Welcome to Ahuza, Haifa! 

The community is truly multi-generational, spanning young couples, families with children, active retirees, university students, and singles of all ages. The "older generation" is incredibly supportive and generous, and tends to "adopt" younger or newer members, inviting them for Shabbat and chag [holiday] meals, bringing chicken soup when they're sick, etc.

Because of its closeness to the Technion and the University of Haifa, the community has a lot of academic professors, staff and graduate students. There are also many hi-tech workers and engineers, teachers, social workers, physicians, content and technical writers, and therapists, among other professions.

The religious English-speaking part of the community is close-knit, yet large enough that there is a nice variety of people to befriend. English-speakers socialize a lot with each other but are also very well integrated into the broader Hebrew-speaking Israeli community. Ahuza olim [immigrants] often cite not being in an "Anglo bubble" as a key factor in their learning Hebrew and acculturing successfully into Israeli society, while simultaneously appreciating the strong English-speaking support network familiar with their native language and culture.

Like Haifa overall, Ahuza has much religious diversity and peaceful co-existence between communities. While the majority of Ahuza residents are secular, there is a strong religious population and over 20 synagogues within walking distance, including a large number of Dati Leumi [Modern Orthodox] synagogues, plus communities affiliated with different movements such as Masorti  (roughly equivalent to the American Conservative movement), Reform, Kabbalah, Chabad, Breslov, the monthly Shirat HaCarmel partnership minyan, and the Mevaser Shalom Orthodox Sephardim. Small groups of English speakers are present in most of these communities, integrated well with the Hebrew-speaking Israeli majority but providing a warm welcome for olim [immigrants] and newcomers.

Many Dati Leumi families with young children attend the Heychal Eliezer ("Einstein") synagogue which has a lively kids' service every Shabbat and a strong social community of young families.

There are regular women's tefillah [prayer service] opportunities throughout the year at various synagogues and private homes, including occasional Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat gatherings, Simchat Torah dancing and aliyot, and Purim megillah readings.

Regular shiurim [religious classes and lectures] are offered in the area at a variety of levels, mostly in Hebrew but also occasionally in English.

The neighborhood is served by a Haifa-wide eruv  [boundary allowing observant Jews to carry freely on Shabbat], and has a women's mikvah [ritual bath] and a men's mikvah.

Ahuza has a long and proud history of supporting prospective converts and less-religiously-observant Jews who are interested in growing in their Jewish understanding and connections. Additionally, secular/traditional people are very much socially included in Shabbat meals and smachot [celebrations] without pressure.

Finally, while Ahuza itself is predominantly Jewish, other neighborhoods in Haifa have active populations of Christians, Bahá'ís, Muslims, Druze, and other religious groups, who all live in harmony with each other.

Ahuza is a "nice neighborhood" -- still very much part of the city with convenient shopping and public transportation, but also pleasantly residential, safe, and with many quiet streets and general greenery and parks around. The views are pretty fabulous from many homes, where you can see the sea, valley or port.

Most residences in Ahuza are in small- or medium-story apartment buildings, with some private houses.  Sizes range from studios all the way up to private homes with 6+ bedrooms. Haifa rents in general are very low for an urban area, so Ahuza remains very affordable despite being one of the nicer neighborhoods of the city.

Sub-neighborhoods of Ahuza that might be listed in housing advertisements include Ramat Begin, Romema, Ramot Ben Gurion, Ramat Almogi, or along the main Horev/Moria road ("Tzir Horev" or "Tzir Moria").

Video tours of various 3-bedroom apartments can give you a general sense of housing variety. Check out the "more info" text on the playlist and within each video for details and context. View at: http://tinyurl.com/AhuzaApartments 

Excellent educational options abound in the area, for all ages:

• Maon [daycare]: For ages 3 months through 3 years, Ahuza has dozens of daycares, including several that are religiously-affiliated and/or run by national organizations which offer discounts to working parents.

• Gan [preschool / kindergarten]: In the center of Ahuza are two free public co-ed religious ganim, Gan Zamir (for ages 3 and 4) and Gan Or (for ages 4 and 5), as well as many secular gan options throughout the neighborhood.

