Human settlement back to the Chalcolithic has been found on the site.
Antiquity and Bible
Or Yehuda is located on the site of the biblical town of Ono. The name was used by Canaanites and then by Israelites as well, all throughout the First and Second Temple periods. Jewish classical writings mention the city as being formerly enclosed by a wall.
Ottoman period
The built-up area of two Muslim Palestinian villages, Kafr 'Ana in the east and Saqiya to the west, are located within the current Or Yehuda city limits. Both villages date back to at least the 16th century.
British Mandate
In the 1931 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Kafr 'Ana had a population of 1,824 in 449 houses and Saqiya 663 inhabitants in 142 houses. In the end of April 1948, the Haganah launched military operation Hametz, which aimed to conquer several villages inland from Jaffa to isolate it from the Arab hinterland. The fate awaiting the inhabitants was not made explicit, other than stating the inhabitants would be allowed to leave, but a general order envisaged 'cleansing the area' and the villages of Kafr 'Ana and Saqiya were depopulated.
In 1949, immigrants from Libya and Turkey settled in the ruins buildings of the villages of Saqiya and Kafr 'Ana, which did not have water or sewage infrastructure. In 1950-1953 the Ma'abarot Saqiya A, Saqiya B, Kafr 'Ana A, and Kafr 'Ana B were established on the previous village lands. These Ma'abarot housed mainly immigrants from Iraq who arrived as part of Operation Ezra and Nehemiah. Ma'abarot at the time were treated by authorities as temporary accommodations until permanent resettlement could occur on-site or elsewhere. Attempts to induce neighboring Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan to extend their municipal borders to cover these Ma'abarot failed, and the Ma'abarot residents resisted relocation to development towns in the north and south. In 1952 the religious settlement of Ramat Pinkas was established for some of the Ma'abarot residents. The modern town of Or Yehuda was officially established by the State of Israel in 1955, and in 1962 Or Yehuda was recognized as a municipal planning authority, which led to increased development. In 1988, Or Yehuda was declared a city, due to the increase in the number of residents. In April 2001, Hamassuicide bombers blew up a car in Or Yehuda, injuring eight people. In 2008, the Ef'al Regional Council was liquidated, and lands belonging to the council south of route 461, including Ramat Pinkas, were annexed to Or Yehuda.
Demographics
According to the CBS, in 2001 the ethnic makeup of the city was 100.0% Jewish. In 2001 there were 13,900 males and 14,000 females. The population of the city was spread out with 34.6% 19 years of age or younger, 17.7% between 20 and 29, 20.5% between 30 and 44, 15.8% from 45 to 59, 3.1% from 60 to 64, and 8.2% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate in 2001 was 3.4%.
Economy
, a developer of online translation programs that holds the Guinness World Record for the highest number of downloads of a language solution software, is based in Or Yehuda. The headquarters of the National Roads Company of Israel is located in Or Yehuda.
Education and culture
In 2000, Or Yehuda had 14 schools and a student enrollment of 5,147 students. 55.7% of 12th graders were entitled to a matriculation certificate in 2001. In 1982, Or Yehuda was one of the first few cities to take part in the :he:המרכז הישראלי לקידום מדעי המתמטיקה|Program for Talented Youth in Mathematics, established by Professor Zvi Arad and Bernark Pinchuk, at Bar-Ilan University. Among the high-school students of Or Yehuda participating in this program was Boaz Tsaban, who proceeded to win national prizes for his achievements, and is now a Professor of mathematics at Bar-Ilan University. The Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center, a museum documenting the history of the Iraqi Jewish community, was established in Or Yehuda in 1988. The museum, located at Mordechai Ben-Porat Av No. 83, also includes a library.
