Herzliya Pituach, including Nof Yam, is a residential neighborhood in the western part of the city of Herzliya, extending from the Haifa road in the east to the beach in the west. The city of Herzliya is named after Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl, the visionary of the Jewish state, and was founded in 1924. Herzliya Pituach is a prestigious residential neighborhood of villas and private homes with very few apartment buildings, it ranks high on the socio-economic scale with a score of 8 (out of 10)
Herzliya Pituach residents include an international community of diplomats and ambassadors, representatives of the foreign press in Israel, as well as employees of international companies, such as oil and gas companies during their stay in Israel. Herzliya Pituach has direct access to the Mediterranean coast and the promenade, residents enjoy a selection of restaurants and cafes scattered along the coast as well as in the industrial and office area of the neighborhood.
In the southern part of Pituach is a large high-tech area known as Herzliya’s “Silicon Wadi” area, the variety of restaurants, cafes and fast food serves the employees of companies and offices during the day and is available to residents at all hours of the night and on weekends with plenty of gastronomy choice and entertainment options. Herzliya Pituach Marina also offers a selection of restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlors, the boat dock as well as the “Arena” shopping center.
The proximity to the beach in Herzliya allows for many sports activities for all ages, the Mediterranean water is warm – unlike the ocean water – and you can spend time on the beach and in the water 8 months a year. Adjacent to the ‘Dan Acadia’ Hotel are tennis and paddleball courts, and there is a diving and surfing club down to the beach called the ‘Reef dive and surf club’. There is another surfing club for SUP on the Sharon beach called the ‘Gazeebo club’. There are sea scouts for children down to Zvulun beach – the ‘Dakar’ tribe, as well as a strong scout tribe called the ‘Shahaf’ tribe.
The new community center called ‘TEU’ has a selection of lectures, classes and sports activities at all hours of the day. The Nof Yam Community Center (6 Neve Oved Street, Nof Yam, 09-9575580) has a small library. This center offers classes for children such as Gymboree, dance and movement, cooking courses, music and sports. There are also classes for adults that can be suitable for English speakers. Life in Herzliya Pituach is informal and you can walk around in casual clothes with shoes without socks most of the year. The atmosphere is international due to the large number of foreign residents and the multitude of languages heard everywhere.
There are two kindergartens for English-speaking children: ‘Tree House’ International Preschool at 55 Ramat Yam Street – now Eli Landau Boulevard – Herzliya (09-9551963), and the ‘Island’ Kindergarten at 9 Yad Harutsim Street in Herzliya.
Herzliya Park is located on the eastern side of the city, with jogging and walking paths, a huge area for children of all ages to play, a lake and a winter puddle. The “Sportek” is nearby (at the intersection of Yosef Nevo and Jabotinsky Streets, 09-9565374) and has basketball and soccer fields, as well as an area for skating and rollerblading. In the evenings, free dance evenings are held, and free concerts are held in the park during the summer months.
The “Shivat Hakohavim” shopping mall is the nearby shopping center (8 Shivat Hakohavim Boulevard, 09-9519898), the mall is open all days of the week, including Saturday. Also nearby is the ‘Performing Arts Center’ (15 Jabotinsky Street, 1-700-70-29-29) and next to it is the ‘Air Force Center’ (09-9566350) – these are the city’s cultural centers with a varied program; theater plays, dance performances, concerts and music of all kinds.
There are several local shopping centers in Herzliya Pituach: in Tiran Square (at the intersection of Wingate and Kdoshi Hashoah Streets), in De Shalit Square (at the intersection of Wingate and Basel Streets) and a small center on Hanasi Ben Zvi Street at the corner of Haginim Street.
There is an Outlet for discounted shopping in Herzliya Business Park (85 Madinah Hayehudim Street, 09-9701855).
The “WIZO” house is located at 132 Hanasi Ben Zvi Street (09-9570910) and has a number of activities for women, including a bridge club and sports clubs, as well as the opportunity to participate in community service activities.
The Seven Stars
Several places around the city are called “The Seven Stars” because the flag that Herzl designed for the Jewish state contained 7 gold embroidered stars indicating the 7 hours of a Hebrew workday.
The seven stars appear on the flag of the city of Herzliya as well as on the flag of Reichman University (the university is located in the southern part of Herzliya in the green western Herzliya neighborhood).