Karnei Shomron

Established:

1977

Type of Community:

Large town

Population:

Approx. 1,500 families, about 6,500 residents; aspires to to become a city of 20,000 residents; Neve Aliza neighborhood has about 180 families and plans to add 50 more

Location:

Western Samaria; 40 Km. north-east of Tel Aviv, 83 km. north-east of Jerusalem

Age Range:

Wide range, from newly married to grandparents; very few singles.

%  English-Speakers:

75% percent of Neve Aliza residents are olim from English-speaking countries

Education:

Karnei Shomron boasts a range of educational institutions for children of all ages. From day care through high school, the younger set has their educational needs met without having to venture too far from home. Schooling is available for both religious and secular sectors in the Karnei Shomron Municipality and its environs. Secular high school students travel to nearby Alfei Menashe or Kfar Saba and some religious teenagers opt to attend schools in Kfar Saba or Raanana or to dorm at yeshivot and ulpanot that are further away.

Cultural Activities:

The local community center provides afternoon and evening enrichment programs and sports facilities for children and adults alike. Concerts and lectures are commonplace, featuring both local talent and big-name, nationally and internationally renowned attractions and shows.

Religious life:

50 percent of Town of Karnei Shomron religious, vast majority are Religious-Zionist; several all-religious neighborhoods; 9 synagogues, mikvaot, yeshivas, kollels, and other learning opportunities 

Transportation

Regular Dan bus service to Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba, Raanana, and Petah Tikva; regular Egged service to Jerusalem.

More Info: Karnei Shomron transportation

Medical care:

Klalit and Leumit clinics, medical services offered to members of Meuchedet and Maccabi, dentists, optometrist, child-development center.

Businesses:

Restaurants, supermarkets, book store, post office, spice shop, clothing store

Physical Surroundings: 

Shalom and welcome to Karnei Shomron, a thriving town located in the heart of Israel, where the ancient tribes of Ephraim and Menashe lived in Biblical times. Just 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Kfar Saba in the foothills of the Shomron (Samarian) hills, Karnei Shomron's five neighborhoods offer a breathtaking view of Israel's heartland.

Climate: 

Mountain. Summer days are hot and dry. Winters are cold and snow does occasionally fall.

Contacts:

• Chaim Spring 09-7929008, [email protected];

• Jay Shapiro, 09-7929862;

• Steve Schwartz 09-7929914

• Marcy Oster 09-794-1324

• Audrey Gerber, 09-7929781

• Email:[email protected]

• Email:[email protected] 

Website:

https://www.ginaplus.org/kshomron.htm

                               OR

https://www.karneishomronfoundation.org

About Karnei Shomron
Karnei Shomron was founded in 1977 by a committed group of young families eager to settle the barren hilltops of Western Samaria. Imbued with the spirit of Zionism and dedicated to their religious heritage, these early pioneers lived for many years in mobile homes, securing the right to build the town that Karnei Shomron was to become. Today Karnei Shomron is a sprawling regional center some 20 kilometers from Kfar Saba, located midway between present day Alfei Menashe and Kedumim-on the border between where the tribes of Ephraim and Menashe lived in Biblical times. Consistently growing over the years, there are over 1,500 families living in Karnei Shomron's five neighborhoods, Karnei Shomron, Ginot Shomron, Neve Menachem, Alonei Shilo and Ramat Gilad-from newborn infants to senior citizens. Unique to Karnei Shomron is its "North American" neighborhood, Neve Aliza, founded by new immigrants to Israel from the U.S. and Canada in 1985.

Residents
An eclectic assortment of new immigrants, veterans, religiously traditional and secular Israelis live together in one of the most successful suburban developments in Israel's vibrant central region.

Today there are some 200 families throughout Karnei Shomron who originate from English-speaking countries, making this one of the largest concentrations of North American immigrants in the country and a particularly interesting attraction to visitors from abroad.

Education
Karnei Shomron boasts a range of educational institutions for children of all ages. From day care through high school, the younger set has their educational needs met without having to venture too far from home. Schooling is available for both religious and secular sectors in the Karnei Shomron Municipality and its environs. Secular high school students travel to nearby Alfei Menashe or Kfar Saba and some religious teenagers opt to attend schools in Kfar Saba or Raanana or to dorm at yeshivot and ulpanot that are further away.

