Jaffa Light
Encyclopedia
Jaffa Light is a lighthouse
in Jaffa, Israel. It is located on a hilltop above the old Jaffa Port
. It operated between 1865 and 1966, although it is still used as a daylight navigation aid.
The lighthouse is fenced and closed to the public, though the site is open.
The lighthouse appeared on a stamp issued in 26 November 2009 in Israel.
authorities to improve the port facilities, mainly due to the increase in export of citrus fruit, and especially orange
s, the well known "Jaffa orange
s".
In 1936 the British expanded the port and rebuilt the lighthouse.
In 1965 Port of Ashdod
was built, replacing Jaffa Port. In 1966 the crystal glass was taken to be used in the Ashdod Light
, and the lighthouse was shut down. Jaffa Port become a small craft port.
The lighthouse keeper
from 1875 was an Armenian
who came from Jerusalem. He was trained by the same French company who built the lighthouse. Around 1938 his son was trained by the same French company and replaced him, probably as result of the lighthouse being rebuilt. His grandson, Abu George, was the "technician", responsible for keeping the lamp lit. The son was the official keeper until the lighthouse was shut down in 1966.
The lamp on the 1936 lighthouse was a Carbide lamp
.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
in Jaffa, Israel. It is located on a hilltop above the old Jaffa Port
Jaffa Port
Jaffa Port is an ancient port located in the Old City of Jaffa, Israel.Jaffa and its port have a history spanning over three millennia. The port itself is mentioned in various ancient works, including the Bible and Josephus. Still functional as a small fishing port, the port is currently a...
. It operated between 1865 and 1966, although it is still used as a daylight navigation aid.
The lighthouse is fenced and closed to the public, though the site is open.
The lighthouse appeared on a stamp issued in 26 November 2009 in Israel.
History
Jaffa Light was built by French engineers in 1865. It was built as part of operations carried out by the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
authorities to improve the port facilities, mainly due to the increase in export of citrus fruit, and especially orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
s, the well known "Jaffa orange
Jaffa orange
The Jaffa orange, also Shamouti orange, is a sweet, almost seedless orange variety. Originally developed by Palestinian farmers in the mid-19th century, it takes its name from the city of Jaffa where it was first produced for export. It became a primary citrus export of the State of Israel...
s".
In 1936 the British expanded the port and rebuilt the lighthouse.
In 1965 Port of Ashdod
Port of Ashdod
The Port of Ashdod is one of Israel's two main cargo ports. The port is located in Ashdod, about 40 kilometers south of Tel Aviv, adjoining the mouth of the Lachish River. Its establishment doubled the country's port capacity. It is a major point of entry for both cargo and tourists in and out of...
was built, replacing Jaffa Port. In 1966 the crystal glass was taken to be used in the Ashdod Light
Ashdod Light
Ashdod Light , is a lighthouse in Ashdod, Israel. It is located in Yona Hill , a above sea level hill at the northern part Ashdod, just south of the Port of Ashdod. The site and the lighthouse are closed to the public....
, and the lighthouse was shut down. Jaffa Port become a small craft port.
The lighthouse keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
from 1875 was an Armenian
Armenians in Israel
The Armenian community has been resident in the Levant for two millennia. After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and the establishment of the State of Israel, a number of Armenians residing in what had been the British Mandate of Palestine took up Israeli citizenship, whereas other Armenian residents of...
who came from Jerusalem. He was trained by the same French company who built the lighthouse. Around 1938 his son was trained by the same French company and replaced him, probably as result of the lighthouse being rebuilt. His grandson, Abu George, was the "technician", responsible for keeping the lamp lit. The son was the official keeper until the lighthouse was shut down in 1966.
The lamp on the 1936 lighthouse was a Carbide lamp
Carbide lamp
Carbide lamps, properly known as acetylene gas lamps, are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene which is created by the reaction of calcium carbide with water....
.