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The following is the internet version of the
introduction to the book written and published by
Shlomo Gurevich which is now
available in
English as well as in
Russian
language:
"Gurevich, Gurovich, Gurvich, Gorvich, Gurvitz, Horowitz and others. History
of A Great Family" (Haifa, 1999, ISBN 965-222-971-7)
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According to family tradition, the name Horowitz is associated with
Horovice,
a small town near Prague in the Czech Republic, where Jews expelled from
Spain were allowed to settle. In the beginning, they lived in and around
Prague, then scattered in Eastern and Central Europe. The founders of the
dynasty were Levites but in time non-Levites also entered the family through
marriage.
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One of the most remarkable personalities in the whole history of the
Horowitz families is the Rabbi and Philosopher Yeshayahu Halevi Ish-Horowitz
(the revered "Shlah", author of the work "Shnei Luchot Habrit"), who
immigrated from Prague to Jerusalem in 1621 and is buried on the same site
as the Rambam in Tiberias.
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We have documentation of the activities of Horowitz Rabbis, authors and
people who were active in their communities in Europe (Austria, Bohemia,
Hungary, Germany, Lithuania,
Romania, Russia) for hundreds of years, and in the last century also in
America, South Africa and Australia. Many members of Horowitz families lost
their lives in the Holocaust.
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- Horowitzes played an important role in the Zionist Movement and development
of the State of Israel. They were among the pioneers of various settlements,
kibbutzim and moshavim. For example, Zvi Hurvitz, a member of the "Bilu"
group, was one of the founders of Gedera; Nachum Horowitz of Kfar Giladi was
one of the founders of the "HaShomer" Movement; David Horowitz, a member of
Kibbutz Beit Alfa, was the first Governor of the Bank of Israel, and Yigal
Horowitz, a member of the moshav Nahalal, became Minister of Finance. Many
Horowitzes distinguished themselves in the wars of Israel.
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- Nowadays, Horowitzes are active in all areas of life: in culture, art,
science, economics and communications, all over the world. Some Gurevitches
exerted important functions in former Soviet Union, and have suffered from
anti-Semitic persecutions of the regime. In recent years, many Gurevitch
families have emigrated to Israel where they play an increasingly important
role in the cultural life and the economy of the country.
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