It’s not exactly in the north of the country, nor in the center. Maybe that’s what makes Pardes Channa in the northern Sharon region a place where each person can be whatever he or she wants. On the one hand, the town has filled up in recent years with city people from Tel Aviv, Ramat Hasharon and other cities in central Israel who came here for the dream of a country home, a garden and a family dog—despite the early morning traffic jams on Israel’s coastal road. On the other hand, Pardes Hanna has become a place for beatniks and artists who have discovered a place to create, to launch initiatives, and enjoy a rich community life. Amid this modern-day influx, let’s not forget the veterans of ‘Moshava HaYekkim’ (1929), who grew up under the patronage of Baron de Hirsch (“The Known Benefactor”), and of Karkur (1913), who preserved the character of Arab landholders from the Ottoman period. Here we see a dynamic mix of old and new, longstanding and new young residents, artists and common people. Something in this human patchwork seems to be going quite well. This town with its seemingly endless tiny roads and its 43,000 residents somehow still refuses to become a city. Maybe it’s due to the prestige of remaining a ‘local council’, or maybe due to the bureaucracy involved.One way or another, Pardes Channa (named for Hannah Rothschild, the niece of Baron de Hirsch) is marking 90 years since its founding and 50 years since its union with Karkur in 1959. “So why does everyone call it “Pardes Canna” rather than “Pardes Channa-Karkur”? Irit Oren, director of the Veteran’s House, explains: Both communities have strong sentiments for their past and neither wants to surrender its classic name. Pardes Channa was once considered the “spoiled younger sister” due to the philanthropy of the Baron while Karkur’s roots go back to an English association founded on capital and entrepreneurship that, surprisingly, succeeded during hard times in Israel. Neither really wanted the other, but just like today’s political rivals in Israel they understood that two is stronger than one.

The city of Karmiel lies on the road between Acre and Safed, in the Beit Hakerem Valley. To its north are the mountains of the Upper Galilee and to the south the mountains of the Lower Galilee. The city is 35 kilometers from Tiberias, 22 kilometers from Acre and 45 kilometers from Haifa, and covers an area of ​​about 24,000 dunams. Karmiel is 250 meters above sea level and is located in the heart of a spectacular and captivating landscape. Today, the city numbers about 50,000 people, who constitute 15,000 households. According to the outline plan, Karmiel will be home to about 120,000 residents in the future. The city gradually developed, in accordance with its master plan: the founders’ neighborhood was built in the years 1964-1978, the southern neighborhood – 1970-1978, the western neighborhood – 1980-1983, the Galilee neighborhood – 1992-1995, Sagi neighborhood – 1990-1993 Givat Ram – From 1991 to 1998, Ramat Rabin was founded in 1996, the neighborhoods of B’ne Beitcha, Giv’at Makush and the Irises -in the years 1984-1998. These days we started breaking ground to the new neighborhood on Mount Karmi, the Rehav’ham neighborhood. The structure of the city is special and modern, and there are constant activities to nurture and keep it clean. The city residents enjoy a high level of services. In Karmiel there is a complete separation between the residential and industrial areas. Each neighborhood operates a separate system of services, which include: nurseries for infants, kindergartens, schools, synagogues, educational institutions and more. This structure ensures the tranquility of the residents and pedestrians in the various neighborhoods. Construction in Karmiel is modern and diverse. The city has about 1700 dunams of intensive gardening (high level gardening) in about 70 parks. Lawns, tree boulevards, playground and sports facilities. The city also has spacious parking lots, wide roads and good lighting. populationKarmiel today numbers about 50,000 people, which are about 15,000 households. The average age in Karmiel is 39, which indicates a relatively young population.Since the beginning of the 1990s Karmiel has absorbed 20,000 immigrants, most of them from the former Soviet Union. At the same time, in similar numbers, residents from various parts of the country have also been absorbed; families who come to Karmiel to improve their quality of life. Many members of the “founding generation” live in Karmiel, which teaches about Deep roots and a love of the place. About 60% of Karmiel residents are veteran Israelis. About 40% of the city’s residents are immigrants from 75 different countries around the world.

Rehovot is home to the world famous Weizmann Institute of Science, the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment (HUJI) and various hi-tech and biotech businesses that define the character of this “science-centric” modern city. Home to two academic institutes in addition to universities like Bar-Ilan and Tel-Aviv, Rehovot has adopted a young, trendy “University town” vibe. The ongoing influx of visiting academics from abroad helps to infuse the city with a truly international flavor.
A third of the population is religious, and 21% have an academic education. The city has a wonderfully warm Anglo Orthodox community with many shuls and kosher food establishments.

Hashmonaim is a beautiful and friendly Orthodox yishuv with a population over 900 families located north of Jerusalem just outside of Modiin. The yishuv began to grow in 1987 and has been the choice of many American olim over the past 20 years. Hasmonaim’s central location (25-minute drive from Jerusalem, 40-minute drive from Tel Aviv, 25-minute drive from Ben Gurion Airport, 10 minute drive from Modiin) makes this yishuv a perfect location for families who want to live right next to Israel’s main metropolitan areas. There is a nice mix of Sfardi and Ashkenazi families from Israel and all over the diaspora with good schools, shuls and community events. Join Kim Bash to meet Anglos living in all areas of Hashmonaim.

Neve Daniel is located about 18 kilometers (11 miles) southwest of Jerusalem. It is situated atop one of the highest points in the area, and offers views as far as Tel Aviv to the west and the mountains of Jordan to the east. The settlement is under the administration of the Gush Etzion Regional Council. The population has grown rapidly, and includes Olim from a variety of countries, including a significant percentage of English speakers. The majority of residents are Orthodox, and English speakers generally show a high level of interest in integrating with greater Israeli society.