Rechavia / Shaarei Chesed
The Streets of Jerusalem

While these two Jerusalem neighborhoods share a border and seem to blend with each other, the distinctive history of each proves that their founders had very different intentions. Shaarei Chesed was developed by disciples of the Vilna Gaon who insisted on adherence to Torah Law as a pre-requisite of settlement. Rechavia, on the other hand, was designed to be a "garden community" for intellectuals and professionals. Both neighborhoods retain some of the character envisioned for them, and with anecdotes that capture their charm, Rabbi Wein shows how much and how little has changed.