The first neighborhood established outside the walls of Jerusalem's Old City. The establishment of the Mishkenot Sha'ananim neighborhood was intended to address the housing shortage faced by residents of the Old City; indeed, even some 150 years ago, the people living in Zion needed affordable housing.

The neighborhood was founded by the philanthropist Moses Montefiore (As mentioned in the song, "And he ascended into the chariot and said to the horses…"). Apartments were built in the neighborhood, along with two synagogues—one Ashkenazi and one Sephardi—a bathhouse, and what was considered a marvel at the time: a cistern with a pump!

The most recognizable symbol Along with the Mishkenot Shaananim neighborhood, it is, of course The Structure of the Flour Mill. Montifiore established the mill to provide employment and a livelihood for the neighborhood’s residents—after all, without flour, there is no Torah… The mill operated for years until the machinery broke down.

The mill has now been restored as part of a comprehensive project by the Jerusalem Foundation and will once again be used to grind flour.

The personal charm, generosity, and love that Moses Montefiore had for the residents of Jerusalem still linger in the halls and within the impressive building.

1. Initially, the neighborhood was called Mishkenot Sha'ananim Hatzar Yehuda Tura, named after the philanthropist whose estate contributed significantly to the neighborhood’s construction.

2. Montefiore designated the neighborhood for students of the "Kollel," and the original plan was to rotate the residents every three years.

3. The name "Mishkenot Sha’ananim" is inspired by a verse from the Book of Isaiah (32:18): "My people shall dwell in a peaceful pasture, in secure dwellings, and in quiet rest," and in fact expresses the peace of mind and tranquility of the Jews who dared to leave and settle outside the walls of the Old City.