Beit HaKerem, Jerusalem

Beit HaKerem (Hebrew: בית הכרם; lit. "house of the vineyard") is a largely secular upscale neighborhood in southwest Jerusalem.^[1] It is located between Kiryat Moshe to the northwest and Bayit VeGan to the south. Beit HaKerem has a population of 15,000.^[2]

History

Remnants from the

According to a census conducted in 1931 by the British Mandate authorities, Beit HaKerem had a population of 550 inhabitants, in 148 inhabited houses.^[7]

In the 1960s and 1970s, many university professors and students sought housing in Beit Hakerem due to its proximity to the

Education

The neighborhood has 25 kindergartens, four elementary schools and three high schools considered among the most prestigious in Jerusalem.^[12] The David Yellin College of Education, established in 1913, is located in Beit HaKerem,^[13] as is the David Shapell College of Jewish Studies.^[14] A footbridge from Beit HaKerem over the Begin Highway connects to the Hebrew University Secondary School and to the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Parks and landmarks

Gan Ha'esrim park in Beit Hakerem (Park of the Twenty) commemorates 20 residents who died in the

Denmark Square in the center of Beit Hakerem adjoins a shopping center.[16]

Yad Sarah, the largest voluntary organization in Israel, which lends medical equipment and provides other services for free or at nominal costs is located in Beit HaKarem, along with Shaare Zedek Medical Center, one of Jerusalem's main hospitals.

Notable residents

• Nir Barkat, former Mayor of Jerusalem and current member of the Knesset
• Yehoram Gaon, singer, actor, director, producer, and TV and radio host
• African history, Near East, Islamic, and African studies, President of the Open University of Israel, and Executive Director of the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
• Elon Lindenstrauss, mathematician
• Reuven Rivlin, President of The State Of Israel
• Alice Shalvi, educator^[17]
• Karnit Flug, former Governor of The Bank of Israel

References