Kiryat Motzkin () is a city in the Haifa District of Israel, north of the city center of Haifa. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, in it had a population of . However, as of September 2025, the unofficial population count is 56,300, reflecting significant growth not yet captured in official statistics. The city is named after Leo Motzkin (1867-1933), one of the organizers of the First Zionist Congress in 1897.[Hareouveni, Emanouel (1974). The Settlements of Israel and Their Archaeological sites (in Hebrew). Israel: Hakibbutz Hameuchad. p. 293] The mayor of the city is Tziki Tzvi Avisar.
History
Kiryat Motzkin was founded in 1934, and by 1935 the first school was opened.
[ הינכם מוזמנים להיכנס בשערי אתר האינטרנט של מוזיאון בית גרושקביץ - לתולדות קריית מוצקין Kiryat Motzkin Municipality] In 1939, the town had a population of about 2,000 and 345 buildings.
Kiryat Motzkin railway station was constructed by British Mandatory Palestine in 1937.
In the Second World War, Kiryat Motzkin suffered from German\Italian air bombarding.
[ Kiryat Motzkin city.]
It received local council status in 1940.
During the 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine, an important battle took place near Kiryat Motzkin when the
Haganah destroyed an Arab arms convoy and killed the commander of Arab forces in the process. This contributed to the Jewish victory in the Battle of Haifa.
Demographics
Kiryat Motzkin has experienced significant immigration waves throughout its history, contributing to its diverse population. Approximately 40% of the city's residents are immigrants from the former Soviet Union or their descendants, significantly influencing the city's cultural landscape.
According to the Israeli Interior Ministry, in 2024 the ethnic makeup of the city was predominantly Jewish and other non-Arabs. There were 25,000 males and 28,000 females, with 25.5% of the population 19 years of age or younger, 15.2% between 20 and 29, 19.0% between 30 and 44, 20.1% from 45 to 59, 4.5% from 60 to 64, and 15.9% 65 years of age or older.
The city has been experiencing positive migration, with more people moving in than out. This trend is attributed to the city's reputation as a safe, quiet, and comfortable place to live.
The socio-economic status of Kiryat Motzkin's residents is considered high within the Haifa metropolitan area. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest), the city's population ranks 7, indicating a relatively affluent community.
Economy and Employment
Kiryat Motzkin is primarily a commuter town, with most residents working outside the city. However, its population contributes significantly to the broader regional economy. A substantial portion of Kiryat Motzkin's residents are academics who work in high-tech companies, the oil industry, academia, and advanced defense industries, primarily in nearby Haifa or in the industrial zones of neighboring cities.
Urban Development
Kiryat Motzkin has exhausted its land reserves for new construction. As a result, the city's urban future lies in
urban renewal projects. These projects aim to modernize and densify existing neighborhoods while maintaining the city's character as a comfortable suburban area.
Following the election of Tziki Tzvi Avisar as mayor, the city began planning and advancing comprehensive urban renewal projects in the older neighborhoods of Kiryat Motzkin. In the first year of his tenure, preliminary approval was granted for the construction of over 4,500 new housing units to replace approximately 1,500 older units.
The region faces significant due to its location along the Dead Sea Transform fault system. Historically, Israel has experienced severe earthquakes once a century, on average, with the last major event occurring in 1927, which caused significant damage to cities including Safed, Ramla, Lod, and Nablus.
Education
There are 18 schools and 11,000 students in Kiryat Motzkin, with 8 elementary schools (4,000 students) and 6 high schools (4,500 students). In 2023, 91.1% of 12th-grade students were eligible for a matriculation certificate.
Transportation
Kiryat Motzkin is served by Kiryat Motzkin Railway Station,
which is on the main Coastal railway line to
Nahariya, with southerly trains to
Beersheba and Modi'in. The Krayot Central Bus Station is located on the northern edge of the municipality and serves as a terminus for the
Metronit bus rapid transit system and local bus routes.
Hai-Park Zoo
Hai-Park (also known as
Chai Park, ) is a major zoological facility and recreational complex located in Kiryat Motzkin, established in 2002.
Spanning approximately 130
(32 acres), the park serves as one of Israel's prominent zoos and has become a significant tourist attraction in the northern region.
Membership and Standards
The zoo is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), which enables international cooperation in animal exchange programs and ensures adherence to the highest standards of animal welfare and conservation. Hai-Park places significant emphasis on educational programs, conservation efforts, and sustainability initiatives. The facility maintains high standards of animal care, which have earned recognition and appreciation from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Animal Collection and Habitats
The park houses a diverse collection of animals living in habitats designed to simulate their natural environments. Notable species include
(Paula and Lola),
,
, various species of
(including
,
,
, and
),
,
,
,
, and numerous other bird species.
