Marcus James, the ‘spiritual mayor’ of Jerusalem

Marcus James, a Southern California native who converted to Judaism and moved to Jerusalem, has become known as the city's 'spiritual mayor' for his deep connections with locals, especially in the Old City's Muslim Quarter. After the October 7, 2023, attacks, he befriended Café Al Mufti owner Abu Omar, and now regularly shares tea and stories with a shopkeeper, emphasizing human connection over monuments and conflict.

Marcus James, a Southern California native, has become a beloved figure in Jerusalem, earning the nickname 'spiritual mayor' from friends. Raised in Santa Barbara, he hitchhiked across the US, read Kerouac, and followed the Grateful Dead before studying philosophy. He was not raised Jewish, but after his daughter moved to Israel, he began researching Judaism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, visited in 2017, converted in 2020, and moved in 2022. He now lives near the Old City, works as a window cleaner, and has developed intimate knowledge of the city's sounds and smells. Following the October 7, 2023, attacks and the collapse of tourism, he befriended Abu Omar, owner of Café Al Mufti in the Muslim Quarter, and a shopkeeper with whom he shares tea and stories. He reflects on the importance of human connection and storytelling, saying, 'People think Jerusalem is only about monuments or conflict. But a lot of Jerusalem is just human connection.'