50-shekel banknote, commemorating its role as a national symbol.

Teaching in Hebrew was a revolution in itself as until that time, Hebrew was largely a language of prayer & scripture. The founders of the Gymnasia believed it could also be a language of science, mathematics, literature & everyday life.
They developed new words, coined modern terms, & trained generations of teachers who would later establish schools across the Land of Israel.

Sadly, the original building was demolished in 1959
at a time when Tel Aviv’s leadership prioritised rapid urban development & modernisation. The site was prime real estate in the growing city centre & was sold to developers, despite public protests.

Its demolition sparked one of Israel’s first major heritage preservation debates. Many Israelis mourned the loss of what was seen as the architectural heart of Tel Aviv’s founding era.

On the original site now stands the Shalom Meir Tower (Migdal Shalom), completed in 1965, it was Israel’s first skyscraper & at the time, the tallest building in the Middle East. Its architectural evolution mirrors Tel Aviv’s transformation from small neighbourhood to bustling city, from Ottoman frontier to modern metropolis.

The Gymnasia was rebuilt & relocated to Jabotinsky Street in northern Tel Aviv, where it continues to operate today as a leading academic high school. Today the campus features a gate that echoes the façade of the 1909 building, reminding students & visitors of the institution’s deep roots & enduring mission.

The new campus retains the school’s pioneering spirit - teaching in Hebrew, fostering innovation & preserving its historic motto: “For the People and the Land.”

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