Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem

Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem stands tall in Yemin Moshe, named after Sir Moses Montefiore. Yemen Moshe is a charming suburb facing the western side of the Old city in Jerusalem. Situated in the downtown area of west Jerusalem and erected in 1857, this windmill is 18 meters in height. The Montefiore Windmill inJerusalem is one of the oldest and most popular landmarks outside the Old City. It was built by an Anglo-Jewish philanthropist, Sir Moses Montefiore in an attempt to remove poverty and provide a source of employment for the city’s poor Jewish population. By constructing the windmill and two rows of houses he set about establishing the first Jewish Quarter outside the walls of the Old City. Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem was never much used as a windmill; it was damaged during the 1948 war that led to the establishment of Israel. Today it has been restored by the Jerusalem Foundation, and the houses form a Jewish Artist’s Colony with a music center and guesthouse, while the windmill has been converted to a museum dedicated to the life of Sir Moses Montefiore. This museum is one the most preserved and popular museum of Jerusalem and visitors coming here rate it as one of the most impressive places of sight seeing in Jerusalem

Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem was an ultra-modern one used for grinding grain into flour. Despite the curses of local Arabswho were not happy with the competition, it continued to turn until steam-powered mills made it outdated. During the War of Independence Montefiore Windmill served an observation point for Jewish fighters. In an attempt to hinder the Israeli defense, the British Authorities blew up the top of the windmill in an operation scoffingly called by the Jewish population as "Operation Don Quixote". Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem still stands proudly as a museum dedicated to the life and works - and in the memory of Sir Moses Montefiore.