The Venue

Built over 150 years ago by Sir Moses Montefiore, Mishkenot Sha’ananim became the first Jewish residential area outside the Old City walls. Its name, Mishkenot Sha’ananim, or peaceful dwellings, emanates from the words of prophet Isaiah: “And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

Within a few years, more neighborhoods sprang up around the Old City, changing forever the face of the Holy City.

Following the reunification of Jerusalem, Mayor Teddy Kollek and the Jerusalem Foundation began the painstaking process of restoring and renovating this historic landmark. The first renovation was the guesthouse that stands today as a unique retreat for some of the world’s most illustrious artists, authors and intellectuals.