Aliza and Zvi Shkolnik • The house at Bat Galim beach - moved to Migdal Almog

Continuing studies in academic institutions - this is the reason why Aliza and Zvi Shkolnik came to Haifa.

Their acquaintance began at the age of 14 at the "Hadesim Boarding School" and has continued since then and throughout all the years. Today, the Shkolnik couple - Zvi, an architect and urban planner, and Eliza, a teacher and art history lecturer - serve as social activists, carrying the banner of social development in the Haifa neighborhood of Bat Galim.

The fateful meeting in the Hadsim Youth Village

Aliza and Zvi met in 1962 at the Kfar HaNoar Hadsim boarding school. At that time, Zvi was already a "veteran in the area" since he arrived a year earlier, while Aliza only started her integration and studies at the boarding school this year.  

The Hadassim Youth Village was founded in 1947 and since then it has been used as a value education school for youth, when different students, who gather from all over the world, are integrated into it, together with boys and girls from Israel. Together they form a multicultural educational community.

Wandering from Poland to Germany and Israel

Today Zvi Shkolnik introduces himself: "... an architect by training, loves art and loves my wife - a lecturer in art history and cinema". He was born in Poland to parents whose definition can be said to be "he is like a fire shelter". His parents met each other in Galicia, after World War II.

As the people of the 'remnant of the exodus' they wandered and lived in the suburbs of the city of Wroclaw and later moved to the city of Heidelberg in Germany. In 1956 his father came to Israel to "check and spy", and since he was a shrewd merchant in the Russian army, he realized that in order to immigrate to Israel he had to accumulate capital, so he returned to Germany there performing this task.

Zvi Asher, who was born in Poland (1948), moved with his family to Germany and in 1960 with his brother, who is 6 years younger than him, and his parents - together they immigrated to Israel and settled in Ramat Gan.

The introduction at the age of 14

At the age of 12, Zvi began his studies at the Hillel school in Ramat Gan. However, after about a year - his father returned to his business in Germany, and even moved to Munich. The mother and the younger brother joined the father, while Zvi, who was already in the XNUMXth grade, was transferred to continue his studies and live in the Hadsim Boarding School.

When he was about 14 years old, he met (quote:) "the most beautiful and smartest girl who was in Hadassim..." She is cheerful for a Mizrachi family.

Cairo-Marseille-the 'Israel Camp' crossing

Aliza was born in Cairo (1948). Together with her father, who was engaged in mechanical engineering at a rubber factory, her mother Rivka and her sister, they immigrated to Israel via Marseille, which is located in the south-east of France, on the Mediterranean coast - and settled in the "Camp Israel" crossing.

This crossing was one of the largest immigrant camps and crossings in Israel, and was a neighbor north of the city of Lod. Today, the transit area is within the Israel Aerospace Industries complex. The difficult conditions and 'the bundled troubles in the bundle of life' produced great suffering for her, her two older brothers and her younger brother (who recently passed away).

'Ben Shemen Youth Village'

Aliza's parents divorced, and when she was 8 years old, she joined the 'Ben Shemen Youth Village', known for its glorious and long-standing educational tradition.

From the age of 8 to the age of 14, Aliza stayed at the Ben Shemen Youth Village. Today, she praises and gives thanks to all the educational and cultural foundation she received there, and proudly adds and explains that the educational teachings of Dr. Lehmann - who founded the place in 1927 - advocated quality education and universal moral values, with an affinity for the homeland and cooperatives. The youth Zionist values, land work and human dignity.

A TS officer and a member of the armory team

Being a cheerful 14-year-old, she continued her studies and education at the Hadsim Youth Village. There, among his peers, was Zvi Shkolnik who already belonged to the 'veterans group'.

In 1966, the two of them finished their studies and were in the 'Hadsim Youth Village', became a "lovely pigeon couple" and enlisted in the army.

Zvi, from the dawn of his childhood wrote rhymes in Polish, later he wrote in German and since his immigration to Israel at the age of 12, in Hebrew. During his years in high school at the Hadassim boarding school, he learned to play the guitar and even composed Hebrew words for well-known foreign songs (for example: "This country is yours," Let us be happy to the heavens." With an original melody: "Laugh to you" and more). During his military training he wrote the song "Sharona" to the tune of the song "Maniana" which became viral at the base. Thanks to this popularity he was recruited, by Saul Bieber, into the band The Hevy team of the Armored Corps.

