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Mitzpeh Yericho


Mitzpeh Yericho is located in the Judean desert 20 kilometers east of Jerusalem, off of the highway leading down to the Dead Sea. It is a 20 minute drivefrom Mizpeh Yericho to the outskirts of Jerusalem, (ie
Ramat Eshkol, Mt Skopus, French Hill). Maaleh Adumim is the nearest city and is a 15 minute drive from Mitzpeh Yericho. There is also a major supermarket ten minutes away in the Industrial park of Maaleh Adumim.

The Yishuv boasts breathtaking vistas of the desert and overlooks the town of Jericho and the Dead Sea, which are about
10 minutes away. While Mizpeh Yericho is part of the Benjamin Area municipality, the Yishuv is actually run by an elected board of nine members and several volunteer sub-committees that deal with areas such as education, absorption and religious
affairs.
Families in Mizpeh Yericho are expected to follow a strictly Dati (Orthodox) lifestyle. The Yishuv maintains very specific Halakhic standards. For example, married women on the
Yishuv are expected to cover their hair.
The residents of the Yishuv are engaged in a wide
range of occupations: doctors and Kollel students,
programmers and teachers, businessmen and social
workers.

Mitzpeh Yericho Stats
Region: Jerusalem & Surrounding Area - ירושלים Climate: Desert
Demographics: Young couples/Young families, Families Medical care:
Meuchedet, Clalit
City Type: Yishuv ישוב Affordability: $$
Number of families: 360  
Sectors:
Chardal, Dati Leumi		  
Number of English speakers: 10%
Community contacts:
Chanan Morrison
chananm@gmail.com
02-535-6532
Married, Orthodox, school/university aged children
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/mitzpeyericho/home
Listserv: klita.renana@gmail.com
Local Employment
Most residents work in Jerusalem.

About 20% of the residents are employed locally in the school, the Netivot Yosef Yeshiva, or the small industrial park adjacent to the Yishuv, which has an electronics factory, a desert-cooler factory, and the "Young Scientist" company which manufactures and markets educational kits around the world.

There are also two local tourist endeavors, one that offers bike trips and the other which offers jeep tours. The elegant Nof HaYarden restaurant/hall boasts a spectacular view of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea.
Some residents work in the Mishor Adumim industrial park (10 minutes away) or in Maaleh Adumim.


Education / Youth
The Yishuv has a day care center(Maon) which is under the supervision of the municipality and preschool (ganim)from pre k - kindergarden programs. There are also several after gan programs for extended hours until 4 pm.(for pay)
The yishuv has a religious elementary school for grades 1 to 6(mamlachti dati torani). All classes are separate for boys and girls. In addition, there is a Talmud
Torah for grades 1-6. Starting in the 2010-11 school year the school will be expanding to add a 7th grade boys class. Plans are for a complete Jr. High school program. For junior high (girls) most students travel to Maaleh Adumim (15 min.), Ofra (40 min), or Jerusalem. There are English classes for
native English speaking students. For students in grades 1-4 there is a Moadanit, which provides various educational programming after school hours.

For students third grade and up, there are activities organized by the Ezra youth movement. The yishuv also organizes chugim for a nominal fee for children of all ages.
The Benjamin Area JCC (Matnas) provides many
afternoon and evening clubs, such as ballet, judo,drums, etc. There are also privately run clubs (chugim) and lessons for arts & crafts, musical instruments, sewing, etc. Rabbi Bargil runs a very
successful afternoon Talmud Torah for 200 children,grades 1 to 6, with classes in Torah, Mishna,Gemara, and Halacha.

Transportation
Egged bus #125 runs approximately every 2 hours to and from Jerusalem into the center of the yishuv. Many residents rely on carpooling.




Amenities / Services
There is a local grocery store (makolet) which is run by a resident of the yishuv. The makolet provides free delivery service, plus has Monday and Wednesday
Pizza Night, and Thursday falafel night.

The local library rotates books with the Benjamin area libraries, and has a small English children's section.
The Yishuv has its own ambulance. The nearest hospital, Hadassa (Mount Scopus), is approximately a 15 minute drive.
There are two health funds (kupat cholim) on the yishuv, Clalit and Meuchedet. Both provide a full spectrum of services and doctors. Family and pediatric medicine plus specialists have several mornings where laboratory services are available.


Community and Religious Life
A central Ashkenazi synagogue, located in the heart of the Yishuv, has several daily Minyanim. Sephardic and Yemenite congregations have their own synagogues. On Shabbat and holidays,several additional Minyanim are usually created, including a Shtieble, Chabad group, and a Carlebach-style Minyan.

The Yishuv boasts two Mikvaot, one for women and one for men.

A very active Chesed committee assists residents both during celebrations and in more difficult times. There are several gemachim on the yishuv. Two of the popular more used ones are a Gemach which lends out chairs, tables, plates and cutlery for events. and one for baby accessories, clothing and Purim costumes.

The Sephardic minyan organizes a Friday Kollel for all residents. The chief rabbi of Mitzpeh Yericho, Rabbi Yehuda Kroizer, gives Torah classes each evening in the central synagogue.



Real Estate
Rentals:
Small apartments cost approximately $475/month.

Purchases:
Apartments can be purchased for $150,000.
Single family homes start at $200,000.

Row housing is currently under construction. Units will cost around 890,000 NIS. The first units should be completed in the spring of 2011. For more information, call Elad Reich at 050-209-1959.



Neighborhoods
The municipal plan for Mitzpeh Yericho call for 1,200 housing units. There are also plans set for a community swimming pool.



Updated: June, 2010

Tags: Jerusalem & Surrounding Area Yishuv $$ Young Couples & Families Families Chardal Dati Leumi