“Lev Ha’ir” Mahane Yehuda and Nahlaot: A Kurdish Neighborhood in the Heart of the City Jerusalem

Kurdish Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem, Mahane Yehuda and Nahlaot—collectively known as 'Lev Ha’ir' or 'The Heart of the City'—emerged in the mid-19th century as cultural and historical hubs for Kurdish Jews migrating from Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria. These neighborhoods, established outside Jerusalem’s medieval walls, played a pivotal role in shaping Jewish identity within Israel while reflecting the city's layered religious, social, and political history. Through fieldwork and interviews conducted between 2011 and 2012, this study uncovers the narratives of Kurdish Jews' settlement, their positionality, and the significance of these areas in Jerusalem’s broader narrative. The research contributes to historical anthropology by illuminating the intersection of migration, identity, and urban transformation in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Şanlı, S. (2025). “Lev Ha’ir” Mahane Yehuda and Nahlaot: A Kurdish Neighborhood in the Heart of the City Jerusalem. International Journal of Kurdish Studies, 11(1), 131–150. https://doi.org/10.21600/ijoks.1628511