Finding the Right Community

 

 

Beitar Illit, the largest community in Gush Etzion, is Israel’s fastest growing city.  By 2020, the population is expected to reach 100,000, and extensive building projects are underway.  The city is named after the ancient Jewish city of Beitar, whose ruins lie about 1 kilometer away.  Beitar is a city in every sense of the word, with government offices, and every kind of shopping and service readily available.  Beitar has much to be proud of: many g’mach funds, kollelim and nine consecutive years recipient of “Certificate of Sound Fiscal Government."  There is excellent bus service to Jerusalem and other points.  Beitar’s large English speaking community -- the city’s second largest community after native born Israelis -- is quite active with an extensive network of support services.  In recent years, more employment opportunities have opened thanks to several outsourcing companies setting up shop here. 

Religious Lifestyle:

Beitar Illit, known as “The Torah city of the Judean Hills” is an exclusively ultra-Orthodox town.  There are 18 streams of Chassidut living harmoniously here.  There are too many synagogues to mention, and minyanim in almost every building of every ultra-Orthodox type.  There are three official Rabbis: Ashkenazi, Sepharadi, and Chassidi. Each kehilla has its own Rav. The official English speaking Rabbi is Rav Avraham Stern, rabbi of Ohel Torah, an English speaking Litvish kehilla.  There are youth groups affiliated with the schools.

Religious Education: All the educational facilities are ultra-Orthodox. There are dozens of pre-schools, 50 elementary schools, 2 girls high schools, 3 yeshiva ketanahs, 2 yeshiva gedollahs, 2 English kollels, many shiurim for women and men, and even shiurim in English.  Boys and girls after age 3 are educated separately.

Contact Information:
Renee Smith  - drsmita@013.net
www.beitarnews.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/beitar-illit