Another “Once Upon a Time in Jerusalem”
Jaffa Street and Shlomtzion Hamalka Street intersection, early 1960s.
On the left – the Generali Building with its famous lion on the roof, on the right Shlomtzion Hamalka Street, the old two-way version, and on the horizon, Armon HaNetziv with the UN headquarters, what is today the Sherover Promenade.
The Generali Building was built by and named after the Italian insurance company, and was inaugurated in 1935.
The building was designed by the Italian architect Marcello Piacentini in the Neo-classical style, and its triangular shape was well adapted to the intersection of Jaffa and Shlomtzion Hamalka streets.
Later, the building served as the central supply depot of the British army, until it was captured by the E’tzel fighters during the War of Independence.
The lion on the roof of the building is a symbol of the patron saint of Venice and a symbol of the city of Venice, and not, as is commonly believed, a symbol of Jerusalem.
Below it is inscribed in Roman numerals 1831, which is the year of the establishment of the Generali company.
Jerusalem urban legends tell that at night, when everyone went to sleep, the lion would descend from the building, wander around the city, and look for a place to relieve itself… After all, standing in one place all day can tire and bore even a magnificent lion.
Over time, Jaffa Street became the light rail line, Shlomtzion Hamalka Street became one-way and ended in a pedestrian mall bordering the Mamilla Mall, and the last chance to see the street without traffic jams and with parking spaces is probably in this picture.
This is Jerusalem – new versus old,
international history versus local traffic jams,
and one lion with insomnia and a bladder problem.
Shabbat Shalom to all, far and near. May the hostages return home safely, together with the IDF soldiers.
May unity return among us, and may peace come to Israel.
Photographer: Isaac Saad z”l
