Dr. Gidon Perlman z”l.Death-Obituary, Co-founder of the Jerusalem Bird Observatory Has Passed Away

Dr. Gidon Perlman z”l.Death-Obituary, Co-founder of the Jerusalem Bird Observatory Has Passed Away

A co-founder of the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, which he built together with Amir Balaban in 1994, Gidon helped shape the space so many of us know and love today. If you’ve ever visited the JBO, walked its peaceful paths, or marveled at the birds drawn to this urban oasis, there’s a good chance you saw him there—a quiet, dedicated presence tending to the sanctuary he helped create.

A cardiologist by profession and a nature lover at heart, Gidon was so much more than a colleague. He was a living example of curiosity, dedication, and a profound, active love for the natural world. He embodied the idea that one can excel in science and service while also being a steadfast guardian of beauty and wildlife.

A few years ago, he was diagnosed with ALS, a devastating and incurable disease. But even in the face of that relentless challenge, Gidon chose to keep going. He continued to travel, to stay connected to the field, to write, to research, to work, never giving up. Even when he became confined to a wheelchair, his spirit remained free, curious, and vibrantly active. When asked what he wished for himself during this difficult period, he answered with characteristic simplicity and purpose: “to keep doing.”

That unwavering desire “to keep doing”—learning, contributing, and engaging with the world—defined him. It is the legacy he leaves at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory and in the hearts of all who knew him. His physical presence is now gone, but the mark he made, on both the landscape and our community, will endure. We will remember him not with sorrow alone, but with inspiration, carrying forward his boundless curiosity and his commitment to life, in all its forms.