Geula

Geula ( _he. גאולה lit. "Redemption") is a neighborhood in the center of Jerusalem, Israel populated mainly by ultra-orthodox Jews. Geula borders Mekor Baruch on the west, the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood on the north, Meah Shearim on the east and the Jerusalem city center on the south.

Etymology

Geula is named after what was once the neighborhood's main street, Geulah Street, which today is called Malchei Yisrael Street. Geula Street was the commercial center for various local communities such as Kerem Avraham, Yagiya Kapayim, Zikhron Moshe, Batei Horenstein, and the Ahva neighborhood. Today these communities are collectively known as the Geula neighborhood. Malchei Yisrael street is lined with dozens of small shops, and the neighborhood is home to many yeshivas and synagogues.

Geography

Geula is bordered by Meah Shearim and Beit Yisrael on the east, the Bukharim neighborhood on the north, Schneller military base and the Mekor Baruch neighborhood on the west and the Jerusalem city center on the south. The main intersection is Kikar HaShabbat.

Characteristics

Geula is a major center of ultra-Orthodox Judaism and home to different segments of Hassidic and Lithuanian Judaism. Over the past decade, the character of the neighborhood has changed, with an exodus of residential tenants and an increase in businesses. Despite the widespread belief that rents are lower in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, commercial rental prices in Geulah are relatively high.

Ultra-Orthodox standards of behavior tend to be aggressively enforced. Large signs warning against immodest dress are posted around the neighborhood and visitors perceived as violating these standards have been attacked. [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3319405,00.html J'lem: Bleach War against ‘Immodest’ Women] Ynetnews, 25 October 2006]

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