The United Nations Headquarters in Jerusalem - Government House

Built in 1933, the former British High Commissioner's headquarters - Government House or Armon HaNatsiv in Hebrew - is an elegant, monumental building.  In Christian tradition, the site is known as the Hill of Evil Counsel, linking it to home of Caiaphas the high priest from the time of Jesus. Situated in the south of the Valley of Hinnom, it commands a superb view to the old city, Mount of Olives, Judean Desert and into Jordan.

Facade - photo Daniela Penkova

Designed by British architect Austen St. Barbe Harrison, it combines local elements and classical symmetry and bears great resemblance to the Rockefeller Museum in east Jerusalem which he also designed. Once again, he succeeds in creating a building that relates to local historical tradition, the dramatic landscapes and represents the values and culture of the British Empire of its day.

Main Guard Entrance to the compound

In 1948, the British abandoned the building handing it over to the Red Cross. After the Armistice Agreement was signed in 1949, The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation - UNTSO - moved into the building. It also overseas the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) based on the Golan Heights. 

Having fallen into disrepair, the building recently underwent a $7 million renovation restoring it to its former glory.

Sunken Garden from the south
photo Daniela Penkova

Two weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be taken on a private tour of the building which reminded me of the YMCA on King David Street and the Rockefeller Museum. 

The simple stone interiors are grand but not overwhelming. High windows allow natural light to flood into the rooms. The most impressive room is the ballroom, which connects to the reception room and incorporates a splendid fireplace designed by Armenian ceramic artist David Ohanessian. 

View to the ballroom

The fireplace with Armenian ceramics

Ceramic detail

Facade at Dusk - photo Daniela Penkova

A Centenary of Armenian Pottery in Jerusalem - Hagop Karakashian

2019 marks the centenary of Armenian pottery in Jerusalem. In 1919, David Ohannessian and his two assistants, Megherdich Karakashian and Neshan Balian, were brought to Jerusalem by the British from Kutahya in Turkey to repair the 16th century tiles covering the Dome of the Rock. These craftsmen were glad to leave Turkey to escape persecution and settle in Jerusalem to practise the craft of making richly-colored glazed pottery.

Even though they ultimately didn't carry out the repair work on the Dome of the Rock, the British commissioned their decorative tiles to grace a number of significant public buildings erected during the Mandate Period. These include: the Rockefeller Museum, St. John's Eye Hospital on the Hebron Road, St. Andrew's Scottish Church and the American Colony Hotel.

In 1964 Stepan and Berj Karakashian established the Jerusalem Pottery workshop on the Via Dolorosa where it remained until the end of 2018. Following Stepan's death that year, his son Hagop (third generation) and his wife Tzoghig, moved the workshop and studio to the Greek Patriarch Street close to the Jaffa Gate in the Christian Quarter.

Interior - New Pottery Workshop

Their work incorporates traditional Armenian bird, animal and flower designs and biblical scenes on tiles, bowls, plates, mugs and vases.  They will also make custom-made panels for your new kitchen or bathroom.

It is always a pleasure to stop by and admire the beautiful, hand-crafted work still made in the traditional manner by the family.

Jerusalem Pottery is open daily 9:00 - 19:00 except Sunday. 3 Greek Patriarch Street. 02-6261587

Through His Father's Eye - Elia Photo - Christian Quarter

Learning of the recent passing of Kevork Kahvedjiah, a kind and gentle soul, I wanted to update this post.  His son Elie continues the family tradition.

Kevork surrounded by his father's pictures
Photo: Aliza Orent

Kevork Kahvedjian was raised in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City and inherited his father’s photography business. His father fled Armenia and was raised in an orphanage in Nazareth. After discovering a trove of his father’s negatives in an attic, he published “Through My Father’s Eyes” a unique collection of photographs showing everyday life in Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land as captured by his father’s camera since 1924. Recently, the photographs were used to guide the restoration of the historic Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter, which was destroyed by the Jordanians in 1948.. 

A visit to Elia Photo on El Khanka Street is a must for anyone visiting Jerusalem. Even more so if you are interested in photography and historical photographs.



Kevork Kahvedjian of Blessed Memory

Austria in Jerusalem - the Austrian Pilgrims' Hospice

The Austrian Pilgrims' Hospice, strategically placed in the Muslim Quarter at the junction of the Via Dolorosa and El Wad Street (HaGai), is one of my favourite places to visit while touring the old city.



Austrian Hospice in the 19th Century

The Austrian Hospice is one of a number of  historical buildings erected by European powers towards the end of the 19th century as the 400-year Ottoman rule was coming to a close.

After the foundation stone was laid on New Year's Eve 1856 the Hospice became one of the city's leading ecclesiastical guesthouses before being taken over by other parties. It served as an orphanage, internment camp, officers' school and military hospital. In 1985, with assistance from Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek, the building was returned to its original function and is currently run by local and Austrian staff and volunteers.

One of its most famous guests was Kaiser Franz Josef who stayed here in 1869 on his way to the opening of the Suez Canal. In addition to being Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and monarch of other states in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he also took the title of  "King of Jerusalem". 

A mosaic in the charming chapel depicts him pointing the way to the Holy City leading his new Crusade.

