Emek Refa’im Street is the heart of Jerusalem’s German Colony. Perhaps the city’s most fashionable neighborhood, it is just minutes from the center of both modern and ancient Jerusalem.

The German Colony, Hebrew HaMoshava HaGermanit, was founded in the second half of the 19th century by members of the German Temple Society. One of many colonies throughout the Land of Israel, this Jerusalem neighborhood is made up of Ottoman, Bauhaus and Templer style villas. Today, in many cases, these buildings are divided into expensive apartments.

Emek Refa’im Street is probably the trendiest street in all of Jerusalem – an oasis of modern, almost Tel Aviv-like culture in conservative Jerusalem. The street is lined with fashionable boutiques and cafés, and one of the restaurants right on the street even has a cinema. The street is often closed to traffic and becomes the scene of events ranging from book fairs to weekly markets.

Emek Refa’im is mentioned in the books of Joshua and Samuel as Tal (Emek) the Rephaite. 2 Samuel verse 5 reads:

“When the...

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