"The neighbors are good to me" • In the house of Gal Gabrieli from "Gals Bakery" in Haifa - you immediately feel at home

I also live here ○ Gal Gabrieli

In the beating heart of the Carmel center, there lives a couple full of love, who bring real pride to the city of Haifa

"I live here too"

A new section lives here, through which we will get to know Haifa characters and their place of residence. Those who live here, as his name is - "I also live here".

The acquaintance will be made in the home of life here, but not necessarily through the square footage of the apartment, real estate evaluation or design description only - but rather through the stories, the emotional charge and the unique point of view of the people who make up the human mosaic of our beloved city.

Pride month

The new section, which is the first Toro, begins in a special month - the month of pride! In his honor, we at Hai Pa decided to give the first stage to a unique man, a Haifai known to every local and to many of the guests who come from outside the city, a man with a national reputation and a leader in his field - confectioner Gal Gabrieli, the man behind the well-known Haifa patisserie "Glass Bakery", located in the center of Carmel.

The home of Gal and his partner for the past 8 years, Aharon Ganish, a successful fashion designer in his own right, is located not far from the pastry shop.

Immediately upon entering Gal and Aharon's home, they are greeted with a wave of cheerfulness and hospitality, and in a moment they already feel "at home." Gabrieli and Ganesh are full of warmth and care for each other and so for their guests. Within minutes it is clear why Gabrieli chose the field of hospitality, also in his professional life.

But let's start from the beginning...

Agriculture and poetry

Gal was born to a couple of farming parents from Moshav Kfar Vitkin. It grew in a landscape of flowers and nurseries, an orchard and various plantations and also a chicken coop. A childhood of simplicity and connection to the earth, in which the child interwoven a wave of singing in various vocal ensembles. Lagal's sister is a teacher and his brother is a mechanical engineer.

After his release from the IDF, where he served in the Navy in Eilat, and at the same time as he graduated from Kfar Rupin (Economics and Business Administration) he began to weave his way in the business direction in the field that is the "love of his life": baking and confectionery.

Gabrieli started his career with his friend, at the "Ben Ami" confectionery in Kfar Vitkin. From there he moved to work at the "Gedron" factory in Holon and specialized in cake design. From that time on, he began to pave his way to his business and independent life's work.

Precisely in Haifa

Gabrieli decided to open the patisserie bearing his name precisely in the city of Haifa, which he identified as high quality, pleasant and with potential for development - this is how his patisserie was born. Gal says that the Haifa crowd is very fond of him and describes it as a positive and relaxed crowd. If there is an advertisement for Haifa patriotism - then it lies in the soul of Gabrieli. Haifa for him is a dream come true: a combination of the mountain view, the surrounding green, the sea and the people.

He has lived here for 20 years and knows the city from every possible angle, and even so, he says that every day he discovers some new corner, a unique niche, or a sensitive and fascinating human face.

Together with the song of praise for the city and its people, it is clear to Gal that many things can be improved and promoted here, but he personally says - there is no political whim.

Gal and Aharon hardly ever host in their home, but in the courtyard of the pastry shop, which is, as mentioned, right next to it. When they can, the two like to spend a day or two in Tel Aviv. They like to watch plays, visit exhibitions, mostly those dealing with their interests. They enjoy varied live performances, whether it's a philharmonic concert on the one hand, or Hebrew Lieder, on the other.

Until the start of the Corona period, the couple used to spend two or three times a year abroad, but as we know, things have changed, and after a period of avoiding it, they recently spent some time in London, where Ganish presented some of his work at an international fashion exhibition.

in the wee hours of the night

At routine times, in the wee hours of the night (is there oxygen at two o'clock in the morning?) a wave goes out towards the bakery and the oven - and upon his return from the work day in the afternoon, he is greeted with a warm welcome and treats, usually prepared by Aharon. Gal testifies that he really likes the kitchen, but in their house it is actually Aaron's kingdom. Gabrieli "worships" Aharon's red food processor and the fine dishes that come out under it, he says.

Not good for man to be alone

The TV corner is loved by the two and serves as a place for couple conversations and shared relaxation. As a rule, a wave sanctifies the partnership. He believes that "it is not good for man to be alone". With extreme sensitivity he tells about his great ability in identifying people who walk not only alone, but also in their crying loneliness. He shares his ability to understand the soul of his fellow man and that he often finds himself "taking care of occasional clients who are in their loneliness."

