Another “Once Upon a Time in Jerusalem,”
and this time – King David Street through an aerial photograph from 1931.
King David Street serves as a key thoroughfare, linking the city center to the northern regions. It runs in the western part, above the Sultan’s Pool and the northern section of the Valley of Hinnom, directly facing the walls of the Old City.
In the picture, you can see the King David Hotel, with the YMCA tower under construction in the background. Behind it is a football field that has hosted many teams over the years, including the British Mandate’s police team, who inaugurated the field in 1933 alongside distinguished English players, as well as players from Beitar and Hapoel Jerusalem, who played there until 1991. In the background is the dirt road—today’s Keren Hayesod Street—flanked by olive trees on the open spaces, with the first houses of the Talbiya neighborhood to the left.
The street began as a dirt road for carts in an uninhabited area, appearing on maps from the Ottoman period. During the British Mandate, it transformed into an urban boulevard, becoming part of the city’s new architectural landscape. The British named the street “Julian Way” in honor of Julian the Poor, who hosted pilgrims. His fortunes changed significantly as the road named after him passed through one of the most picturesque locations in the world, directly across from the walls of the Old City.
In 1929, the wealthy Jewish Mutsri family from Egypt initiated the establishment of a luxury hotel in Jerusalem, recognizing a business opportunity following the British Mandate’s implementation in Israel, which brought a wave of visitors and pilgrims. Construction of the YMCA building began in 1926; it is regarded as one of the most beautiful YMCA buildings in the world. The building was inaugurated in April 1933 by General Allenby, who led the British army in conquering Palestine from the Ottomans. Both structures were designed by leading architects of the era.
In 1938, the British Mandate authorities decided to relocate the offices of the British administration to the King David Hotel, and Julian Way became a significant axis in Jerusalem’s urban development. As years passed and the British Mandate ended, the street became a site of intense battles during the War of Independence against the Jordanian Legion and Arab residents in the area. On the day of Israel’s declaration of independence, May 14, 1948, the Haganah forces took control of the buildings in the area, except for the King David Hotel and the YMCA, which were protected by the Red Cross.
After the War of Independence, the street bordered the ceasefire line opposite the Jordanian Legion, which controlled the eastern side of the divided city and the Old City. The buildings along the eastern side provided shelter for pedestrians from Jordanian snipers targeting residents of the western city from the hills and walls of the Old City. After Israel’s establishment, the street’s name changed from Julian Way to King David Street, named after the famous hotel.
Following the Six-Day War and the reunification of the city, the status of King David Street strengthened, transforming it into a hub for luxury hotels overlooking the walls of the Old City, alongside galleries, Judaica shops, and antique stores. Today, 92 years after the photograph was taken, the area looks entirely different. King David Street and its surroundings are a must-visit for any tourist in Jerusalem. New luxury hotels have risen opposite the most beautiful city walls in the world, and new, upscale residential buildings have attracted Jews from around the globe, with property prices on both sides of the street among the highest in the country.
On the fields once dotted with olive trees along today’s Keren Hayesod Street, homes have been built in the modern Talbiya neighborhood, leaving no olive trees from those days. The players from the British police team and the fans who once gathered around the YMCA football field have been replaced by new residents from all corners of the world, living in the neighborhood that now stands where the field used to be.
The development of Julian Way, which became King David Street after the establishment of the state, reflects the broader evolution of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people, after returning from 2,000 years of exile. After 76 years of independence for the only Jewish state in the world—surrounded by enemies still seeking its destruction—the luxurious residential buildings, prestigious hotels, and thriving tourism on King David Street silently testify that the Jewish people live on.
Shabbat Shalom to those near and far from Jerusalem. May the hostages return home swiftly alongside the IDF soldiers and evacuees from the north. Wishing a blessed memory for the soldiers, both regular and reservists, who, along with their families, have paid the highest price for the right to live in peace in our land.
