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On the old square is a stately building bearing the coat of arms of the Rothschild family. It was built in the 1870's with donations from this illustrious family and belonged to the Kollel HoD(Holland-Deutschland). After '67 it was expropriated by the government and at present houses the offices of the Jewish Quarter Development Company as well as several classes of the Ner L'Rachel Talmud Torah. In front of the building are 2 columns, the base of the column being of Hellenistic origin and the taller one from the Roman period On the side of the square(opposite Batei Machase) there is a verse from the Prophet Zecharia (8:4-5) engraved in the wall:" Thus said the Lord of Hosts: Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem...and the city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing". Just think. Outside of Israel, children play to keep themselves out of mommy's hair. In our neighborhood, while playing soccer or riding a bike, our kids are fulfilling a prophecy!
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