Meah Shearim
Meah Shearim
The second settlement outside the Old City Walls was Meah Shearim,
‘One Hundred Gates’. Today, Meah Shearim is known as the largest
ultra-Orthodox community in Jerusalem.
In 1857, Yosef Rivlin founded a society called the Builders of
Jerusalem. Six other men joined him and together the seven men
built the first neighborhood outside the city walls - Nahalat Shiva (
Estate of Seven). Once the Jews had settled beyond the Old City walls
other settlements were created Meah Shearim was the second such
settlement with initially 100 families.
Meah Shearim today resembles the Jewish shtetl of Eastern Europe.
The houses are built close together to accommodate for the fast
growth of the community and many families have over a dozen
children. Most of the people who live in Meah Shearim are ultra-
Orthodox and members of Chassidic sects. (You can tell which sect
by the clothing they wear. Some sects wear white socks, some black,
some wear black robes, some white and so on...). On nearly every
corner you will find a yeshiva or a synagogue and at any time of day or
night you are bound to hear the sing-song chant of men learning or
voices arguing over a talmudic dispute of years ago.
Other things you might notice while walking through Meah Shearim
are all the posters and signs announcing book sales, lectures,
weddings and other community events. 
There are also signs
requesting that visitors to the neighborhood dress modestly and act as
befitting a religious community.
On Friday you will be accosted by some of the best smells ever. Many
women bake their own challa, and cakes and the smell of roast
chicken can make your mouth water.
pictures by: Pinhas Baraq