Established in the 1952 Kiryat HaYovel was originally built on land purchased by the Jewish National Fund to meet the housing needs of thousands of Jews who fled from Arab countries when the State of Israel was declared. The community started out as a public housing project or “tent city”, quickly built buildings in order to accommodate the immigrants flowing in. Before 1948 the area was known as Beit Mazmil but it was renamed Kiryat HaYovel (Jubilee Town) in order to commemorate the Jewish National Fund’s 50th Anniversary.

Interestingly, since the need was so immediate to house these new immigrants, the British mandated ordinance requiring Jerusalem stone as the outer facing of all buildings in Jerusalem was waived for the original projects in Kiryat HaYovel. Although some remnants still remain of those more functional, stucco facade and flat roofs buildings, the community has grown over the years, ultimately downplaying that particular architectural era.

Many of the neighborhood’s original immigrant population moved on and have now been outnumbered by young couples and families. In recent years the neighborhood has become popular for young religious families who now call Kiryat HaYovel home. In the 1960s, there was an influx of teachers and professors, creating more upscale sections with large private homes. Since Kiryat HaYovel is in close proximity to Shaare Tzedek Medical Center and  Hadassah Medical Center as well as Alyn Hospital, a comprehensive rehabilitation center for physically challenged and disabled children, adolescents, and young adults located in Kiryat HaYovel, it has become a prime location for doctors and hospital staff looking to live close by.

Kiryat HaYovel is located in the southwestern portion of Jerusalem, just north of Bayit Vegan and Mount Herzl. To the west you will find the neighborhood of Ein Kerem.

Housing options are varied from small apartments to large private homes with prices ranging from 700,000 NIS for a 2 room apartment to over 6,000,000 NIS or greater for a luxury property.