Efrat

Efrat has long been a popular destination for English-speaking Olim. It offers excellent schools, close proximity to Jerusalem, a supportive community, and a wide range of services. Although located in Gush Etzion (the Etzion bloc), Efrat is a separate municipality, with its own local government, Chief Rabbi (HaRav Shlomo Riskin), and municipal services for its residents. Efrat combines the services available in a city with the intimacy of a small community. It is divided into seven neighborhoods, each named for one of the seven species indigenous to the Land of Israel: Gefen, Te’ena, Rimon, Dekel, Dagan, Tamar, and Zayit. The official name is sometimes listed as Efrata.