• Elementary:

  • Ahuza has an excellent local mamad (mamlachti dati) [public Modern Orthodox] co-ed school, Netiv Eliezer Carmel, for grades 1-6, which has high national rankings in academic subjects and a warm and diverse religious culture. After the regular schoolday, it also offers a homework club and chugim [extra-curricular activities] like gymnastics, Lego robotics, basketball, etc.

  • A short bus ride away are the semi-private Moriah-Barkai (single-sex), Chabad Shalhavot, and Beyachad schools, with tuition of a couple thousand shekels a year.

  • There are also many secular elementary school options.

• Secondary:

  • For religious girls, Ironi Vav / Ulpanat AMIT Haifa, Ulpana Toranit Tzvia Haifa, or Ulpanat Bnei Akiva Segula in Kiryat Motzkin.

  • For religious boys, Yeshivat Bnei Akiva Yavneh or AMIT Kennedy School in Acco.

  • For both religious girls and boys, Yeshivat Kol Tzofayich Experiential School at the Kfar Noar HaDati in Kfar Chasidim.

  • Busing available for options outside of Haifa itself.

  • There are also many secular co-ed secondary schools in Ahuza and greater Haifa.

• Higher: The Technion and University of Haifa are both 10 minute bus rides from Ahuza. Teacher-training education colleges include Gordon Academic College and the NB Haifa School of Design.

Ahuza residents enjoy the all benefits of a residential neighborhood situated within Israel's third-largest city. Located close by are restaurants, museums, the zoo, a young bar scene, theaters (including an English community theater group), symphonies, an opera, libraries, sports facilities and stadiums, etc. Additionally, Ahuza is a short 10 minute ride from the beautiful beach, the stunning Bahá'í gardens, and the Carmel Forest (Israel's largest nature reserve, with excellent hiking trails). Haifa's Tourism website lists many of the area's attractions and an Ahuza resident put together an English guide to Haifa organizations and events.

Within Ahuza, there is also a neighborhood-wide religious community center called MAKA offering regular lectures, movies, children's activities, sing-alongs, field trips, women's zumba and yoga, young families' Shabbat morning services, and other fun events of interest. Residents organize informal social gatherings such as crafts nights, board games, learning groups, hikes, beach outings, and camping trips.

A lively local Bnei Akiva youth group chapter offers fun and educational activities and trips for children in grades 3 and up. Starting around age 5, local community centers and schools offer a wide range of fun after-school activities.

For adult English-speakers across Haifa, there are active AACI, ESRA and Hadassah chapters.

In the heart of Ahuza is the Merkaz Horev commercial center with frequent public transportation connections to all over the city. In various directions, it is a direct 10-15 minute bus ride to the Technion, the University of Haifa, MATAM (the hi-tech industrial park), several large malls, and Hof HaCarmel (one of Haifa's main bus/train stations, next to a beautiful beach). Several local bus lines serve areas of Ahuza not immediately adjacent to Merkaz Horev.

Though cars are not a requirement for living in Ahuza, many residents also use personal cars or the shared electric Car2Go cars. Taxis are plentiful 24/7. Some companies provide transportation shuttles for employees.

Trips outside Haifa are convenient as well, whether for work or fun. Trains to Tel Aviv (and cities in between, including Caesaria, Hadera, Netanya, Herziliya, etc.) are all less than an hour and are popular commuting destinations for employment. Ben Gurion airport is about 75 minutes and Jerusalem about 1.5 hours, by train or car. Yokneam is about 30 minutes by car.

Almost every purchase needed on a day-to-day basis is conveniently available within walking distance in Ahuza. The central Merkaz Horev area has a good-sized mall and nearby stores including supermarkets, pharmacies, bakeries (including both "basic" and fancy ones), kosher eateries, Judaica, tailors, locksmiths, cobblers, barbers and a post office. There are multiple shops for clothes, shoes, toys, books (including an English bookstore), jewelry, eyeglasses and optometrists, stationary supplies, flowers, hardware, housewares, organic food, cookingware, etc.

