• Introduction
• Type of Communities
• Cities and Large Towns
• Small Towns
• Yishuvim
• Kibbutzim/Moshavim
• Absorption Centers
• Religious Considerations
• Location, Location, Location
• Transportation
• Housing
• Education
• Medical Services
• Absorption

Welcome to Nefesh B’Nefesh’s new tool for olim: a (web-based) brochure providing comprehensive sketches of communities throughout Israel that may be appropriate destinations for North American olim. This tool is a work in progress. Nefesh B’Nefesh will be continually adding additional sketches, and updating information in those sketches already published. We hope this information will provide you with additional assistance in planning your aliya.

Introduction back to top^
The goal of this section is not to tell you where to live, but it will, we hope, provide some guidance on what things to consider in making this critical decision in your life. It should help you think about which things are most important to you when it comes to choosing a home.
The more practical purpose of this section is to provide a key for understanding the sketches included in this brochure. This includes definitions of key terms, and also brief introductions to such topics as housing options, education, and medical care. Each of these topics is sufficiently rich and complex to merit its own publication. The Israeli Ministry of Immigration Absorption (Misrad HaKlita) has useful publications on each of these topics, which are available through your shaliah.

We can’t emphasize enough the importance of making a well-planned pilot trip to properly plan your aliya. It is our hope that this introduction and the sketches of communities will be useful as a resource for you as you do your own research on communities before and during your pilot trip. It is important to spend time in communities that appear of interest to you, and ask the questions that you need answered in order to determine your own personal comfort level in each potential community.

Type of Community back to top^
In thinking about where to live, perhaps the first decision you, as an oleh need to make is what size and structure of a community is most appropriate given your expectations and needs. This is by no means a simple decision, but like most other decisions related to your aliya, it is certainly not irreversible. Basic living options include cities and large towns, smaller towns, yishuvim, kibbutzim and moshavim, and absorption centers. The size of the population may be described in terms of the number of families, or the number of individual residents.

Cities and Large Towns back to top^
Israel has four major cities (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Be’er Sheva) and numerous towns with sizable populations. Each of these places is divided into neighborhoods with their own character and qualities. Cities and large towns have much to offer olim. A major advantage of city life is public transportation, with convenient service to and from centers of employment; this can be a critical factor, especially for families who are not planning to buy cars immediately after making aliya. Cities are often host to a wide range of cultural, religious, educational institutionsThey also provide a wide range of social options – a concern of particular importance to single olim. Finally, they usually offer government and privately provided services to olim. On the downside, in cities and large towns, the cost of living space is generally at a premium and you may expect to pay a sizable sum for a relatively small apartment. Perhaps most importantly, cities and large towns have the potential to swallow their new residents in anonymity. It can be difficult for an oleh to integrate into a community in a city or large town, because there are just so many people around that the oleh gets lost. There are exceptions, and some city neighborhoods are well-known for warmly absorbing olim, but olim should be aware of this pitfall in advance.

Small Towns back to top^
Small towns are generally the equivalent of an American suburb or “bedroom community.” They are usually located quite close to a city, have a diverse population that generally numbers several thousand residents, and provide a range of services for their residents. Some better known towns include Zichron Yaakov, Binyamina, and Mevasseret Tzion. Often, towns can provide some of the cultural and educational offerings of a city with a hint of the intimacy of a yishuv. Also like cities, they usually have several educational options to choose from. Whereas cities generally have mostly apartments and fewer private homes, towns usually have more private housing options available.

