MISHKENOT SHAANANIM

This first neighborhood outside the walls was built in 1860. It was financed and encouraged by Moses Montefiore, a British, Jewish philanthropist who became very active in Jewish settlement and building in Palestine throughout the second half of the 19th century. He drew upon the resources of Judah Touro, an American Jew from New Orleans to finance the initial purchase of land in 1855. 22 units, built in a row across the Gai ben Hinom Valley from Mt. Zion, were supplemented by a windmill to provide employment for the neighborhood's residents. In time, 4 more units were added bringing the total to 26. Originally, the plan was to limit residency to a three year period, at which time the family would vacate, making the unit available for another group. This was to provide housing for the maximum number of Jerusalem's poor. At first, Jerusalemites were afraid to spend the night outside the walls of the Old City. Preferring the security of closed, locked gates, the new residents would smuggle back inside Jaffa gate before sunset for safety. In time, using cash incentives to encourage the residents to remain the night in Mishkenot Shaananim, the people stopped fleeing their new homes.

THE OLD CITY

Ancient Jerusalem
The Western Wall
The Herodian Quarter
The Cardo
The Citadel
Ophel Excavations
Broad Wall
Burnt House
Western Wall Tunnels

Synagogues
The Ramban Synagogue
The Hurva Synagogue
The 4 Sephardic Synagogues
The Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue