Article from La Vanguardia – January 29, 2007

“There are two types of people…”

I am 73 years old. I was born in Tel Aviv, lived all over the world and now have returned to Israel, my roots. I am a businessman and money manager: “Vision in action” is my motto. I am a Zionist: a proud Jew, defender of Israel. My activity is health and wealth. I am an orthodox Jew: God is with me in every instant, is my brother, father, master, and King.

Israel Pioneer – Chaim Chalfon

Wellbeing

He is a small and lively man. “I carry a child inside of me!” he tells me. Chalfon, in Hebrew, means ‘change’: for generations his family has been dedicated to this, to exchange. He, also, manages money so that it will bear fruit: “I conceive money as energy: if does not circulate it languishes. It must flow to create things, to grow!” he tells me. Convinced that we all have a mission and that his is “to be a bridge between the material and the spiritual”, he has decided, after succeeding as a businessman, to return to the Israel of his roots and to launch from there the chain Lifestyle Healing Center, centers with sauna, gymnasium, massages, biological food, store and even kosher restaurant (the only one in Barcelona), to promote people’s integral wellbeing.

Interview

    Where is Israel heading?
    I am apolitical. I am a businessman. History will answer that question.

    What does that mean?
    During two thousand years the Jews have dreamt of having their country, and now they have it. A thousand armies could not defeat a dream!

    Was it also your dream?
    I lived it since I was born: I was 15 years old the day when the State of Israel was born.

    What do you recall of that day?
    It was at night and we were all in the street, elderly and children, in pyjamas. We listened on a radio connected to a loudspeaker. It was a colossal happiness! The bad part was that immediately some Arabs shot at a bus, there was a killing…

    How did you fight to reach that dream of Israel?
    Being born in the land of Israel. Living in that land, working that land.

    To what was your family dedicated?
    To agriculture and grazing. My family settled in Israel and thus helped to keep the words of Yahweh: “Only the Jews will cause the flourishing of the land of Israel so that it bears fruit”.

    Where did your family come from?
    For 14 generations they are dedicated to commerce in the Mediterranean. My father was a leader of the Jewish community of Tripoli (Libya): in 1914 he gathered 50 Jewish families together to fulfil the biblical dream: they left for Israel.

    And there you were born.
    It was a primitive, backyard place… Pregnant with me, my mother walked four kilometres during an early morning to the hospital, where she gave birth to me. She didn’t say anything to anyone at home “so as not to bother them”.

    A tough woman.
    You see, I carry in my genes the capacity to overcome all difficulties! My mother had 16 children: nine died from illnesses or by Arabian violence…

    The Palestinian did not want to see them there…
    Until we arrived it was a desert, and we made it into a garden! But they wanted to throw us out. And at the age of five I witnessed how some Arabs drowned my seven years old brother to death…

    That is horrifying.
    I also have good memories each Shabbat, after leaving the synagogue, I walked with my father through the countryside while he taught me the principles of life…

    What principles did he teach?
    Three: “Learn from everyone. Act without complaining. Help others with all that you have”. I have kept to them always.

    What was your first job in your life?
    As a boy I was a goat shepherd. Like King David as a boy! The psalms of King David have been always my teachers…

    Which is your favourite one?
    “When you have a problem and seek a solution, think of the problem itself as the solution!”

    Powerful maxim.
    It has inspired the right attitude in me during all my life. Today I know that these are two types of people: the ones that complain and the ones that act. I am of the second.

    Where has this philosophy carried you?
    Although I had no formal education, I had pioneering spirit. So, I saw opportunities in the plastics industry, I sought someone who could teach me, and thus I created a great industry. Because again there are two classes of people: the ones that have a vision but do not dare to act, and the ones that add action to the vision.

    And you are of the second.
    Yes. At the age of 34 I arrived in the United States with 17 dollars in my pocket… And I founded 18 businesses, nine of which continue to be active.

    How much is the turnover?
    It is a secret, ha, ha… I have slept with beggars and I have eaten with princes. I do not boast: everything is a blessing from God.

    God blesses those who desire it?
    When you prioritize the human factor over the bottom line, the generosity of God blesses you with prosperity, praised be! Amen!

    You are very religious, aren’t you?
    I am faithful to my roots. I am an orthodox Jew. The major pride of my life is to have given a Torah to my Jewish community of Israel, and another to that of Barcelona.

    Is it a very valuable gift?
    Some 50,000 dollars. They are our sacred scriptures. A wise rabbi transcribes them and he must purify himself from head to toe each time that he writes the word Yahweh. This is why it is so costly to make a Torah.

    What do you do here, in Barcelona?
    After a life of learning and producing, today I concentrate on helping. I have created a network of centers for health and wellbeing, to pamper the body and soul.

    On what method is it based?
    I look for food and medicine. Today we live more years, but ill and unhappy, thus the pharmaceutical companies gain a lot of money! I want them to gain less: I want to help people to live healthier for more years.

    You look very well, of course.
    Because I maintain a simple way of life: exercise, positive attitude and healthy diet. I have always eaten kosher.

    They are the Jewish dietary laws, no?
    We do not eat anything that crawls, like shrimp or pork, nor bleeding meats, nor do we mix milk with meats.

    Any advice from your experience?
    Yes: attitude. That each crisis of your life serves a step to advance and to elevate! Whatever happens, have courage to be happy: it could be worse. Because there are two types of people…

    That I seem to have understood…
    Yes, ha, ha… Those that see problems in everything… and the ones that see solutions in everything. I give thanks to King David, my teacher.

Victor M. Amelia

Special Note Lavangardia is the oldest daily in Spain (120 years) and the most read.