Jerusalem is more than an intriguing global historical city; it is a classroom for liberal learning and international understanding. It had never been a city of one language, one religion and one culture. Looking at the origins of Jerusalem's name indicates its international and multicultural nature. While Israelis designate Jerusalem as their political capital, Palestinians recognize it as their traditional capital. This paper intends to introduce the U.S. international educator, faculty, and students to the past 500 years of Jerusalem's social and cultural history by focusing on (1) the geography and physical nature of the Holy City and its quarters ("ahya'"); (2) the social and economic growth up to 1948 of the Old (walled) City and the surrounding neighborhoods ("harat") of the New (unwalled) City in terms of schools, public services and markets; and (3) the present cultural, social, and political presence of Israelis, and the Jewish colonial settlements, or neighborhoods encircling both the Old City and the new City of the 21st century. (Contains 11 endnotes.)