National Institutions House, Government building and heritage site in Jerusalem, Israel
The National Institutions House is a two-story complex on King George Street at the corner of Keren Kayemeth Street in Rehavia, Jerusalem. Architect Yohanan Ratner wrapped it around a large forecourt, giving it a formal facade cut off from street noise. Its International Style design includes Jerusalem features: a smooth stone base like the Tower of David and narrow windows recalling the slits in the Old City walls.
Construction started in 1928, with the ground floor completed in 1930 and the upper floor finished in 1936. It was built to serve as an administrative center for major Jewish organizations during the British Mandate period.
The Memorial to Victims of Antisemitism Around the World was established in 2008 in the building's courtyard, shaped as a Star of David bearing the names of Jews killed in antisemitic acts worldwide. A ceremony is held before it each year in their memory.
The complex stands at the corner of King George Street and Keren Kayemeth Street in Rehavia, entered through a paved forecourt set back from the street. The courtyard, repaved in stone and cleared of its iron fences in 1987, is open to walkers passing between the surrounding streets.
When Israel's independence was declared in 1948, many members of the People's Assembly could not reach Tel Aviv in time and gathered on the balcony of this building instead. A place built for paperwork became the setting for a founding moment of the modern state.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,692 contributors worldwide.
