Content with life in Givatayim, a city with ‘a village atmosphere’
How did you get to Givatayim?
“I was born in this city [just outside Tel Aviv], but I moved away after I got married, because Givatayim at that time was considered a city for old people, with young people fleeing it. I returned in 1978, after my sister died suddenly, since my parents wanted me to come and live close to them. We managed to buy an apartment on their street, where we had grown up. We paid 280,000 [pre-shekel] lira for it” – 230,000 shekels, or $64,000, in today’s money.
“The apartment is on the ground floor of a four-story building that was built in the early 1950s as part of a neighborhood called Neve Hayal, built for people who had served in the 1948 War of Independence. These were tiny, 45-50-square meter [485-540-square-foot] apartments, devoid of any luxury, built in the cheapest possible way. The doors didn’t even have jambs. The best thing about them was their large yards, which, in a time of austerity, encouraged tenants to grow vegetables and plant fruit trees, which they indeed did.
“The neighborhood was established as an association, and the bylaws determined how a yard was to be shared by the tenants. These divisions are maintained to this day, by consensus. The yards had citrus trees, vegetables, even chickens. Over the years, tenants renovated and enlarged their apartments; 20 years ago we also renovated, and built large windows looking out over the yard instead of at the street.
“It’s a colorful apartment, with blue being the dominant color; a neighbor once said, ‘Ah, you’re the one from the blue apartment.’ There is nothing expensive in it, but there are many old items with sentimental value, such as old sewing machines, an oil lamp, a small gas stove, heirloom lamps, and old furniture from the flea market. There’s also a mosaic table that I built and a collection of model birds that I bring from every trip we take around the world.
“In the yard we have some fruit trees, such as pitango [Surinam cherry], pomegranate, kumquat, feijoa, some vines and a few vegetables, as much as I can fit in after all the construction around it robbed me of the sunshine. But our building is not slated for demolition so far, and I prefer it that way.”
Wouldn’t you like a new apartment under the Tama [government urban renewal initiative] plan?
“A new apartment would be worth more, but I don’t intend to sell it, I intend to live in it, so Tama would only be good for my children, not for me. I’m not one of those people who are attracted by more money than they need to live on. This apartment is enough for me. Now everyone is pursuing Tama and a new and modern apartment, but in the end, they all look the same.
“We now have four apartments in the building and I don’t need 12, since that would change the dynamics. We don’t even have a housing committee or a gardener. We take turns cleaning, like in the old days. No one bothers me and the yard is good for my soul. I prefer to keep the special character of this place. I may be one of the last people in the world who thinks like that, but it’s not clear how long this will truly last.”
What are the advantages and drawbacks of living here?
“Givatayim is a very pleasant city. I grew up here, I was a high school principal, and when I walk down the street I know everyone, I feel at home. I live in a quiet location in the city center, everything is within walking distance, with a neighborhood grocery and convenient public transportation into Tel Aviv, and I feel safe here. All the years I’ve lived here, no one has broken into my house even once, and honestly, thieves have nothing to look for other than some junk which has value only to me.
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“On the other hand, this is a densely populated city with very few parking spaces, and the Tama development is threatening every good thing about it. It will only make this city more overcrowded than it already is.”
What are your insights about life here?
“I once lived in a kibbutz and at the Hadassim Youth Village, where I taught. I didn’t like being far from the city. I really love living in a city, especially since here I also have a village atmosphere. At my age, this is ideal, living in a quiet urban area with convenient access to the theater, movies and exhibitions, as well as having the option of going outside to check if there are some eggplants or loquats to give the neighbors.”