The decision of the Names Committee to change part of the name of the 'Haluch' street to Halutza Street brings to a peak the injustices and folly of the Names Committee in the current term.
In the last 3 years, I have followed the acceptance of the new names and especially the change of the historical names or those accepted by the city council, which is the authorized body for granting street names, and every time I have wondered how low the deterioration in the field can go.
For about 40 years I served on the Names Committee, from 1979 to 2018, 15 of which were as the chairman of the committee. I decided not to address or respond to the delusional decisions of the committee that was established under the current mayor, but the latest change requires bringing to the public's attention the meanings of giving Names for streets as part of the creation of the urban identity, from its cultural landscape and attributing to the name of a street not as a game tool but as a factor shaping urbanity.
Historical wisdom and spatial understanding
I will not bore readers with the legal and theoretical aspects - the page of books and articles written on the subject in Israel and around the world is almost as long as the length of Halutza Street. The names committee should consider complex considerations and act with historical wisdom and spatial understanding.
In Haifa, a committee composed of representatives of factions operated for decades - but from 2008 these were replaced by professionals without political affiliation, from the fields of geography, history, language, architecture, nature, and more. Both they and the previous committees, it should be noted, made sure to balance the distribution of names according to significant figures related to world, Jewish, Israeli and Haifa history, along with names of animals and plants, historical events and more.
A proper historical perspective and relevance to the urban space
All the committees in the last 40 years also gave priority to the gender aspect, and also took care of social sectors such as the ultra-Orthodox and Arab names.
The main considerations were giving the name in a proper historical perspective, relevance to the urban space, and the aforementioned balances. Changing the names of streets, which the law burdens him anyway, was done with terrible stinginess - maybe 2-3 cases in the entire period.
The committees have never been so extrovertly disrespectful as they are now, in giving the names of previous committees, they did not respond to residents' demands to cancel historical names such as Avraham Danino, the remnant of Halita or International, and they certainly did not act for political reasons.
Chairmen from all parties acted with respect and professional integrity. The 'Haifa method' in naming was an example for many localities, whose representatives approached and received a thorough explanation of the meaning of naming streets and squares, gardens and institutions.
Rudeness and ignorance on sensitive issues
And here, since the current term began, the names committee and the giving of names have become a game tool, the composition of the committee has returned to being political, and the committee's considerations that were occasionally announced have become a mockery and calumny in the entire country.
The general model of behavior of canceling everything that was before the 2018 elections as invalid, disdain for the achievements of the city and its previous leaders, rudeness and ignorance on sensitive issues, became the model for the conduct of the Names Committee. Even names that were officially accepted by the city council - as in the case of Givat Zemar, were changed at the behest of the coalition majority.
Giving names of singers to streets
It seems that the committee did 'exactly' to everything that was before it. Mike Brent, who for years did not 'pass' the previous committees before to the 'Sderot' level, no less; Umm Kaltum received an honor that even in Egypt they did not believe she would receive in the city of Carmel; In general, singers who are still alive and singing have benefited from this prodigal in an overwhelming way.
I'm sure that Yoram Gaon raised more than two eyebrows when he was given a street name while he was still alive and still in Haifa - what is it to him and the city of Carmel anyway?
In Ramat Zemar, the 'Hallelujah', the HaBatheron, and perhaps more were dismissed casually, for Jordana Arzi, who received a street name while singing and singing, and like her, Yaakov Shahar, a football businessman who was awarded a street and a plaque as a gift from the mayor. Robby Shapira, who already has a square named after him, also won a street, probably to balance Hapoel and Maccabi.
In general, football players became popular with the members of the committee: Avi Ran, who has an entire complex named after him, and with him Johnny Hardy and Isaiah Schwager, who starred in the distant past, received no less recognition in having a street named after them, as if they were public leaders or significant historical figures in the life of the city.
It seems that singers and football players have taken the place of historically important figures in the history of the world, Israel and Judaism.
