“Lev Ha’ir” Mahane Yehuda and Nahlaot: A Kurdish Neighborhood in the Heart of the City Jerusalem

Abstract

Jerusalem stands as one of the oldest cities in the world and is revered as one of humanity’s most sacred urban centers throughout history. The city exemplifies a distinctive religious, cultural, and social mosaic. It has maintained its status as a holy center for Judaism for approximately 3,000 years, for Christianity for around 2,000 years, and for Islam for about 1,400 years. Throughout its extensive history, Jerusalem has experienced numerous conflicts and reconstruction efforts, reflecting the complex interplay of diverse sacred sites associated with these religions. The Old City of Jerusalem, characterized by its narrow streets and rich historical fabric, is organized into four primary districts: the Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian quarters. In the mid-19th century, the city’s medieval appearance, enclosed by walls, began to transform with the establishment of new neighborhoods outside the walls, largely driven by Jewish immigration from various regions of the world. This study focuses on two of the most well-known neighborhoods: Mahane Yehuda and Nahlaot. These areas were established by Kurdish Jews who migrated from Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria and settled in Jerusalem. Known as Lev Ha’ir, meaning “The Heart of the City,” these neighborhoods have become cultural, historical, and social hubs for the Kurdish Jewish community. During my fieldwork between 2011 and 2012, I visited these neighborhoods and conducted interviews with residents living there. This study aims to explore the narratives surrounding the establishment of these neighborhoods, the positionality and role of Kurdish Jews within them, and the significance of these areas for Jewish identity in the historical context of Israel and the broader narrative of the city of Jerusalem. In this context, the study is expected to make a contribution to the historical anthropology literature.

Keywords

• Mahane Yehuda
• Nahlaot
• Kurdish Neighborhood
• Jewish Quarter
• Jerusalem

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