Henry Kissinger’s relationship with Jews and the State of Israel was complicated, and experts disagree whether he was a friend, foe, or something in between. [Gedaliah Borvick]
Henry Kissinger: Friend or Foe of Israel? Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA
Givat Hamatos will have 2,600 apartments. Another 2,400 residential units will be built adjacent to this neighborhood along Derech Chevron, plus 5,000 units are being planned in Amat Hamayim, on the eastern side of Derech Chevron next to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. This 10,000-unit community will be Jerusalem’s first modern urban-planned neighborhood, and will feature large parks, a wealth of public buildings – such as schools, community centers and shuls – plus shopping centers, office buildings and hotels. [Gedaliah Borvick]
Givat Hamatos: Central Jerusalem’s Newest Neighborhood Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Eden Hills is an exciting new yishuv that is finally welcoming its first residents. The opportunity to live in a small-town setting in nature, yet close to the communal infrastructure of Beit Shemesh, has made Eden Hills a destination for many families. Eden Hills’ history is fascinating. Back in 1990,
The Garden of Eden Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Travel and Food
Born in Poland in 1917 and emigrated to Palestine at the age of eight, Rabbi Goren was a brilliant, colorful, and sometimes controversial, Talmudist and halakhist. Young Shlomo Goren was a prodigy: at the tender age of twelve, he began his formal Talmud studies as the youngest student ever at Jerusalem’s Hebron Yeshiva and he published the first of many books when he was just seventeen years old. [Gedaliah Borvick]
The Man for Whom Ma’alot Harav Shlomo Goren Was Named Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — A few days after the outbreak of the war, I went into a neighborhood hardware store where two old timers were muttering that things would be different today if only Begin were still prime minister. My goal is not to disparage Netanyahu or any of Israel’s politicians. Rather, I would
If Only We Had Menachem Begin Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — We had the great honor of marketing a lovely apartment in Jerusalem’s Sha’are Chesed neighborhood for the estate of Yehuda Avner. Standing in Avner’s office and viewing numerous photos of him with leading world leaders felt like I was taking a stroll through the history of the State of Israel.
The Ultimate Insider Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, USA
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — A reader asked me: “I see on the Jerusalem maps that Gonen is extremely well located, so why have I never heard of this community?” The answer is that, despite the government’s new “Israeli” name, everyone still refers to the Jerusalem neighborhood by its original name: Katamon. Katamon is located
Why Have I Never Heard of Gonen? Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Travel and Food
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — “Hope and optimism, the ability to adapt and transform ourselves, and the commitment to sustain our dreams, are the real keys to survival . . . but throughout it all, we must also have a Jewish homeland to keep us safe.” These are the values, penned by daughter Danna, that buoyed
Clutching Our Dreams Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, International, Israel, Jewish History, USA
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Nachlaot is a cluster of over two dozen Jerusalem neighborhoods centrally located between Sha’are Chessed and the famous Machane Yehuda shuk. Nachlaot, which means lands of inheritance, became home to communities of Jews who emigrated from many different lands throughout the Diaspora. Nachlaot’s neighborhoods were established beginning in the 1870s
Nachlaot: A Cultural Mosaic of the Jewish Diaspora Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Travel and Food
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — A couple of weeks ago, I drove my daughter to her apartment on Yoni Netanyahu Street in Givat Shmuel. Gazing at the street sign hearkened me back to July 4, 1976, when we heard the miraculous news of the daring Operation Entebbe in which over 100 hostages were rescued. Sadly,
Feeling Very Far Away Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Travel and Food
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Many schools across Israel distribute yahrzeit candles for students and their families to light on the evening of Yom Hashoah. Affixed to the candle is the name of a Holocaust victim and a QR code (a type of barcode) which one can scan to learn about that person. As 6
Heroism in the Warsaw Ghetto Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — The State of Israel is one of the few countries in the world experiencing positive population growth. In 2022, Israel’s population increased by over 1.5%, over four times the average of developed countries. In comparison, the U.S. grew by .38%, China’s population was flat at 0%, and Italy’s population declined
The Disappearing House Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Travel and FoodIn October 2022, the Israeli government approved the establishment of a museum in honor of Albert Einstein, to be located on The Hebrew University’s Safra Campus in Givat Ram, Jerusalem. In addition to the new museum, Albert Einstein’s name is prevalent in Israel, as it adorns street signs in Lod, Petach Tikva, and Haifa. These cities have honored Einstein because, in addition to being arguably the most brilliant scientific mind in the twentieth century, and a Jew, he was also a devoted supporter of the State of Israel. [Gedaliah Borvick]
Albert Einstein’s Special Relationship with Israel Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — My company’s Netanya maven, Ruthie Yudin, texted me from Dona Gracia Street in Netanya. Googling the street name, she was blown away by Ms. Gracia’s life, and wrote: “Her story must be told!” Although streets in Tiberias and Haifa are also named in her memory, I was surprised that Dona
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous — and Generous Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, International, Israel, Jewish History