Yishuvim back to top^
A few words regarding the term “yishuv.” Its literal translation is “settlement,” but yishuvim are not located only in the Judea and Samaria, or Gaza regions. It is possible to live on a yishuv in the Galil, the Negev, the center of the Country, almost anywhere. A yishuv generally has a relatively small number of families, anywhere from a dozen to several hundred, who choose to live in a close community environment. Generally, people looking to live on a yishuv must first be approved by an acceptance committee (though this process is not usually as intimidating as it sounds). Yishuvim are run by an administrative committee selected by the yishuv members. Yishuvim are generally small self-contained units with their own mini-markets, synagogues, educational institutions, and parks. Some yishuvim are located only a few minutes away from major cities, while others are highly isolated. People who are happy with yishuv life are usually those who are searching for a close-knit community, but one without the shared lifestyle found in kibbutzim, and to a lesser extent, in moshavim.
Kibbutzim/Moshavim back to top^
Kibbutzim and moshavim are a big part of the romantic history of the State of Israel. Like most living options, they could be a great choice for some and an awful one for others. Most modern kibbutzim are quite different from the socialist experiment of a few decades ago. The vast majority are now privatized, allow individual ownership of property, have children living at home, and derive most of their income from non-agricultural sources. A number have even converted a portion of their land into neighborhoods for people who would like to build homes and have a connection to the kibbutz, without being members. Like kibbutzim, moshavim are also communal agricultural settlements, but residents of moshavim have always owned and worked their own property. Some land of the moshav is held by the collective for agricultural purposes. In recent years, moshavim have become popular alternatives for people who want to own a large piece of land, but need to commute to work in a city. The feel of community in a kibbutz or moshav most closely resembles that of a yishuv.

Absorption Centers back to top^
Absorption Centers (merkazei klita) have always played a large role in welcoming new immigrants to Israel. They are self-contained centers that have virtually all services necessary for olim. They provide apartments, ulpan programs, job training, childcare, and numerous other services. Some absorption centers focus on young singles (e.g. Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem), while others are appropriate for families (e.g. Raanana Absorption Center). Although no absorption centers were profiled for this project, information on them can be found on the Jewish Agency website at http://www.jazo.org.il

In choosing the type of community you want, it is important to consider the number of “Anglos” or English speaking olim in the community. This consideration is important for a number of reasons. The obvious issue has to do with having people to communicate with. In particular, an oleh who does not speak fluent Hebrew will probably feel more comfortable in a community with a fair number of English speakers. The less obvious considerations concern cultural comfort and community cohesion. Anglos often feel more comfortable when they have at least some others around them who have a similar cultural background – i.e. went to the same schools, saw the same movies, traveled to the same places. Regarding community cohesion and absorption of new people, Anglo olim and native Israelis may have different expectations from a community. Many Israelis look for a nice place to live that is close to places of employment. Anglo olim look for this as well, but often they are also searching for a close-knit community – like the one they had back in North America – that will help fill the role of a surrogate family. Many olim left extended family behind and look toward the community to help fill the void. Don’t under estimate the importance of having others around in the same situation as yours!

Religious Considerations back to top^
This is perhaps the most difficult subject to write about, since it is so very personal, but religious considerations must play a big role in your choice of communities. It is not as easy as choosing to be in an Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, mixed, or unaffiliated community. There are so very many variations among the groups, and so many subtleties in observance and lifestyle. The discussion below will help you think about some of the things that may be important to you when it comes to religious considerations in choosing a community.

In Israel it is difficult to resist labeling – unfortunately, it is often not enough merely to identify yourself as a Jew. The sketches have attempted to resist labeling to the extent possible. But in seeking an appropriate community, olim should ask residents pointed questions related to religious observance and lifestyle. Terms will be thrown around, like “Torani” and “Chardal.” It is important to ask people what they mean by those terms. (They really do mean different things to different people, which is why we are not offering definitions in this presentation.)

To begin with, there are communities in Israel that cater exclusively to one group – e.g. Dati-Leumi (National-Religious – or Religious-Zionist) – and there are others that are mixed. In those communities that are geared toward a particular population, there are generally standards to maintain a certain pattern of observance. For example, nearly all Orthodox communities, across the spectrum, expect their members to observe kashrut and Shabbat. Mixed populations, which may be found in cities, towns, and a few yishuvim, offer an opportunity for more contact and interaction with people of different backgrounds.

Some religious communities have additional expectations from their residents, and it is critical that olim considering these communities be conscious of these expectations. For example, in many Haredi communities it is forbidden to have a computer with internet access, and in most Haredi communities and some Dati-Leumi communities it is not acceptable to have a television. Style of dress and head covering for women are also issues that are important for many communities. These restrictions are not addressed in the sketches, but they may be important things for you to find out about when further researching communities.

In contrast to the situation in North America, there are far fewer Conservative and Reform communities in Israel than Orthodox. The sketches do note whether there is a non-Orthodox synagogue in a particular community. It is most common to find non-Orthodox synagogues in communities with large percentages of Anglos.

