Jaffa… as It Was

Abstract

Our house stood in the northeastern part of Jaffa, east of the railroad, and west of the orchard of the Haidar family and parts of the orchard of the Abu Qaoura family. Further east was the Jaffa-Tel Aviv highway. To the south was the house of Mr. Hochau and his large tile factory whose products were exported to all parts of Palestine. Mr. Hochau was a German businessman who lived in our neighborhood with his wife and children. Between Hochau's land and the railroad was the street that led to our house. The street started from a large gate that led to the land on which our house was located. Walking down the street for about 100 meters, one would come to a large iron gate in the railroad wall. Right opposite to it, on the other side of the railroad, was an identical gate. We used these gates to cross over to the Arshid neighborhood. The railroad company built the two gates especially for us, in fullfilment of one of the conditions my father