A warm cozy hostel with an outstanding location! A five minute walk to the Western Wall and 10 minutes to the new city. But better than all of that is the amazing staff of women who work there! They are not only accommodating and helpful but so loving and full of advice, knowledge and care! really feels like home
Heritage House is a wonderful organization! It is impossible to beat in terms of price and location. I have stayed there various times over the years. I am still in touch with the wonderful staff and have made multiple very close friends through Heritage House. Highly recommend it!
I've stayed at the HH on numerous occasions and always have such an amazing, inspirational time. I met some of my closest friends there and have done fund raising for the HH as well as keep in touch with some of the incredible madrichot. I know I will always have a home there
Incredible cozy hostel at the Old City. It's so close to the Western Wall, Hezekiah's tunnel and many more places!
The perfect spot to stay over for a special Shabbat experience but also for a cheap vacation with an amazing experience. Meeting people from all over the world and making contacts has never been easier for me.
I had heard about this place form a program like birthright I went on.
On another trip to Israel, I had made reservations to stay there for a few days here and there when I wanted to do something in Jerusalem, not all at once. One evening I called to make sure everything was okay with my reservation and asked if it was okay to come and I got the okay. I took a bus from Rehovot to Jerusalem in the evening but by the time I got there it was starting to get dark. The person who I had spoken with to confirm was not the person at the door. The lady at the door was speaking to two other people but stopped when she saw me. She wouldn't let me in but grilled me about my religious observance level and upbringing and was very intense and kind of angry and nasty. There were other people she had been talking to there who watched it. She basically told me that this is not a place to stay for people who are observant and who went to Jewish Day School. I tried to answer that I didn't go to Jewish Day School and that I didn't grow up observant but then I started to become observant in recent years and I knew about the hostel because of a program I had been on years before. But she was on a roll and didn't want to hear me and told me I couldn't stay there. There were plenty of empty beds. I ended up staying up half the night at the kotel and half the night in an Arab hostel since it was already dark at that point.
I now know this woman's name was Chaya. This woman has no boss since her husband runs it so she can behave whichever way she wants basically.
The only way these people would possibly take pause is if their funding/donations were reduced as a result.
For the sake of honesty and warning to others like me, the people working in this whole outreach movement are not really who they want you to think they are. They have an act for people they label as not religious and rhetoric that they use in their goal to try to "make you religious" or whatever they think that is. I say this with care and apology but they do not at all care about you as a person, your happiness, or that you do what is right for you. They are actually very rigid in their opinions and are only talking to you with the agenda of "convincing" you to sacrifice certain things and adopt certain behaviors. It is manipulative and insincere but they feel the ends justify the means and they just honestly just don't know better anymore. They are essentially pushy salespeople who have a very specific focus to push you to buy what they are selling by any means that you will tolerate. There are conversations among them like "how do you fake sincerity?" because it's just taken for granted that they need to do this to get you to buy. They are incapable of sincerity. They have been doing this a long long long time, they are mostly living in their head and can't really connect with you as a human being. They might tell you stories of kindness by rabbis but the stories aren't them. If you trust your instincts it will be very clear how full of it they are. As someone who has seen different sides of this I can tell you for sure, trust yourself and your inner voice. They will pressure you and it will feel like attention and social inclusion but it can also destroy your life. When you are in your 20's you don't have the perspective of how things will affect you. There is a flow to life that leads you to your highest good and that is way above these people to comprehend. Israel is holy and bright, the Torah contains divine wisdom but THESE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO - they use the credibility of those things to piggyback whatever it is they feel like saying. When you are on these trips and in Israel, you are very open and impressionable. Get your free trip, have a great time and make friends make sure you stay clear about what it is you are actually enjoying. Freedom, Israel, friends, discussing higher topics etc.. You don't need to be around these people for this. Psychological tactics are their MO. Don't allow them to pressure you. Make sure to wear pants if you do go.
The Heritage House was my home away from home...multiple times! You can make it what you want to make it. If you need a place to stay, its great! If you need a place to stay, meet people, and explore you're Jewish identity, than it is event better!
Heritage House is the best place you could stay while in Jerusalem! It's prime location near the Western Wall and warm and friendly atmosphere make you feel like you're at home! So thankful that I stayed at the hostel and made lifelong friends and mentors in the process!
Heritage House was my home away from home about once a month when I did Masa Israel Journey five years ago.
They have a beautiful home now overlooking the Kotel, caring and engaging staff and the best mom of the house ever, Chaya Weisburg. She always made sure I was comfortable, involved, had lunch and dinner on Shabbat. I loved going with her to the playground on Shabbat morning to help with her beautiful kids.
They encourage learning but never force it and have the best resources to access so many resources in Israel.
I look forward to seeing them every time I visit and if you find yourself in the old city, pay them a visit.
Incredibly cheap for such amazing accommodations. Interesting guests, often quite quiet during the week and busier on weekends
Everyone spoke (at least) English, both staff and guests. Helpful with whatever you need, directions, ideas, etc.
There's space to cook a bit (only dairy or "pareve," no meat products) and a fridge/freezer as well
There's a free challah bake on Thursdays for guests which is a wonderful experience, as is seudat shlishit on Saturday when you get to eat the challot as part of the third meal
Blankets, pillows, sheets, towels provided
Decent showers and general bathroom area, nothing more and nothing less than you'd expect from a hostel. A good bit of mold in there (just to keep in mind for those sensitive to that,) but really no other serious complaints
Note: The Heritage House is closed during the day! You have to be out in the morning and can't be hanging out there during the day until the evening. Worked great for me as there was a load around to see and do, but if your idea of a place to stay is lounging around, this isn't the place
Note: Hostel sleeping accommodations are on the *third* floor of the hostel. There is no way to get up aside from stairs, it's quite easy, but not feasible for people with difficulty climbing stairs in general
Great price
Guests are respectful of one another
Comfortable accommodation
I stayed at the Heritage House for one night after my birthright Trip, and it was amazing! After leaving Israel to go to Europe, I came back to Israel JUST TO STAY HERE AGAIN for two weeks! The location alone is great because it is in the magical historical old city of Jerusalem and a 5 minute walk from the western wall! The price is beyond affordable for young adults who want an amazing experience. The women who work here are extremely nice and make your stay very enjoyable. I felt very comfortable & I made MANY friends here! The admissions/coordinator Jackie is the first person I met when staying at the Heritage House & she is such a sweetheart!! Very welcoming atmosphere, I guarantee your visit to Israel will be 10x better if you visit the Heritage house! (Extra fun on holidays!)
Such an incredible place. Great atmosphere and so much love!
Heritage House is the most amazing place! It s located in the old city of Yerushalaim and is just minutes walking distance to the kotel! The people there are all amazing and tzadikas ! They will help you in everything you need and will become your family! I loved staying there, the memories and friendships made there are unforgettable. My life has been so blessed through my experience with this amazing place! Am Israel chai!
heritage.org.il