Just a word about the term “hiloni” – or “secular.” It means different things to different people. You shouldn’t be surprised if the woman who lives next door to you and identifies herself as “hiloni” goes to the mikva and keeps a kosher home. In recent years an additional term has come into use – “shomer masoret.” These individuals often keep rituals and are serious about their Jewish identity, but do not live their lives in the same manner as those who self-identify as Orthodox.

Location, Location, Location back to top^
How important is the actual location of your community in Israel? Well, that depends on the relative importance to you of such considerations as proximity to places of employment, friends, and relatives; accessibility via public transportation; climate; and safety and security.

Work: The sad fact is that most of us need to work after our aliya. Disregarding this fact, and choosing a place to live that is far away from employment opportunities, may be impractical. That is not to say that everyone must live near one of Israel’s major cities. There are hi-tech industrial parks that may provide outstanding employment opportunities for olim located in the Galil and the Negev Desert, among other places. In addition, teachers, physicians, social workers, and trades-people have skills that are needed throughout the Country. However, some professions do have greater opportunities in specific regions. For example, you will find many more hi-tech options in the greater Tel Aviv area, than anywhere else in the country. It is simply important that olim consider opportunities for employment when choosing where to live.

Transportation back to top^
All of the community sketches discuss access via public transportation and whether it is possible to live in the profiled community without a car. For specific information regarding bus routes, you can check the Egged site at www.egged.co.il or the Dan Bus Lines site at www.dan.co.il. Like other decisions, whether or not to have a car is a personal one. The individual oleh needs to consider how he or she would manage without the mobility of a car. Generally speaking, in cities it is considerably easier. As in North America, outside of a city it is never particularly easy for a family blessed with several children to be without a car. In addition, if you are not planning on buying a car, make sure that the community that you choose has easy accessibility to centers of industry and commerce.

Climate: For a country of its size, Israel has a remarkable range of climates. In thirty minutes it is possible to travel from the mountain climate of Gush Etzion, with its chilly winters and hot, dry summers, to the valley climate of Beit Shemesh, where snow never falls and summers are extremely humid. Drive thirty more minutes and you arrive in Ashkelon, with its coastal climate. In deciding where to live, think about how important climate is to you, and if it is important, let it inform your decision.

Security: The sketches do not address the topics of safety and security. This is certainly not because they are unimportant. It is simply that safety and security are such subjective, and personal determinations that we did not feel we could provide any concrete advice in these areas. Two people can have very different attitudes toward the security situation in a particular community. You read the papers and watch the news. Undoubtedly, you have pre-conceived notions of the relative safety of various places in Israel. It is important to visit a place, spend time there, and only then determine whether it is comfortable for you. Can you sleep at night? Can you drive the nearby roads without being overcome by fear? These are decisions that only you can make.

Housing back to top^
The sketches provide information on housing options and prices. Obviously, all prices are rough estimates and are subject to change depending upon various political and business factors. The types of living accommodations and how those accommodations are described in Israel differ considerably from what many are accustomed to in North America. This section will try to explain what is meant by the terminology used in Israel.

When describing a home – be it an apartment, cottage, or villa – the size is generally explained by number of rooms and square meters. Homes are listed as 3-room, 4-room, 5-room, etc. The rooms include a living/dining area and bedrooms. For example, a three-bedroom house will be listed as a four room house. The number of bathrooms may be indicated separately and all homes are understood to have a kitchen. Home listings will often say whether a particular listing has a mirpeset (porch/patio area), because it can be important for making a sukka. Regarding measurement of space, a meter is equal to about 3.3 feet, so a 150 meter apartment (fairly large by Israeli standards) is equal to just under 1700 square feet.

Apartment buildings in Israel vary considerably in size and height. And it is important to remember that many apartment buildings, even those with more than five floors, often do not have an elevator. Some apartment buildings are built on a hill in such a way that they almost resemble a staircase and are appropriately called “meduragim.” These can provide spacious apartments, with large patio areas for each unit. The term “cottage” or “cottajim” in plural refers, basically, to what we know as a town house. Cottajim are generally connected four or five in a row. Obviously, the corner units are generally the more desirable ones. Many families in Israel live in “du-mishpachti” or two-family homes. These houses are usually connected on one side. Finally, in many communities it is possible to purchase a “villa” or private house. Despite the name, villas in Israel do not usually look like they belong in the Italian countryside – the name is misleading.

