Where does the name Petach Tikva come from?

In the Haftara for Parshat Bamidbar, Hoshea 2:1-22, we are introduced to the words “Petach Tikva”, portal of hope.

The Haftara can be looked at as a metaphor representing the Jewish nation’s closeness to God that will come with the redemption, which will be granted as a reward for their repentance.

We read in Hoshea 2:17:

And I will give her her vineyards from there, and make the Valley of Achor (troubling) into a portal of hope (petach tikva); she will dwell there as in the days of her youth, and as on the day of her ascent from the land of Egypt.

Metzudat David explains:

The valleys that were ugly and destroyed while B’nai Yisrael were in exile will return to become a portal of hope which will be beautiful and desired and people will hope to be there.

The modern city of Petach Tikva was founded in 1878 by Jews who immigrated to Israel from Europe. They actually wanted the location to be in Achor, near Jericho in order to take the city of trouble and turn it into the city of hope as described in the verse above. However, Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II reneged on the deal so they built it instead in central Israel, six miles east of where Tel Aviv is today.

Petach Tikva became a permanent settlement in 1883 with the backing of the Baron de Rothchild. Known as the mother of the moshavot, it was the first agricultural settlement. Petach Tikva was originally the center for citrus farming. Today, many high tech companies and factories are located there.

Petach Tikva is just one example of the fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies today, with the Land of Israel flourishing with beautiful vineyards and prosperity.

May our troubles disappear and may we continue to hope for a better future.