All mighty endeavors spring from a modest beginning, and west Jerusalem's wellspring is the combined neighborhood of Yemin Moshe and Mishkenot Sha'ananim, a humble quarter of stone houses and narrow alleyways perched on a hill a stone's throw away from the westernmost of the Old City's walls, established in 1891. It was Sir Moses Montefiore who proposed Yemin Moshe (the name means "The Right Hand of Moses"), and it was Montefiore whose enormous means, gathered during a unprecedentedly successful career trading and investing in London, built and peopled an entire neighborhood where once there had been nothing more than a barren hillside. His passionate love for the Land of Israel was fostered by a series of tours over the course of his 100-year life.
The neighborhood's most prominent landmark is its windmill, visible (at height) from much of Jerusalem. The windmill was poorly engineered and never functioned properly, but it served as a symbol of the development of Jerusalem, which rapidly snowballed (thanks in part to the further generosity of Montefiore) after Yemin Moshe was established.
On this afternoon Pat and I have free time to explore so just east of the hotel is a park and an artist community with a wonderful view of the old city. My recent posts have been long and wordy so I am going to do my best to make this a primarily visual experience! :)
Bloomfield Park
Gate to Artist's Colony
Gozlan Garden Park
Looking down at one of the archaelogical digs I remember I told Pat that I wanted to take this picture so that when I came back I could take another picture and be impressed at the progress! And who knows, if the Lord tarries perhaps my kids will come and they'll be amazed at the change!
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