The following educational facilities exist in Karnei Shomron (and its environs):

Day Care and Pre-School:
Day Care Centers: Each hill in Karnei Shomron is equipped with its own day-care centers for children from the ages of 3 months to 3 years. The day care center (Maon) is staffed by experienced and professional care givers and is divided into small groups according to the different ages. The hours of day care are from 7 AM-3:45 PM, with the option of a half day program. Meals are served, including a hot meat lunch. Price reductions are available in accordance with the criteria of the Office of Social affairs and based on parents salaries.

Pre-school:
Each hill in Karnei Shomron has its own set of pre-schools (gan), which are divided according to the children’s ages. There is a separate gan for each of the following age groups: 3-4, 4-5 and 5-6 year olds. There are ganim for both the religious and secular sectors.

Special Education Pre-school:
In Neve Menachem, there is a pre-school for children whose needs require a special environment. In Ginot Shomron, one of the kindergartens is especially designed for children who have developmental delays, yet can still attend
a regular gan. As part of the kindergarten staff, there is an occupational therapist, a psychologist and a special education teacher who offer their services in the gan.

Elementary School:
Secular sector education: The “Rimon School” is the local elementary school (grades 1-6) for children in the secular sector. It is located in Ginot Shomron. Transportation is available from the other hills. This school offers a special class for children with learning disabilities.

Religious sector education:
Lapidim School: A religious school for grades 1-3. There are extra hours both in the Torah subjects as well as in the science/technology curriculum. The school is for both boys and girls yet they learn in separate classes.

The school has a special education class for children with special learning needs and also offers help to children in the regular classes with learning difficulties.

In addition to equipping children with the essential and basic reading, writing and math skills, the school undertakes to develop the potential of each student and to educate him/her toward a love for Torah and the Land of Israel.

Masuah School:
A religious school for grades 4-6. The school is for both boys and girls yet
they learn in separate classes. The school seeks to nurture the student’s development as a Torah and Mitzvot loving Jew, while also helping each student to realize his/her potential in the various subjects.

Each year, special projects are implemented both in the Torah and secular subject areas.

Talmud Torah HaShomron (Barka’i):
A religious boys school for grades 1-8. This school teaches according to the “Barka’I” teaching method which was devised by HaRav Be’eri. This method has been instituted in a select number of schools throughout the country.  The Torah studies curriculum is intensive with students completing all five books of the Torah, all of the First Prophets and some of the later Prophets. Emphasis is placed on learning the books of Daniel, Ezra and Nechemia before the onset of studying Gemara, in order to prepare the students for Aramaic in the Gemara. Alongside the intensive limudei kodesh curriculum, all the secular subjects are taught as well.

There are classes in the school for special needs children as well as help available to students learning in regular classes. (For a more detailed description of this method see www.atid.org/journal00/esses).

High School Education:

Yeshivat HaShomron:
This is the regional high school for boys in grades 7-12 located in Karnei Shomron. It serves all the yishuvim in the area. It offers the full matriculation program with a choice of majors both in the Humanities and the Exact Sciences. There are classes for special needs in grades 7-8. Most graduates continue to the army after completing some Torani preparation program i.e. Yeshivat Hesder or Mechina.

Yeshivat Halichot Olam:
Yeshiva high school with dormitory for boys in grades 9-12,
located in Karnei Shomron. Boys from all over the country are accepted into the program.

Local students may live at home or dorm.

This yeshiva puts emphasis on “Limudei Kodesh” (Torah studies), which are taught until 4 PM. Secular studies are studied from 4-7 PM. The yeshiva offers a full matriculation program in which minimum requirements are met. The Yeshiva has a stringent acceptance policy. At the present, there are 4-5 candidates for each available spot.

Ulpanat Lehava:

The regional girls high school for grades 7-12 located in nearby Kedumim.
This school offers girls from all the yishuvim in the area a complete matriculation program with a varied choice of majors.

The school places emphasis on Torah education as well as character development. There are many extra-curricular activities. The girls are encouraged to volunteer in many different capacities in all parts of the Shomron. Most graduates perform one or two years of National Service.

