Type of Community: City

Region: Center

Religious Percent: 30

English Speaking Percent: 5

Established by ultra-Orthodox from Jerusalem in 1878, Petah Tikva still follows many Jerusalem customs. Today, Petah Tikva includes 50 neighborhoods, among them Kfar Avraham, Neve Oz, and Kfar Gannim** — the latter of which is home to many Anglos. Slated to grow to 250,000, Petah Tikva is home to a world-class music conservatory; several choirs, including separate women’s groups, “Eshkol Payis” community center specializing in after-school activities for the gifted, a zoo, museums, cultural center offering year-round plays, concerts, operas and dance, and many lovely parks. The city also has 2 malls, a “midrachov” (an area in the center of town with cafes and no cars) and an old fashioned “shuk”. In addition to all Kupot Holim, the city has numerous medical facilities: Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson and Hasharon campuses), Schneider Children’s Hospital, Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Assuta, and Beit Rikva (geriatric rehabilitation). Three industrial areas: Kiryat Arie, which includes High-Tech Park Azorim, Kiryat Matalon and Segula. Petah Tikva offers apartments, townhouses, duplexes, semi attached and single family homes. There are continually new projects underway and an abundance of second hand sales and rentals. Petah Tikvah, situated in the Gush Dan region, offers excellent inter and intra city transportation, including a train, and a soon-to-be completed light rail system.

Religious Lifestyle:
Rav Baruch Shimon Solomon is the Chief Rabbi, English speaking Rabbis include: Rav Taylor of Mekor Chaim, Rav Cherlo, Rosh Yeshivat Hesder, Rav Neuwirth of Kehillat Moriah, Rav Jonathan Blass, Head of the Zionist Kollel. Over 300 synagogues, including three Young Israel’s: Kfar Gannim** with a large Anglo population, “Anderson” (near Beilinson Hospital), with a significant (older) Anglo population, and Kfar Avraham, more Israeli. Mekor Chaim (yekkeshe) — near Kfar Gannim — has a large Anglo population. The historic Central Synagogue (a landmark building), located in the center of town, offers minyanim around the clock. Shiurim throughout the week, including in English. Bnei Akiva (central chapter has a group for the developmentally disabled), Ariel and Ezra youth groups.

Religious Education: Second to Jerusalem for quality education, Petah Tikva has: Yeshivat Hesder, kollelim, including an active Zionist kollel, yeshivot gevohot, Yeshurun, the largest girl’s ulpana/religious public school (1500 students in 7-12th grade, with multiple study tracks); Noam Ulpana; boys’ yeshiva/religious high schools include: Noam (pre-1st-12th; separate schools for boys and girls), LaMerhav (right wing break off from Noam), Adar (for troubled teen boys), Amit (co-ed) and Reut (girls) youth villages for weak/needy pupils -Junior high/high school level), Bais Yaakov, etc. There are a multitude of religious elementary schools, but special mention goes to nationally recognized Morasha, the religious public school of Amishav/Hadar Gannim, and Da’at Mevinim, a private religious elementary school that specializes in science, math and Torah, and where girls learn gemara.

Source: Kehilot Tehila

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