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Attractions: Exploring West Jerusalem Neighborhoods
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Yemin Moshe--In the 1850s, British philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore, with the help of Judah Touro from New Orleans, built the nucleus of this residential quarter, the first outside the walls of the Old City, in an effort to bring indigent Jews from the Old City into a more healthful environment. The project included the now famous windmill for grinding flour. Despite its magnificent view and graceful architecture, the neighborhood remained poor for more than a century.
Today, Yemin Moshe is a picturesque, beautifully restored neighborhoodan architectural treasure and one of the most elegant addresses in town. There are no shops, but the views are spectacular. Its a fascinating place for an early evening or winter afternoon stroll; however, a noontime walk in the hot July sun is not recommended. The steep pedestrian-street staircases of Yemin Moshe may make it a bit difficult for those with walking problems.
Down one of the first flights of staircases is the Yemem Moshe Windmill, which houses a museum dedicated to Sir Moses Montefiore. It is open Sunday to Thursday from 9am to 4pm, and until 1pm on Friday. Below the Montefiore Windmill is the original row of old stone buildings (Mishkanot Shaananim), built by Sir Moses Montefiore in 1854. Ornamented by Victorian ironwork porches, the buildings are used as a residence for visiting artists and diplomats.
A replica of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia stands in the center of Jerusalems Liberty Bell Garden, not far from the windmill. The 7-acre garden has a picnic area, vine-covered trellises, and a large childrens playground and an entertainment area. You may wonder why a copy of the Liberty Bell has been made into the centerpiece of a Jerusalem park. The words inscribed on the American original were spoken by one of Jerusalems most famous inhabitants, the Prophet Isaiah, more than 2,500 years before the Declaration of Independence: "Proclaim liberty throughout the land, and to all the inhabitants thereof." It was with these words that Israels independence was announced in 1948.
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