Rechavia Neighborhood in Jerusalem

by Harlan Kilstein | Jun 17, 2022 | Neighborhoods

Rechavia or Rehavia Neighborhood in Jerusalem

Jerusalem is known for its bustling neighborhoods that are worth exploring. One of the famous neighborhoods of Jerusalem is the Rechavia Neighborhood.

Rechavia neighborhood  was built on the property purchased from the Greek Orthodox Church by a subsidiary of the Israel Land Development Company and designed by architect Richard Kaufman. It was planned to be established as the garden of neighborhood. This was an effort to create an environment free from commercial enterprises in order to preserve the area’s serene ambiance.

The area has a long history of being associated with German-Jewish culture and tradition. The Schocken library is the largest and most significant collection of books in the country, which was located in the quarter and belonged to the late German-Jewish editor Salman Schocken.

It is no secret that in the early 20th century, many intellectuals and professors from Europe chose to move to Rechavia. This was an interesting decision because it was a time of political instability, with World War I and the Russian revolution occurring around that time. Many major politicians and leaders followed suit, looking for a way to escape the chaos of Europe.

Rechavia or Rehavia is a neighborhood in Jerusalem that was planned to be built with an intellectual character in keeping with the culture of the inhabitants of the area. Naming most of its streets after famous individuals from the Golden Age of the Jewish culture in the country of Spain has reinforced this character.

Some of the more prominent buildings in Rechavia neighborhood include the headquarters of the Jewish Agency for Israel, a windmill on Ramban Street, The Ratisbonne Monastery and the Gymnasia Rechavia.

Although Rechavia is situated on the noisy and busy streets of the city center, there are many street corners that provide a tranquil place to relax. There is plenty of greenery within the walls and fences of the surrounding buildings, which brings added serene atmosphere to the area. 

The shops on the streets in Rechavia features artisans boasting are handmade items such as artistic gifts, delicious French treats and even gourmet chocolate. Cafés thrive in Rechavia because of this great atmosphere and their location on Azza Street. 

One of the prominent coffee shop in the area is the Café Atara, which recently shut down, was known for being the pick of politicians because it was often used to serve coffee to Knesset members on Azza Street. But despite the past incidents in the place,  Atara has been reborn as the most sought-after kosher sushi restaurant in the city of Jerusalem.

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