Me, Simon and little Moiz
"Me, Simon and little Moiz" is one of Yossi Banai's most famous and beloved songs. The song describes the childhood memories of Banai in the Machaneh Yehudah neighborhood in Jerusalem.
The Banai family is one of the most well-known Israeli families in the fields of art, in singing, poetry, theater, television and entertainment. Among the famous members of the family are Yossi the actor, singer and composer, Gavri from HaGashash HaHiver, Yuval from the Machina rock band, Ehud, Meir and Eviatar the singers and composers, Orna the actress and comedian, and more.
The father of the family, Rahamim Banai, immigrated to Jerusalem from Shiraz in Persia in 1880. At first, the family lived in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and then in the tin cans neighborhood, and worked as builders, their traditional profession from which their name was derived. Later Eliyahu Yaakov, the grandson of Rahamim, and his son Meir Eliyahu, began to engage in trade as well.
The Machaneh Yehudah market, which has become a bustling tourist attraction and one of the most recognizable symbols of Jerusalem, began operating at the end of the 19th century on the Jaffa Road near the Machaneh Yehudah neighborhood. At first it was run freely, without any organization, and was used by local merchants, Jews and Arabs, who set up temporary stalls and shacks in it. Among them was also Meir Eliyahu Banai, who sold agricultural products in the market. With the beginning of the British Mandate, the authorities determined that the temporary structures should be demolished and goods should be sold in permanent stores only. Several merchants that originated from Persia, including Eliyahu Yaakov Banai, joined together to purchase the land and built the market's first shops in two narrow streets called Ha’agas (Pear) street and Ha’tapuah (Apple) Street. An apartment was built above the family's vegetable shop, that was located in Ha’agas 1 street, where Meir Eliyahu and his wife Bechora Malka lived together with their eight children, among them Yossi and Gavri. The role of Eliyahu Yaakov as one of the founders of the market was commemorated by the Jerusalem Municipality in the early 2000s, and Ha’agas street was renamed Eliyahu Yaakov Banai street in his honor.
Ehud Banai, the grandson of Eliyahu Yaakov, wrote and composed the song "The Pear One", describing memories from his grandfather's house and the way of life and atmosphere of his family and the market:
“One Pear street, above the vegetable shop, The house is empty now and the walls are bare, But they are saturated with memories of holiday, Scents of jasmine and an old tune inviting to dinner.
One Pear street near the poultry plucker, Old holy books are yellowing in bookcases, And there is no advice and no wisdom against time, The elder leaves, the younger arrives.”
Today, a restaurant called "The Pear One" operates in the exact same place where the family's vegetable shop used to be.
(Anecdote authored by: עמיר)
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עִבְרִית