Colourful Haifa
When we decided to move to Haifa in 1982, it was after only brief consideration. Our eldest child was on the way, and we wanted to raise our family in a multicultural environment —one where tolerance wasn’t just an ideal but a way of life.
Joe Bennett, the father of our former (and hopefully future) prime minister, was the estate agent who showed us our first flat. Since then, we have lived in the same neighbourhood, moving three times but never far. Our neighbourhood is known for the fact that seventy percent of children raised here return to live here as adults. In our case, two of our three children live just down the street, which means we have seven of our ten grandchildren living nearby.
All Israelis
Our children went to a public school alongside Muslim, Druze, Christian, and Baha’i classmates. They learned English as well as Arabic. What united them all was that they are all Israelis. And this was important to us, because we believe prejudice can be prevented when you invest in the future—and children are the future.
A Multicultural City
Haifa is a multicultural city woven together by the threads the new Israeli culture. At its port, ships are loaded and unloaded during the day, and at night dozens of trucks with heavy containers leave for Jordan and even Saudi Arabia.
During the month of December, we celebrate the ‘Feast of Feasts’ in Haifa for four weeks. This is widely known. Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve and sometimes Ramadan are celebrated together in the old city down by the port. Half a million visitors come from across Israel and abroad to experience this unique spectacle. Ben Gurion Boulevard, stretching from the harbour to the foot of the fairytale Baha’i Gardens, is at its busiest, while in the middle of the street stands a large Christmas tree next to a Chanukiah (eight-branched candelabra). Once a year, we have an ‘open day of religion’, when mosques, synagogues and churches are open to visitors and explanations are provided. This is a great way to learn about other cultures.
December in Haifa with Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s | Photo: Flash90
Conversations
After 43 years in this city, I have developed a circle of friends as diverse as the city itself. This was not intentional, it is just a reflection of life in Haifa. Tragically, some terrorist attacks have underscored our diversity: the victims, like the city, came from many different backgrounds. Haifa isn’t perfect. We have problems, but we solve them through conversation, not conflict.
‘We have problems, but we solve them through conversation, not conflict.’
Tolerance
A few years ago, our daughter decided to get married on Independence Day. It was a deliberate decision. Among the guests was Wassim, a friend of our son, a Muslim and an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause. He’s been a close friend of our son since childhood and a regular visitor to our home since he was five. Though we don’t share his views, we respect him, and he respects us. On the day of the wedding, Wassim arrived just before the ceremony—straight from a Nakba demonstration, still wearing his ‘Free Palestine’ T-shirt. I looked at him and he gestured that he would change, which he did immediately. That tolerance is characteristic of Haifa. Different opinions are good for discussion, but it is not a competition to see who is right. When we look out from the Louis Boulevard onto our beautiful bay and the mountains of Lebanon, we hear Hebrew, as well as Arabic and Russian. Some of the Russians who have come to live here are Christian and go to church down in the old town. No one minds. Many doctors, nurses and pharmacists are Arab. There is nothing unusual about that in our city. By the way: you can only taste the best hummus in the world in Haifa.
Home
No, this is not a promotional pitch for Haifa—although you are more than welcome to visit! It is simply a description of the city that has become my home over the years. The endless beaches, museums, parks and seaside boulevards are a delight to walk along— which is necessary after a delicious oriental meal in one of our restaurants. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend a specific restaurant: I have been to many restaurants and still don’t know which one is the best. You’ll just have to come and decide for yourself.
