Sir Moses Montefiore of Great Britain and Judah Touro of the United States shared a dream of a thriving Jewish community outside the Old City walls

Title: From Judah to Moses

Location: Jerusalem

Document: The American Israelite

Time: 1854

The 19th century saw a period of dramatic transformation for the Jews of the Old Yishuv. They had been confined for centuries within the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, built by Ottomon sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538, with little room for expansion or improvement. But steady immigration and natural growth boosted both the Sephardi and Ashkenazi populations to a breaking point. Jerusalem’s crowded alleyways fostered poverty and unhygienic conditions. The only possible solution seemed to be expansion of the Yishuv beyond the city walls.

In 1860, pioneers of the Old Yishuv began “breaching the walls” — pritzat hachomot, as it is romantically known in Hebrew. Those who actually moved their homes outside the walled city are now historical heroes, but the bold initiative was spearheaded and funded by two Jews who lived very far away.

Sir Moses Montefiore of Great Britain and Judah Touro of the United States shared a dream of a thriving Jewish community outside the Old City walls. Their vision would forever change the course of Jerusalem’s development and stand as a testament to the power of philanthropy and foresight. Their investment of resources, time, and energy into building a new city, long before there was any political incentive to do so, provides a keen insight into the dynamics of the Jewish world at large in the 19th century.

Born in 1775 in Newport, Rhode Island, Judah Touro became one of America’s wealthiest and most influential Jews. A shrewd businessman and dedicated philanthropist, Touro provided both aid for his local community and significant support for Jewish communities overseas. His generosity left an indelible mark, from the establishment of Jewish institutions in New Orleans to the rebuilding of Jewish communities devastated by pogroms in Europe.

Yet Touro’s most enduring legacy may lie in his final act of philanthropy: In his will, he bequeathed $50,000 for the benefit of the Jews of Eretz Yisrael — an extraordinary sum in the mid-19th century. He appointed the famed Jewish philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore, his trusted friend and confidant, as the executor of his will.

Montefiore would ultimately fulfill Touro’s final wish, but in an unexpected way. Though Touro had hoped that his gift would go toward building a hospital for Jerusalem’s Jewish community, Montefiore would use it in a way that had an even greater and more lasting impact: the first Jewish neighborhood outside the Old City that would provide safe, dignified housing for Jerusalem’s Jewish poor.

Sir Moses Montefiore (1784–1885), knighted by Queen Victoria for his tireless philanthropic work, had already made significant contributions to the welfare of Jews in the Holy Land. From advocating the construction of the first Jewish-sponsored windmill in Jerusalem to improving public health and education, Montefiore’s imprint on the city was unmistakable. The Jewish population of Eretz Yisrael was close to Montefiore’s heart, and he prioritized the interests of this community throughout his life.

He would make a grand total of seven extended trips to Eretz Yisrael over the course of his long life, extraordinary in the context of 19th-century limitations on travel. His vision for the transformation of Jerusalem’s urban landscape was perhaps among his greatest achievements.

In 1855, Montefiore arrived in Jerusalem with the funds from Judah Touro’s estate. He quickly secured a plot of land from the Ottoman authorities outside the city walls, in an area that had been long neglected by both Jews and Arabs. With the deed in hand, Montefiore began the ambitious project of building Mishkenot Sha’ananim — “Peaceful Dwellings,” a name that was chosen carefully. It reflected the neighborhood’s purpose: to offer a haven for poor Jewish families.

But Montefiore’s plan went far beyond mere housing. He envisioned a holistic solution to the Old Yishuv’s endemic financial woes, with new employment opportunities. He sought to create a self-sufficient community where residents could support themselves and their families.

Construction of the neighborhood began in earnest in 1859. At its core were 28 one-and-a-half-room apartments designed for the families who had long been crammed within the Old City’s walls. Montefiore also provided a mikveh, a communal oven, and a water cistern with an English-made pump — a symbol of his commitment to bringing the latest technological advances to Jews in the Holy Land.

Montefiore also wanted to ensure that the neighborhood was secure. A stone wall was built around the compound, complete with a locked gate, to protect the residents from such dangers as Bedouin raids and wild animals. This was imperative, in Montefiore’s view, because Jerusalem residents had felt relatively safe behind Old City gates manned by Ottoman guards and locked at nightfall. Moving out was akin to exploring the frontier of the Wild West. Montefiore wanted the new neighborhood to offer sanctuary.

