Historic home of Nili leader Avshalom Feinberg demolished
The home where the Jewish spy grew up in Gedera, as well as the convalescent home where Rachel the poetess spent her last days, are being replaced by newer structures, and some locals are angered by the authorities' lack of historical preservation.
Some significant structures relating to an important era in local history is fading away as the town of Gedera is modernizing. The home where Nili (a Jewish spy ring that fought for the British and against the Ottoman Empire in Palestine during World War 1) leader Avshalom Feinberg grew up, at 24 Ha-Biluyim St., has been demolished.
Not far from there the convalescent home where famous poet Rachel Bluwstein (known commonly in Israel as Rachel the poetess) will soon be converted into a hotel. Local residents are expressing frustration at the authorities for their lack of action in preserving the historic structures.
Gedera was founded by people from the Bilu group (a Jewish Zionist group whose aim was to settle the land of Israel) in 1884. The street where Feinberg was born and grew up for a time was named after the founders of the town.
"This is one of the most historically important streets in the country," said a Ha-Biluyim St. resident. "The guiding principle is money, and no one cares about the immense historical significance that this place holds for the state of Israel and (for) future generations."
Tal Ben Nun, Manager of the central district at the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites, explained that the municipal construction plan for the site says the street-facing buildings on Ha-Biluyim St. shall be preserved in their original forms, but that the internal houses (such as the Feinberg home) need not be preserved. "When they made the plan, they didn't investigate the historical significance of each plot, and now its too late," she said.
Danny Shem-Tov, the developer behind the 24 Habiluyim St. project, responded by saying, "I didn't know it was Avshalom Feinberg's home. I'm no less Zionist than anyone else. I may have been misled, I though the front was his home. It's the state's tole to tell me in advance. Everything was done legally and in accordance with all necessary permits."
Head of the Gedera Municipal Authority Yoel Gamliel responded by saying, "This is an old municipal construction plan (MCP) that we cannot alter legally and so our hands are tied. We have recently invested over NIS 3 million in order to preserve and upgrade Habiluyim St."
