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 Food
In 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
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Throughout the world, many neighborhoods have groups of streets with names related to a specific theme. For example, growing up in Long Beach, New York, I lived on Walnut Street and my friends lived on Olive, Pine, Maple and Beech. Likewise, before making aliyah, we lived in Bergenfield NJ on
Jerusalem’s Streets: Neighborhood Themes Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Travel and Food
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — My friend recently texted me from Tel Aviv: “What are the chances that I would be on Imber Street in the morning and at the Hatikvah Market on Hatikvah Street in the afternoon? Unbelievable!” After I pleaded ignorance, my friend helped me connect the dots and gain an appreciation of
Hatikvah: The Bohemian’s Rhapsody Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsBy Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Over 10 years ago, I wanted to make an offer to buy a house in New Jersey and the agent told me to submit my offer in the form of a signed contract. She explained – and my lawyer subsequently confirmed – that upon the seller’s acceptance of the offer, my
Before Signing on the Dotted Line… Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, OpinionTthere are unfortunately hundreds of men and women who died in military operations before and during the creation of the State of Israel, whose history is incomplete. Most of these soldiers were European refugees, often the last remaining members of their families, who escaped the long arm of Nazi terror only to be killed fighting for the Jewish nation. Unfortunately, upon their death, no relatives existed to provide basic information, such as parents’ names, date and place of birth, and marital status. [Gedaliah Borvick]
Remembering Holocaust Survivors who Died in Israel’s War for Independence Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — As we are entering into the High Holy Days, in which music plays a major role, let’s focus on one of Israel’s most beloved musicians. Poet, songwriter, composer, and singer Naomi Shemer has streets named after her in almost twenty cities across Israel. And for good reason, as she was
The Power of Music Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts
By Gedaliah Borvick JERUSALEM — Israel enjoys a strong relationship with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, two countries that comprise the former Czechoslovakia. To understand the root of this special relationship, let’s go back over 130 years and focus on Tomas Masaryk. The name Masaryk may ring a bell, as streets in over half a
Like Father, Like Son Read More »
Gedaliah Borvick, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle EastThe government created the Building Construction Index to protect all parties’ interests. When someone purchases an apartment in a project under construction, the unpaid portion of the price becomes linked to the BCI. Parenthetically, buyers who are risk averse can often accelerate their payment schedule and prepay the lion’s share of the purchase price, thus limiting their inflation risk. [Gedaliah Borvick].
Inflation Index Adds to Cost of Buying Homes in Israel Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Middle East