Neighborhoods: Beit Shemesh
Sheinfeld
Established in 1991, it has about 400 families, with about 70% Anglo-Saxon residents. In this neighborhood there are 3 Ashkanazai synagogues, a women’s Mikva and a small shopping center which has a post office. Properties are divided between attached cottages and duplex houses, and 3-6 room apartments. There are bus stops along much of the neighborhood.
Nofei Aviv
Established in 1996, there are about 150 families living in private and semi-attached homes. Anglos make up about 80% of the population. There is one central synagogue for the project.
Givat Savion
Anglos started moving into this primarily Israel neighborhood after 1995. There are about 30 Anglo families in the area. There are private villas and semi-attached homes. There is one Ashkanazi synagogue for the neighborhood called Eitz Chaim.
Givat Sharet
Located outside the Sheinfeld and Nofei Aviv neighborhoods, this primary Israel- Hebrew speaking populated area is slowly attracting Anglos. There are villas and semi-attached homes.
Nofei Hashemesh
Established in 2007, this neighborhood has a combination of about 40 semi-attached houses and apartments. The majority of house owners are Anglo, and they established a synagogue under the leadership of Rabbi Shalom Rozner.
Neighborhoods: Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph
Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph is a neighborhood of Beit Shemesh comprising about 25,000 people. The neighborhood has numerous parks and public areas being well maintained. The newest park is Yarmut Park, the biggest in Beit Shemesh. Shopping is plentiful as well, with 4 supermarkets and a shopping area of over 130 shops to choose from, one is never lacking a place to make his purchases. Although all types of Jews are welcome in all parts of RBS A, there are a few different sections each with its own unique touch and strong points. There is the Dolev section, the Revivim section, and the Mishkenos Yaakov section.
Mishkenos Yaakov
The Mishkenos Yaakov section is located next to the Merkaz (central shopping area). Here the population is almost exclusively Haredim, both Israelis and Chutznikim, although the Chuznikim tend to lean towards their Israeli counterparts regarding religious/cultural issues. There is an official Rav (Mara D’Asra), Rav Mordechai Goldstein (son of Rav Tuvia ztl), who is looked up to as the respected opinion regarding religious questions and community projects. Points of interest in the Mishkenos Yaakov area include Lev Eliyahu, the synagogue with the most Minyanim in all of RBSA and most likely the most hasmada (diligence in Torah study), and the Merkaz, the shopping center more than 130 stores of all types. Streets include Sorek (lower half), Kishon, Uriah, Micha, and Shacham.
Mishkafayim
A further expansion to Ramat Beit Shemesh is the leafy suburbs of Mishkafayim located at the eastern edge of Aleph overlooking the Zanoah quarry. The area, still under development, has started to be populated. The make up is entirely by Orthodox Jews of all strands including Chasidish, Hareidi and Dati Leumi. The area currently has 6 minyanim.
Dolev
The Dolev section contains a heterogeneous mix of different types of Jews, both native Israelis and immigrants. Religiosity varies as well from Hareidi until Masorti or Dati Leumi. While each group has its own synagogues and schools, in general, the population in the area blends together to form a beautiful cacophony of different ways of doing the same thing. For example, Masos/Masot Mordechai is a place where all types come together to pray at all times of the day. Points of interest in the Dolev section are the Matnas, a community center that services all types of Jews of the RBS A community, and Park Center, a mini-mall of various stores and restaurants. Streets include Dolev, Shimshon, Timnah, Yarkon, and Yarden.
Givat Shilo – Mem 3
Givat Shilo (Mem 3) is a new neighborhood located next to RBS Aleph. It is on the south side of Nahar Hayarkon, below the new Gimmel 2 neighborhood. It’s a natural extension of RBS Aleph, with spacious apartments and cottages, including the Donna Project, Sun Hills, and Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb’s community of Ganei Ha’ela.