Education back to top^
Education is another of those subjects that rightfully demands its own comprehensive guide. For many olim, schools figure in to their decision of where to settle. We just wanted to take this opportunity to define a few terms and clear up some misconceptions. For additional information on educational institutions in Israel, consult NBN’s school database (www.nefeshbnefesh.org/klita/schools/index.htm) and an article on religious education in Israel (www.atid.org/journal01/edinisrael_sum.htm).

In a nutshell, Israeli schools may either be governmental (mamlachti), private, or semi-private. Mamlachti schools are regular mamlachti (government non-religious) or mamlachti-dati (government-religious). Some of the mamlachti-dati schools are further classified as torani, meaning that they have increased emphasis on Torah studies. Private schools may have religious or non-religious orientations. The hederim (heders) attended by children in Haredi communities are mostly private. Some schools are considered semi-private. This means that they receive some public funding and are subject to certain requirements of the Ministry of Education, but they also enjoy considerably more autonomy than traditional governmental schools.

Contrary to popular opinion outside of Israel, education in Israel is not free. Costs do not compare to day school tuition in North America, but there are fees to be considered. Just to provide a very rough idea, fees for a government elementary school may equal about $50 per month. Fees at a semi-private are likely to be higher, but they may also include other costs, for example, several afternoons a week of after school activities. Private school tuitions can vary considerably. Tuition for high school is considerably higher than for elementary school, and individual schools should be contacted directly for information.

Children in Israel generally begin attending gan (nursery school) at age two or three, gan hova (kindergarten) at age four or five, and elementary school at age five or six. Like elementary and high schools, ganim can be private or governmental. Some communities even have English-speaking ganim. Some also have ganim that offer early intervention services for children who have developmental disabilities or other special needs.

The kind of information in the sketch varies depending upon the type of community being profiled. For example, sketches of yishuvim generally contain a considerable amount of information on the schools. This is for two reasons: first, since most yishuvim only have one or two school options, an oleh must be comfortable with those limited options; second, it is simply beyond the scope of this project to write about every educational option in a city.

Where possible, the sketches contain information about programs for children with special needs. Parents of such children should consider contacting schools directly to see what sort of services can be provided for their children. In addition, most schools that are accustomed to absorbing olim provide other special services. The government actually provides schools with a budget for each oleh in the school that should be used for giving the oleh the supplementary attention he or she needs. Many schools also have a girl performing national service who helps olim children with their school work and social acculturation.

Medical Services back to top^
Virtually all residents of Israel take care of their medical needs through one of the kupot holim – managed care programs. There are four: Klalit, Leumi, Maccabee, and Meuchedet. Most small towns, yishuvim, and kibbutzim and moshavim do not offer all four. And it is generally best to go with whichever kupa is in your community. Perhaps the major difference between the kupot is in the different doctors that staff them. Each kupa has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is best to consult with residents in a particular community to find out which they prefer.

Health Insurance is free for the first six months for new, unemployed olim, and quite inexpensive after that. All kupot offer an optional plan that costs between $12 and $28 per month and provides additional coverage. Additional information on the Israeli medical system and the specific kupot can be found at http://www.healthinfonet.co.il/new/info.htm.

Absorption back to top^
In each of the sketches we have tried to devote some attention to how the community absorbs olim. Some communities have invested significant resources into their absorption program, hiring staff, constructing facilities, and developing classes. Other communities have a far less formal program, but have volunteers, many of whom were once new immigrants themselves, who give unselfishly of their time to try to ease the transition of olim into Israeli society.

In reading the sections on absorption, the oleh should consider how much support he or she is likely to need. Will you need to be learning in an ulpan (intensive Hebrew study program)? Then you really should consider the community’s proximity to ulpan programs. Do you feel like you would like to have someone available to hold your hand during the absorption process? Then look at the communities that have more formal absorption programs.

* Disclaimer: Information for the sketches was obtained through personal interviews, site visits, web-based research, and other means. While we hope that the information is of the highest accuracy, we cannot of course guarantee it. The statistics provided represent the impressions of various residents. They may, in fact, have little basis in reality.