Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
4 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
5 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
6 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
7 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Israel Jerusalem Meah Shearim

Meah Shearim

Neighborhood in Jerusalem is home to the ultra-orthodox haredim.

Jerusalem, Israel

Added By
Incendiary
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meah_Shearim
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meah_Shearim
  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bre...
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Panneau_...
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Bookended by walls of signs in Hebrew and English detailing a strict dress code and a hard-line approach to public morality, Meah Shearim can be considered the most ideologically unique neighborhood in today's West Jerusalem. This community is populated solely by the city's ultra-orthodox haredim -- easily recognized by black suits with matching hats, full beards, and long, curling side locks known as peyes. Every apartment is within walking distance to a synagogue, and on Shabbat (Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath), driving through the narrow streets is not just frowned upon but illegal.

To visit Meah Shearim, one must travel in groups no larger than three or four (according to the published signs, obvious tourist groups "severely offend the residents"). The neighborhood is strictly segregated by sex, so men and women should be discreet if walking or speaking together. Women should wear dark, conservative colors, high necklines, long sleeves, and long skirts or run the risk of public chastisement. Similarly, men should cover their heads with kippas (yarmulkes). One may feel ostracized as soon as they step inside--anyone who isn't part of the close-knit community clearly doesn't belong -- but gaining a better understanding of the ultra-religious atmosphere (not to mention picking up seriously discounted Jewish sacred texts and ritual objects, or delicious traditional baked goods) is definitely worth some stares.

Related Tags

Intriguing Environs Religion Ecosystems Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

Ask any taxi driver in West Jerusalem to take you to Kikkar Shabbat in Mea Shearim (don't pay more than five shekels each if you're already in the city); everyone in town knows this community.

Community Contributors

Added By

Incendiary

Edited By

mbison, stanestane

  • mbison
  • stanestane

Published

July 12, 2009

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Jewish+Themes/Jewish_Sites/Meah+She%E2%80%99arim+jew.htm
  • http://www.inquisitivetraveler.com/pages/artlib/jermeash.html
Meah Shearim
Jerusalem
Israel
31.786944, 35.222222

Nearby Places

Museum On The Seam

Jerusalem, Israel

miles away

Water Sculptures

Jerusalem, Israel

miles away

Zedekiah's Cave

East Jerusalem, Israel

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Israel

Places 22
Stories 6

Nearby Places

Museum On The Seam

Jerusalem, Israel

miles away

Water Sculptures

Jerusalem, Israel

miles away

Zedekiah's Cave

East Jerusalem, Israel

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Israel

Places 22
Stories 6

Related Places

  • Mount Banahaw.

    Quezon, Philippines

    Mount Banahaw

    This volcano in the Philippines is believed to have miraculous healing powers.

  • A city sign in both Russian and Yiddish.

    Birobidzhan, Russia

    Birobidzhan

    Fascinating early attempt at a Jewish autonomous settlement.

  • Cave of Saint Ignatius

    Manresa, Spain

    Cave of Saint Ignatius

    The grotto where Saint Ignatius of Loyola lived as a hermit for nearly a year.

  • The altar inside the hermitage.

    Caramanico Terme, Italy

    Eremo di San Giovanni all'Orfento (Hermitage of Saint John all'Orfento)

    You can only access this hermitage by crawling under a ledge suspended above an overhang.

  • Hermitage of Saint Sava

    Savovo, Serbia

    Hermitage of Saint Sava

    This mesmerizing medieval monastery-cave complex sits thousands of feet above ground overlooking a valley.

  • Inside the Son Bhandar Caves.

    Rajgir, India

    Son Bhandar Caves

    A pair of mysterious, unusually polished cave temples with an ancient gold legend.

  • The cubic altar

    Soriano nel Cimino, Italy

    Selva di Malano

    Ancient, mysterious stone altars are hidden among wild woods in central Italy.

  • Wilderness, South Africa

    Kaaimans Grotto

    This cave overlooking the Indian Ocean has been turned into a shelter and makeshift museum.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.