Type of Community: City

Region: Center

Religious Percent: 30

English Speaking Percent: 15

Ra’anana was founded in the early 1920s as agricultural settlement by a group of New Yorkers. Since that time, the City of Ra’anana has only grown in popularity among Jews from North America and the rest of the world. Ra’anana’s population has grown from nine residents in 1922, to 300 in 1948, to its current number of over 80,000. Ra’anana has also come a long way from its agricultural origins to a well-developed city that employs thousands and also serves as a bedroom community for Tel Aviv. Ra’anana is not merely a city that is comfortable for Anglos, it is actually dominated by them. The city nurtures its new immigrants, provides perhaps more services for them than any other city in the country, and it is for these and many other reasons, Olim who come to Ra’anana never want to leave. This fact helps explain the rather pricey housing market.

Education / Youth
The city has a wide variety of ganim, catering to virtually every interest, language, and religious background. There are a variety of choices both in the government and government religious school type. The city also has outstanding programs for preschool children with special needs. For the elementary school level as well, Ra’anana also offers a variety of educational options. In orientation, schools are Haredi, Religious-Zionist, Religious-Zionist-Torani, and non-religious. Parents are reasonably satisfied with the education their children receive, but encourage others to become as involved as possible in the school. According to most parents, the level of parental involvement is critical in determining the success of a school. Many of the religious boys in Ra’anana also attend junior high and high school in Ra’anana at the Yeshivat Bnei Akiva, although some travel to the mechina in Kfar Saba. For high school, many of the boys choose to board away at the Midrashit Noam in Pardes Hanna, a school known throughout Israel (and beyond) for the cohesiveness of its classes. Girls on the religious track also have several options available to them. The Amit Renanim school, located in Ra’anana, offers a standard religious and secular education. Tzvia, an ulpana located in Herzeliya, has a more Torani focus than Renanim. Finally, the Amana school in Kfar Saba offers a serious religious and secular educational environment, with girls dorming at the school. Schools in Ra’anana are comfortable accommodating various special needs of their students. Extensive services are offered for native English speakers, where the school endeavors to smooth the transition of English-speaking Olim. Services are provided to children with special needs both through the school system and through the nonprofit organization Beit Issie Shapiro (www.beitissie.co.il), located in Ra’anana. Families living in the Mercaz Klitah will send their children to: Bilu (public religious), Ziv (public secular) or Tali (public Masorati track) schools.

Transportation
Ra’anana is easily accessible to most workplaces in the central region, and is serviced by very good public transportation.

Olim Services
Ra’anana has an outstanding absorption center, which offers a wide range of services both for those who are living there and those living in the larger community. (See www.jafi.org.il/aliyah/abscenters/abscentlist/raanana/index.asp for specific information on the absorption center.) The center offers Ulpanim on a variety of levels, daycare, and counseling services. Synagogues in Ra’anana play a special role in welcoming new Olim. They provide an opportunity for social interaction and a forum for exchanging absorption strategies.

Amenities / Services
Ra’anana provides a wide range of cultural and entertainment options. It has a movie theater, a library, country clubs, pools, nightclubs, and a mall. Commercial establishments located in the center of the city are all closed on Shabbat, while establishments located in the industrial section outside of town are open.

Community and Religious Life
Ra’anana’s population is religiously diverse. Approximately 25 percent of the residents identify themselves as religious, with about 85 percent of those residents being Religious-Zionist. There is also a small Haredi community, and sizable Conservative and Reform communities. At last count, there were 63 synagogues, including those of every type: Ashkenazi, Sefaradi, Yemenite, shtiebele, Conservative, and Reform. Most of the Ashkenazi, Conservative and Reform synagogues have sizable populations of English speakers. Ra’anana also has many learning opportunities available for adults, including the Midrasha (Torah study group), the Jewish Outreach Center, and a branch of the MaTaN Institute for women.In addition, there is an active Raanana Community Kollel. All of these programs offer shiurim and programs in English.

Real Estate
Average price for purchasing a:
3 bedroom Apt- 1,179,318 NIS
4 bedroom Apt- 1,677,476 NIS
5 bedroom Apt- 1,977,730 NIS

Average price for renting a:
2 bedroom: 3000 to 5200 NIS
3 bedroom: 4000 to 5500 NIS
4 bedroom: 5000 to 8000 NIS
5 bedroom: 7000 to 10,000 NIS

Source: Nefesh B’Nefesh

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