Geula Keno • Powerful educator who embraces issues of motherhood and intergenerational adoption • Winner of the Most Beautiful Garden Award

Geula Kano: A life story full of action and education

Geula Kanu was born in 1944 in Kibbutz Yagur, and during her early years was part of the settlement's leading educational and agricultural framework. Over the years, her life story became a journey of education, learning, and family support, accompanied by changes and transitions of place and time.

"I live here too"

Here is the section that brings you fascinating Haifa characters in their homes, where the introduction is through the stories, the burdens and the unique perspective of the people who make up the human mosaic of our city of Haifa. In other words, these are the people who live and work here, just like the section's name - "I live here too."

In this section, we will get to know the characters from Haifa and their place of residence, where the acquaintance is not through the size of the apartment, or a real estate appraisal, or a design description alone - rather, the essence of this acquaintance is to get to know the stories, the emotional baggage, and the unique personal perspective of the hosts.

This time, in anticipation of International Women's Day (also: International Women's Day; originally: "International Workers' Day"), which is celebrated on March 8th every year (since 1965 in communist and socialist countries and since 1978 with the encouragement of the UN in other countries) - we will visit the home of Geula Keno, an accomplished educator from Bat Galim, who lives and teaches from a vision and faith.

Geula's life is intertwined with issues of motherhood and intergenerational adoption. She has received many accolades for her work as a teacher, educator, and creator – and even managed to reach first place in the "Most Beautiful Garden 2024" competition, an achievement that combines her love of nature with an inspiring creative spirit.

Motherhood and adoption through 3 generations – what is the 'family' issue?

In the play 'Tractate of Redemption' at 'Tmuna Theater', a unique, immersive and moving work was revealed for the first time. The show 'Tractate of Redemption' is not only the name of the work, but also a life story intertwined with pain, hope and coping with identities struggling for their existence. The show was presented as an autobiographical docu-musical about the lives of children who have been and continue to be reincarnated between homes, families and nations.

The work – created by Ronit Keno, daughter of Geula and Jacques Keno, and her partner Joseph Sprinzak who have a deep personal connection to the subject – tells their story, as former foster parents, to a child without status in Israel. These children are in a difficult and complex situation, with the foster parents providing them not only with shelter but also with love, care and emotional support. The story of the show represents both the bureaucratic struggle and the real human journey of people who understand the meaning of the concept of ‘family’ – beyond blood, responsibility, warmth and growth.

During the play, the story of Ronit's grandfather is also told, a story that discusses deep commitment and heroism, and takes place after the Holocaust, when the grandfather managed to save Jewish children from Christian families with determination and endless love.

Arie Sarid, Ronit's grandfather, founded the "Coordination" organization in Poland for the redemption of Jewish children after the Holocaust, their redemption from their rescuers, their return to Judaism, and even finding some of them adoptive parents.

In addition, the story of the father of the family, Geula's husband - Jacques Cano - is presented. This is a story about a Jewish boy who, during World War II, was adopted by a Christian family and, at the end of the war, was picked up by his biological parents.

In Belgium, during the Holocaust, Jacques was given up for adoption by Maria and François Knops by the priest Jan Broulandts, who acted on his own initiative to save Jewish children who lived in his neighborhood. (Later, Jan Broulandts, and Maria and François Knops were even recognized by Yad Vashem as 'Righteous Among the Nations'). As mentioned, after the war, his parents returned, collected their son, and in 1947, emigrated with him to the city of Recife in Brazil.

These stories complete the human and thought-provoking picture of the nature of connections between generations, of standing up to fears and difficulties, and of the legacy that passes through small acts of kindness.

The 'Motherhood Chanukah' made of ceramic, the work and idea of ​​Geula Keno

Despite all this and combined with the issue of the essence of parenthood - Geula Keno's 'Motherhood Menorah', the work of her hands and mind, presents an exciting and complex life story.

Each of the eight canes in this menorah represents a different stage in a woman's life: from pregnancy, through the children's adolescence, to the painful situation in which an elderly woman finds herself accompanied only by a small dog, which represents the companionship (and alternatively the loneliness) she is left with after raising her children.

The work reflects the deep connection between a mother and her children, coping with age, suffering, and personal and family growth.

The story behind the menorah also touches on Geula Keno's family history, including: the story of her father – who saved Jewish children after the Holocaust – as well as her husband Jacques Keno, who was given up for adoption by a Christian family during World War II, and her daughter Ronit Keno, who was a foster parent to a child without status in Israel.

This work connects generations and brings to light the values ​​of kindness, warmth, and family, and provokes thoughts about the connections between generations and the heritage passed down between people – not only through blood ties, but also through small acts of generosity, mitzvah, and responsibility.

The Sarid family

In 1951, following the split in the kibbutz, the Keno family left Kibbutz Yagur and moved to Kibbutz Neve Yam, where Geula grew up.