A special corner of the house is the corner of the shelf dedicated to Gal and Aharon's personal memorabilia, which is located near the location of the television. On one side are fashion and art books that belong to Aaron - and Gal likes to look at them with great love and sometimes even look at them. In the corner on the other side of the shelf, there is a unique photograph of Gal accompanied by a very close personal friend. A friend with her in the distant past had thoughts about co-parenting. Thoughts that were not realized, but the friendship remained strong, brave and close.

The most meaningful and emotional event for both of them was when hosting the dedication of their home. So they prepared a feast with many participants and a meeting of their two families for all the shades of their sons, their daughters, their taste and uniqueness.

The clinking of forks and knives

"Gal's confectionery" is a "Haifai institution" that has been in the center of Carmel for 20 years. To be precise, Gal "lived" in the pastry shop for more hours than in his cozy residence. The thing he likes the most is "the ticking of forks and knives". According to him, this is an evening sound to the ear like no other. Gabrieli adds that for him it is a powerful and great right to feed people.

The essentials of success

Logic and professional experience led him to formulate a clear and concise thesis regarding the success of a bakery, any bakery, and these are its main points:

• Use only good products.
• Skill in creation and quality that will yield a fine taste as well as the ability to market the products.
• Ambition mixed with motivation + attitude, patience and perseverance.

Gal sails through her actions from his distant past, and says that he was not yet early for his work in the wee hours of the night, he remembers a meeting early in the morning, when a customer, a handsome and very elderly French woman, arrived at the cafe, before "her quaisson" pastry was ready. And here it is... "Oh, a robbery and a break"... The customer longing for a morning croissant, preached and even taught him a clear lesson: the bakery should not be opened to customers before the fresh pastries are ready, right before the dawn customers arrive. Since then he began to stand up even more than he did before. Today, the morning coffee at "Gal Confectionery" will always be joined by fresh baked goods that have been prepared ahead of time, in the wee hours of the night.

Gabrieli hopes to continue working here for many more years, and will continue to create different flavors and innovate the existing approaches in the field of baking.

The concerns that existed have faded

As mentioned, the month of pride is now. Gal says that he officially came out of the closet at the age of 35, a relatively old age. He shares honestly that he was very worried that coming out of the closet and revealing his preference would hurt his business. But to his joy he was deceived, and in retrospect he realized that he was very wrong in his fears.

He attributes most of the rights for this to the significant help and support of the previous mayor, Mr. Yona Yahav. Gavrieli says that Yahav made a significant contribution to the LGBT community in Haifa and in fact his willingness and honesty are what made the city look what it is today for the Latvian community: an inclusive and tolerant city that gives room to diversity, supports youth who are undecided about gender issues and enables a diverse and broad human fabric.

An inclusive and sympathetic city

Gal Klal does not diminish the value of the current mayor, Ms. Einat Kalish, who, according to him, continues in Yahav's footsteps and also supports the gay community in the city. Gabrieli testifies that recently Haifa serves as a "refuge city" for many LGBT people whose childhood district is in the north of the country, and it ranks fourth as a city that is comfortable for the life of the gay community. According to him, there is a place here that accommodates everyone. Although still here and there one may hear the discriminatory saying that "in the building Ours doesn't deserve to be moved..." etc. However, in his residential building "the neighbors are very handsome in his eyes". In particular, he mentions a couple of doctors with whom Aharon and Gal are in a supportive, inclusive and sympathetic relationship.

Apply for support and advice

Today, Gal receives a large amount of letters addressed to the bakery, from children and youth seeking guidance and expressing interest in the subject, or recently there were even several ladies who entered the pastry shop, who introduced themselves as grandmothers of grandchildren who came out of the closet and asked to talk to him and receive support and advice.

However, Gabrieli and Ganish say that they do not take an active part in the activities of the gay community organizations in Haifa, as they are very busy with their diverse jobs and their own daily lives. And in general - the spectrum of their friends is not defined according to sexual or gender tendencies but according to the character and spirit of the companies and the members.

Family

As someone who has already found love, a relationship and a family, Gabrieli testifies to himself that he knows how to appreciate these things, even more deeply than money, possessions and assets. Today, Gabrieli and Ganesh are looking forward to expanding the family.