The Yellin House was built in 1890 by Joshua Yellin, son of a family from Jerusalem's Old City. Yellin believed that the future of the Jewish community depended on its ability to support itself, and encouraged them to learn productive agriculture work. The house he built is one of the first signs of the sociological changes in the Jewish community of Jerusalem in the late 19th century.
The house stands in the heart of a large rural area, with orchards and ancient olive trees, a vineyard, and a patch of rare wild plums. Remains of a Byzantine era building discovered on the site were rebuilt during the Ottoman period as a travelers’ inn. Later, it became the old synagogue of Motza. After years of neglect, the house was renovated in 2006 by the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites, and opened to the public.
At the visitors center you can experience the authentic lifestyle of the end of the 19th century, hear the exciting story of the Yellin family, and learn about the establishment of Motza. The Yellin house is located 5 minutes from Jerusalem, off Highway 1.
