Katamon Neighborhood in Jerusalem
Katamon neighborhood, also known as Qatamon, is one of the famous neighborhood in Jerusalem. It is located in Southern-central part of the bustling city. The name Katamon or Qatamon is derived from the Greek word “by the monastery” and known as Gonen in its official name in Hebrew.
The Katamon area was established near to an ancient Greek Orthodox temple that is thought to date back to Jesus’ time. It is said that Simeon, who was a priest at the temple, led the Jews into Jerusalem and then preached on a mountain overlooking the city. People often visit and enjoy this historical site today.
Due to lack of available apartments and houses in Jerusalem, Katamon is a hotspot for Orthodox Jewish individuals who are looking for a place to stay since it has plenty of open slots.
The Old Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem may have ‘found fame’ in the Israeli TV show Srugim, but is in reality an old Jerusalem neighborhood that has been around for many centuries. It has recently begun to see a resurgence and is now home to a number of trendy restaurants and boutique shops.
Shortly before World War I, the Katamon area was founded in the early 1900s as a rich, mostly Palestinian-Christian community. The name is derived from the Arabic word for “dove”, which is found on a church in the village of Katamon outside of ancient Jerusalem, and was chosen by the Christian residents because of their belief that it symbolized peace.
The name “Katamon” comes from the Greek word “katamnos”, meaning “place of the victims” and is derived from the fact that this neighborhood was established by the Arab businessmen during the British Mandate. The city became an important site in times of the War of Independence since most battles are held in the nearby San Simon Monastery, which is commemorated by a memorial in Park Katamon.
The Old Katamon was divided out to the West into several communities commonly called the “Katamonim”, built to accommodate the large wave of new immigrants coming to Israel in 1948. These neighborhoods were built in order to provide shelter for those who had previously been living in tent camps.
The neighborhoods were given Hebrew numbers including: Katamon Khet, Katamon Tet, and Katamon 9. Some of them have a second name. A section of Katamon Hei and Katamon tet is called the San Simon Neighborhood, a section of Katamon Het is called San Martin Neighborhood, and a section of KatamonZayn is called the Pat Neighborhood.
The newer Katamonim areas began to be constructed in the 1950s and were home to refugees from the Jewish Quarter following the War of Independence. The area is known for being a safe-haven for Jews during this time, as well as it’s continued status as a thriving community. After a restoration that led to the area becoming the upscale area that it is today, a number of residents were relocated to this area.
One of the most important landmarks in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem is the Monastery of Saint Simeon , which was built on the north highlands of the city. Most locals are familiar with this site as San Simon, the monastery which is surrounded by Givat Oranim, a huge and prominent park in Jerusalem.
In the heart of the neighborhood, you can find there the prominent site called Recha Freier square. The square is named after the woman who founded one of Tel Aviv’s first kindergartens. Around the square, you can find the five notable buildings that served as embassies and consulates for El Salvador, Lebanon, Poland, Venezuela, Greece and Belgium.
The Israel Goldstein Youth Village is also situated in the neighborhood of Katamon. This organization offers a variety of school programs, particularly for Russian and French students. These schools offer both boarding school and day school programs that are tailored to each individual’s needs.
