Published: 25 February 2020
Last updated: 4 March 2024
IN THE CENTRE of Jerusalem, in a walled-off and abandoned historic orphanage and former military compound, several new apartment buildings are rising. Sleek aluminium-encased wooden window frames, imported from Italy, hint at the modern and luxurious character of these high-rise stone buildings that make up the Jerusalem Estates project.
In addition to apartments, the complex will include a sprawling private park, a synagogue, a wine cellar, and an art museum, incorporating several restored 150-year-old structures. The same architects who designed some of the city’s most upscale projects—including the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem, built partly from the remains of an antique palace; and the Orient Jerusalem, comprising several revamped German Templer houses—are also behind this project, which advertises itself on its website to prospective buyers who want “an updated high-end lifestyle.”
But it’s also clear from the advertising materials that it’s not just the price—about US$1 million for a three-bedroom apartment—that will determine who lives here.
There are no photos of women in the advertising materials, making it clear this is a project intended for Haredi residents. “It is for people who have the melodies of Jerusalem etched in their hearts, who consider the acquisition of property in the holy city as a fulfilment of a vision and a life-long yearning, and who wish to take advantage of this prized opportunity to be part of such an elite community,” the site says.
Although Jerusalem Estates stands out for its sheer size and historical character, it is just one of many new luxury housing projects changing the character of the city’s traditional ultra-Orthodox areas.
FULL STORY Jerusalem’s Haredim: Moving on up (Tablet)
Photo: Sara Toth Stub
