Page 12 - Old Katamon adv-RB_Neat

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Advanced Level – ‫קטמון הישנה‬

Misgav Ladach Hospital

In the middle of the 19th century, there were many Jews in the old
city, most of whom were poor and unemployed. The Sephardic
community in the old city decided to establish a hospital to tend
to patients of all sects. Members of the community received a
donation from the Rothschild family and established ‘Misgav
Ladach’, which treated patients for free.
Since its establishment and until 1893, the hospital treated 18,862
patients and 1,270 patients had been admitted there. These data
are especially impressive, because up until that year only one
doctor had worked at the hospital: Dr. Mazerki! That same year
another physician joined the hospital’s staff.
In 1948, during the battle for the old city in the War of
Independence, there were many wounded civilians and soldiers.
There wasn’t enough room at the hospital for the number of
wounded people. The residents were evacuated from the hospital,
and forces of the Palmach retreated from the old city. The
Palmach lost the battle for the old city; forces of the Arab army
conquered the hospital building and blew it up.
Most of the Jewish quarter’s residents moved to the neighborhood
of old Katamon and rebuilt the hospital there. Today, the old
hospital building (was) turned into a spiritual center called Yakar.
Over the years the hospital grew and expanded and it serves many
patients.

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