Type of Community: City

Region: Jerusalem

Religious Percent: 35

English Speaking Percent: 15

Givat Zeev was established in 1983 with an initial group of 100 founding families, and it has since grown to include over 11,000 residents. The community is expected to expand to a size of 20,000 residents by the end of this decade.

Givat Zeev is a close-knit Yishuv that prides itself on the particularly strong emphasis it places, and the care it give to the community’s children.

While the majority of the Yishuv residents tend to be well-established families, Hebrew University is only 25 minutes away, and the Yishuv also includes a number of students who live in rented apartments in the area.

A range of community services are locally available, and for any additional services, Givat Zeev has the advantage of being a 15 minute drive to both Jerusalem and Modiin.

Local Employment
Most residents work in Jerusalem, Modiin or Tel Aviv.

Education / Youth
Givat Zeev has several Ganim (kindergartens), including a Gan for special education needs.

There are two Mamlachti (public secular) schools and one Mamad (public religious) school. One of the public secular schools offers a Tali track offering a more traditionally-oriented education.

There is only one middle school, which is secular, but has a very strong ethos of Jewish tradition. Jewish holidays are observed in a traditional manner and the principal sees this as part of the education of her students. This school goes through ninth grade, and then students generally continue their studies in Jerusalem schools.

The Tzofim and Bnei Akiva youth groups are both active in Givat Zeev.

Transportation
There is no internal bus system for the yishuv. Bus service to Jerusalem is frequent, however, most residents have cars. The community is a 40-minute drive to Tel Aviv, a 15-minute drive to Jerusalem and a 15-minute drive to Modiin. Many people who work in Tel Aviv drive first to Modiin, and then take the train to Tel Aviv.

Olim Services
The Yishuv offers daily hours for Misrad Hapnim. For other services, residents travel to Jerusalem.

Amenities / Services
All basic food and household needs can be found in Givat Zeev. There are two shopping areas, one in Neve Menachem and the other on the main street, Rechov HaMaccabeem.

The community has a well-stocked public library and a large, active cultural arts center.

The community has public sports facilities, including a swimming pool.

There is a local Magen David Adom station and an ambulance corp.

An ATM machine is available on the Yishuv, though most people go to Ramot to do their banking.

A science center in Givat Zeev is used by the local schools for eductaional programs, and is opened in the afternoon hours for community-wide children’s activities.

There is an active center for retirees.

Community and Religious Life
There is a Garin Torani (a group of Torah observant families) in Givat Zeev, which currently numbers 20 young families (and is expanding).

There are currently 17 Batei Knesset (synagogues) on the Yishuv, all Orthodox, with the 3 Ashkenazi synagogues tending to attract more of the English speakers.

For the High Holidays, Reform services are organized.

30% of the Yishuv population describes itself as observant, while the other 70% are traditional or secular.

There is a section of the community which is exclusively for the Karlin Stalin Chassidic community, but other than housing and schooling, they are very much an integral part of the general Yishuv.

There is an active group of retirees who congregate at a local senior citizen center.

Real Estate
4 room apartment: 700-800,000 NIS
Private house: 2 million NIS range

Neighborhoods
Givat Zeev is a fully integrated community. Families of different ages and backgrounds, including both Olim and native Israelis, as well as individuals of differing religious lifestyles, all live together as one community.

That being said, there is a centralized area for the local community of Karlin Stalin Chassidim, and a recently completed Mishab project for young Modern Orthodox couples. A new area being developed, Agan HaAyalot, will cater to the ultra-Orthodox population.

The neighborhoods in Givat Zeev are: Givat Zeev proper, Neve Menachem, Givon, and Agan HaAyalot (being developed).

Source: Nefesh Bnefesh

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