Uri Jeremias (aged 58)
Uri Jeremias is sitting on the terrace of his restaurant on Acre’s
boulevard, having an animated discussion via his tiny silver-coloured
cell phone. Inside, the restaurant’s staff is very busy: all tables
are occupied. Every evening people from all over Israel come to have
dinner at the Uri Buri fish restaurant in Acre, attracted by the praise
about its excellent food and prominent owner.
Uri, 58 years old, a sturdily-built man, with a long, grey beard and
a deep voice, is a remarkable figure. He loves Acre. He shows great
enthusiasm when talking about the city’s turbulent history. “Acre
has regularly changed hands over the past four thousand years. From
Greeks to Romans, crusaders and Turks: they have all left their mark,
leaving Acre with a unique architecture in a city of many religions
and full of stories. Did you know that we have here the oldest functioning
church in the Middle East? And a Turkish bathhouse as well as a Bahái
temple?”
In Uri’s restaurant too, religions meet. Uri himself is Jewish,
the cook is a Muslim and there are both Jewish and Christian waitresses.
According to Uri, this mix is essential for his restaurant’s success.
“In this part of town, most entrepreneurs are Muslims. Without
their co-operation, my restaurant could not survive. I secure their
co-operation by applying life rule number one: respect others and you
will be respected in return.”
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© Jutka Halberstadt
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