Naming people while they are alive
Also naming people, while they are alive, in a wholesale manner, is an outrageous act - in the last 40 years, such a thing has only been done with regard to the Naot Peres neighborhood, at the end of his life.
Halutz Street, named after the Halutz organization
The highlight is, without a doubt, the transformation of the 'Pioneer' street, named after the 'Pioneer' organization that was involved in training Jewish youth in the diaspora and raising them to settle in the Land of Israel before the establishment of the state. There were both pioneers and female pioneers, the name of the street was adapted to the Histadrut institutions that were located there, the Hapoalim Council and the Borochov Library, the Hapoalim Kitchen, and even the 'Pioneers House' - yes there is such a thing - is in its continuation called the 13th.
Crossing out such a name out of expressing a gender consideration, accompanied by the delusional explanation that this is 'empowering women', is an insult to the intelligence of the residents of Haifa, and an exposure of ignorance for its name.
According to this explanation, from now on, for example, the 'Shomer' street - also named after an organization - and not after a personal or generic name of a male guard - should be crossed into the Shumer street. And what about the volume? Will it partly become a 'Naffat', and the Shields of the Shields will also be divided into the Shields of the Shields and so on? The only consolation is that there is already a new naming committee, which might return to the honest and common sense way of naming streets.
entertaining ?
There is no connection between feminism and changing the names of streets to the feminine language. We will also change Hanaviyim Street to Hanaviyot Street and Hanasi Boulevard to Nasiya... illusory. Naming streets after living people doesn't sound good either.
Really ridiculous, pointless and has nothing to do with feminism. And there is no limit: the Street of the Prophets can turn into prophetesses, the president into a president... And naming a street after celebrities who are still alive, thank God, is also ludicrous. For example, the picture of the beautiful Jordana with the mayor.... really does not add respect to her. rope!
The face of the committee is the face of the head of the municipality. Ignorance, stupidity and arrogance. Perhaps these titles are also suitable as street names that will commemorate the period.
Everything is ridiculous in this country. It seems that the generations who grew up here did not receive a heritage education and there is no appreciation for the institutions of the state. All they have in mind is feminism. Who is the guard organization? They become a guard without any content. Like men, so it's not good why he says like men, he is hurting women by doing so, as if there were women playing there who were not mentioned. This is an animal. What can I say, people live with feelings of inferiority and make Israeli society crazy.
Yossi Hi. Halutza Street instead of Halutz Street is the most appropriate. I agree with Haifa Mayor Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem.
As long as they don't change the square from our childhood days to the Bat-Artzi Square....
Maybe she is influenced by the transport minister Merav Michaeli?
Maybe she is influenced by the transport minister Mirs Michaeli?
The granddaughter of David Canaan, who was the pioneer emissary to Poland in 1936, wrote to me
Stupidity incarnate, my grandfather was an emissary in the pioneer movement. The pioneer Frida was murdered next to him during a movement gathering.
We will delete any street name that is changed because of feminism
The mayor shames the gender, the city and its residents!
*head. 😉
to cry and scream
Like a true pioneer.
This is more than a curiosity. This is an embarrassing testimony to the shallow and ridiculous judgment of our mayor, even when it comes to making fateful decisions for Haifa.
This is the direct effect of our wonderful, delusional minister of transportation who is very careful to say everything in the female language and sometimes also male, as for example: do and do, decide, sit, etc. also in the conclusion of discussions with a male majority....
And Kalish follows her, probably thinking that she is doing to reduce her dislike and mistrust of her...
Lucky that stupidity is not a painful disease.
We seem to have gone completely off the rails in our country which has become one of the strangest in the world...
I propose to read there one street as long as the exile (where we are today), after Merav Michaeli - the founder of this foolish idea and you will see that everything will fall into place in peace. Isn't it funny? Right. It is very sad that this is how she manages her husband and wants to manage us as well.
I suggest reading there one street as long as the exile (where we are today), after Merav Michaeli - the founder of this foolish idea and you will see that everything will fall into place in peace. Hahahaha
The city of Haifa has become a joke throughout the country. And now the street names of female singers have also been added to it, and at Mitzvah the existing street names will be replaced by female names. Shame on the city and shame on Pension. I hope that the name committee that will be elected after Idan Klish B.A. will correct this joke.
