Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Terraced streets with views over the Jerusalem Forest, and the city's largest English-speaking chareidi community. What living in Har Nof is like.
Short answer: Har Nof is a religious neighbourhood on Jerusalem's western ridge, built mostly from the 1980s in terraces overlooking the Jerusalem Forest. It is home to the largest English-speaking chareidi and yeshivish community in the city, with its own shuls, schools, shops and support network. Apartments are larger than in the centre for the money, the views are wide, and the streets are steep. It is served by buses today, with a Green Line branch planned for the end of 2027.
At a glance
- Who lives here: chareidi and yeshivish families, many English-speaking, and a strong Sephardi and Israeli religious population.
- Housing: stone apartment buildings stepped down the slope, many with balconies (important for a sukkah) and views.
- Price band: mid, higher in the most sought-after Anglo blocks.
- Getting around: buses to the centre and Givat Shaul; the planned Green Line branch to Har Nof is due at the end of 2027.
- Everyday shopping: local commercial centres, with Givat Shaul's shops and the Kanfei Nesharim area close by. Our directory lists Hakol Labayit, Bagels and the Clalit clinic in Har Nof.
- Health: Shaare Zedek hospital is nearby.
Community and religious life
Shuls and kollelim on almost every street, gemachs for everything, and an English-speaking community with deep roots. Our mikvah directory lists two women's mikvaot in Har Nof, on Agassi Street and Shaulzon Street.
Pros and cons
- For: community and infrastructure, space for the money, views, and a quiet, family-centred Shabbat.
- Against: steep streets and stairs, a bus-only commute until the light rail arrives, and a distance from the centre.
Who it suits
Chareidi and yeshivish families, especially English-speaking ones, who want a complete community with Anglo support.
Before you sign
Visit at different times: a weekday morning, Friday afternoon and Shabbat tell you more than any listing. Check the building's mamad or shelter, the stairs and the heating. The renting guide covers the contract, the bills guide covers arnona and the va'ad bayit, and the city-wide neighbourhoods guide compares every area. Nearby alternatives: Ramat Eshkol, Bayit VeGan and Givat Mordechai, Ramot.
Common questions
Is Har Nof good for English-speaking families?
For chareidi and yeshivish families, yes; it has the city's largest English-speaking community of that kind.
Will the light rail reach Har Nof?
A branch of the Green Line to Givat Shaul and Har Nof is planned for the end of 2027. Until then, buses.
Is there a mikvah in Har Nof?
Two, on Agassi Street and Shaulzon Street. Our mikvah directory has the details.
Live in Har Nof and have a correction? Tell us and we will fix it.
