Haas Promenade

Jerusalem

The Haas Promenade, known in Hebrew as the Tayelet, is a favorite spot for Jerusalem locals. With its stunning panoramic views, it offers one of the most striking vantage points in the city and is a popular starting point for tours of Israel’s capital.

Standing on the promenade or sitting on the lush, green slopes, visitors can look over the Hinnom Valley and take in many of Jerusalem’s most significant sites: The City of David, the Temple Mount, the Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus, the King David Hotel and the YMCA tower. According to tradition, this is the site where Abraham first saw Mount Moriah—where the Temple Mount currently stands and where he was instructed to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22:3–5).

This is a popular spot for families to come and set up picnics, take a relaxing stroll or even set up hammocks among the olive and sycamore trees that dot the landscape. It is not uncommon to see local Arab shepherds from the village in the valley guiding their flocks across the slopes, adding to the pastoral atmosphere.

The Promenade features a network of walkways and viewpoints, built from locally quarried Jerusalem stone that reflects, particularly at sunset, the glowing golden hues that gave the City of Gold its name. Its design thoughtfully frames the Old City and reflects the history and character of the surrounding landscape. Its very path follows the trail set by an ancient aqueduct traveling from Solomon’s Pools to Jerusalem.

The Hinnom Valley below joins the Kidron and Tyropoeon valleys that merge to form the majority of Jerusalem’s landscape. Together, they converge to form the shape of the Hebrew letter shin or ש, the first letter of Shaddai, one of the names of God. This is seen as a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 16:2, where God instructs His people to celebrate Pesach (Passover) at “the place where the Lord chooses to put His name” and Deuteronomy 12:5, which tells Israel to “seek the place where the Lord your God chooses...to put His name for His dwelling place.”

The elevation makes this site a strategic location within the area, as it provides a clear overlook to Jerusalem and the surrounding area. During the Six Day War of 1967, the Jordanians took control of the nearby Armon Hanetziv ridge, with its own promenade that connects to the Tayelet, to use as a launching pad for attacks against Jerusalem. It was this strategic location that Israeli soldiers captured and used to turn the tide and eventually retake the Old City.

Next time you’re in Jerusalem, make sure you don’t miss this remarkable place, where you can enjoy a fantastic view, ponder the history and take to heart the instructions of Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”