גן הכוזרי

November 2012
The Kuzari Garden (the garden connecting Ramban and KKL streets in Rehavia)
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On October 15th a meeting with Rehavia activists was held regarding the future of the Kuzari Garden. Residents who have been accompanying and advancing the issue for many years took part in the meeting together with Ginot Ha'Ir's Rehavia & Kiryat Shmuel board members (Ilan Ezrachi, Elkana Holtzer, Aharon Katzman). 

Architect Zeev Arad presented the proposed plans for the restoration of the garden that were prepared together with the landscape architect Asnat Kaslasi-Kotzer and a team of residents that included Amon Ramon and Yossi Klien.

The intent is to treat the Kuzari Garden as a single area from the Gymnasia school's garden up to the playground on Ramban (the Giraffe Garden). The main factor in renovating the garden is the city of Jerusalem and the proposed plan that was developed by the community council presents a way for the municipality to act. The plan, whose principals were prepared together with Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi, proposes viewing the garden and Yad Ben Zvi in a holistic way, taking down the walls and opening the entrance to Yad Ben Zvi from the garden (the place flower shed stands today) while preserving the building, currently imprisoned within walls, that tells the story of the president's home. In addition the plan addresses each part of the garden in a particular way suggesting a functional role that is appropriate to the reality created in the garden over the years.

Participants of October's meeting were impressed by the plan considering it a break through that will finally bring about the return of the garden to the public. Shaike El Ami and Zeev Arad believe that the first part of the plan can be implemented in 2013. As written, the plan was developed in cooperation with Yad Ben Zvi so we do not foresee objections from this end.
Following the meeting a discussion was held on a new idea to establish "Beit HaKehila" (a branch of Ginot Ha'Ir community council) in the parking lot next to the Kuzari garden. The designation for the lot is for a private institution and it is owned by the Israel Land Administration (מנהל מקרקעי ישראל).  The feasibility of this proposal will be looked into.

Presentation of the proposal for The Kuzari Garden