Revivim
The Revivim section is lower down than Dolev. This area is populated mostly by Haredim, both Israeli and Chutznikim, with religious levels ranging from American Frum all the way to a few Yerushalmis. With the majority being Chutznik, much of the neighborhood is connected to an American Minyan such as the Gra, Pnei Shmuel, or others. There is a big emphasis on living a Torah lifestyle which pervades the area. Streets include Revivim, Ramot, Gilo, Noam, and Achziv. (A way to remember these streets is their geographic location, from west to east, and from lower to higher on the hill. After Noam, come the GRA streets (Gilo, Ramot, Achziv), which culminate near the GRA shul.)
Neighborhoods: Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel
Gimmel 1
Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel is located just south of Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph, overlooking the Nachal Yarmut Park. Gimmel consists of two parts, Gimmel 1 and Gimmel 2. Gimmel 1 is already populated with over 3,000 homes. With its lower-density building and larger apartments as well as the many open spaces and parks, Gimmel 1, officially named “Kiryat Avi Ezri“, is seen as more appealing to the Anglo-Saxon public. The city has become a popular destination for young families, with many shuls, health clinics, stores and schools.
Gimmel 2
Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel currently has a Gimmel Aleph and a Gimmel Bet, which are located south of Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph, overlooking the Nachal Yarmut Park.
To the east is Neve Shamir, and to the west is Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel. Gimmel 2 is centrally located among the ‘Ramats’, and is closest to the original Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph. This creates an instant appeal to the Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel 2 neighborhood.
This Haredi neighborhood’s first residents moved in during 2020. It already boasts three shopping centers with banks, clinics and shops. There is also a wide choice of of shuls.
Gimmel 2 (often called Gimmel Shtayim but officially known as “Kiryat Ovadia”) is a flourishing neighborhood that prides itself on a beautiful population mix of Chassidish and Litvish Anglos and a dash of Israelis. There are plenty of English speakers. While Hebrew is the main language of all the shuls in Shtayim, the community is very welcoming of English speakers, who can likely adjust quickly.
The neighborhood is family-oriented. There is a wide selection of Charedi schools. With colorful parks speckling every street, and dynamic N’shei events, Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel Shtayim offers something for everyone in the whole family.
Neighborhoods: Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled
As of 2020, this neighbourhood is still under construction. The residents – most of whom are projected to be Haredi[21] – are expected to move in within a year.[22]
A total of 8,000 homes and apartments will be built in 3 stages; Daled 1, Daled 2 and Daled 3. The neighborhoods of Daled 1 and Daled 2 will each comprise 3,000 apartments, and Daled 4 will have 2,000 apartments.
Neighborhoods: Ramat Beit Shemesh Hey (Neve Shamir)
The neighborhood, under construction, was originally earmarked for the non-Haredi public[24] and it was designed like non-Haredi neighborhood. However, being that some of the apartments were marketed as part of mechir lamishtacain and the tenders were won by many Haredi and Religious Zionist families, this area also seems to be turning into a religious neighborhood.[25] The rest is being sold in the private market, with many Haredim already have purchased houses.[26] According to the mayor, Aliza Bloch, “We are witnessing a group of purchasers of residents of Beit Shemesh being divided among the general public, another group outside the city, such as: Gush Etzion, Mevaseret Zion and Jerusalem, and a group of people from abroad, mainly from the US, a community-oriented population such as the Sheinfeld neighborhood. Just a year ago, I toured the US and met with many groups whose fruits are for the encounters that I see there today. In addition, we try to interest the teachers’ union, such as the Ashmoreth group, where teachers and education people, the Neve Shamir neighborhood is of interest to them.” In May 2020, Dozens of national and secular religious couples (hiloni and dathi leomi) took part in a tour of the Neve Shamir neighborhood with Mayor Aliza Bloch and her deputy. Those in attendance answered current questions and information from the field. In light of the success of the reunion, more tours were held.[27]