The zoo features specialized environments representing different geographical regions: an Alaska-themed habitat for penguins, Israeli habitat zones for native species such as
fallow deer,
, deer, and
, and African-themed areas for elephants and other species.
Hai-Park is particularly notable for housing lions that were illegally smuggled from Arab countries to Israel, providing them with sanctuary and proper care.
Facilities and Programs
The facility includes a petting zoo, educational exhibits with informational signs in Hebrew and Arabic about the trees and vegetation throughout the park, restaurant, an amphitheater for outdoor concerts and events during summer months, and an indoor theater for year-round programming.
The zoo operates comprehensive educational programs for schools, kindergartens, summer camps, and various community groups, offering guided tours and training sessions in multiple languages.
Mashmaut Center
The
Mashmaut Center (, meaning "Significance Center") is a Holocaust education and heritage institution established in 1994 in Kiryat Motzkin. Founded by Dr. Lea Ganor, who serves as its director, the center was created in collaboration with the Municipality of Kiryat Motzkin and the Ministry of Education's Haifa District.
Mission and Programs
Mashmaut, an acronym in Hebrew for Heritage, Holocaust, Tradition, Values, and Revival (מורשת, שואה, מסורת, ערכים ותקומה), serves as an experiential learning site for young generations and the broader community. The center conducts study days, experiential workshops, and lectures addressing themes of Jewish heritage, the Holocaust, tradition, values, and national revival. A particular emphasis is placed on relevant issues concerning the Jewish people in Israel and the
Jewish diaspora, Holocaust remembrance and revival, combating
antisemitism, and educational relationships with Poland and Germany through interdisciplinary educational programs.
The center's activities engage diverse groups including students, youth and adult delegations from abroad, teachers, soldiers, Holocaust survivors, new immigrants, and the local community. Mashmaut organizes and oversees Holocaust remembrance and commemoration activities in the city and serves as a hub for Holocaust survivors, who form a cornerstone of the center's daily activities while maintaining continuous and regular contact with the survivors.
Educational Initiatives
The center develops innovative educational programs on Holocaust education and encourages students to commemorate Holocaust victims through creative projects and written works. One of its signature programs, "Before Our Eyes" (לנגד עינינו), creates meaningful interactions between Holocaust survivors and second and third generations, including special events such as "Flower to the Survivor," where soldiers present survivors with certificates of appreciation.
Mashmaut Center maintains active educational partnerships with institutions in Poland and Germany, developing exchange programs for young students and teachers.
The center has established relationships with German cities including a significant partnership with
Magdeburg, which became an official sister city of Kiryat Motzkin in November 2024, with the Mashmaut Center playing a central role in this partnership focused on Holocaust remembrance dialogue.
Following the election of Tziki Tzvi Avisar as Mayor of Kiryat Motzkin, the Mashmaut Center's budget was significantly increased, along with enhanced funding for youth delegations abroad as part of educational and sports exchange programs. The center plays a central role in shaping the content and direction of Kiryat Motzkin's foreign relations with its sister cities, contributing to the development of meaningful international partnerships focused on education, cultural exchange, and Holocaust remembrance.
Recognition and Awards
The center has received considerable recognition for its educational work both in Israel and internationally:
In the 1995–1996 academic year, the center received a Certificate of Excellence from the Knesset, awarded by then-Knesset Chairman Professor Shevach Weiss, along with Yehudit Hausner and the Department of Torah Culture, for writing unique curricula on the Holocaust and encouraging students to commemorate Holocaust victims through written works.
In the 1999–2000 academic year, Yad Vashem awarded Dr. Lea Ganor, the center's director, the "Educator of the Year 2000" prize.
In November 2020, Dr. Ganor received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland from the President of Poland in recognition of her contribution to developing Israeli-Polish dialogue.
Dr. Ganor also serves as a Spiegel Fellow, Senior Scholar, and Coordinator of the Poland Forum at the Finkler Institute of Holocaust Research at Bar-Ilan University, reflecting the center's academic connections and scholarly contributions to Holocaust research and education.
Twin towns – sister cities
Kiryat Motzkin is
Sister city with:
-
Bad Kreuznach (district), Germany
-
Bad Segeberg, Germany
-
Haßberge (district), Germany
-
Hof, Germany
-
Kaifeng, China
-
Magdeburg, Germany
-
Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic
-
Nyíregyháza, Hungary
-
Orlando, United States
-
Płońsk, Poland
-
Radzyń Podlaski County, Poland
-
Włodawa County, Poland
Notable people
External links
