Yemin Moshe--Jerusalem

Yemin Moshe is another Jerusalem neighborhood, close to the King David Hotel, overlooking the Old City and the West Bank (the West Bank is so close we can see it from the hilltop).
In the 1950's British philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore built 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." In addition to the housing, the project included a windmill and flour mill. Today this is a very gentrified small neighborhood whose residents take great pride in their homes, the history, and the magnificient views from their balconies. During our wanderings Stu stopped to take a picture of an interesting door which features a Mogen David imbedded in a cross. No sooner had he snapped the photo than the owner, Scandinavian born, writer and artist Birgittta Yavari-Ilan, opened the door and invited us in to see her home. This is a fully restored house over 140 years old, renovated and upgraded with the original rough hewn stone floors, wood beams, and iron work. Her art hangs throughout, as does her collection of Judaica. Birgitta is a spiritual student-seeker who has been in Israel for over 30 years. We had a delightful 90 minute visit which we cut short so we could be on our way, although it was tempting to stay and enjoy the tea she offered. We took her book along as a momento of our visit. PS. She sometimes rents her upstairs guest rooms, only by word-of-mouth. Sounds like a wonderful place to stay on our next visit.
After our final visit to the suq, where we went seeking macaroons and rugallah, we returned to our neighborhood. This evening we settled for dinner out at the Vegetarian Garden. The people sitting at a table near us, asked about the book we were browsing. Seems that they are friends of Brigitta, had lived in her house for a short time, and see her regularly. Jerusalem is a small town.
Everywhere we go we meet people, a journalist on the bus, writers, artists, religious seekers, and tourist guides. There are so many American Israelis here, we are as likely to hear English as Hebrew everywhere we go.