Street of the hospitals, street of the consuls, the back street and many more names were given to this street.
The street was officially named at the beginning of the British Mandate period by the Governor of Jerusalem,
Ronald Storrs. At that time, the street was paved and infrastructure for water and electricity were installed.
It begins close to Damascus Gate and ends in the Davidka square.
Towards the end of the street, in a non-active mosque, there is a tomb of a prophet, Nabi Okashi.
According to one of the local tradition a prophet, important to all of the three monotheistic religions,
is buried here. Because of that story Roland Storrs, the British governor of the city,
decided to call the street at its current name.
After the Crimean war at the 19th century the European states received permissioned,
from the Othman emperor, to settle down in Jerusalem. Chthonic, Protestants and Anglican,
they all started immediately with missionary work among the Jews and Muslims,
using education and health care. First they built their institutions within the walls of the old city.
Secondly, the area behind the Russian compound became the popular area.
Slowly the hospital created the new street. Jews were treated in those hospitals and were much
influenced from the Christians establishments and some of them converted immediately.
The Jews reacted and Moshe Montefiore built a new hospital within the Jewish quarter.
Baron Rothschild built the first Jewish hospital in the middle of this street.
The Italian hospital, located in the bingeing of the street, designed in a late middle ages style,
became the offices of the Ministry of Education.
Up the street, there are the German and the British hospital combining a Renaissance style with modern elements.
Rothschild’s hospital is very similar but smaller.
Today only its façade stands in front of Hadassah collage.
It is a little bit strange to think that in the middle of an ultra-orthodox neighborhood there are churches.
First of all, each and every Christian institution hosted a small church for the services of its visitors and workers.
Except the hospitals there are some active churches and monasteries and some privet houses
that were transferred to religious establishments.
A very special church is the Ethiopian one, from HaNevi’im Street you enter to Ethiopia Street.
According to the Ethiopian tradition they are the offspring’s of Manlike,
the son of King Salomon and Queen Sheba- the result of a one night stand.
The complex contain a monastery, called Debera Ganet that means Paradis,
a church that looks like the rotunda of the Holy Sepulcher church.
The buildings were designed at the end of the 19th century by a German Protestant Christian, Konrad Schick.
Their main symbol is the Lion of Zion – the lion that represent the tribe of Judah with a crown of the Ethiopian royal dynasty and the flag.
The interior is unique, some will say even kitsch, you won’t see every day pink and pale blue.
Another unique church is on the other side of the street, on HaRav Kuk Street.
The community of saints Hana and Simon is a Latin one that prays in the Hebrew language.
The build
ing is very simple and served the Italian consul before it moved to the Franciscans friars.
Since 2000, after a renovation, the Latins who prays in Hebrew use it.
They have serves every 18:30 that you can go and watch or participate.
Some other religious monasteries are closed to the public.
One of them is located in the house of the English painter Holman Hunt.
A famous Israeli poet lived there as well.
Rachel was her name and she donated much to the developing Israeli culture during the 20’s and 30’s.
The privet house of Konrad Schick the architect, also known as Tabor House,
was purchased by Swedish Protestants who established the Swedish Theological Institute.
Another catholic institution is the French monastery of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
Their mission is to help the sick and most of them were trained as nurses.
In a small ally, parallel to HaNevi’im Street, one of the first privet houses that were built in 1860 is still hidden.
It was built by an Arab dignitary. Among its first occupants was the family of the notorious antiquities forger,
Shapira. After getting caught in ancient texts forgery he committed suicide.
Dr. Thico, who married his cousin, bought the house. After he was stabbed in his back in 1929,
the couple converted the first floor to a clinic and the upper floor to their apartment and Anna’s studio.
Today the free gallery is under the management of Israel Museum.
There is a permanent exhibition of Anna’s drawings and contemporary art works on display.
http://www.english.imjnet.org.il/page_1712
Go and explore the hidden spots of our neighbors.
