Jerusalem Neighborhoods

Posted: Mon, Sep 24 2007, 6:16 pm Post subject: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

Which neighborhood in Jerusalem would you pick to live in, and why?

Posted: Mon, Sep 24 2007, 6:23 pm Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

none, my husband and I have been living here for a while and we are ready to go back to the states, asap. Living here is hard, even though we are in an american neighborhood (Ramay Eshkol/Maalot Dafna).

Otherwise, our neighborhood is great except that it's very residential. I think it would be fun to live closer to the center of town. Although, the only problem with that is that it's more secular which makes it difficult to go grocery shopping, eat out, etc.

OP: are you looking for advice as to which neighborhhod to live in or are you just curious?

Posted: Mon, Sep 24 2007, 6:49 pm Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

Just curious, Want to know what the masses think.

Posted: Mon, Sep 24 2007, 8:06 pm Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

I've lived in French Hill, Givat Hamivtar, Neve Betzalel, Nachlaot, the German Colony and Kiryat Hayovel. What specifically do you want to know?

Diamond Member Joined: Oct 12 2004 Posts: 3566

I live in Ramat Eshkol and I think it's a great neighborhood. The location is excellent. And it's not so city-like. More greenery and quiet and private than other areas. And it's full of anglos. Of course it depends if you consider that an advantage!
If I would end up staying in Israel, though, I think I would choose to move out of Yerushalayim. I'd rather have a bigger place to live and live in the "suburbs" than live in a small crowded place. And since I'd be living here without any family, I'd want someplace with a close-knit community, which you don't really get in the city.

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20599

None, the infrastructure is terrible, traffid is horrible, prices for rentals/purchase are too high etc. It's a nice place to visit (my sister lives in Maaleh Zeitim) but I wouldn't want to live there! An hour away is not too far for me to go very often.

Gold Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 1859

I don't live there now, but we are considering aliyah and at the top of our list is Har Nof. I LOVE Har Nof!

Posted: Tue, Sep 25 2007, 7:36 am Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

I live in the Baka/Talpiot area. I prefer being in mixed area. I feel more a part of society and I feel that I can be who I am without being judged. Shopping here is great, we hardly ever need to go to the center of town. There's a large variety of shuls. The area itself is much more beautiful in my opinion because there are lots of old buildings and pretty alleys etc. I was also able to find a job that is walking distance from our apartment. We also are able to walk into the center of town or to the kotel...(occasionally-it's like a 45 minute walk).

The downs are we aren't close to a "minyan factory," so dh always has to daven mincha/maariv at the same times, so it's hard to arrange going out in the evening hours in the summer without it being a huge ordeal where he is going to daven. And of course, our apartment is relatively small compared to what we'd get in the suburbs...but we are able to live without a car which is a huge savings.

Diamond Member Joined: Oct 12 2004 Posts: 3566

Where are Neve Bezalel and Maaleh Zeitim?

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20599

Maaleh Zeitim aka Ras al Amud is a newish (5 year old?) Jewish enclave across from Har HaZeitim. You go down from the road to the kotel, towards the churches, hang a right and it's about three minutes from there.

Posted: Tue, Sep 25 2007, 1:30 pm Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

I live in Nachlaot and I love it! Good mix of people, no judgment, close to e/t, near the park, interesting to walk around.

Posted: Tue, Sep 25 2007, 5:43 pm Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

Ive lived in Geula, Har nof, bayit vegan, Rechavia, Katamon, And town.
the best was Geula!

Posted: Tue, Sep 25 2007, 6:47 pm Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

RivkiA;
Yes, Batei Hungarin (those Hungarian houses) in Geula are so Old World and charming, but I couldn't live in Geulah...a bit "much" for me...in terms of having complete strangers doing mussar etc...

I live in Katamonim...there aren't many hareidi Americans here, but I hope more will move in. There is a lot of MO and Chabad but Chabad are mainly French and Israelis. It is close to the city center, there are alot of parks and it is close to Emek Refaim (no restaurants for me there, and the shops are too expensive, but it is pretty).

Anyway, better quit before I sound like an ad for Katamon.

Posted: Wed, Sep 26 2007, 1:45 am Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

Honestly, I don't know where in jerusalem I'd actually enjoy living. I love where I live now, I'll describe it, and you tell me if there is a community like that in jerusalem (but hey, no place will have the price we have).

I'd want a community with breslovers that are open minded but very frum, ideally.

If not, a community that is like mine:
Chassidim, litvaks, sfardim, lubabs, russians, frenchies, israelis, americans, hispanics, etc... And everyone getting along. A community that is not all american, but that the americans (generic term for english speakers) are close knit and have community events, like nshei. A community where not everyone is the same, and where you hence don't have to be one specific type to fit in. Oh, and all charedi.
Which community in jerusalem is like that? Any?

Posted: Wed, Sep 26 2007, 2:09 am Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

While I don't think you will have Yidden in 100% agreement until Moshiach comes, it sounds like you are talking about Ramot (Daled? Can't remember which one...very black hat charedi..the Anglos are close knit...significant amount of Israelis and diverse hareidim..)

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 20 2006 Posts: 5711

Is Ramot Polin what you are talking about, mimivan?

Posted: Wed, Sep 26 2007, 2:36 am Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

It's one of the Ramots (I think Daled) with Rehov Ungar as one of the main roads (I thought of if because the homes in that area of Ramot have a similar design to the sub-neighborhood batei Hungarin in Mea Shearim.)

I wouldn't live there (I like a little elbow room for the possibility of doing some kiruv) but I know people who are happy there and it sounded like what Breslov was describing...

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 20 2006 Posts: 5711

If the homes are beehive like structures its ramot polin.

Posted: Fri, Sep 28 2007, 2:46 am Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

I would love to live in the rechavia / nachlaot area. I lived in rechavia before I got married but truth be told I dont think that I would want to live in yerushaliym b/c it is just tooo city like.

Posted: Sat, Sep 29 2007, 6:13 pm Post subject: re: Jerusalem Neighborhoods

if I had money it would be rova yehudi. the old city quaters feels oo special being so close to the Kosel. it feels so spiritual. my sil's parent's live there. secondchoice would be har nof area an anglo town. I was there in seminary.

but tachlis since we bought 10 years ago and are in our own aprtment and bout where we could, I'm happy where I am in beitar. we have everything. I have the park and supermaket and shul rightclose by so what could be better. I also have great neighbours english americans israeli's chasidish yerushalmi etc. though sometimes I wished I could have bought in beit shemesh.

I just saw a ad for a new town up north so I showed it to dh and said let's move, our own villa with private swimming pool acres of grass.... ok dream on this is where I am and this is where I will be.

il's used to live in immanuel, it's teh last place I would go. sil jsut gave up her teachingjob to leave that place!!

tey also lived in Telstone, another nice place!! my friend is a nurse at the clinic there.