Kerem HaTeimanim

Kerem HaTeimanim (Hebrew: כֶּרֶם הַתֵּימָנִים, lit. "Vineyard of the Yemenites") is a neighborhood in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel. The neighborhood is adjacent to the Carmel Market.[1]

Aerial view of the general area
Rabbi Akiva Street

History

Kerem HaTeimanim was established in 1906 by Yemenite-Jewish immigrants on lands which belonged to Aharon Chelouche, Yosef Moyal, and Haim Amzaleg. It was a poor neighborhood, with many of the single-story homes built with cheap materials such as wooden beams and tin roofing. In 1926, the WIZO women's volunteer organization opened an infant welfare center in the neighborhood operated by two nurses sent to England to study healthcare for young mothers and babies.[2]

In the early 1970s, Lehakat Tzlilei Kerem HaTeimanim (Sounds of the Vineyard Band) was formed by Kerem HaTeimanim guitarist Moshe ben Mush and singer Yosef "Daklon" Levi,[3] a band that achieved fame in south Tel Aviv and beyond.[4]

Today, Kerem HaTeimanim is in the process of gentrification. Many of the original residents have been replaced by French and other foreign residents who purchased property there for investment. The neighborhood is still home to traditional Yemenite restaurants.[5] In 2004, Lev HaIr Tower became the neighborhood's tallest building. The tower holds a public library, offices and several commercial businesses. It is a predominantly religious neighborhood where eateries are closed on the Sabbath.[6]

Zohar Argov, a 1980s Yemenite Israeli singer who grew up in Rishon LeZion made an album entitled Bekerem Hateymanim [7] in celebration of the neighborhood's significance for Yemenite Israeli culture.

Origin of the name

According to the story, the original version of the neighborhood's name is "Kerem HaTeimani" (The Yemenite Vineyard), and its origin comes from the Yemenite guard who guarded Yosef Moyal's vineyard.[8]

Notable residents

Notable residents include Knesset Member Michael Ratzon of the Likud, singer Boaz Sharabi and Israeli footballer Pini Balili.

The musical duo, Nissim Menachem and Yossi Khoury of The Parvarim were residents of the suburb and the name of their band "Parvarim" ("suburbs") is a reference to Kerem HaTeimanim.[9]

References
  1. The lost tribes: How gentrification decimated Israel's original ethnic communities and neighborhoods, Haaretz
  2. Jewish Women in Pre-State Israel: Life History, Politics, and Culture, ed. Ruth Kark, Margalit Shilo, Galit Hasan-Rokem
  3. Altalena, oil lamps and Elvis, too, Haaretz
  4. Popular Music and National Culture in Israel, Motti Regev, Edwin Seroussi
  5. The lost tribes: How gentrification decimated Israel's original ethnic communities and neighborhoods, Haaretz
  6. Kerem Hateimanim, Haaretz
  7. Zohar Argov, BeKerem HaTeymanim
  8. Elkayam, Mordechai (1990). Yafo - Neve Tzedek, Rashita shel Tel-Aviv (in Hebrew). Ministry of Defence. p. 231.
  9. Davis, Barry. "Rolling back the years". The Jerusalem Post. October 2, 2014.

See also

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