Established in the 1980s Ramat Sapir rests on a distinctive ridge. It’s a small neighborhood. It’s nestled between other Haifa neighborhoods. Ramat Sapir has only two streets. They form a circle. One street is Gotal Levin Street. The other is Kaddish Luz Street. Ramat Sapir is named after Pinchas Sapir. He was Israel’s third Minister of Finance. He died in 1975. Construction on Ramat Sapir began then. Sapir is considered the father of the Israeli economy. Naming a Haifa neighborhood after him is unusual. Most Haifa neighborhoods are named after prime ministers.
Ramat Sapir faced a major challenge. A citywide fire in 2016 threatened the neighborhood. Buffer zones between trees and houses saved Ramat Sapir. These zones prevented the fire from spreading. In other neighborhoods without buffers houses burned. After the fire Ramat Sapir needed replanting. The municipality planted new trees at the entrance. This restored the green landscape.
Ramat Sapir children attend Havanim school in Ramot Ramez. They later attend Alliance school in Emek HaShem. A shuttle bus takes them. The neighborhood lacks a synagogue. Residents have long sought one. They’ve collected donations. They’ve applied to the municipality. Temporary prayer spaces have been used.
Ramat Sapir is home to Haifa’s mayor. Dr Einat Kalish Rotem lives there. Its proximity to industrial areas creates pollution. Plans exist to remove these factories. The success of these plans remains uncertain. Nearby Givat Zemar’s construction caused conflict. The new neighborhood replaced a grove.
Ramat Sapir was built in the early 1980s. It’s avoided urban renewal. Residents add balconies to their homes. Students from Ramat Sapir attend other schools for grades 1-12. Many families with children live in Ramat Sapir. It’s a young vibrant community.