The first Jewish residential neighborhood to be established outside the Old City wall, its construction was completed in 1860. The project was initiated by Sir Moses Montefiore, a British Jew, and funding came from Judah Touro, an American Jewish philanthropist.
Mishkenot Sha'ananim consisted of 20 residential units and two synagogues. Lavatories were set up nearby, and there was a communal oven. To provide a living for the residents, Montefiore built a windmill next to the neighborhood. However, difficulties arose in its operation and it worked only fitfully for a brief time. Today the neighborhood's original
buildings house a music center and a guest house for visiting artists, writers, and musicians.
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