About seven years later, in 1955, the Keno family left Neve Yam and moved to Moshav Shadmot Dvora, where her father taught at the 'Kaduri' school and her mother managed the farm.

Her father – Aryeh Levi Sarid (Leibel Goldberg) was a Zionist icon, historian, teacher and involved in the "Dror" and "United Pioneer Youth" movements. Leibel was born in Lithuania in 1913, lost his entire family in the Holocaust and then changed his name to Aryeh Levi Sarid.

After graduating from high school, he was active in Zionist youth movements and in 1938 he immigrated to Israel and joined Kibbutz Yagur. From 1945 to 1947, he worked on Zionist missions in Poland and Germany and was one of the initiators of the 'Zionist Coordination for the Redemption of Children', which helped bring child Holocaust survivors to Israel.

Alongside his Zionist work, Sarid was also a historian who visited, documented and wrote about the history of the pioneering movements in Poland. He worked with Holocaust survivors, helped them write their stories and dedicated his life to education and documenting their legacy. Even after he retired at the age of 70, he continued to teach voluntarily in various places and even at a nursing home and a nursing home in Tel Aviv. Until his death in 2002 at the age of 90, he was a family man, a respected teacher and a dedicated person.

The mother of the family, Salva, was born in Belarus and immigrated to Israel in 1934. She arrived at Kibbutz Yagur and worked in a cowshed. Geula describes her mother as a hardworking woman, a hard worker who protected her three daughters.

Childhood and youth

During her childhood and adolescence, Geula, along with her two sisters, studied at the Kaduri School, where they were exposed to the values ​​of agricultural education and the aspiration for self-leadership.

After completing her studies at Kaduri, Geula continued her studies at Beit Berl, where she studied teaching - a field she chose out of a sense of mission and a desire to influence the next generation. In 1964, after completing her studies, Geula entered the teaching field as a soldier teacher in Moshav 'Yordana'.

Her man: Jacques Cano

During a hitchhiking trip, Geula met the man with whom she would later build a close-knit and devoted family. He proposed marriage to her, and Geula agreed to explore the possibility… an experiment that lasted 57 years, during which the two experienced all stages of life together, with mutual support, love, and deep understanding.

Jacques Cano, an Israeli playwright, writer and actor, was born in 1938 in Brussels and survived the Holocaust because he was given up for adoption by the Canops family in Belgium. In 1947, after World War II, his biological parents left with him for Brazil, where Jacques grew up. In 1961, he immigrated to Israel with his good friend David Nesselwski and joined Kibbutz Givat Oz. Since then, Cano has been active in writing and culture, publishing articles and features in the kibbutz press and focusing on social and political issues.

Keno continued to make his mark in Israel, serving as a teacher, council secretary, and director of the education department in the Central Arava. He also gave lectures on the Arab-Jewish conflict and guided tours in Haifa, where he later settled. Over the years, he wrote and published books dealing with land issues, history, and the Holocaust. In his book, "The Journey to the Crucified," he describes the story of a Jewish boy's survival in Belgium under Nazi rule. It is a novel about a historical moment that was also made into a successful play.

Over the years, Keno has written additional works, including plays that touch on Israeli society and social and political conditions. His works are charged with a personal legacy and reflect the internal and external challenges of his life. Keno, who was married and had three children, passed away in 2022, but his works continue to inspire and be part of the cultural discourse in Israel.

Transitions and continuing educational activity

After a few years, the Keno family moved to Kibbutz Givat Oz, where Geula taught for 18 years, and was part of an educational framework that influenced hundreds of children and teenagers. In 1983, when they chose to leave the kibbutz, the couple moved to the Middle Arava. There, Geula continued her educational work until her husband retired. After that, they moved to Haifa, where she has lived for 30 years.

Commitment to the values ​​of love, education, and community

Family has always been an integral part of Geula's life. She is the mother of three children – two daughters and a son, and the grandmother of six grandchildren, who occupy an important place in her life. Throughout her life, Geula invested in her children, educating them in the values ​​of caring, compassion and educational thinking, and never ceased to act out of a sense of mission and belief in education as a central value.

Geula is very proud of her three children and grandchildren: Orna, her eldest daughter (born in 1967), is a consultant and art therapist, lives in Haifa and has two granddaughters: one, Neta Menashe (26 years old), from Haifa, who was on the champions' team of the 'Haifa Flyers' and is currently a fitness trainer at the Pilates Institute in Ramat Eshkol, and Yahli (24 years old), who was a Rashgadi student in Tsofim and is currently a copywriter living in Tel Aviv.

Ronit, (born 71), a graduate of the Rimon Music School, lives in Tel Aviv, is a playwright who writes and incorporates music, and teaches at the children's school on the continuum. Ronit is the mother of 22-year-old Yohai, who is studying film with Sam Spiegel.

