Ganei

It has been a long stretch of holidays, Corona isolation texts, testing, family visits, maternity leave and all the while trying to grasp some semblance of routine.

Every Friday night, we enjoy reading Torah Tidbits and free newspapers that are distributed throughout the country. Advertised often are new building projects that are sold as what they call "from paper." These projects tend to be less expensive, but a huge risk. Something you wish you knew about 5 years ago and had the chochma (knowledge) and capacity to buy into (word to Jews in America, it's smart to buy and then have a property ready at your own liesure). 

Taking advantage of a quiet return to three out of four kids back in school, we drove to check out what has been publicized as Ganei Chashmonaim, rather to find out that it's below an area by the name Ganei Modiin.

Location matters in Israel. Driving from the sales suite in Buchman, Modiin, we visited an aquaintance in Ganei Modiin followed by friends in Chashmonaim. We learned about hard core Sephardim, Chad Peami parties and that the place is referred to like living in Gaza. That said, couples look at Ganei for streets closer to Chashmonaim as it's a huge 2 million price difference. A side by side house (known as du mishpachti) will cost approximately 2.2-2.7 million shekel. In Beit Shemesh, the same sqaure footage costs about 3-3.7+. A private house in Chashmonaim will cost a pretty penny, but that seems to be the case in many places. Unless you move to Dimona, where a side by side project is now selling for 1.5.

Chashmonaim is the type of place you wish your parents bought into 30 years ago. The streets (some) are paved with brick. There's some rhythm to the streets with one cutting through and several parallel. The issue with Chashmonaim is the high cost of real estate and demographics, since no one young is able to afford to buy there. The street configuration can also cause a huge backup of traffic. Things were not really planned in a smart way. School also ends at 1:30 pm! Here in Beit Shemesh our kids get out at 3:30 pm and by the time they walk home, it's 4 pm. Big difference. It appears tuition cost is comparable. Not crazy expensive (again, all relative to tuition costs in the United States). 

In terms of shtachim / settlement differences. Unlike a drive to Efrat, there were no machsomim, no army vehicles that we could tell. Heading to Efrat the Arabs also like to pile up junk cars and garbage. It is an unsightly and uncomfortable experience. Chashmonaim felt incredibly safe, but unfortunately not a hot spot for currently moving to. There is a normal security fence, bus number 11 loops around to pick people up to destinations. Modiin is super nearby where teens can go to hang out. Jerusalem is under a 30 min drive on the 443 highway. If Ganei Chashmonaim were to be built on the other side, the project would sell. Quickly. 

We very much feel more and more that we are exactly where we need to be, in Beit Shemesh. Over the holiday we managed to invite friends to the sukkah and in two years  identified friends we enjoy being with. All of us are renting and waiting for new projects to develop, in hopes that we can cluster and live closer together. The key to a good time, seems to be this way, as with age, adults get lazy and living in close proximity is what helps a friendship blossom. Alright maybe the lazy is not true, but having shared chavayot (experiences), and a street with shared values, does make a difference. 

Onwards. May this year prove to show us where our permanent roots reside. 🙏

(Pictured above, what isolation for 9 hours looks like). 

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