One of Mishkenot Sha’ananim’s most iconic features was its windmill, still visible on the city skyline today. Built in 1857, this towering structure was not just a mill to grind grain; it was a symbol of independence. Montefiore’s goal was for the residents of Mishkenot Sha’ananim to be able to sustain themselves through productive labor. Although the windmill suffered from mechanical issues that limited its actual output of grain, it helped neighborhood residents, proud religious members of both the Ashkenazi and Sephardi Old Yishuv, provide themselves with their own bread and even matzah on Pesach.

The windmill stood as a physical manifestation of Montefiore’s philosophy: The Jewish people should not rely on charity alone but should build their own future with pride, confidence, independence, industry, and hard work.

The completion of Mishkenot Sha’ananim in 1860 marked the beginning of a new chapter in Jerusalem’s history. As the first modern Jewish neighborhood outside the Old City walls, it quickly became a model. Dozens of subsequent Jewish settlements sprang up in the area, such as Nachalat Shiva, Machaneh Yisrael, Meah Shearim, Mazkeret Moshe, and Ohel Moshe. The latter two neighborhoods — at the heart of today’s Nachlaot area, just outside the Machaneh Yehudah shuk — were projects funded by Montefiore and named in his honor.

In the decades that followed, the neighborhood underwent several transformations. In the late 19th century, it expanded into Yemin Moshe, which was named for the childless Montefiore. By the early 20th century, Mishkenot Sha’ananim had become a thriving Jewish quarter, complete with schools, shops, and shuls.

In 1948, during the War of Independence, Mishkenot Sha’ananim found itself at the center of the fighting. Jewish residents fled the neighborhood in the face of incoming Jordanian forces. For many years, the area lay in ruins. But after the Six Day War in 1967, when Israel regained control of Jerusalem, Mishkenot Sha’ananim was restored and revitalized. Today, it stands as a testament to the vision of Sir Moses Montefiore and Judah Touro.

While Sir Moses Montefiore’s name is well-known in Jewish history, Judah Touro’s contribution to the founding of Mishkenot Sha’ananim is often overlooked. Touro’s generosity and vision were instrumental in making the neighborhood a reality, and it was Sir Moses Montefiore who brought it to fruition. Symbolically, it was representatives of British and American Jewry who facilitated the development of the Jewish community of Yerushalayim.

Lady Judith

Although several Jerusalem neighborhoods are named for Sir Moses Montefiore, only one small side street is named for his partner in all of his philanthropic endeavors — Lady Judith (Yehudis). The Montefiores were childless, and devoted their lives to distributing their vast wealth to Jewish people in need.

Some of their projects were actually her initiative. She played a crucial yet understated role in the creation of Mishkenot Sha’ananim. A woman of deep compassion and commitment to Jewish welfare, Lady Judith supported her husband’s philanthropic endeavors, offering not only moral encouragement but also practical contributions. She was involved in the planning and fundraising aspects of the project, ensuring that the neighborhood would provide a dignified and sustainable living environment for its residents. Her quiet, steadfast involvement in this monumental initiative underscores her shared vision with Sir Moses — an unwavering dedication to improving the lives of Jews in Jerusalem and beyond.

Moses Says “Leave My People Alone”

Sir Moses Montefiore’s meeting with Czar Nicholas I of Russia in 1846 is a remarkable episode in his long history of diplomatic and philanthropic efforts on behalf of the Jewish People. At the time, Jews in the Russian Empire faced harsh conditions, including discriminatory laws, restrictions on their livelihoods, and forced conscriptions into the army. Sir Moses, known for his tireless advocacy for Jewish communities, sought to intercede on their behalf and alleviate their suffering.

The meeting, which took place during Montefiore’s diplomatic mission to Russia, was marked by his respectful approach and his appeal to the czar’s sense of justice and mercy. Despite the czar’s initial skepticism, Montefiore’s personal charm, his sincerity, and his detailed presentation of the dire situation of Russian Jewry earned him a sympathetic hearing. Though the meeting did not result in immediate changes, it underscored Montefiore’s role as a key figure in international Jewish diplomacy and highlighted his commitment to advocating for the rights and dignity of Jews everywhere, even in the face of overwhelming opposition. His visit to Russia remains one of the key moments in his lifelong effort to influence world leaders on behalf of his fellow Jews.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1074)