Bukharim (Hebrew: בוכרים) is a neighborhood in the center of Jerusalem, Israel. Many of the residents of Shkhunat HaBukharim (Bukharan Quarter), as it is known, are Haredi Jews. The quarter borders Tel Arza on the west, the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood on the north, Arzei HaBira on the east and Geula on the south.
In 1890, seven members of the Bukharan Jewish community in Palestine formed the Hovevei Zion society and built the Bukharim quarter. In 1905-1908, a dairy was opened and cotton fields were planted. A high school, later known as Gymnasia Rehavia, was established. Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, who went on to become President of Israel, taught there with his wife. In 1920, a factory for weaving Persian carpets opened, providing employment for 80 women. [1]
In 1890-1891, Isha Haim Hefetz and Elisha Yehudayoff built the Armon (lit. "palace") using local limestone and Italian marble with Italian-baroque ornaments.[2]
The "Armon" hosted many of the leading figures of the time. During World War I, the Turkish army had its headquarters there. [3]
When the British conquered Jerusalem in 1917, a celebratory reception was held in the Armon. 200 Jewish soldiers serving in the British army attended a Passover seder there. In 1921, the founding convention of the Chief Rabbinate took place at the "Armon", at which Rabbis Al. Ha-Cohen Kook and Y. Meir were elected. At the end of the British Mandate the "Armon" served as a meeting place for the Etzel. [4]