If you’ve taken a tour with me around Jaffa and Neveh Tzedek in Tel Aviv (and if you haven't, why not?) you’ve heard me mention the names Yosef Moyal, Aharon Chelouche and Haim Amzaleg. These three men were influential figures in the Jewish community of Jaffa in the 19th century and in the creation of the Neveh Tzedek neighborhood which later became part of Tel Aviv. They were also instrumental in the creation of another Tel Aviv neighborhood – Kerem HaTeimanim, meaning the Yemenites’ Vineyard, commonly referred to by English speakers as the Yemenite Quarter. Unlike Neveh Tzedek, its neighbor to the south, the residents of this neighborhood were generally poor, and most were Yemenite Jews wh
Sometimes it’s difficult to create a trip which appeals both to young and old. One of the best places in Israel which appeals to all is Beit Guvrin – Maresha National Park. This area has a very long history and has seen many cultures come and go. Maresha was originally a Judean city during the First Temple period (10th – 6th century BCE) and nearby Beit Guvrin was inhabited during the Second Temple Period (late 6th century BCE) and even into the Middle Ages. The site is mentioned in the Bible in connection to King Solomon’s son and heir - “And Rehoboam...built cities for defense in Judah...Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph” (2 Chron. 11:5-8). The area was inhabited by Jews, Greeks, Phoenicians, R
