Baka Jerusalem Real Estate – About the Neighbrhood

History of the Baka Neighborhood 

Baka, whose official name is Geulim, is located in Southwest Jerusalem between Hevron and Harakevet road. The word Baka means valley in Arabic, as Baka sits in a valley between two Jerusalem hills. Built in the late 1800s, Baka gained popularity in the 1920s. Arabs and Christians in search of a more suburban setting started to leave the Old City. Most of these residents were in the upper middle class, and they constructed large single homes. Baka also represents a significant cultural center, as it houses the old Jerusalem Train Station.

The area’s population changed following the Israeli Independence War in 1948. Jerusalem was split into east and west, and Baka remained on the Israeli or western side of Jerusalem. Baka then gained further popularity from upper-middle-class families in the 1970s and 80s. Many of the old mansions underwent renovations and transformed from large single homes to boutique apartment buildings.  

Baka Today

Baka is currently known for being one of the neighborhoods in Jerusalem with the most interesting and eclectic architecture. The mixture of Mediterranean and British Colonial architecture creates an atmosphere unlike any other. This mixture is one reason why many English speakers gravitate to Baka.  According to The Jerusalem Post, 20% of the total population of Baka is made up of native English speakers from all over the world. These English speakers contain a combination of both religious and secular Jews.