Aliza - during her military service, she was in the course of "Kyot" and later an officer of the Education and Welfare Center (today: 2011, terms of service). In this capacity, she served in the Asher camp in Beit Huron (Hawara, near Nablus).  

studies and academia

After completing her military service, Aliza began her studies at the University of Jerusalem in the 'Literature and History of Art' classes. In order to finance her living and living in the Holy City, she worked at the Jewish Agency as a student guide from abroad.

Whereas Tzvi, after three years of "military" writing and experience in the world of the national stage, realized that for him this field was not the right field for him to continue his life in - so in 1970 he set out to study architecture.

He first studied architecture in Italy, where he even began to like Italian songs. After one year of studies in Nicher, he returned to Israel and studied at the Technion until receiving the degree of architect and urban planner.

During these years and in parallel with his academic studies, he wrote songs and rhymes, one hit each year. Among them we can mention the song "Bli Haf Bitza" and the song "The Worm". Also as part of the 'Stage Germ', he was an actor/extra in the Haifa Theater.

Wicho College and High School for the Arts

Upon Zvi's return to Israel, the two married and moved to Haifa, in the Neve Shanan neighborhood near the Technion. Aliza continued her studies at the University of Haifa in the 'Department of Art History' and 'Teacher Training for Teaching'. At the end of her studies, she worked as a teacher at the Wicho Arts College and High School.

In this place she worked in Nablus to Nablus with her friend Gigit Harel, a painter who was born in Prague, (immigrated to Israel in 1949), a graduate of the "Bezalel" Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, who taught in the Department of Art, University of Haifa and Graphics, at Wicho College, Haifa - and with the director of the program , the art teacher and painter Leah Goldman.

With the exception of 4 years in Nigeria - Aliza persisted in her work at the Wicho Arts College and High School, until her retirement at the age of 67.

to a university IFE, which is in Nigeria

In 1978, the young Shkolnik family, who at that time already had a son (Gal, born in 1976), went on a trip to Africa. As a young architect, Zvi was sent with his family to Africa, Nigeria, to the IFE University to represent A.M.I./Soll Bona.

Over the course of 4 years (1978-82), alongside Zvi's professional work, the Shkolnik family made an in-depth acquaintance with the local culture. Their residence was in the neighborhood where the faculty lived on campus, where various intellectuals who came from most countries of the world lived, and about half of them were Nigerians, among them was their friend Wola Soyinka - who later became a 'nobel prize winner for literature' (1986).

Members of the Shkolnik family

In 1982 the family returned to Israel and already had two children. Their son Gal, who is currently a hightist at the Vironis company. About 11 years ago, Gal was sent to North Carolina, which is in the USA, and has lived there ever since. Their son Gal hugs Zvi and Eliza their grandson Shai, 23 years old.

During their stay in Nigeria, daughter Carmel was born, albeit in Haifa. Today, their daughter Carmel is an architect, a graduate of Tel Aviv University, self-employed, lives in Bat Galim, and the two of them embrace a 5-year-old granddaughter named Jordan.

The architect Zvi Shkolnik

In 1973, when Aliza and Zvi were students - they bought a tiny apartment in the Bat Galim neighborhood with 'key fees'. Over the years they have enlarged the property and built a very unique house. When they returned from Nigeria to this residence, Zvi continued to work as a leading architect. He was the owner of an architecture office and engaged in architectural planning of detached residential buildings and saturated construction, health buildings, hotels, education, science and industry. Buildings for preservation - surveys and planning for execution. He was also engaged in city planning and master plans and settlement outlines, local and specific claims - all this for private, public clients and government offices.

Over the years Tzvi also held the position of 'city engineer' in the Tiberias municipality (from July 2004 to October 2009), engineer of a new local-spatial committee (Institute) "Baket Beit HaKerem" (Arab sector). In the years 1996 - 1998, she worked as a representative in the Ministry of Housing - Haifa District, on behalf of the Chief Architect - Jerusalem. 1991-1990 and also the director of the city planning department in the Haifa municipality, 1986-87. Neither this nor this: Architect at the National Parks Authority - responsible for the restoration, preservation and planning of facilities for the well-being of travelers at the archaeological sites of the Authority 1985-86.

