German Colony
The German Colony
The bustling German Colony is today one of the most popular and prominent neighborhoods in Jerusalem, lined with cafés, restaurants and places of interest.
The German Colony was founded by the Templars, a splinter group of German Protestants who arrived in the Holy Land in the mid-1800s, anticipating the imminent return of Jesus and when Jesus failed to re-emerge, set about establishing a thriving community in the Biblical Emek Refaim (Hebrew for “Valley of Ghosts”) that was designed to imitate a typical German neighborhood. The Templars decided to support Hitler in the thirties and were consequently sent back to Germany by the British authorities who had no tolerance for Nazi supporters in the German and Arab communities.
The German Colony’s Arab population fled during the 1948 War of Independence and soon after new Jewish immigrants moved in but Americanization and gentrification have been the two forces that have shaped the neighborhood into what it is today. The stunning landscaping and magnificent manors attracted the wealthier elements in the population, turning Emek Refaim into one of the foremost upscale restaurant and shopping districts in the city. The high quality of life especially attracted American and English-speaking Westerners, resulting in the upper-class Israeli and American concentration that exists today in the German Colony.
The German Colony is a lovely neighborhood to stroll through, shop in, catch a bite and even watch a film at the small art-house cinema, Smadar.
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Categories : Shopping , Neighborhoods
Hello reader. My name is Charlotte Noris and I am sure that you will definitely enjoy my blog. Do you know why? All because on the pages you will see bright and colorful photos, as well as useful information. My husband and I are freelancers, so we can travel at any time of the year.
For myself, I most often plan tours in advance, but it also happens that the trip turns out to be spontaneous when I see an interesting place and a nice price. At the age of 35, I have visited more than 30 countries and do not plan to stop there. I want to visit all continents and the most secret corners of our planet.