In 1939 , the Hadassah Women 's Organization opened a teaching hospital on Mount Scopus in a building designed by architect Erich Mendelsohn . In 1948 , when the Jordanians occupied East Jerusalem and blockaded the road to Mount Scopus , the hospital could no longer function . In 1960 , after running clinics in various locations , the organization opened a medical center on the other side of the city , in Jerusalem 's Ein Karem neighborhood . On April 13 , 1948 , a civilian convoy bringing medical supplies and personnel to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus was attacked by Arab forces . 78 Jews , mainly doctors and nurses , were killed in the ambush
civilian convoy
Hadassah medical convoy massacre
Mount Scopus