Type of Community: Yishuv

Region: Gush Etzion

Religious Percent: 100

English Speaking Percent: 35

Neve Daniel may have one of the most spectacular views in the whole country. Looking out from the yishuv’s summit on a clear day, it is possible to see the tall buildings of Tel Aviv toward the west, and the mountains of Jordan toward the east.

Local Employment
Local establishments include a bakery, pizza store, printer, hardware store and grocery. There is a small industrial park outside of Efrat that offers attractive prices for office space, as well as quite a few stores, schools, restaurants, and other establishments.

Education / Youth
Residents of Neve Daniel are happy with the yishuv’s Maon and Gnim. The facilities are modern and the teachers are caring. Children in Neve Daniel generally go to either the regional elementary school in Alon Shvut or Orot Etzion in Efrat. A few go to Reishit in Rosh Tzurim. In addition, the families that are affiliated with Chabad generally send their children to school in Beitar or Jerusalem. Bnei Akiva on Neve Daniel plays a very active role in the lives of the yishuv’s youth. Neve Daniel’s Bnei Akiva chapter has boys and girls in separate groups. Children attend after school activities in the yishuv, or at the community center (“matnas”) in Alon Shvut which provides free busing. Activities are also available in Efrat.

Transportation
While its lofty location does give Neve Daniel its fabulous views, it does make access to the yishuv somewhat difficult. It is really only convenient to take buses that actually enter Neve Daniel, instead of those (such as the #160) that deposit riders at a stop on the main road. There are about 10 buses daily that stop inside Neve Daniel and travel toward Jerusalem, and twice that number that travel from Jerusalem to Neve Daniel. (Buses #161 and #164 enter the yishuv.) As with other Gush communities, it is difficult to live in Neve Daniel without a car. Many people who work in areas outside of the Gush and Jerusalem either drive their own cars or carpool.

Olim Services
In general, Neve Daniel has traditionally been a largely Israeli yishuv, albeit with a number of Olim who came long ago and assimilated well. With the large numbers of recent Olim, this has shifted somewhat but there is still a strong feeling toward ‘blending in’ rather than sticking out. To this end a strong attempt is made at not excluding anyone, be it Hebrew or English speakers. Programs are designed to try to be as inclusive as possible; sometimes there is Hebrew and English, sometimes there is simply a strong effort to be sure that everyone feels a part of things.
Ulpan is held in Alon Shvut, with class levels according to the number of people who sign up. Often, a Bat-Sherut or a high school student can be assigned to help Oleh children of all ages.

Amenities / Services
The yishuv has a growing number of commercial and professional establishments. There is a bakery, hardware/houseware shop, supermarket, pizza shop, gift store, and printing shop. In addition to the stores mentioned, there are also dental and podiatry practices, and a Meuchedet clinic. For all other medical or commercial needs, residents can travel 5 minutes away to Efrat or Alon Shvut, or 12 minutes to the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem.

Community and Religious Life
The yishuv currently has Ashkenazi, Sefaradi, and Chabad minyanim, in addition to two Friday night Carlebach minyanim. A large, attractive synagogue is the central fixture for the members of the community, while all other minyanim are ‘satellites’ of the main shul. There is one Rav of the yishuv, Rav Matanya Ben-Shahar, and he is highly regarded and respected by all. A new synagogue structure is in the plans for the new neighborhood. Torah classes for children and adults are offered on Shabbat and during the week. Most classes given in Hebrew but several weekly classes are given in English as well.
In addition to the English speaking Olim, there are also a number of French and Russian Olim.

Real Estate
Neve Daniel consists of an “old” neighborhood and a “new” neighborhood. The percentage of English speakers is much higher in the new area than in the old section.
Housing consists of attached homes (“du-mishpachti”), private homes, and some apartments and basement apartments. Housing is currently somewhat scarce, though there are plans to build several apartment buildings in the immediate future.
Houses that are available might sell for $300k-$600k.
For new construction contact Tamar Castelnuovo at 054-598-8839 or tekoat@netvision.net.il

Neighborhoods
Neve Daniel is naturally divided into two neighborhoods, the “old neighborhood” and the “new neighborhood”. The neighborhoods are divided geographically, with the two neighborhoods on either side of the mountain, and the main shul and other local establishments, on the top of the hill.
The new neighborhood has a higher percentage of Olim.

Source: Nefesh B’Nefesh

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