While small waves of European emigration to Eretz Yisroel began as early as the 1760's, the Chasam Sofer zt"l, in the early 1800's, was the first to advocate specifically for the resettlement and rejuvenation of Jerusalem. The earlier groups, known as the Perushim and Chassidim, settled primarily in the Galil region on the ancient ruins of Tzefas (Safed) and Teveria (Tiberias). There are various reasons given for the early groups choosing to settle in the Galil rather than Yerushalayim. One factor may have been the difficult and sometimes treacherous living conditions in the undeveloped Yerushalayim region, which was inhabited almost exclusively by uncouth and primitive Arab tribes. In the 1830's, the Chasam Sofer sent his first group of disciples, vibrant and determined young men and their families, with the specific goal of resettling Yerushalayim.

This distinguished group and the many that followed shortly thereafter included some of Austria-Hungary's most distinguished talmidei chachomim, namely Harav Avraham Shag zt"l and Harav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld zt"l, who went on to become the founding leaders of the Ashkenazi Yishuv in Eretz Yisroel.

In keeping with its mission, Kollel Shomrei Hachomos, Reb Meir Baal Haness was the first to build large-scale free housing units outside the Old City walls. The famous Batei Ungarin complex, with its hundreds of rent-free apartments, provided the nucleus for the development of today's bustling Meah She'arim neighborhood.