It is not enough that the mayor does not develop the city and does not care for its citizens. After all, her tenure will be remembered as "destroying and humiliating"!!! who is responsible About the appointment of committee members? Who supervises her? More than once I wondered what the names of the committee members were. !?
Prof. Ben-Artzi is right, of course. This is what happens when the Shitoi Council conducts itself exactly as Klish conducts itself, with disdain for historical values, superficiality and outrageous ignorance and out of narrow political motives and out of a desire to stand out at any cost.
Changing the name of Halutz St. makes everyone who made this decision equally evil or evil!
Where the leadership of the municipality and the city council have deteriorated, just sad and upsetting ☹️
Yossi ben Ha'aretz this,
The day after Rabin's murder, you refused my offer to change the name of International Street above Rabin, remember?
It's not too late to do it today and immediately!!!
See Golda, Begin, Peres, Alon, why doesn't Rabin deserve???
The name International is so far from us/all of us, and many many have difficulty even pronouncing this name!!!
Here are my suggestions: Weizmani Street, Herzla (I want her) Zebulona, Michaela, Arlozorova, Independence, Shukarya, The Virtue of Liberation, Golomba, Gaolo (because there is redemption), Balfora, Peace be upon you, Iradah (because there is a teacher), Mori (because there is a teacher ) (And another priestess and priestess
Words as spurs.
Just one note: the one who broke the dam was the committee that was probably headed by you, that gave an entire neighborhood a name to commemorate the Sun of the Nations, while he was still alive.
What did he have with Haifa? Apart from the Phoenician history?
Were there already neighborhoods in Haifa named after Ben Zvi and all those who came after him?
It would be interesting to hear from the honorable Mr. Ben Artzi the committee's considerations for that act.
Greetings, former student of the author of the article.
And what about Static Haifai?
Halam municipality
Grandma Sara, who immigrated from Kurdistan long before our country was founded, shared your opinion, my learned friend.
She always asked why there is no "Halutza" street.
If only for the fact that she is a pioneer.
I was happy to read and learn.
Thanks.
So your grandmother, like you, did not learn enough about the history of Zionism in the Land of Israel. Halutz St. was named after an organization of this name. What can be done that this important organization in the history of the country was not called the "Pioneer" organization...
Unless you also disagree with this historical fact and want to retroactively change the name of this well-known organization as well....
Indeed every word is in stone.
Contempt and low level of the naming committee. A populist committee.
This is how it is when the mayor is led by the nose by 2 "like hunters" and Sinbad the Spaniard....... A question for Prof. Ben Artzi: Does the Names Committee have the authority to return the situation to normal in the next term????
Another instructive article from an interesting man!
The stupidity of Kalish and Co. exceeds that of the chicken. Although she has wings, she does not fly alone to slaughter. If they had wings they would do it. Zero intelligence and they set the names. Soon the main street in Carmelia will be changed to Hamzira St. and Moriah St. will become Hamzira Boulevard. The auditorium will become the house of the pig and the Redeemer will come to Haifa.
All the foolishness that occurs in the naming committee is aimed at only one place. That Mayor Kalish can name a street after herself, in the name of female empowerment of course, just before she is dismissed.
I didn't see that the naming committee had a proposal to call a certain street "Psychota Street"
So your grandmother, like you, did not learn enough about the history of Zionism in the Land of Israel. Halutz St. was named after an organization of this name. What can be done that this important organization in the history of the country was not called the "Pioneer" organization...
Unless you also disagree with this historical fact and want to retroactively change the name of this well-known organization as well....
You should check who are the members of the naming committee and who came up with this delusional idea and voted for it... maybe you will find some of your friends there....
Incredibly accurate.
It is clear that this is just a political act to get ratings, especially in the absence of zero action in all areas of the city.
Every word carved in stone.
It's sad that we do everything to forget history.