David Gans
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For many generations David Gans, son of Solomon Gans is known for the books he published in the 17th century, the "Tzemach David" in 1592 and "Nechmad ve naim". He was born 1541 in Westphalia Germany where his family where rich moneylenders. From there he went to study rabbinical literature in Bonn than to Krakow where he studied under Moses Isserles. From There he moved 1564 to Prague . In Prague he came into contacth with Kepler and Tycho Brahe and became a student of the Maharal. David Gans authored a number of books. He was also a mathematician and historian. He died Aug. 25, 1613. His grave, which you can still find in the cemetery in Prague, is marked with a "Magen David" and a goose (Gans meaning goose in German).
The Gans Family traces its roots back to Germany. Many families got their name from the town that they lived in, or their trade or vocation. On the Gans family's house, there was a painting of geese. People knew how to find the house because of the painting of the geese. Goose, in German, is "gans". This is how the Gans family got its name.
From Prague the Gans family moved to Krnov, than Jaegendorf and eventually moved to Vienna about 1850, where they founded a chain of stores for bedding and linens with the same Gans signet. It exists until this day, though it is under different management. In 1939, Olga and Heinrich Gans and family arrived in Palestine- pre-State Israel. They continued in their trade, and manufactured and cleaned down blankets and pillows, and quality bed linens. After the World War, the Gans family provided custom made bedding for King Abdullah's palace, and for Saudi Arabian royalty. In the War of Independence, Olga and Heinrich's son- Zeev Gans z'l- was killed, while defending Jerusalem. His widow Ruth, along with Zeev z"l's mother Olga, continued running the family business. Many immigrants from Eastern Europe, brought with them bags full of down and feathers. These were carefully cleaned and made into quality pillows, blankets, and bed covers.
Jerusalem in those days was a small, close knit community. There wasn't any Jerusalemite who didn't know the Gans family store.
In 1992, on the same premises that served previously as a workshop for the manufacture of bedding, Michael Gans, grandson of Olga and Heinrich, opened a shop where he proudly sells only Israeli made merchandise. Gans Jerusalem Gifts and Judaica carries the work of about 90 artists from all around the country. You can find an extensive selection of Judaica, and gifts for all occasions.
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