Selected text
My grandfather was born in Bosnia but I
cannot remember where. Together with his brother, Nisim Kabiljo, he went on
pilgrimage to Palestine around 1890 and there two things happened. My
grandfather met my grandmother, who was born in Palestine, they married and
had their first four children: three sons and one daughter. My grandfather
went back to Bosnia, and had another seven children. His brother remained
in Israel where he made a big family. He was no longer known as Kabiljo,
but rather Haviljo, which became a famous name in Jerusalem. In the center
of the city there is a Haviljo Family Square. They were producers of candy,
halvah and sweets. Theirs was the first big factory and it operated for a
long, long time. When I came to Israel I went to the factory. The halvah
produced by Shmuel Haviljo was well known and they were famous for it.
After his death, the city of Jerusalem decided to name a small square in
the center of town Haviljo Family Square. I have seen this street sign.
Their grandchildren still live in Israel. They were real Israelis. One,
Shlomo Haviljo, was a colonel in the Israeli army; another was Avram
Haviljo, he worked as a diplomat; a third, Mose Haviljo, worked in the
factory. Shmuel Haviljo hired several Yugoslavs who came to Israel as part
of the first aliya because his father, Nisim Haviljo, was of Yugoslavian
descent.
cannot remember where. Together with his brother, Nisim Kabiljo, he went on
pilgrimage to Palestine around 1890 and there two things happened. My
grandfather met my grandmother, who was born in Palestine, they married and
had their first four children: three sons and one daughter. My grandfather
went back to Bosnia, and had another seven children. His brother remained
in Israel where he made a big family. He was no longer known as Kabiljo,
but rather Haviljo, which became a famous name in Jerusalem. In the center
of the city there is a Haviljo Family Square. They were producers of candy,
halvah and sweets. Theirs was the first big factory and it operated for a
long, long time. When I came to Israel I went to the factory. The halvah
produced by Shmuel Haviljo was well known and they were famous for it.
After his death, the city of Jerusalem decided to name a small square in
the center of town Haviljo Family Square. I have seen this street sign.
Their grandchildren still live in Israel. They were real Israelis. One,
Shlomo Haviljo, was a colonel in the Israeli army; another was Avram
Haviljo, he worked as a diplomat; a third, Mose Haviljo, worked in the
factory. Shmuel Haviljo hired several Yugoslavs who came to Israel as part
of the first aliya because his father, Nisim Haviljo, was of Yugoslavian
descent.
Period
Interview
Albert Eskenazi