Building Beyond the Walls: The Bold 19th Century Journey of Jewish Neighborhoods in Jerusalem

A remarkable and unique historical project undertaken by the old Jewish settlement was the expansion beyond the walls of Jerusalem.

For three millennia, the size of Jerusalem remained unchanged. Its growth and splendor all unfolded within these walls, throughout its storied history.

In the 19th century, the Jews of the old settlement bravely ventured to establish new neighborhoods outside the walls, in places considered dangerous where none dared to linger alone.

Dr. Israel Bartal writes: "The Jews of Jerusalem and Safed wanted to demonstrate that they could create new ventures based on traditional methods without challenging the structure or purposes of the community. Thus, Yoel Moshe Salomon, in his paper 'Judah and Jerusalem,' countered European criticism, arguing that the heads of the communal associations were wholly engaged in settling the Holy Land."

Until 1867, the Turkish authorities prohibited non-Muslims or non-Ottoman citizens from purchasing land or houses in Jerusalem. Additionally, due to security concerns, building outside the walls was forbidden. However, starting from the reforms post-1840, non-Muslim subjects were permitted to acquire real estate in and around Jerusalem. In 1859, Russians were allowed to build outside the walls, setting a precedent for others.

Professor Ben Arieh describes the beginnings of this endeavor: "By 1882, nine Jewish neighborhoods had been established outside Jerusalem's walls, aptly named the pioneer neighborhoods." It is noteworthy that nearly all the Jews building these neighborhoods were religious, some with conservative Orthodox views and others embracing liberal perspectives (Yoel Rappel, History of the Land of Israel, Vol. II, p. 554).

These were the first neighborhoods:

¨ Mishkenot Sha’ananim - Founded by Montefiore for impoverished Torah scholars.

¨ Nahalat Shiva - Established by seven young men from long-standing families, including R' Binyamin Salant, son of Rabbi Shmuel Salant, Rabbi of Jerusalem; R' Yosef Rivlin, descendant of R' Binyamin; and R' Hillel Mishklov (among the first students of the Gaon of Vilna to make Aliyah two generations prior). The land was acquired in the early 1860s when non-Muslims were still barred from purchasing land in Jerusalem, necessitating registration in the name of an Ottoman citizen.

¨ Machane Yisrael - Initiated by Rabbi David Ben Shimon, leader of the Western (North African) community.

¨ Beit David - Donated by a Jewish benefactor for Ashkenazi and Hasidic Torah scholars.

¨ Mea She'arim - Constructed with the funds of the Jerusalem residents themselves after R' Yosef Rivlin initiated the founding of "Choveret B'nai Yerushalayim," seeking to build a neighborhood with a hundred homes funded by the associates themselves. The neighborhood was established "at a great distance from the initial neighborhoods, in a barren, snake and scorpion-infested place, where it seemed no man had traversed since the destruction of the Temple." Its members belonged to the Ashkenazi Perushim community.

¨ Even Yisrael - Built by "Choveret B'nai Yerushalayim," as above.

¨ Mishkenot Yisrael - Built by "Choveret B'nai Yerushalayim," as above.

The guidelines from Mea She'arim and Nahalat Shiva served as models for all subsequent neighborhoods. A common characteristic among them was the self-initiative of the Jerusalemites, who fostered the construction project independently, without external assistance.

Subsequently, many other neighborhoods were developed:

In 1875 - the "Kiryat Ne'emanah" neighborhood was founded by Nisan Bak, leader of the Hasidim in Jerusalem.

In 1877 - the "Beit Yaakov" neighborhood was established by the Ashkenazi Perushim community."