From the house at Bat Galim beach to Migdal Almog ► Watch

Social activity in the Bat Galim neighborhood

Simultaneously with the construction of the magical house on the beach, Aliza and Zvi are also engaged in extensive social activities in the Bat Galim neighborhood.

As mentioned, upon their return from Nigeria, the members of the Shkolnik family returned to live in the Bat Galim neighborhood. In 2002, Zvi founded the "Bat Galim Forum" and he even serves as its chairman. "Bat Galim Forum" is an association for the development of the quality of the neighborhood, which, among other things, holds the "Beit Galim" Sukkot festival every year.

The festival includes three days of visits to local artists' homes, joint exhibitions, street events, lectures, literature meetings and tours of the neighborhood under the guidance of guides who live in the neighborhood. It goes without saying that you are all a deer center.

In addition to this for 11 years, Zvi has also been the chairman of the association "Monio Gitai Weinroib Architecture Museum" owned by Amos Gitai and is a member of the steering team of the contents held there.

As the saying goes: "Behind every successful man - there is an even more successful woman"... Indeed, in this slot is Aliza, who is currently the coordinator and manager of the "Zeman Haifa" group, which is under the auspices of MilB.

"Zeman Haifa" is a community media network that broadcasts on community television and has hundreds of programs that were on the air, (including the personal magazine). The programs are broadcast once per month. The members of the group count more than 30 members, all retired volunteers, who photograph and prepare the articles on public matters close to their hearts. Usually, these are topics that the main channels do not give a platform to. The topics are varied and different, and refer to all populations and all ages.

In 2010, Aliza joined the community television team. She guides and directs the following team of volunteers to create articles about the city of Haifa, with Zohar Rashet responsible for the editorial matter.

"The house on the beach" in Bat Galim - sold for sale

In the 90s, the Municipality of Haifa began promoting a large-scale construction plan, which included drying up a section of the sea in the strip between the lower structure of the Haifa Cable Car and Bat Galim Casino, as well as the construction of a residential neighborhood, several hotels, a commercial center and a yacht mooring.

Not all of these plans will come to fruition, but in the meantime entrepreneurs, contractors and 'real estate sharks' have realized the inherent potential in the area and have initiated the construction of modern residences on land and old houses. It so happened that the "house on the beach" in Bat Galim, where she lives The Shkolink family in 'key fees' - sold addict.

After a long and tiring legal battle, Aliza and Zvi received handsome financial compensation, but had to leave their residence. For 7 years they lived in a rented apartment in Bat Galim, and during this time they searched and found a residence that would suit all their needs.

"Little God's plot" in the Almog building

Aliza and Zvi insisted on finding another 'section of his', but only one that touches the seashore. In 2013, they bought a "Little God Plot" in the apartment complex in the Almog building, and from 2020 they live in a magical apartment where the best furniture and objects were moved to it from the "house on the beach" that was in the Bat Galim neighborhood.

From this wonderful apartment, they continue all their volunteer activities as if they were still residents of Bat Galim... as the saying goes: "You can leave the Bat Galim neighborhood, but it doesn't leave you."

The atmosphere and energy that prevailed in Bat Galim

Aliza and Zvi managed to bring the atmosphere and energy that prevailed in Bat Galim into their current residence. The apartment is full of trinkets, paintings and many souvenirs from their travels around the world.

The most prominent element of this house is the large windows of the house, from which you can see the blue sea. In addition to the pictures/windows of the sea - there are many paintings in the apartment, most of them were given to them as gifts and some they bought. Many paintings are the result of the brush of their friend, and Aliza's colleague, the painter Gigit Harel, as well as the works of the cousin Hagar in Ein Hamfaretz, Yosef Pardo.

Zvi and the portrait in blue - from the brush of the architect Ami Shanar

Among the many paintings, Zvi especially likes his portrait, which was done by his friend the architect Ami Shanar. This is a powerful portrait that presents the general appearance of a deer, with the artist adding an artistic insight into the personality of the subject of the painting.

