בית מורשת

To sleep over, to meet some cool people, or just to stop by - if you are in Jerusalem I highly recommend stopping by the Heritage House. Requirements: a sense of humor, an ability not to take yourself too seriously, and the ability to not get easily offended. The guys are absolutely great. They have amazing activities. They talk about real controversial politics. If you can't deal with strong opinions you might have a hard time. Everyone is truly nice though and they will take care of you. Someone might/probably will make fun of you at some point but it's part of the Israeli experience.

I was suggested to stay at this 'Hostel' as an extension for my Birthright experience. The positive side of this place is the location: In the heart of the Old City you truly feel that you're in Jerusalem. Unfortunately that was the extent of the positive feel I got there. Though at first welcoming, after I had gotten into a discussion with the director, a 'Rabbi Ben Packer, about Judaism, I was accosted and verbally abused for not agreeing with everything he had said. I would not allow myself to be treated that way and left immediately and stayed somewhere else. As a hostel that markets itself as a place to explore Jewish learning, I was greatly disturbed that there is no place for discussion and independent Jewish thought. I would suggest you look elsewhere.