Another “Once Upon a Time in Jerusalem”
and this time – Beit HaMa’alot 1950.
Beit HaMa’alot was inaugurated in 1935 and was considered a masterpiece of its time for luxury residences in Jerusalem.
The building is located at the corner of King George Street, today’s HaMa’alot Street (named after the building), and Shmuel Hanagid Street.
The building was designed in the International Style by architects Alexander Friedman and Meir Rubin.
The building is called Beit HaMa’alot (House of Elevations) because it was one of the first in the city to be built with elevators for resident’s use.
Behind the building, a large courtyard was planned, facing Schatz Street, with a tennis court envisioned for the resident’s enjoyment—an initiative that ultimately was never realized.
The building was designed asymmetrically to allow for sukkah balconies, catering to its affluent residents. A mikveh was even planned under the top floor, though it was never constructed.
Beit HaMa’alot housed both residences and offices, an early example of mixed-use development—a trend that has made a strong comeback in modern times. Among the offices were the Academy of the Hebrew Language, publishing houses, and independent professionals.
Some of the building’s notable residents included:
Ephraim Katzir, former President of Israel, Retired Judge Zeiler, Shmuel Kook, brother of Rabbi Kook, Rabbi Yaakov, personal secretary to Chief Rabbi Herzog, a military rabbi in World War II, and later the rabbi of the prison system during the underground resistance period, Alexander Elias, founder of Bank Elias, which later became Bank North America and many other distinguished figures.
The building still stands today, and in 2020, the Jerusalem Municipality restored and preserved its original signage.
Today, King George Street is being transformed into a light rail corridor, with 25-story towers planned and under construction along the route. And as for finding an available parking spot on HaMa’alot Street? That probably hasn’t happened since the late 1930s…
History in the making—elevators and mikvehs, a tennis court in the heart of the city, and 1930s-style luxury living during the British Mandate era.
This is our Jerusalem.
Shabbat Shalom to all those far and near❤️
May all the hostages return swiftly to their homes, together with the soldiers of the IDF.
Photographer – Teddy Browner