The architect and artist Ami Shanar presented at a satellite exhibition of the Architecture Biennale in Venice. In his works it is possible to distinguish the themes of urban, social and political painting and even a reference to the 'Slave Slave Parade'.

Aliza and the portrait of the Madonna - which is in the Vatican

Aliza even painted her own portrait. While the Shkolnik family was in Nigeria, the Pope, of Polish origin, John Paul II, came to visit the kingdom. As part of the tribute to his high-ranking personality, it was decided to dedicate a painting to him that will depict the Madonna, the mother of Jesus - holding a pure and small crucible in her hands.

They looked for and found a photograph in which Aliza wraps a brown-skinned baby in her arms, looking at him with a look full of warmth and love, just as the Holy Mary held her son Jesus. Today, the original painting is in the Vatican while the copy hangs in the living room of the Shkolnik family home.

The menorah collection

Aliza has a collection of menorahs, which she collects over many years. These manukahs characterize the motif of the Jewish mitzvah in which the Hanukkah candles are lit. Usually the menorah is built as a menorah with eight reeds, and an additional reed for the purpose of placing the sun, this is similar but different from the temple lamp, which had only seven reeds.

It goes without saying that the design of the menorah and its decorations indicate its country of origin and the time of its manufacture. In the menorahs that originated in Islamic countries, the triangular side was preserved and sides were added around it, with a curved frame rich in decorations such as braids and motifs from the world of plants. The decorations were combined with Islamic architectural motifs such as: onion-shaped domes, minarets, horseshoe arches and pointed arches.

In the menorahs that originated in Christian countries, turrets and towers were incorporated. For the most part, menorahs that were designed during the Renaissance were influenced by Italian architecture and incorporated arched sides as a barrel vault, which is a vault in the form of an arch with a depth reminiscent of half a barrel.

E - kitchen

It is customary to say that the kitchen is the heart of the house. Although in Aliza and Zvi's current home the kitchen itself is not a large space, but it fulfills all the challenges and tasks for the family's well-being. This is the place where they gather in the morning, at noon and in the evening. For them it is the most active place and contains the many items that satisfy their most important needs.

Aliza's kitchen is used overwhelmingly for cooking, but culinary magic also happens in it - especially for holiday meals for the members of the extended family as well as for the arrival of friends and guests. In addition to the small dining area that adjoins the kitchen and is intended exclusively for the Shkolnik couple, there is a spacious and large table in the dining area where those special and festive meals are served.

The 'Prayer of Serenity, Courage and Wisdom' relief

In the kitchen hangs a relief whose content is a candle to Aliza's thought and way of life. She bought the relief at the flea market in Haifa and with all her heart she tries to apply what is written in it:

To me, give me the peace - to accept the things that I was unable to change,
the courage - to change what I could,
And with wisdom - to differentiate between them.

In fact, it is a phrase of a message called "The Serenity Prayer" which was composed by an American Protestant priest and social activist in the fight for human rights, named Reinhold Niebuhr. It appears that the origin of his words are from ancient sources such as the practical collection of "Mother Goose Stories".

In the past, the text of this prayer was attributed to: Cicero, Francis of Assisi and others - but as mentioned, this is not the case. Furthermore, after World War II, the United States Army spread the prayer among its soldiers stationed in West Germany, and then another false attribution was spread, for the composition of this message, to the philosopher Friedrich Ettinger.

This prayer has different translations, among them by Yonatan Gefen, with poetry by Shuli Natan as well as another translation created by 'Alcoholics Anonymous' and by other rehab organizations.

'If you have a garden and a library - you have everything'

Another wall decoration hangs in the kitchen, which Aliza received as a gift from Gal. On top of a small and decorated plaque is engraved the message: "If you have a garden and you have a library - then you have everything you need".

Although the apartment building on the beach does not have a lot of space for the existence of a large garden - but Aliza managed to create a green space with plants that are conducive to growing in this area.

Compared to the small garden, the home library is huge, and full of all good things. You can find a lot of art and architecture books as well as books of thought, reading books and poetry.

An impressive library with unique books

Aliza and Zvi belong to a 'Literary Circle' which is a friendly group where its members meet and analyze unique works. In their library you can find their favorite and recommended books such as:

'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance' in which the author Pirsig presents the views of many philosophers, including Hume, Kant, Aristotle, Plato and more - and the conclusion that the concept of quality is parallel to the concept of the Eastern Tao and the concept of goodness in the Greek spiritual culture.

