In the late 19th and early 20th Century, Baron Edmond de Rothschild played a leading philanthropic role in acquiring property in the Land of Israel for rebuilding the Jewish Yishuv (Community).  With the foresight that the City of David would serve as a historical and spiritual beacon for the Jewish People after 2,000 years in exile, the Baron purchased significant areas of land in the City of David.  Today, the Ir David Foundation is actively involved in redeeming land bought by Baron Rothschild and in repurchasing much of the additional surrounding area.  Land and buildings acquired in the area are used primarily for the building of a residential neighborhood, archeological salvage operations, and for capital projects geared towards tourism of the site.

Today, much of the City of David forms a top-class tourism site and center of archeological study along with a growing Jewish community that hosts a synagogue, nursery, and center for archeological study.  Today, hundreds of Jewish residents live in the City of David and help form the inspiring new mosaic of the return of the Jewish People to their homeland and eternal capital – Jerusalem.