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Meitar


Meitar was established in 1984 by a mixed group of secular and religious Jews, and the feeling of openness and acceptance is a trademark of the community until this day. This southern gem of a town is a friendly community where everyone makes an effort to speak in Hebrew. It should be specially noted that Meitar won an award for its excellent schools in 2007. The city consists mostly of private homes that are well laid out, and give the feeling of being a Florida suburb.

For more information about Meitar go to http://www.metar.muni.il.

Meitar Stats
Region: South - דרום Climate: Desert
Demographics: Singles, Young couples/Young families, Families, Retirees Medical care:
Maccabi, Clalit
City Type: Yishuv ישוב Affordability: $$$
Sectors:
Conservative, Dati Leumi, Secular		  
Number of English speakers: 10% Population: 7800
Community contacts:
Leah Wolf
bobbyleah18@gmail.com
Married, Orthodox, adult children (with grandchildren in the community).
Moetza Meitar
shayak@metar.muni.il
Website: http://www.beit-meitar.org.il/index.php
Local Employment
Many residents work throughout the Negev while others travel to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Ben Gurion University and Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva are major employers in the area. There is a growth of hi-tech companies in the area, such as in Omer and Lahavim Junction, and many of these companies are seeking employees. The Dead Sea Factory and Intel in Kiryat Gat are also destinations for Meitar's work force.

Education / Youth
Meitar won the National Education Award for Excellence in 2007 for its wonderful schools. The Yishuv is part of the Ofek Chadash (New Horizons) initiative and all of their schools are known as "green schools," i.e., they place an emphasis on environmental studies. The public secular elementary school and the religious school continue through 8th grade. For high school, most of the religious children study in Ulpanot and Yeshivot around the country, but remain involved in the community and in the local Bnei Akiva, when they are at home. The secular students generally attend local high schools, primarily in Omer.

There is a group of boys who learn in Neve Shmuel in Efrat.

Bnai Akiva, Scouts and Noar Lomed V'Oved offer programs for the youth.

Transportation
The train to Tel Aviv takes 75 minutes (from Beer Sheva). There are regular buses to Beer Sheva and Kiryat Arba. It is 1.5 hours by car to both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and a half hour drive to both Kiryat Gat and Arad. A car would be necessary as the buses don't run that often.

Highway 6 will soon be reaching Meitar.

Olim Services
There are no specific programs in place for Olim, but given the close-knit nature of this community, the new Oleh is well received. There is an English speaker's book club and the municipality will organize programs geared specifically towards Olim, when the need arises.

Amenities / Services
The Matnas (Community Center) offers a wide variety of programs for both adults and youth, and an emphasis is now being placed on care for the aging population. There is a senior citizen's clubhouse, as well as assisted living apartments.

There is a shopping center that has a large supermarket, a hardware store and several other shops, as well a pizza store and bakery.

There is a community pool, tennis courts, and a large youth center.

Community and Religious Life
The relationships that exist between the secular and religious populations are solid and genuine. There are 9 synagogues in the Yishuv: 8 Orthodox and one Conservative, serving the 25% of the population that is observant. There are daily Minyanim (prayer groups)- several every morning and evening, Daf Yomi study groups both morning and evening, and separate swimming hours every day at the pool. There is daily learning for men plus a Beit Midrash for women with Shiurim, and daily Tehilim for women. Additionally, there is a weekly women's Chumash class in English taught by Rabbi Elisha Citroen.

Meitar is known as "The City that Volunteers" and the benefits of this are seen throughout the Yishuv.

Real Estate
Rentals:
Rentals are very difficult to find.

Purchases: One should plan on spending around 1.8 million NIS as a starting figure for a private home. When lots are available to build, they run (on the average) 600,000 NIS for the lot.

Neighborhoods
Shlav Aleph, Shlav Bet, Rabin. There is no one particular section within the commumity, in which English speakers live.

By 2013, the Yishuvim of Carmit, Yatir and Chiran are expected to be available to new residents. These will be under the jurisdiction of the Meitar municipality.

Updated: December 2010


Tags: South Yishuv $$$ Singles Young Couples & Families Families Retirees Conservative Dati Leumi Secular