Type of Community: Yishuv

Region: South

Religious Percent: 100

English Speaking Percent: 10

Even Shmuel was founded over 30 years ago, and includes 100 families. A planned expansion will bring in another 300 families, who will be incorporated into the current life of the Moshav. The new development is not viewed as a separate entity, but rather as part of the, existing one. New members will have to be approved by an acceptance committee. The very warm population in the Moshav tends to be Dati Leumi Torani. The Moshav is part of the Partnership 2000 program with Chicago.

Local Employment
Many residents of the Moshav are employed in education and work at schools in the vicinity. Intel has a center located in Kiryat Gat, a mere 5 minutes away, as are several other hi-tech companies. Members of the community also work in Beer Sheva, Ashkelon and Tel Aviv.There is easy access to employment opportunities in Kiryat Gat and Beit Shemesh.

Accessibility to Employment

Education / Youth
There is a commitment to the community by the Department of Education to open a new Gan (preschool) if any Gan reaches 35 students. There is no fee for prenursery, nursery, or kindergarten, all of which are located on the Moshav. There is currently one elementary school, which will be moved into a modern facility within two years. Construction is already underway for this new school known as Beit Sefer Yisodi Even Shmuel (Even Shmuel Elementary School), and the administration is already thinking of ways to help English speakers integrate. English is taught beginning in first grade. More information about this school can be found on the Nefesh B’Nefesh school database. Special education is available for children in Even Shmuel, and there is a center to assist preschool children with special therapies – both physical and psychological – in Achuzat Etrog (approximately 20 minutes away). There is a special education program in Mercaz Shapira (20 minutes away) as well as a center for early childhood education. Psychological services are offered within the Even Shmuel Elementary School as needed. There is a girl’s high school located on the Moshav that is nationally acclaimed. It has 2 divisions: 7-8th grades (no dorming option), and 9-12th grades (everyone dorms). There are 400 girls in this school. Middle and High school aged boys tend to go to the Yeshiva high school in Kiryat Gat. There is a Chabad school, which serves grades 1-12 in Kiryat Gat, and two Charedi Yishuvim (Alumim and Kemomiyut) which offer independent charedi education nearby, for grades 1-8. There is a Bnei Akiva with separate boys and girls divisions. There are also many after-school Torah programs offered for children.

Transportation
Even Shmuel is a 5 minute drive to Kiryat Gat, (where trains are available) and a 35 minute drive from the Beit Shemesh area. There is a bus every half hour to Beer Sheva, which is 20 minutes away. Tel Aviv is an hour bus drive away, and Jerusalem is a 1 hour and 15 minute trip by car, and a little longer by public buses. Highway 6 is being extended to Kiryat Gat, which will decrease the amount of travel time to the center and Northern parts of the country.

Olim Services
Ulpan for adults is nearby and might be moved to Even Shmuel if the need arises. There is an Ulpan for children within the school, and they have a strong history of helping kids absorb into the system. The Misrad HaKlitah (Ministry of Absorption) office is in Kiryat Gat, 5 minutes away. There is an acceptance committee, and once accepted, new comers will be given an adoptive family. There is a committee already in place to make sure that all new families will become part of the community life on the Moshav.

Amenities / Services
The community boasts a sports hall that has a variety of activities. The planned expansion will have another synagogue built within it. There is both a womens’ and mens’ Mikvah on the Moshav, as well as the regional library.

Community and Religious Life
Residents are all Orthodox of varying styles, with a strong Torah-oriented approach to life. The community’s expansion program is only being sold to the religious public. A day and evening Kollel affords the community a chance both to learn and to hear shiurim from other community members.

Source: Nefesh B’Nefesh

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