Jerusalem Names Street After Poet Chaim Guri on City's Unification Anniversary

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Jerusalem has inaugurated a street named after the late Israel Prize laureate Chaim Guri, a poet, author, and Six-Day War veteran. The ceremony, held on October 12th in the Arnona neighborhood, was attended by Mayor Moshe Lion and Guri's family. The street's naming commemorates Guri's deep connection to Jerusalem and coincides with the 60th anniversary of the city's unification. His granddaughter performed one of his famous poems at the event.

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Jerusalem named a street after poet and Six-Day War veteran Chaim Guri on October 12th.
The inauguration coincided with the 60th anniversary of Jerusalem's unification.
Mayor Moshe Lion attended the ceremony in the Arnona neighborhood.
Guri was a Palmach fighter, Israel Prize laureate, and influential Israeli writer.
His granddaughter performed his poem "Shir Ha'Re'ut" at the event.

The Jerusalem Municipality inaugurated a street named after the late Chaim Guri, a distinguished Israeli figure, on Sunday, October 12th. Guri, a recipient of the Israel Prize, was a member of the Palmach, a "Beloved of Jerusalem," and a commander and fighter who participated in the liberation of the city during the Six-Day War. He was also a prolific poet, author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker.

The ceremony took place in the Arnona neighborhood and was attended by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, city council members, municipality employees, Guri's family members, and other guests. The choice of the name "Derech" (דרך, meaning "way" or "path") reflects Guri's intertwined life, work, and persona with the history of Israel and Jerusalem. This designation holds particular significance as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of Jerusalem's unification.

Guri's deep connection to Jerusalem began during the 1948 War of Independence, where he fought as a young Palmach fighter and later as a poet whose works shaped national memory. His iconic poems, including "Bab al-Wad," "Shir Ha'Re'ut" (Song of Companionship), and "Hineh Motelot Gufoteinu" (Here Lie Our Bodies), became foundational elements of Israeli heritage.

Leading up to the Six-Day War, Guri surveyed the divided city and was later drafted as a company commander in the Jerusalem Brigade, fighting along the city's northern seam, near Mandelbaum Gate and Turjeman Post. His experiences during the war and the city's reunification were later chronicled in his writings, such as "Jerusalem Pages" and "And to Jerusalem."

The street's inauguration also symbolizes Guri's personal journey from his birthplace in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, where he chose to build his home. His granddaughter, Naama Hamdi, performed "Shir Ha'Re'ut" at the ceremony, accompanied by her father Doron on guitar, reflecting Guri's belief in the continuity of generations. His daughter, Chumtal Guri Hamdi, continues his legacy as a creator and writer.

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