The youngest son is Amichai (born in 77), lives in Kibbutz Beit HaEmek and is a primary school teacher at the Jewish-Arab school. Amichai has 3 children: Ofer (in eighth grade), Rona (in sixth grade), and the youngest grandchild is Gilad (in kindergarten).

Geula Keno's journey is an example of a teacher who dedicated her entire life to her educational and family endeavors. No matter where she is, she always perseveres and maintains a commitment to the values ​​of love, education, and community.

Geula Keno's house and garden

A home is much more than walls and furniture. A home is the feeling that envelops you when you enter it. A library full of memories, a table that invites a gathering, a warm wooden piece of furniture that brings soul. When every detail is carefully chosen and harmoniously integrated – that is when the energy that is felt in the air is created.

The house where Geula lives today was bought in 95 and is located in Bat Galim. The house was the home of architect Mami-Miriam Dauba, who deals with creative solutions for exterior and interior architectural designs while making optimal use of the given spaces. Therefore, Geula says that because of this excellent planning, there was no need for architectural changes in her residence throughout the years.

Bat Galim: From an old neighborhood to a renewed urban center

The Bat Galim neighborhood in Haifa, which was designed by architect Richard Kaufman in 1921 and established in the 30s, has experienced spectacular changes in recent years. The neighborhood's name comes from the biblical verse in the Book of Isaiah, "Rejoice, O daughter of Galim."

The neighborhood, located in the west of Haifa, stands out for its location adjacent to the beach and includes the Rambam Hospital, the Technion Medical Center, and the Navy base. The Bat Galim Promenade offers a magical view of the beach and at its end is the cable car that connects the beach with Stella Maris.

Over the past decade, the neighborhood has undergone an incredible facelift and has become a unique and sought-after area. It is filled with historic buildings such as the Templar Windmill, archaeological finds and of course the old 'Casino' which was once a community center.

Today, the Bat Galim neighborhood is considered an area with a vibrant entertainment scene. The neighborhood is also developing in the field of culture and art and attracts young people, tourists and creative people. With the help of local activists, meetings, exhibitions and festivals are organized and even the 'most beautiful garden' is chosen - this year, this prestigious title was won by Geula Kano's garden.

Geula Kanu won first place in the private garden care competition in Bat Galim

In honor of Tu B'Shvat, an exciting ceremony was held in the Bat Galim neighborhood as part of a garden care competition in the neighborhood. The event was held in the community garden in the presence of many residents, some of whom participated in the competition and were invited to recognize and honor the winners for their efforts to upgrade the visual appearance of the environment in which they live.

Among the winners of the competition was Geula Kano, who won first place in the private gardens category. Kano, like the other participants, cultivated her personal garden not only as a personal hobby, but also as a contribution to improving the appearance of the entire neighborhood.

The production of the competition, led by Carmel Shkolnik and Dor Oppenheim, brought to light the power of personal effort that becomes a significant contribution to the community. For, the private garden is not only a place to encounter nature, but also helps strengthen the residents' sense of belonging to the place where they live. In addition, private gardens contribute greatly to improving the overall appearance of the neighborhood.

Geula's House – Corners of Memory and Creativity: A Place Where Words and Art Meet

'Pantheon' corner – Geula’s home is a place where books and memories meet, a place of intimate world where every corner tells a story. Particularly notable are the books written by her father, Aryeh-Levi Sarid, and her husband, Jacques Keno. She calls this special corner, where the books of her loved ones are kept, “My Pantheon Corner” – as a form of respect and appreciation for the figures who were an integral part of her world.

Homage to Haifa writers – Another corner that she particularly loves is the “Homage to Haifa Writers” corner – these are two shelves in her large library, filled with the writings of Haifa writers. Each book is a personal melody, a testament to a city and the creators who shaped its voice. To her, these shelves are timeless and only wish that the local audience would come and read together the complex story of the special city and its people.

"My wall" – Among all of these, one corner carries a special meaning – the "My Wall" corner. This is a wall in her yard, decorated with her handmade ceramic works. The uniqueness of this display is that each piece of work on display was born from a story that Geula wrote. Each piece of ceramic is a small world, a story that passed through her hands and words that passed through her life, a tablet that she remembers in the context of a work that the realm of time cannot erase. This is not just a wall, but a place where art and story merge… and for Geula it becomes a field of personal memory, experiences and creative moments that enter into the total mosaic of her life.

'Journey to the Crucified' – Author: Jacques Cano

Jacques, who was also a member of the Haifa Writers' Association, wrote six books. In his book, "Journey to the Crucified," Jacques tells the story of the incredible survival of a Jewish boy in Belgium during the Holocaust. A story that evokes feelings of pain, love, and survival beyond imagination.