'Kites' by Roland Gehry - the book is a historical novel whose plot takes place during the Second World War and the campaign for France. One of the main insights that emerges from the book is the connection between remembrance and hope. According to Roland Gehry, hope is the nature of life and the taste of life, it is the freedom to feel and even serves as a longing for freedom and longing for love.

'Discovering the Weaknesses' by Yishai Sharid - the plot is about Elam Hamudot, 23 years old after serving in an elite intelligence unit, who, because of his expertise, is in high demand in the field of detecting weaknesses in the protection systems of phones and computers. However, his impressive professional success does not save him from loneliness and a broken heart. Moreover, he uses his special skills to penetrate deep into the lives of others and even settle accounts with them.

A book by Wola Soyinka, a Nigerian playwright and writer

Akinwanda Oluwola "Wola" Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, writer, poet, professor of literature and even the winner of the 'Nobel Prize for Literature' in 1986.

While the Shkolnik family was in Nigeria they met Wola Soyinka, and he became the family's friend and foe. In the library of the house stands with great respect, and with a personal dedication, the book of their friend Vola. This is a documentary work that was published in 1982 called Aké documenting Soyinka's childhood in Nigeria. For this work he was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Prize in 1983.

Wola Soyinka was born in Abeokuta in western Nigeria, in his ethnic origin he belongs to the Yoruba tribe. After graduating from Ibadan National College, he moved to England and even began studying comparative literature at the University of Leeds. He returned to his native Nigeria and began studying African drama. Along with the study of African drama, the author began to teach drama and literature at various universities. At a university in Nigeria, he served as a professor of literature, but sometimes also a visiting professor at the universities of Cambridge, Sheffield and Wales.

Nira Lev - longing (naive painting)

Compared to Zvi, Aliza pulls out Nira Lev's art book - 'Longings'. This is an album of paintings by Nira Lev, born in Haifa, who started painting at a late age.

Lev paints in a naive style characterized by idyllic scenes from everyday life, while glorifying innocence and even using bright and vibrant colors that correspond to a children's perspective. The subjects of her paintings are core wishes of what her living space was supposed to look like before the establishment of the state and in its first years. The protagonists of her works are placed in the city of Haifa where she was born and lives, as well as characters from Kibbutz Givat Hasholsha where her extended family lived.

100 years since the founding of the Haifa neighborhood of Bat Galim

Although they were not born in Haifa, the Shkolnik couple are clear patriots of the 'city of the mountain that kisses the sea'. According to Didem, it is a city that has more types of qualities than any other city in the country. They note the sense of sanity and harmony that exists in Haifa both from the human point of view and from the aspect of the natural landscapes.

Admittedly, more and more resources must always be invested... even in many areas, but in their opinion the improvement that has taken place in the region is evident. In their public activity, they mainly focus on the residents of the high-quality community in the Bat Galim neighborhood, which has long been celebrating its 100th anniversary.

About 20 years ago, Aliza together with a group of Bat Galim women initiated 'Shuk'Hila'. This is a market for second-hand items whose purpose is social for the residents of the Bat Galim community and its guests. Also, the purpose of 'Shuk'Hila' is ideological and its purpose is to help with the ecological aspect and the preservation of the environment. It goes without saying that this project is also intended to create a meeting point and dialogue in the neighborhood, and also to contribute to the financing of cultural and community activities in the Bat Galim neighborhood.

In their vision - accelerated development in Bat Galim

In their vision, Zvi and Eliza see accelerated development in Bat Galim. They congratulate the various projects in which the residents of the neighborhood take part, as well as thank and appreciate Barakah for the continued rejuvenation of the neighborhood and warmly welcome the young families who come to live in Bat Galim, something that even made the local school unique in the neighborhood and in the region: a school in the spirit of anthroposophy.

They wish for days of silence in which the activities of our lives can also be integrated into Zvi's next monthly appearance, at the 'Zebra' club - together with 14 creative companies, on Thursday August 29th, this of course only if there is no change in the instructions of the Home Front Command . . .