Carmei Gat

Drive 30 minutes south of Beit Shemesh, pass the hills of the Rama (short for Ramat Beit Shemesh), and you will find flat meadows that appear endless. Kind of like a scene of the Little House on the Prairie. The terraine is so green, while listening to Shabbat music on the radio you can't help but think "wow, זוהי ארץ נהדרת" (this is an amazing land).

We spent shabbat in Carmei Gat, a newly developed town under the municipality of Kiryat Gat (kind of like what Washington DC is to Silver Spring - - especially when Woodside started and there wasn't a dedicated building). The government is investing efforts in this new community as the next hub of the South, that it will be approximately the size of Moddiin. 

To give directions, this literally is yashar yashar yashar ve smola. 

A mix of Anglo families and Israelis, there is a very nice balance of culture, out of town vibe where people ask where you are from, streets that make sense, quiet at night, a sense of calm and seeing the country literally build and grow before your eyes.

Currently there are shul buildings dedicated to the spehardim in the community. The ashkenaz minyan (Carmei Tzion) is very strong and while a minyan (approximately 40 men), 3 sifrei torah (one borrowed) are present, the young couples are doing everything they can to plead with the yiriya and mayor of the city to help them build a dedicated shul. Right now services are held at the matnas with tefilat yeladim outside. The minyan has been consistent, serious and dependable, where they should be provided not just with land but funding that the government has been giving to build up the area.

It was beautiful to witness such dedication, vision and hope to be a part of an accepting, diverse community. For example, the Mikvah only recently became full time when it started off for just shabbat and Yom tov. In 3 to 5 years, the area will be strong so just remember, if you snooze, you lose. 

We hope a solution for a structured shul building is met quickly and with seriousness. As the Torah says, a community needs a shul, school, and Mikvah for it to thrive. As an overall ashkenaz shuls are outnumbered in Israel, but those that exist are like a diamond in the rough. The members also need to consider who they'd like as a rav - - which they've started. There's definitely high level engagement and arnona being paid to be a serious voice of the area. 

When you hear of communities kicking off the ground in Israel, this is definitely how places like Efrat and Moddiin started (I remember when a good family friend bought an apartment in Moddin, no one heard of it much at the time and we all thought they were nuts. When they sold it 15 years later, we thought they were nuts to give up the property!). 

The Carmei Gat area boasts modern playgrounds, bike trails, villas, cottages, garden apartments, penthouses ranging in rent from 3000 shekel a month to purchasing a place 1.9 million shekel to 3. Some buy into the developed shared community whereas others buy land and build their own design (בנה ביתך). 

Amenities - 

It's roughly 5 to 7 minute drive away to the Kiryat Gat train station connecting the city to Tel Aviv. There are plans to create a station in Carmei Gat. Whether a track will be developed to link to Jerusalem will make the area sky rocket. The train has a minyan but if a detriment to minyan within the community, that's to be considered how it impacts your schedule. 

BIG will open a mall here. We cut through in the construction zone and if we do move to the community, we can say "we were here when..." 

Shopping centers are under development. 

An outdoor pool for use in Kiryat Gat and  unique chugim. 

Maccabi in Carmei Gat itself and Meuchedet opening soon. 

A shabbat store, Bleeckers bakery and pizza. 

Minyan factory in neighboring Kiryat Gat. 

Demographics - 

The average age of couples we met ranged from 26 - 32 years old. Some rent. Many own. 

The streets are flat. Very nice to shpatzir. It also creates more of a sense of community as the areas, while spread out by section number, are all accessible. This makes it feel less segregated. 

Not too many cars driving on shabbat as the community overall is mesorati if not Dati. We counted maybe 5 cars on shabbat. There's a healthy tolerance level and Anglos that speak Hebrew, Israelis that are patient to listen to newcomers and so forth. 

Education - 

Chabad schools, a new elementary (Shabazi), high schools in neighboring towns. 

Great potential and with pulling the right strings, this area in 5 years will be a popular destination. Garaunteed. 

For more information visit https://www.nbn.org.il/gosouth/carmei-gat/ or watch https://youtu.be/f90fgNzzQYY

One day, when you mention CG people will say, "oh ye, I've heard of that!"