In the winding alleys and archways of Jerusalem’s Old City,
heartbeats away from the Kosel, is the legendary Heritage House Women’s
Hostel. A place for tired travelers to stumble onto, lay down their
packs, and get their bearings. The place for sojourners to begin inner
journeys that may transform their lives.
Dena Estrin unsuspectingly walks into the Heritage House to meet her
friend for coffee and ends up being hired to work there. For five years
she serves as a night counselor, a job that includes impromptu
counseling, tour guiding, nightly batches of popcorn, and late-night
guitar-strumming shmoozes. Meeting thousands of travelers from myriad
backgrounds, her only constant is the continual amazement when opening
the front door.
Under the sage, selfless, and enthusiastic guidance of Rabbi Meir
Schuster, z”l, the Heritage House impacted the lives of thousands of
people. Through Dena’s journal we experience the inside story of these
young travelers’ dramatic and exciting launches into the world of Torah.
We learn how a misdiagnosed broken leg leads Louise to teshuvah, how an
accidental class in lost objects pulls Reva back to Jerusalem from the
streets of Bombay, and how Stacy’s courageous call to the Miami Herald
in the middle of the night becomes a life-altering decision.
This fascinating account will inspire everyone who ever wondered what happens at the Heritage House.