The uniqueness of the book is that it does not depict the horrors of the Holocaust or its familiar nightmares, but rather brings to light the inner worlds of the characters who took part in this traumatic event. At the center of the work is a Jewish boy who was adopted by a warm, supportive, and loving Christian family – a family that was for him a source of hope and light in a dark and dangerous world.

After the war, when words could no longer express everything that had happened and passed, the author discovers his biological parents and begins to confront difficult and complex questions, deeply rooted in his consciousness since that bitter, difficult and traumatic moment in which he was torn from his rescue efforts.

His alienation from his real parents, his doubts about continuing his connection with the Christian world, and the ongoing search for his Jewish identity – all of these place him in a fierce internal struggle that accompanies him throughout his journey. The book "Journey to the Crucified" is both a personal journey of a Jewish child in a broken world and a journey of an entire nation, of people who are locating their identity and recreating their connections with their inner and outer worlds. Thanks to fascinating biographical elements, Keno manages to convey the story of the survivors in a new, moving and intriguing light – a story full of courage, sensitivity and a relentless struggle with suffering and the path to recovery from it.

In addition to the unique corners of Geula's home, she was eager to showcase some items that are dear to her heart:

The work 'The Motherhood Menorah', the fruit of Geula's mind and hands, presents a moving and complex life story, which is an intimate glimpse into the woman's world.

Each of the eight canes in the menorah represents a different stage in life – from pregnancy, through the children's adolescence, to the painful moment when an elderly woman finds herself accompanied only by a small dog, symbolizing the friendships and loneliness that came to her after raising her children.

The work presents not only the deep bond between a mother and her children, but also the coping with old age and the emotional consequences that accompany it – suffering on the one hand, and personal and family growth on the other. The menorah, which connects generations, reflects the values ​​of kindness, warmth and family and raises questions about the human heritage that is passed down not only through blood ties, but also through acts of generosity and responsibility.

'Souvenir of Love' – a personal sculpture and a moving drama

In addition to all of these, there is also the 'Souvenir for Love' corner. This is a corner where a statue of her beloved husband Jacques is displayed, which was made as a ceramic work of redemption based on their shared photo. Next to this magnificent statue is the poster for the play 'The Journey to the Crucified': a fascinating play that was presented at the 'Writer's House' in Tel Aviv.

As you know, the play is based on the personal story of Jacques Cano, which, according to the poster, deals with Cano's struggle to write his memoirs, especially his experiences during the Holocaust in Belgium, where he was given as a Jewish child to a Christian family for protection. After the war, when his Jewish parents return to claim the child, he finds himself torn between two worlds.

The play, presented by the Backyard Theater Group, featured time jumps between the adult character of Keno, who writes his memoirs, and the child who does not understand his situation. The exciting acting and the actors' changing roles added depth to the story. It was a play that brought a human and emotional story, with another angle on the subject of the Holocaust, about the fate of Jewish children who grew up under other identities.

The priest who saved a Jewish child: The story of human heroism behind the 'Righteous Among the Nations' medal

Another item that Geula proudly displays is the 'Righteous Among the Nations' medal, which was dedicated to Rev. Jan Broylandts. Behind the medal is an extraordinary story of saving lives during World War II. The medal, which represents the honor given to the priest, was presented to him following his heroic activity in saving Jewish children. One of them was Jacques Canop, a Jewish child who was given up for adoption during the Holocaust. The Christian Canops family took him in, and Jacques grew up in their home with protection and warmth until the end of the war – when he returned to the bosom of his biological family.

Pastor Jan Broylandts, who worked to save Jewish children in his neighborhood, was part of the human effort to save the lives of many and was recognized and thanked by Yad Vashem as a "Righteous Among the Nations" - alongside the Knopfs family. This medal is not only a symbol of heroism, but also a reminder that sometimes even a small act of humanity can change an entire life.

Geula: Creation, Family, and Constant Aspiration – The Path of a Creative and Involved Woman

In the past, Geula never missed an opportunity to participate in film production activities at Zman Haifa, where she worked with determination and creative passion. But today, Geula has found her place in the garden of her home in Bat Galim. A garden that looks like a living work of art, decorated with ceramic sculptures made by her own hands. There, among the plants and sculptures, she finds peace and tranquility, and continues to give her special talent to nurturing and creating.

Geula is not just a craftswoman – she is also an active soul who is always looking for the next challenge. She takes part in a Bible class where she delves into words and their meaning, participates in a writing class where she finds the voice of her heart, and in a reading class, where she devotes herself to stories and characters that captivate the soul… and recently – she found her new passion: a paper sculpture class, where she creates and breaks the boundaries of imagination.

Despite all this activity, Geula always finds time to entertain her children and travel to visit her grandchildren – these moments are the essence of life for her. May she continue to dedicate her days to activity, joy, and good health for many years to come.