Our Jerusalem

This book describes the history of the American Colony, a presence in Jerusalem from its founding in 1881 until its decline in the mid-20th century (two active outgrowths are Jerusalem's American Colony Hotel and Spafford Children's Center). The story begins with the founders, Horatio and Anna Spafford, the author's parents: their previous life in Chicago, their personal tragedies, and their establishing of a unique religious-charitable community in Jerusalem. In later years, the author and her immediate family were the leaders of this group, whose nature slowly shifted from that of a closed…