(live here) – Deep sorrow descended on Haifa upon learning of the death of Yossi Avraham, the entrepreneur, the dreamer, the man who saw a forest in the heart of a city and turned it into a restaurant that became an institution – "The Preserve." His funeral will be held today (Sunday) at 16:30 PM at the Sha'ar Tamar Cemetery in Haifa.
Among the trees, the birds, and the deep green of nature, Yossi created a place where people came not only to eat – but to breathe. Meters away from the busy road, in a grove in the heart of Haifa, another world was built – quiet, calm, embracing. The reserve first opened in late 1986, in a building that had previously been used as a laundry, and without a business license. Over the years, additional parts were added to it, also without building permits. Yossi fought for many years to regulate the planning and legal situation, and submitted a legalization plan that was discussed in the planning institutions and even reached the courts.
But in the end, Yossi's big dream was shattered - the appeals committee of the National Planning and Building Council accepted the appeal of the "Adam Teva Ve Din" association, and the reserve was forced to close its doors in January 2000. The decision was made by a close vote, and was decided by a tie vote - the double vote of the committee chairman.
Although more than two decades have passed since it closed, the "reserve" has not been forgotten in the hearts of Haifa residents. Many still remember the tranquility of sitting under the pine trees, the sounds of birds drowned in the smell of cooking, the special feeling of a place like no other.
Carmel Bahat: "We will never forget you, Yossi, our beloved and dear friend. Just about three weeks ago we sat down to exchange experiences about the reserve. No matter how many years pass - every time I pass by the place, something in me shrinks. Yossi created a little paradise there."
Well, after 25 years, what did the municipality gain from the closure?
They could find a solution.
I celebrated my 20th birthday there, a second before it closed. What a stupid decision it was to close the reserve to turn it into an inaccessible wilderness.
May his memory be blessed 🙏🙏🙏 Our Yosaka, the heart bleeds, one and only, a man with a huge heart, endless giving to everyone, the reserve was his soul, he celebrated Bar Mitzvahs for children without means as commanded, the place was closed for nothing, judicial bureaucracy, all the deterioration in his health was due to the closure of the place!!! Hundreds of people made a living from the reserve, what came out of all this was destruction, a desolate place!!
"The sounds of birds swallowed by the smell of cooking"... This is a sentence for the Pantheon.
May the memory of the founder of "Hashmora" be blessed.
One of the most amazing places in the world.
Heaven on earth.
And the founder of the world with a big heart.
My son's Bar Mitzvah celebration in 1996
I will remember it fondly in my heart and in the hearts of all the guests at the celebration.
A place in Ma'ale's paradise is reserved for Yossi.
THB
Of blessed memory
A special person who acted and did in a special way. The heart aches for his passing, may he rest in peace.
An era has ended, an era has ended.
The reserve was a magical place, it hurts my heart to see what is left of it. I have many happy and funny memories of the place, like, for example, that they always asked my husband and me for ID because we looked like high school students. I did not know Mr. Avraham, but I am very sorry that there are narrow-minded and short-sighted people who refused to see the beauty of the place and its vision.
Is it possible to build a city solely on nostalgia…
I can't believe it, tears are streaming down my face. The man was an angel. Everyone loved him. He was an honest man. I was in a special place with him that I couldn't tell. My secret is an angel. Angel.
So say you went to a paid girl. Why are you confusing your mind? That's it. He's not here. He's not listening.
*The Preserved* A synonym for the late Yossi Avraham. The mythology of the city of Haifa will remember him for his kindness! How many thousands of people owe Yossi hours of happiness. May his memory be blessed
Baruch Dayan the truth.
We got married there!
A unique, stunning place.
Sad that it closed and even sadder about the passing of a lovely person.
Where was the restaurant located?