בתי נייטין, Residential compound in Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, Israel
Batei Neitin is a residential compound made up of four parallel buildings connected by an underground passage, situated adjacent to the Mea Shearim neighborhood. The entire structure houses around 55 apartments and is entered through a main gate on Mea Shearim Street.
The compound was founded in 1901 by Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Spitzer and named after Menachem Neitin, a donor who had immigrated to Jerusalem from the United States. Its creation responded to the need to support Torah scholars and craftspeople in the expanding city.
The compound was originally designed to provide free housing for Torah scholars and craftspeople, with residents rotating through the lottery system every three years. This arrangement shows how the community supported religious education and work.
The entrance tunnel connects all four buildings and features inscriptions honoring the founders and donors. The underground passage system allows visitors to move through the compound regardless of weather conditions.
From the eastern windows of the compound, visitors can see views extending toward the Moab mountains, an unexpected vista from within this densely built urban area. This distant perspective was likely a valued feature when the buildings were first designed.
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