Stern House

He arrived in Jerusalem in November with the goal of strengthening German influence in the city, and to that end, he became involved in a number of mostly religious-oriented construction projects.

[1] Theodor Herzl arrived in Jerusalem at the same time, planning to meet with Wilhelm II and solicit his help in securing a homeland for the Jewish people.

[1][2] He arrived at the Jerusalem railway station late on a Friday, and planned to travel by horse and carriage to the Kaminitz Hotel, where he had booked a room.

Being that Herzl was a leading Jewish figure, his aide David Wolffsohn persuaded him to make the long journey on foot, so as not to violate the Shabbat and the sensibilities of the local community, most of which consisted of ulra-religious Perushim.

The "Herzl Room" museum in the house was open throughout the era of the historic Mamilla neighborhood, and was operated for some time by Yehuda Stern's great-grandchildren.

[4][6] Architectural historian David Kroyanker finds the reconstructed building and the new neighborhood in which it is set, "close to perfection: it's aesthetic, it works - people come here in large numbers.

[8][9] The lower level of the building houses a small, free museum focusing on the history of the bookstore chain and on Herzl's visit to Jerusalem.