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
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.
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