Bnei Brak has always been known for its lofty achievements in the Torah world. While religiously guarding that reputation, municipal officials are now setting their sights on making sure the city also has an enduring economic future. And at half the price of neighboring Tel Aviv, yeshivah-studded Bnei Brak has become a new business frontier.
Zev Ben-Avraham has been wearing a wide grin ever since the 4 a.m. phone call that roused him with the glad tidings that his fourth grandchild a healthy baby boy had just been born.
“Look I already have his picture here on my iPhone” says Mr. Ben-Avraham as he proudly shows off the new arrival to anyone who can see the picture through the gleam of the bright morning sunshine reflecting off the phone’s screen.
Mr. Ben-Avraham may be typical of the new breed of Israeli who finds Bnei Brak to be a hospitable business address. Eight years ago he left a position as manager of a country club in Savyon one of Tel Aviv’s ritziest suburbs to become site manager at Bnei Brak’s Africa-Israel (AFI) Concorde office tower owned and constructed by real estate developer and diamond tycoon Lev Leviev.
From the tower’s rooftop panorama one can see the loftiest sections of the city — as well as the humblest. The expanse of the Ponovezh Yeshivah is visible at a distance in the east while on the street level just below are blocks of shuttered car repair garages and even some wedding halls slated for demolition to make room for new business towers.
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