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The Jewish Hamlet of Eastern Europe Reconstructed
Site of the Jewish Hamlet on the Jakob property in Kfar Hassidim, Israel
Jankel's Shtetl
Kfar Hassidim 20400
P.O. Box 5089
Israel
Phone: 972-4-984-6417
Fax: 972-4-904-0430
Website: http://www.jankels-shtetl.com
Email: jakob.shtetl@gmail.com
Jankel's Shtetl:
The Reconstruction of a Jewish Hamlet in Israel
"A man's first home is a reflection of his life, he will cherish it to his last breath."
(Biltzki H.Y., "A Jewish Town").
The Shtetl - the Jewish hamlet - served as the heart of the Jewish life for several centuries. From the early 16th century to the beginning of the 20th century, it contained the daily life of the Jewish community in Eastern Europe. Within it the Yiddish culture was created and the foundations for the social and political Jewish organizations were laid. It served as the core for rabbis and cantors, as well as renowned authors such as Shalom Alechem, Mendalay and Y.L. Peretz.
Simultaneously the streets of the shtetl were busy with Jewish life and from these streets originated the tradional dishes such as gefilte fish and shnaps. Here too were born the "Cheder" and the "Klezmer".
With the rise of the Zionist movement, and the foundation of the State of Israel, the Shtetl culture was pushed aside and rejected in the attempt to create a new breed of Jews - the Israeli Jew.
However, as Ehad Ha'am stated, "A nation without a past cannot move on to its future." In recent years we have witnessed a dramatic change regarding Jewish heritage. More and more Jews, young and old, religious and secular are retracing their roots. Throughout the world the Yiddish language is being taught and people are re-using its phrases, humor and sayings. This indicates the yearning for the old town aroma and its warmth. Along with this yearning came the understanding that the Jewish town is more than a cradle for the Jewish culture, it is an inseparable part of our genetic code. This yearning and understanding has given birth to the committment to create "Jankel's Shtetl" - a restored Jewish town - that will give its visitor a profound Jewish experience.
Jankel's Shtetl will fully reconstruct the old Jewish hamlet. Walking through its vibrant streets as a time traveler, one may wander through the authentic workshops: the bakery, carpenter, shoemaker, and tailor - all offering their services to the visitor. A local restaurant will serve Eastern European Jewish cuisine from Kugel and Kishke to Kneidalach and Kreppalach. A Shtibel, Cheder and fully functioning Synagogue will be available and appeal to those who wish to experience the spiritual aspect. Other services will include Klezmer street shows, festive market places, carriage rides around the town, authentic gift shops, theme exhibitions, auditorium, lodging, and the option to hold family "simchas". All these will come together to create an experience combining heritage and leisure, and make Jankel's Shtetl a vital stop on every tour to Israel.
Gadi Jakob - the man behind Jankel's Shtetl
Gadi Jakob was born in 1947 in the city of Haifa, Israel.
The idea to recreate the Jewish Hamlet on the site of the Jakob homestead in Kfar Chassidim came to him about a decade ago. In order to realize his vision, he was helped by professional people to develop the original idea and to construct a model of the Jewish Hamlet showing the lifestyle within, at that time. An important contribution towards the finalization of the vision of Jankel's Shtetl came from the fact that Gadi Jakob lived for some period of time in the "Kolkhoz" in the region of Stavropol which is situated in Eastern Europe. During Gadi's stay in this area, it was confessed that progress had not yet reached the villages or the hamlets.
The lifestyle in these places reminded him of the descriptions of the old Jewish Hamlets he had read about in Yiddish literature. This gave the incentive and inspiration to Gadi's strong desire to reconstruct a hamlet of this type in its full glory.
In recent years all the necessary licenses and paperwork have been attained in order to change the status of the land, thus allowing the immediate building gof Jankel's Shtetl" to go ahead and realize the vision. Gadi Jakob has been accompanied by professionals in the field of architecture, engineering and project management.
Together they are determined to turn the idea of the Jewish hamlet from a dream into a live reality.
Pictures of the lifestyle in the town.
The tailor, the cobbler, the blacksmith, the waterdrawer,
children on their way to the "Cheder".
The Essence of the Services
The large variety of experiences which "Jankel's Shtetl" will offer will allow everyone to find in it something that he seeks; children will be able to enjoy fishing in the lake and the street performances. Parents will have the opportunity of visiting the museum and exhibitions. Organized groups both from Israel and abroad will be able to enrich their Judasim by visiting this authentic Jewish Hamlet of which they have heard only in stories.
Aerial photograph of: 1-Kfar Hassidim. 2-The Site.
3-The Kishon River. 4-Yagur crossroads. 5-Mt. Carmel. 6-Yagur.
Design Elements of the Town at Jankel's Shtetl
- WorkShops:
- Bakery
- Candle Facotry
- Smoked and Pickled Fish
- Dairy
- Noodle Factory
- Match Industry
- Storage + Service
- Blacksmith
- Soap Industry
- Culture + Education:
- Map + Documentation Room
- Synagogue
- Guest-House/Shtibel
- Beit Ha-Zionut
- Prison
- The Lord's House
- The Rabbi's House
- Library
- The Doctor's House/Pharmacy
- Mikvah
- Hashomer Ha-Zair
- Hachalutz Ha-Ivri
- Hashomer Ha-Dati
- Classroom/Jewish Studies
- Festive Meal, especially amongst Hassidim
- Yiddish
- Outer Buildings:
- Train Station
- Wagon; Carriage Shelter
- Wagon Stop
- Fire Station/Department
- Flour/Grist Mill
- Agriculture
- Chicken Coop/Stable/Mongoose
- Dairy Farming
- Goat Pen
- Lake
- Fish Pond
- Hayloft
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- A Wooden Amusement Park
- Well
- Flywheel
- Public Buildings:
- Hostel
- Candle Factory
- Offices
- Gate
- Entrance
- Ticket Office
- Public Toilets
- V.I.P. Room
- Pharmacy
- Shops and Trade:
- Shoemaker
- Tailor
- Milliner
- Butcher
- Soda Manufacturer
- Sharpen (whet) knife, Blade
- Basket Weaving
- Pickling Vegetables
- Raisin Winery
- Inn
- Tearoom
- Souvenir
- Restaurant
- Kiosk
- Printing-House
- Potter
- Blacksmith
- Butcher Shop
- Carpentry Shop and Sawmill
- Tanner
- Sweet Factory
- Beer Manufacture
- Photographer
- Leather Worker
- Rope Braiding
- Paper Cutting
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Letters of reference and recommendation from various places including:
Yung Yidish - Cultural Center and Library Yung Yidish,
and the following from Vilnius Yiddish Institute at Vilnius University.
Be Here for Our Opening Klezmer Festival!
Email for further information
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Copyright © 2005-2007, Jankel's Shtetl, All International Rights Reserved.
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