Housing
A wide variety of housing options exist, in terms of neighborhood, size, and price. Much of the housing turnover occurs in the summer, in order to allow children to enter their new schools in September.

Check out our site for a more detailed description of available housing: https://www.ginaplus.org/kshomron/housing.htm

Transportation
Regular Dan bus service to Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba, Raanana, and Petah Tikva; regular Egged service to Jerusalem.

More Info: Karnei Shomron transportation

Cultural Activities
The local community center provides afternoon and evening enrichment programs and sports facilities for children and adults alike. Concerts and lectures are commonplace, featuring both local talent and big-name, nationally and internationally renowned attractions and shows.

The local Religious Council oversees an eruv Shabbat, encompassing the entire
town, operates a Jewish bookstore from its offices, and oversees kashruth
supervision in local enterprises. The holiday seasons are especially uplifting,
as piles of tree clippings are gathered and made available for the residents'
sukkah roofs, and the streets are filled with costumed youngsters and adults
on Purim. Holidays are also marked with guided services for the unaffiliated
residents, held in Ginot Shomron's local gym.

Religious Life
Karnei Shomron offers its residents a rich variety of outlets for spiritual expression. Nine synagogues dot the landscape, each practicing the rich and colorful traditions that make up contemporary Jewish life. Mikvaot (ritual baths) are located in Ginot Shomron, Karnei Shomron and Neve Menachem.

Residents can select from a wide variety of regular adult Jewish education classes given by the local Rabbis, and others, in Hebrew, English and Russian.

Rich and varied Jewish life in Karnei Shomron includes evening kolel studies, daf yomi classes, annual matza baking, several free loan societies, women's study and prayer groups, and much more.

Community Services
Karnei Shomron provides a full complement of recreational, cultural and educational services for all its residents. The local municipality provides government and administrative services close to home. There is a local swimming pool and health club, which serves not only the residents of Karnei
Shomron, but the smaller neighboring communities as well. The mobile English book club makes its way from home to home each month, making sure residents keep in touch with the latest best-sellers.

The Karnei Shomron Senior Citizen Center serves the varied needs of the town's senior residents, offering a wide range of social and educational services, such as the Karnei Shomron College, offering courses on the Land of Israel in Hebrew, English and Russian.

The Karnei Shomron Foundation helps to provide essential emergency security and medical equipment, as well as other programs for Karnei Shomron institutions, such as the local Senior Citizens Center, community center, absorption and cultural programs. This support for our growing community helps to improve the quality of life for all its residents.

There is still so much that needs to be done. We invite you to be part of Israel's future, and help build a beautiful community in the very heart of our Eretz Israel.

Contact the Karnei Shomron Foundation for more details.

Health Services
A regional health clinic serves most of the residents and there are several private physician offices as well. Karnei Shomron also boasts several dental practices, optometry practices and a number of private physicians' offices.

Commerce
Karnei Shomron is home to the "Kanyon Shomron" shopping mall, Karnei Shomron's commercial center. Kanyon Shomron's restaurants, offices and shops serve Karnei Shomron and surrounding towns and villages in the area. Small grocery stores and retail outlets serve each neighborhood, and a general store in Ginot Shomron always has what you're looking for.

Karnei Shomron's industrial area home to Yisraphot/Palphot, Israel's largest postcard manufacturer and several small businesses, including a carpentry shop and warehouses.

Physical Surroundings
Shalom and welcome to Karnei Shomron, a thriving town located in the heart of Israel, where the ancient tribes of Ephraim and Menashe lived in Biblical times. Just 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Kfar Saba in the foothills of the Shomron (Samarian) hills, Karnei Shomron's five neighborhoods offer a breathtaking view of Israel's heartland.

Absorption
Karnei Shomron is a wonderful place to live, and there is a wide range of
affordable housing options for immigrants. The education system has had
extensive experience working with new immigrant children and the close-knit
community of veteran immigrants is always on hand to help out. Contact us if
you would like more information on settling in Karnei Shomron.

Five Reasons Over 200 Families From English-speaking Countries Made
Karnei Shomron Their Home