Kiryat Motzkin

Kiryat Motzkin קִרְיַת מוֹצְקִין‎
City
Hebrew transcription(s)
• ISO 259	Qiryat Móçqin (Motzkin)
• Also spelled	Kiryat Motzkin (unofficial)
Mozart Junction in Kiryat Motzkin
Kiryat Motzkin Show map of Haifa region of Israel Kiryat Motzkin Show map of Israel
Coordinates: 32°50′N 35°05′E / 32.833°N 35.083°E / 32.833; 35.083
Country	Israel
District	Haifa
Founded	1934
Government
• Mayor	Tziki Tzvi Avisar (Ind.)
Area
• Total	3,778 dunams (3.778 km2; 1.459 sq mi)
Population  (2023)[1]
• Total	51,349
• Density	13,590/km2 (35,200/sq mi)
	56,300 (September 2025, unofficial)
Ethnicity [1]
• Jews and others	99.9%
• Arabs	0.1%
Website	www.motzkin.co.il

Kiryat Motzkin (Hebrew: קִרְיַת מוֹצְקִין) is a city in the Haifa District of Israel, 8 kilometres (5 miles) north of the city center of Haifa. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2023 it had a population of 51,349.[1] 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.[2] The mayor of the city is Tziki Tzvi Avisar.

Immigrant camp between Kiryat Motzkin & Kiryat Haim 1946 Mozart Junction in Kiryat Motzkin Pianist Square in Kiryat Motzkin

Kiryat Motzkin was founded in 1934, and by 1935 the first school was opened.[3] In 1939, the town had a population of about 2,000 and 345 buildings.[4] 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.[5] 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.

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.[6]

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.

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.[citation needed] The central challenge facing the mayor and the city's planning and engineering teams has been balancing competing priorities: minimizing the density inherent in urban renewal while enabling as many residents as possible to benefit from modern housing that meets current engineering standards. This includes earthquake-resistant construction and protected spaces (safe rooms) for wartime scenarios—two threats of particular relevance to Kiryat Motzkin's geographic and political situation.

The region faces significant seismic hazards 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.[7] The city also faces ballistic threats from rockets and missiles. During the 2023–2024 Israel–Hamas war, known in Israel as the "Swords of Iron war," Kiryat Motzkin was targeted by projectiles from multiple sources, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran, and Houthi forces in Yemen.[8] The city has also experienced terrorist attacks, including a suicide bombing in 2001 that injured 21 people.[9] These security realities have made the inclusion of reinforced safe rooms in new construction a critical priority in the city's urban renewal planning.

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.

Kiryat Motzkin is served by Kiryat Motzkin Railway Station,[10] 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 (also known as Chai Park, Hebrew: חי פארק) is a major zoological facility and recreational complex located in Kiryat Motzkin, established in 2002.[11] Spanning approximately 130 dunams (32 acres), the park serves as one of Israel's prominent zoos and has become a significant tourist attraction in the northern region.[12]

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.

The park houses a diverse collection of animals living in habitats designed to simulate their natural environments. Notable species include elephants (Paula and Lola), giraffes, orangutans, various species of monkeys (including capuchins, macaques, gibbons, and tamarins), lemurs, penguins, flamingos, pelicans, and numerous other bird species.[11] 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, porcupines, deer, and gazelles, and African-themed areas for elephants and other species.[11] Hai-Park is particularly notable for housing lions that were illegally smuggled from Arab countries to Israel, providing them with sanctuary and proper care.

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.[12] The zoo operates comprehensive educational programs for schools, kindergartens, summer camps, and various community groups, offering guided tours and training sessions in multiple languages.[13]

The Mashmaut Center (Hebrew: מרכז משמעות, 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.[14]

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 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.[15]

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.[15] Mashmaut Center maintains active educational partnerships with institutions in Poland and Germany, developing exchange programs for young students and teachers.[16] 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.[17] 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.

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.[16][18]

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.[16]

Kiryat Motzkin is twinned with:[19]

• Yuval Avidor (born 1986), footballer
• Mark Malyar (born 2000), Paralympic champion and world champion para swimmer
• Ofir Mizrahi (born 1993), footballer
• Shuki Schwartz (born 1954), basketball player
• Bar Soloveychik (born 2000), Olympic swimmer

• Official website Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
• Satellite Image from Google Maps