Type of Community: Yishuv

Region: Center

Religious Percent: 100

English Speaking Percent: 45

There are few yishuvim that are as centrally located as Hashmonaim, a 20 year-old yishuv that is a popular destination for religious, English-speaking Olim. The community is warm, close-knit, and offers a multi-cultural experience in a small-town atmosphere.

Education / Youth
There are 5 ganim spread throughout the yishuv for Nursery and Kindergarten levels. The government religious elementary (Mamad) school in Hashomaim has over 300 students from 1st-6th grades. It is co-educational, but with boys and girls in separate classes. The parent-body of the school is tremendously active in all school affairs. In addition, the school has special programs to accommodate its many English-speaking students.

After completing elementary school, most boys who live in Hashmonaim go to Yeshivat Ner Tamid, located on the Yishuv. Ner Tamid was established by students of Rabbi Yosef Dov Soleveitchik, and follows his approach toward Torah education.

Girls generally go to one of several nearby schools, including the Bnei Akiva Ulpana located in Modi’in, Sha’alivim, Chorev in Jerusalem, Noga in Bet Shemesh, and others in various nearby communities.

Bnei Akiva plays a large role in the lives of most of the youth in Hashmonaim. There are activities taking place each Shabbat, sometimes during the week, and various tiyulim and shabbatonim. There is also the famous “Chodesh Irgun,” where kids enjoy a whirlwind of activity for the month following Sukkot. The Hashmonaim chapter has over 500 members, making it the largest in the Mateh Binyamin region.

Transportation
From Hashmoniam, it is about a 30 minute drive to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Petach Tikva; bus transportation is also available. The new train in nearby Modiin cuts the commute time to Tel Aviv in half.

Olim Services
The large Anglo community in Hashmonaim is particularly committed to providing new immigrants with a warm welcome. They provide an “’adoptive family’ for each family of Olim, and Shabbat invitations are arranged for several weeks. Hashmonaim children are also quite involved in welcoming newcomers. They ‘adopt’ new Olim and help smooth the children’s absorption process. Town volunteers print an in-depth community directory each year with information in English and Hebrew.

There are several different levels of Ulpan classes given on the yishuv, as well as at the Modi’in Community Center. One may also choose to travel to Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem, or Tel Aviv if that is more convenient. Most government ministries, including Ministries of Absorption and the Interior have branch offices in Modiin, Petah Tikva or Tel Aviv that service olim from Hashmonaim. Unlike most yishuvim, Hashmonaim does not require its potential residents to pass before an acceptance committee. Residents must agree to public observance of Shabbat, but otherwise are free to purchase or rent as they wish.

Amenities / Services
The yishuv has a well-stocked mini-market for most household needs, and a delicious bakery for challot, cakes, cookies and desserts. For major shopping, residents generally travel 5 minutes down the road to Modi’in, Shilat, or Kiryat Sefer, where there are large shopping malls, supermarkets, toy stores, hardware stores, Judaica, clothing stores, and any consumer or commercial item one might possibly need.

When it comes to healthcare options, residents of Hashmonaim benefit from their proximity to Kiryat Sefer and Modi’in. Both localities have modern clinics of all the Kupot Holim (health-care providers) and offices for dentists, optometrists, and other health professionals. There is also a Clalit physician with an office on the Yishuv, and a 24-hour ambulance service.

Hashmonaim has a small library, with a reasonable collection of English-language books. The yishuv hopes to build a pool and athletic training room within the next few years.

Community and Religious Life
Hashmonaim is a truly community-oriented place. Residents note that communal life is very much centered around the synagogues. Many residents like the idea of settling in an area near a city like Modi’in, but value the small community feeling.

The yishuv has a very active Snif (chapter) of Bnei Akiva & organizes many activities for youth. With classes in karate, art, dance, survival skills, guitar, drums, gymnastics, as well as numerous athletic activities, there really is no reason for kids to leave the yishuv. North American Olim are often comforted to see Hashmonaim’s baseball field (a rare sight in Israel) at the entrance to the yishuv. There are several basketball courts, a large soccer field, and many playgrounds and open spaces for kids of all ages.

Hashmonaim has many regular minyanim, and is a community with frequent “minyan hopping,” as residents can enjoy the different flavors the yishuv offers. There is a long list of regularly scheduled Torah classes, in both Hebrew and English, including several Daf-Yomi shiurim. Guest speakers on topics ranging from Torah, politics, and charitable causes regularly come through the yishuv. The community also hosts many musical and comedic performance, and frequently organizes other social events.

Residents of the yishuv currently use Mikvaot (ritual baths) in Kiryat Sefer, Modiin or Ganei Modi’in, which is only a short walk from Hashmonaim. The community recently raised funds for construction of its own Mikva and plans to break ground in the near future.

Real Estate
Hashmonaim offers primarily single family and two-family houses, although there are a limited number of cottages and garden apartments. Empty lots averaging 600 square meters sell for approximately $300,000. Houses on the yishuv are fairly large, with most new homes between 300 – 450 square meters. An average price for a two family house would be $450,000; single-family homes begin at around $600,000. Rentals can be found between $1000 – $1600 per month.

Source: Nefesh B’Nefesh

This entry was posted on July 18, 2010 at 1:18 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in "Merkaz"- Central Israel by admin No Comments Yet