Ever wonder what “Uplifted” truly means? That’s Romema in Hebrew. I invite you to discover Romema. It is a neighborhood in northwest Jerusalem. It sits just off the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway. This places us at the main entrance to the city. We are standing on the highest hill in Jerusalem.
Romema serves as Jerusalem’s transportation hub. The Jerusalem Central Bus Station is here. The Chords Bridge is also a major landmark. The Yitzhak Navon train station is nearby too.
Romema’s name comes from Psalms. Specifically, Psalms 118:16 states: “The Lord’s right hand is lifted high”. “Lifted high” translates to “romem” in Hebrew.
Let’s step back in time. Romema was founded in 1921. It was built on a hill outside the village of Lifta. Yom-Tov Hamon started the project. He was an attorney. He specialized in Ottoman law. He also knew about land-ownership issues. Hamon arbitrated disputes among Arab landowners. He opened land sales to Jewish people. The original plan included 24 houses. They were arranged around a central square. Private funding built the Jewish section. Streets were named after Hebrew newspapers. These included HaZvi, Ariel, and Moriah. A water reservoir was built here in 1931.
The architecture reveals the area’s past affluence. You can see wealth and diversity reflected in the buildings. Consider the three-story residence of Arab Haj Muhammad. He owned quarries in Lifta. He was also a judge in Muslim courts. Then there’s the home of Yehiel Amdurski. He was a Jewish hotelier and businessman. And the house of Rabbi Yehuda Fishman-Maimon also stood here.
By 1948, Romema was diverse. Arab, Ashkenazi, and Sephardi Jewish residents lived here. During the Civil War in 1948, violence erupted. Christian Palestinians and Muslim Arabs were forced from their homes. Jewish paramilitary groups such as the Irgun were involved. Clashes with Arab militia men also occurred. The Absentee Property Law prevented Arab residents from returning. This remains a point of contention today.
After 1948, Romema became a light industry center. Garages, foundries, and factories filled the area. The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo called Romema home from 1950 to 1991. Access to the zoo on Mount Scopus was blocked in 1949.
In 2007, a master plan was created for Romema. Businesses closed, and developers bought properties. Today, Romema is Jerusalem’s transportation hub. The Jerusalem Central Bus Station and Chords Bridge are central here. A high-speed railway terminus stands opposite the bus station.
At Allenby Square, there’s a monument to British soldiers. They fell in the battle for Palestine. The Turkish Army surrendered to General Allenby here during World War I. Soldiers of the 60th London Division erected it in 1920. The inscription notes the city’s surrender on December 9, 1917. Crusader knights are etched into the monument. This links them symbolically to the British soldiers. The British also built a water tower in Romema. It was the highest point in Jerusalem then. Water was piped from an adjacent pool throughout the city.
The Jerusalem branch of Magen David Adom is in Romema. Other landmarks include the Israel Television building and the Jerusalem Gate Hotel. The Center One shopping mall, Belz Great Synagogue, and Aleh Center are also here.
Many factory buildings were designed by Rudolf Trostler. He was a pioneer of industrial architecture in Israel. He also designed the Israel Broadcasting Authority building. It was originally intended as a diamond polishing center.
Romema continues to evolve. It balances its rich history with modern development. It is a place of constant change. It is a vital part of Jerusalem’s past and present.