Dotting Ahuza are other smaller makolets [convenience stores] and commercial areas as well so that no one is far from a convenient place to restock on basic supplies.

Many residents order groceries online from discount chains for convenient, inexpensive delivery straight to their doors.

Within 5-15 minute drives are several enormous malls, large discount supermarkets, outlet stores, an IKEA (in the Haifa suburb of Kiryat Ata), and the downtown shuk [open-air market] that can meet any additional shopping needs.

All medical needs, from routine to specialized, are well-met within Ahuza or in greater Haifa, through any of national kupot cholim [health funds].

Maccabi operates a large outpatient facility in Merkaz Horev, in the center of Ahuza, which includes a bloodwork laboratory, nurses' station, administrative office, dental clinic, X-rays and ultrasounds, and a convenient after-hours/weekend urgent care clinic.

Carmel Hospital, which includes an emergency room, inpatient and outpatient facilities, and birth/maternity services, is located within walking distance.

The neighborhood has many doctors' offices, pharmacies and Tipat Chalav [well-baby] clinics. Additional medical facilities are short rides away.

Approximate price ranges and detailed information for housing, education/childcare,  groceries, utilities, transportation and other practical needs.

View at: http://tinyurl.com/AhuzaBudget 

A map of Ahuza including community centers, synagogues with English speakers, playgrounds and parks, shopping, medical, religious schools/ganim, kosher eateries, and public transportation hubs.

View at: http://tinyurl.com/AhuzaMap 

(Within the map, click on the left-hand menu's categories to expand/collapse.)

• Governmental support (beyond the usual country-wide aliyah benefiits):

  • Nefesh B'Nefesh's Go Beyond North initiative includes Haifa in the region eligible for extra financial and employment support, with assistance both for olim [immigrants] moving directly to Haifa as well as those relocating within Israel.

  • Special municipal aliyah benefits are detailed at Haifa's English Aliyah website, including arnona [municipal tax] discounts and free subscriptions to Haifa museums and cultural events.

• Housing support:

  • Discounted temporary absorption apartments, including one in Ahuza, are available from the city for a few weeks for pilot trips and during move-in while you search for more long-term housing.

• Hebrew support:

  • Several ulpanim [intensive Hebrew language courses] are near Ahuza, including Ulpan Beit Erdshtein, Ulpan Abba Hushi, and Ulpan Etzion Carmel (for university-educated young professionals), all free for olim [immigrants].

  • The University of Haifa ulpan offers a more academically-oriented (though not free) Hebrew language study.

  • The Ahuza Masorti synagogue, Moria, runs informal Hebrew learning conversational groups, open to all.

• Social support: Ahuza's veteran olim community offers warm social support on all aliyah matters, logistical help, employment connections, meals for newcomers, and friendly understanding of the joys and challenges of aliyah.

• Haifa's Aliyah website, including special benefits and services for olim [immigrants].

• Nefesh B'Nefesh Community Profile for Haifa (note Haifa is included within the Go Beyond North region).

• Haifa's Tourism website, listing many cultural attractions and events.

• News from Haifa, with stories and profiles.

• Haifa Young English Speakers Facebook group, a wealth of information and help for English-speakers of all backgrounds across Haifa.

• English guide to Haifa organizations and events written by an Ahuza resident.

Does Ahuza sound like it could be a good fit for you? Come for a Shabbat or a visit during your aliyah pilot trip, or be in touch with our community contacts:

• Volunteer committee of Ahuza residents to answer any questions or arrange hospitality: welcome-to-ahuza-haifa@googlegroups.com

• Official Haifa coordinator for olim [immigrants] from English-speaking countries: Smadar Stoller Porat (smadar@olimhaifa.co.il, 054-234-1233), who can answer questions and connect you with services, communities, benefits, temporary absorption apartments, etc.

• For the Hebrew Ahuza community website: https://ahuza-dati.my.canva.site/ahuza-haifa 

Looking forward to meeting you!