Once Upon a Time in Jerusalem,
And this time – Beit H’amaalot, 1942.
In the center of the picture is King George Street, with tree-lined avenues on both sides,
To the left of the street, in the deserted field at the right side of the picture, belonging to the government of Russia is the open parking lot of today, and the garden on the right side which in the future will be called Independence Park.
Beit H’amaalot was built in 1935 and was designed by architect Meir Rubin.
The design was in the line of the international style, which was the leading style in design in the country at that time.
The building was constructed on a whole residential block, with its borders being King George Street to the east, Shmuel Hanagid Street to the west, and H’amaalot Street to the south, named after the building.
To the north of Beit H’amaalot, an inner courtyard was built that served as a garden and was open towards Shatz Street and Samuel Hanagid Street.
The building is characterized by rounded balconies and symmetrical windows, and the apartments were intended for the affluent population of that period.
Elevators were also installed in the building at each entrance, making it one of the first buildings in the city with an elevator – a marvel of technology in those days. Hence, the building was also called Beit H’amaalot.
A tennis court was also planned for the use of residents in the building, but the plan was not implemented.
Since its construction, the building has served as both residential and office space, a mixed-use predating the concept that became modern since the joyous days of the Covid 19.
Among the residents of the building were former President Ephraim Katzir, Professor Abraham Fraenkel, Rabbi Shmuel Kook, brother of Rabbi Kook, Rabbi Yaakov Goldman, who was the secretary of Rabbi Herzog, Alexander Eliash, the owners of North America Bank, and many others.
Among the offices, one could find the Hebrew Language Academy, the Peace Alliance movement, Kiryat Sefer publishing, and later on, the offices of leading lawyers and clinics.
In the year 2000, the front of the building was restored, and the name of the building –
“Beit H’amaalot” was placed on the front of the building at the corner of King George Street and H’amaalot Street.
Since then, the area has developed densely, high-rise apartment buildings were built nearby, and the light rail planned to run along King George Street will connect between the different parts of the city and between the old and the new.
A peaceful Sabbath to the far and near from Yerushalayim , and may we hear B’sorot Tovot.
Photograph by Jill Johnson.
