Avi Goldberger, pub owner who brings everyone together

Avi Goldberger, a co-owner of Jerusalem's Hataklit Pub, strives to foster an environment where people from all walks of life can gather and connect. The pub, located in the Russian Compound, has become a notable hub, especially during times of international tension, offering a space for respite and interaction.

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In reality, most of the time, that’s simply not the story. I feel welcomed and loved in this city by people from all backgrounds, nationalities and faiths.

On a recent evening marked by flare-ups with Iran, the Hataklit Pub buzzed with activity. Diplomats, EU staff, longtime Jewish and Arab friends, journalists, and tourists mingled, sharing drinks and conversations. Even teenagers from a local yeshiva inquired about World Cup broadcasts, highlighting the pub's broad appeal as a place where the outside world's pressures can temporarily fade.

Goldberger, a ninth-generation Jerusalemite, believes the city's identity is often misunderstood. He rejects the notion that tensions between religious and secular communities define daily life. Instead, he emphasizes the strong sense of welcome and love he experiences from people of all backgrounds in Jerusalem.

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Jerusalem’s significance, with all due respect to its cultural institutions, stems first and foremost from its history. And much of that history is tied to religion.

He views Jerusalem's significance as rooted in its history, which is deeply intertwined with religion. Goldberger advocates for the coexistence of religiosity and modernity, seeing them as essential, complementary currents within the city. This philosophy is embodied in the Hataklit Pub, which stands on a site with over a century of history, including being the birthplace of Itamar Ben-Avi, son of Hebrew language revivalist Eliezer Ben-Yehuda.

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These two currents need to learn how to coexist more successfully within the space called Jerusalem. Without one, there would be no other. In many ways, this is the story of the entire State of Israel.