Built in the style of Vienna's Ringstrasse palaces of the 19th century, the pilgrims' hospice is a wonderful place to enjoy a coffee and strudel in the Viennese Cafe or sip a beer in the well-tended gardens.

View from the roof

The Austrian Hospice offers an oasis of tranquility in the old city and affords a wonderful panoramic view from its rooftop. Ring the doorbell to leave the Middle Eastern bazaar and enter the grandeur of the House of Habsburg - a real Jerusalem secret!

There is a fee of 5 shekels to visit the rooftop panorama.



Jerusalem's Hansen Hospital: From Leper Colony to Multi-Media Art School

In the affluent neighbourhood of Talbieh, across the road from the Jerusalem Theatre complex, sits an impressive 19th century building - the former Hansen Hospital. Named after Dr. Gerhard Hansen, the Norwegian physician who discovered the leprosy bacteria in 1873.

In the early 19th century there were no real medical facilities in the Jerusalem. The first modern hospitals were established by Europeans.  Leprosy, an infectious disease, was a stigma. It was also misunderstood.

The Hansen House story began with a visit from Germany, of the Baron and Baroness von Keffenbrinck Ascheraden, to the old city of Jerusalem in 1865. During their visit, they encountered lepers living in tents and mud huts at the Zion Gate, an encounter that brought them to decide to promote the establishment of a proper asylum for people with leprosy. In cooperation with a committee of the Joint Anglican-German Protestant Community in Jerusalem, the first leper asylum was established in 1867 next to the old Mamilla Pool. When this initial structure could no longer fit all people with leprosy seeking shelter, it was decided in 1882 that a larger home be built.

Designed by Conrad Schick, a German missionary and self-taught architect, the spacious two-storey building named "Jesus Hilfe" (Jesus Helps) was opened in 1887 with 65 patients. Set among fruit trees and a vegetable garden, it provided clean air, hygiene, nutrition, work, and spritual and emotional support for the patients who were mostly Muslim but there were also Christians and a number of Jews. It was the only place of its kind in the Middle East.

The hospital operated from 1914-1948 with European staff. By 1948 it became part of the Ministry of Health and continued to function until 2000.



Main Entrance and Gardens

Hansen Hospital Museum

Two rooms are dedicated to the history of the hospital and Hansen's Disease.

The city decided to preserve the building and in 2013 the compound became part of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design masters program. The centre includes exhibition spaces, an animation lab, theatre performance space, a projection room, studios for visiting artists, an artists guest house and a restaurant. 

I revisited the building last week for the first time since its restoration and enjoyed the delightful Ofa'im Cafe which serves delicious dairy meals in historic surroundings. The small museum is open to the public free of charge.

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Ein Gedi's Ancient Synagogue

For most visitors, a tour of Ein Gedi means the short circular nature trail among lush vegetation and fresh water pools of Nahal David or the longer trail of Nahal Arugot.

Many people overlook the nearby antiquities which can be visited on the same entrance ticket and are well worth a short stop.



Evidence of the ancient Jewish settlement from the Second Temple Period were discovered by chance in 1965 when a mosaic floor was revealed among the date plantations of the modern kibbutz Ein Gedi.


Ein Gedi Synagogue Central Medallion

Further excavations in the 1990s revealed remains of a settlement and synagogue from the late Roman and Byzantine periods - 3rd-6th centuries CE.

The synagogue was completely excavated and nearby streets and buildings partially uncovered.  Recently, excavations have restarted in the surrounding area.

Eusebius, an early 4th century father of the Christian Church, wrote about a very large village of Jews at Ein Gedi. Early manuscripts tell of Ein Gedi's inhabitants who grew date palms and persimmons. The source of the community's wealth was the persimmon bush or afarsimon which yielded a substance from which a valuable perfume could be extracted.

mosaic detail

In addition to a bird medallion, a seven-branched menorah graces the synagogue mosaic floor. A Hebrew and Aramaic inscription in the left aisle lists the 13 forefathers of mankind, the 12 signs of the zodiac, thanks the benefactors and curses community members who do not keep the rules of the village.

Seven-branched Menorah detail





Archeologists believe that the settlement came to the end by the late 6th century.

Access the antiquites by following the sign to Nahal Arugot and Ein Gedi Synagogue.

There are picnic tables, bathrooms and a quiet place to enjoy the view of the Dead Sea away from the crowds. Open 8-4 in the winter and until 5 p.m. April-October

Restoration Work in Holy Sepulcher Completed

Two weeks before Easter, the edicule of the Holy Sepulchre has been revealed to the public in all its glory for the first time since 1809. I was touring the church on the day it was reopened. Here are some of the pictures that I took.

The Restored Edicule

 

Since May of 2016, the edicule covering the tomb of Jesus underwent major restoration for the first time in over 200 years. Even though the structure is surrounded by scaffolding the church has remained open to visitors. Until this week that is.

Light over the Edicule

In the past few days the church has been closed for 60 hours to enable major archeological investigations of the tomb itself.

You can read more in the link below and watch the video about what has been revealed under the stone covering the tomb.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/jesus-tomb-opened-church-holy-sepulchre/